On Monday will be the final episode of "Boston Legal," the David E. Kelley series that, among many other things, found a way to revive William Shatner in a way one previously would not have thought possible.

Denny Crane (Willaim Shatner) and Alan Shore (James Spader) are best friends in the end-of-its-run "Boston Legal."

Now, it's a crime that I did not write about the masterful ending of "The Shield" and yet I am somehow finding time to reflect upon what is obviously a much lesser show, but that's just how the ebb and flow of blogging — or at least my blogging — works. (I had plenty of thoughts and