Season 1: 17 episodes from October 3, 2004 to March 20, 2005
Pre-emptions:
November 14, 2004 (American Music Awards)
December 5, 2004 (Mitch Albom's The Five People You Meet In Heaven)
December 26, 2004 (Desperate Housewives re-run)
January 2, 2005 (Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure)
January 30, 2005 (Desperate Housewives re-run)
February 6, 2005 (Desperate Housewives re-run + Super Bowl on another network)
February 27, 2005 (Academy Awards)
March 6, 2005 (Oprah Winfrey Presents: Their Eyes Were Watching God)

After episode 1x17 aired on March 20, 2005, Boston Legal went on a temporary hiatus and was replaced in ABC's Sunday night lineup by Grey's Anatomy. Grey's did so well in the ratings that BL's hiatus was extended for the rest of the season. However, Season 2 was extended by five episodes to make up for the shortened Season 1.

Season 2: 27 episodes from September 27, 2005 to May 16, 2006
Pre-emptions:
November 22, 2005 (American Music Awards)
November 29, 2005 (Barbara Walters special)
December 20, 2005 (Barbara Walters special)
January 3, 2006 (Orange Bowl)
January 31, 2006 (State of the Union address)
April 11, 2006 (The Ten Commandments)
Re-airs:
December 27, 2005 (The Black Widow and Schadenfreude)
April 4, 2006 (Gone)

Season 3: 24 episodes from September 19, 2006 to (according to reports) May 22, 2007
Pre-emptions:
November 7, 2006 (election coverage)
November 14, 2006 (Premier of William Shatner's "Show Me The Money")
November 21, 2006 (American Music Awards)
December 12, 2006 (Barbara Walters special)
January 23, 2007 (State of the Union address)
February 27, 2007 (To Iraq and Back: Bob Woodruff Reports)
March 20, 2007 (Premier of The Great American Dream Vote)
Re-airs:
December 19, 2006 (Can't We All Get A Lung?)
December 26, 2006 (New Kids On The Block)
January 2, 2007 (Desperately Seeking Shirley)
March 6, 2007 (Lincoln)
March 13, 2007 (On The Ledge)
April 24, 2007 (Angel Of Death)

Season 4
4.01 [4F01] Beauty and the Beast 9/25/07 (90 minute special)
Alan is still dating Judge Weldon, and she wants to have his baby. Denny
gets arrested for soliciting an undercover cop. New senior partner Carl Sack (played by John Larroquette) and Denny do not seem to get along. Katie Lloyd, a new attorney at the firm who's never tried a case before, defends Joseph Washington, a very scary man accused of murder. Alan tries to step in, but Joseph wants Katie as his lawyer because she believes he is innocent, even though he confessed to the crime. Jerry and Alan assist Katie.

Guest starring are Mark Valley as D.A. Brad Chase, Obba Babatunde as Dr. Victor Rivers, Craig "mums" Grant as Joseph Washington, Gail O'Grady as Judge Gloria Weldon, Shelley Berman as Judge Robert Sanders, Rob Brownstein as Dr. Timothy Wood, Robert Clotworthy as Zachary West and Bellamy Young as Cynthia Nichols.

written by David E. Kelley
directed by Bill D'Elia

Ratings: "Boston Legal" Opens its Season with the Series' Largest Audience Since Last October.

In its fourth season opener against stiff competition from the final half-hour of "House" and NBC's season opener of "Law & Order: SVU" at 10:00 p.m., ABC's "Boston Legal" drew 10.3 million viewers and a 2.5 rating, 7 share among Adults 18-49 in its 90-minute time period.

* "Boston Legal" attracted ABC's biggest audience to the time period in 4 months - since 5/22/07. In addition, the ABC legal drama matched the series' largest audience on the night since last October - since 10/31/06.

4.02 4F02 An Innocent Man 10/02/07
It is possible the Joseph Washington storyline described in our 4.01 spoilers now be partially or entirely be in this episode. At the end of the trial, the jury takes only 30 minutes to reach a verdict, which scares Alan, Jerry and Katie. Clarence represents a woman who had a sexual relationship with her pastor and who, after he broke off the relationship, wants to sue him. [rating:7.5/12]

Guest starring are Mark Valley as A.D.A. Brad Chase, Gail O'Grady as Judge Gloria Weldon, Obba Babatunde as Dr. Stanley Rivers, Craig "muMs" Grant as Joseph Washington, Ken Jeong as Coroner Myron Okubo, Rob Brownstein as Dr. Timothy Wood, Tony Todd as Detective Walter Berenson, Christie Lynn Smith as Maureen Janely, Pamela Adlon as Attorney Emma Path and Michael Loeffelholz as Reverend Kurt Joyner

written by David E. Kelley & Susan Dickes
directed by Mike Listo

4.03 [4F03] The Chicken & The Leg 10/09/07
Shore represents Maddie Holt, who claims her high school's abstinence-only teachings did not adequately prepared her and she feels they are at partially responsible for her being HIV positive. Carl and Denny try a case together, defending Miguel Obisbo, who's cockfighting rooster killed a chicken. Denny bets him two hundred thousand dollars that he can't win it. Deena Rice hires Katie and Jerry to represent her in suing the psychologist who treated her husband, Matthew Rice (Joseph Washington previous attorney), before he committed suicide.

Guest starring are Currie Graham as A.D.A. Frank Ginsberg, Henry Gibson as Judge Clark Brown, Patricia Belcher as Judge Leslie Bishop, Roland Molina as Miguel Obisbo, Lauri Johnson as Sister Catherine O'Reilly, Mark L. Taylor as Attorney Adam Jovanka, Kay Panabaker as Abby Holt, Dan Gilvezan as Evan Holt, John Beasley as Detective Walter McKay, Nora Dunn as Attorney Cynthia Rhodes and Claire Carey as Deena Rice. [rating:7.4/12]

written by David E. Kelley & Lawrence Broch
directed by James Bagdonas

4.04 [4F04] Do Tell 10/16/07
When General "Fitz" Fitzgerald reveals his homosexuality and the army threatens to discharge him, he comes to Crane Poole & Schmidt for help. Denny is shocked by the truth about his old friend and Shirley agrees to take Fitz's case. Meanwhile, Carl Sack asks Katie Lloyd to assist new Crane Poole & Schmidt associate Whitney Rome in a custody battle over a nine-year-old bullfighter; and Alan Shore finds himself speaking "word salad" gibberish but won't admit what the cause is.[rating:2.8/8]

Guest starring are Henry Gibson as Judge Clark Brown, Paul Schulze as JAG Schoenewics, Sam McMurray as General Mark "Fitz" Fitzgerald, Rick Deats as General Milton Eckert, Roma Maffia as Judge Victoria Peyton, Jessica Tuck as Attorney Sheila Zale, Rolando Molina as Miguel Obisbo and Lauri Johnson as Sister Catherine O'Reilly.

written by Phoef Sutton & Lawrence Broch & David E. Kelley
directed by Steve Robin

4.05 4F05 Hope and Gory 10/30/2007
Alan Shore finds himself in a predicament when a woman, Patrice Kelly, asks his advice on how to kill the man who murdered her daughter and was acquitted by reason of temporary insanity. Meanwhile, Katie Lloyd and Jerry Espenson attempt to overturn Megan's Law while trying to save their falsely accused client, Joseph Washington, from unjust persecution; and Lorraine Weller tries to help Alan overcome his deep-rooted childhood fears, which are causing him to speak "word salad" gibberish whenever she's around.[rating:8.0/13]

Guest starring are Mare Winningham as Patrice Kelly, Craig "muMs" Grant as Joseph Washington, Mark Moses as Attorney George McDougal, Paul Dooley as Judge Wendel Donahue, Peter Onorati as A.D.A. Stewart Betts, Chuck McCann as Judge Byron Fudd, Betsy Brandt as Gwen Richards, Frank Birney as Judge William Howe, Michael Wiseman as D.A. Bret Haber and Jill Brennan as Gracie Jane.

written by David E. Kelley
directed by Bob Yannetti

406 4F06 The Object of My Affection 11/06/07
Alan and Whitney defend Patrice Kelly for murdering her daughters killer. Judeo-Christian teachings of retribution and forgiveness, as well as automatism, come into play. Leigh Swift, showing Aspergers tendancies, employs Jerry to help her find her lover, an extremely unconventional object of her affection. Denny fires a CP&S associate for being overweight.[rating:8.0/13]

Guest starring: are Mare Winningham as Patrice Kelly, Barry Primus as Professor Jeffrey Benoit, Enn Reitel as Father Kevin Maher, Gregg Daniel as Dr. Jason Marcini, Miriam Flynn as Gretchen Winters, Peter Onorati as A.D.A. Stewart Betts, Chuck McCann as Judge Byron Fudd, Khali MacIntyre as Nancy Wilding, Pamela Adlon as Attorney Emma Path, Mary Gross as Leigh Swift, Rod McLachlan as Steve Hughes and Jill Brennan as Gracie Jane.

written by David E. Kelley & Corinne Brinkerhoff
directed by Eric Stoltz.

4.07 4F07 Attack of the Xenophobes 11/13/07

4.08 4F08 Oral Contracts 12/04/07

Denny Crane is arrested this time under quite unusual circumstances -- and asks Alan Shore to defend him. Meanwhile, Shirley Schmidt takes on the case of a shock jock who was fired for making an inappropriate comment while on the air, and Katie Lloyd begins to question whether Lorraine Weller is harboring a dark secret.

Guest starring: are Rene Auberjonois as Paul Lewiston, Robert Wuhl as Bob Binder, Henry Gibson as Judge Clark Brown, Loretta Devine as Judge Victoria Thomson, Meredith Eaton-Gilden as Bethany Horowitz, Joel McCrary as Guy Flanders, Michael P. McGill as Officer Brian Whistler, Steven Culp as A.D.A. Norman Wilson and Jill Brennan as Gracie Jane. [rating:5.9/10]

Written by : David E. Kelley
Directed by: Mike Listo

4.09 4F09 No Brains Left Behind 12/11/07
After trying to sue the National Guard for not coming to the aid of a business that was flooded out during a storm, Alan Shore and Denny Crane decide that it's up to them to stop complaining and do something about it. Meanwhile, Shirley Schmidt's granddaughter asks for her day in court when she's expelled from school for trying to make a social statement; Carl Sack informs Shirley that he feels ineffective at the firm and wants to return to the New York office; and the fate of Lorraine Weller's position at the firm is unknown when she comes clean about her past to Shirley.[rating: 6.0/10]

Guest starring: are Henry Gibson as Judge Clark Brown, Joe Guzaldo as Bert McAdams, Colby French as Officer Taylor Jessel, Jennifer Lewis as Judge Isabel Fisher, Mark L. Taylor as Attorney Adam Jovanka, Allison Miller as Marlena Hoffman and Steve Hytner as Principal Daniels.


4.10 4F10 Green Christmas 12/18/07
Carl Sack and Katie Lloyd defend the firm against a client who claims Denny Crane misled them about the environmental friendliness of the Crane Poole and Schmidt offices. Meanwhile, Alan Shore takes on a bank when the lending institution threatens to foreclose on Clarence Bell's home; Whitney Rome goes up against a 14-year-old boy in court when his parents use legal action to keep him from freely watching porn on his wireless device; Jerry Espenson's objectophile girlfriend dumps him; and Sack makes a decision regarding the future of Lorraine Weller's employment at the firm.

Guest starring are Henry Gibson as Judge Clark Brown, Jim Antonio as Walt Bonner, Yvette Nicole Brown as Doris Thumper, Christine Dunford as Attorney Shelley Ford, Alla Korot as Jane Malseed, Brian McNamara as Barry Malseed, Jordan Garrett as Alex Malseed, Christopher Rich as Attorney Melvin Palmer, Tom McGowan as Noris Milk, Karl T. Wright as Doyle Chernack and Paul Cassell as Dr. Frank Wessmer.[rating:7.65]

written by David E. Kelley & Craig Turk & Sanford Golden & Karen Wyscarver
directed by Lou Antonio.


4.11 4F11 Mad About You 1/15/08

4.12 4F12 Roe vs. Wade The Musical 1/22/08
Shirley Schmidt defends Missy Tiggs who, after being dumped by her husband, stole a man's semen and artificially impregnated herself. Shirley finds herself going up against Alan Shore when he's hired to represent the man whose seed was heisted. Meanwhile, Jerry Espenson defends ex-girlfriend Leigh a fellow Asperger's syndrome sufferer and objectophile when she loses her teaching position for hugging a student.

Guest starring: are Mary Gross as Leigh Swift, Meredith Patterson as Missy Tiggs, Jere Burns as Attorney Joe Isaacs, Ron Canada as Judge Willard Reese, Elizabeth Dennehy as Samantha Taylor, Tom Kemp as Oliver Atkins, Roma Maffia as Judge Victoria Peyton and Aaron D. Spears as Terrence Maxwell.

teleplay; by David E. Kelley & Susan Dickes
story by David E. Kelley & Susan Dickes & Jill Goldsmith.
directed by; Steve Robin

4.13 4F13 Glow in the Dark 2/12/08
Shirley Schmidt asks Alan Shore to represent her friend Andrea, who wants to sue her town for planning to build a nuclear power plant. Alan and Denny Crane both fall under the spell of the sexually adventurous Andrea, as Shirley, for her part, discovers that the opposing team's attorney, Jack Rice (Scott Bakula, "Enterprise," "Quantum Leap"), is an old college flame which doesn't go unnoticed by Carl Sack. Meanwhile, Jerry Espenson's girlfriend and fellow Asperger's syndrome sufferer, Leigh, warns Katie Lloyd to stay away from her man -- or else.

Guest starring: are Scott Bakula as Attorney Jack Rice, Mary Gross as Leigh Swift, Henry Gibson as Judge Clark Brown, Alison LaPlaca as Andrea Michele and George Wyner as Al Bostick.

written by David E. Kelley & Lawrence Broch
directed by Vondie Curtis Hall.

4.14 4F14 Rescue Me 2/19/08
The sexually adventurous Andrea once again secures the services of Crane Poole and Schmidt and Carl Sack when she sues a company -- that was supposed to turn her mother's ashes into a diamond for misplacing the ashes and giving her a cubic zirconium instead. Meanwhile, Katie Lloyd falls for a client with AIDS who is charged with check forgery; Clarence Bell takes on the case of a woman suing her pastor for causing her to lose her faith after he ends an affair with her; Whitney Rome sets out to sue a high school for causing the death of a woman's daughter who was sleep deprived due to a heavy school workload; and Denny Crane and Alan Shore prepare to take the Coast Guard test.

Guest starring: Michael Landes as Leo Morris, Alison LaPlaca as Andrea Michele, Christopher Stanley as CEO Robert Winthrop, Henry Gibson as Judge Clark Brown, John Prosky as Attorney Walt Devlin, Mark L. Taylor as Attorney Adam Jovanka, Isabella Hofman as Carolyn Joseph, Debra Mooney as Judge Patrice Webb, Barbara Eve Harris as Principal Holliston, Eric Lange as George Parkes, Christie Lynn Smith as Maureen Janely, Michael Loeffelholz as Reverend Kurt Joyner and Pamela Adlon as Attorney Emma Path.

written by David E. Kelley & Corinne Brinkerhoff & Susan Dickes
directed by Mike Listo.

4.15 4F15 Tabloid Nation 4/08/08

Alan Shore and Jerry Espenson take on a tabloid talk show when a woman is murdered by her ex-boyfriend after declining his marriage proposal on television; and Shirley Schmidt defends a friend - an unstable war hero -- for shooting seals for meals. Meanwhile, Denny Crane goes to extreme measures to win Shirley's affections back when she invites him to dinner; and Lorraine Weller tells Alan that he should seek professional help after he confesses to her that he used to murder his toys as a child,
rating; [ 6.6/11 ]

Guest starring;
Christopher Rich as Attorney Melvin Palmer, Chuck McCann as Judge Byron Fudd, Nick Searcy as Harry Beckham, Ray Abruzzo as USAG Sciarra, Ron Pearson as Spencer Hamilton, Richard Gant as Judge Vincent Kimball, Stephen Root as Ethan Melman and Kevin Will as Officer Michael Bardo.

written by David E. Kelley
directed by Bill D'Elia

4.16 4F16 The Mighty Rogues 4/15/08

4.17 4F17 The Court Supreme /fka Sacred Cow 4/22/08
Alan Shore gets the dream of a lifetime for an attorney when he is asked to present an appeal to the Supreme Court in the case of a mentally challenged man who has been sentenced to death for the rape of a young girl. Meanwhile, Katie Lloyd learns some startling news from Lorraine Weller about Jerry Espenson's new girlfriend.
Denny Crane falls hard for cattle rancher Sunny Fields, who hires him to sue the FDA in order to stop the sale of cloned meat.
Meanwhile, when Shirley Schmidt's nephew - a pledged delegate - informs her that he's going to vote for another presidential candidate than the one his state voted for, she enlists the aid of Alan Shore to take him and the Democratic National Party to court. [rating 5.2/9]


"Boston Legal" stars James Spader as Alan Shore, John Larroquette as Carl Sack, Christian Clemenson as Jerry Espenson, Gary Anthony Williams as Clarence/Clarice Bell, Tara Summers as Katie Lloyd, Saffron Burrows as Lorraine Weller, Taraji P. Henson as Whitney Rome, with Candice Bergen as Shirley Schmidt and William Shatner as Denny Crane.

Guest starring: are Christine Ebersole as Sunny Fields, Henry Gibson as Judge Clark Brown, Jason Earles as Mitchy Weston, Shelley Berman as Judge Robert Sanders, Joe Morton as Attorney Steve Duprey, Aaron Lustig as Wolfgang Blitzkrieg, Timothy Omundson as Attorney Bill Withers and Cornell Womack as Dr. Darryl Grant.

written by Craig Turk & Jill Goldsmith & David E. Kelley
directed by Mike Listo.


4.19 4F18 The Gods Must Be Crazy 5/14/08
Denny Crane for President! Denny Crane is asked by some high ranking politicos to run for President of the United States. Meanwhile, Jerry Espenson's ex-girlfriend, Dana, asks him to defend her when she's arrested for prostitution, and Shirley Schmidt and Carl Sack represent a woman who is suing the Archdiocese for not allowing her to become a priest.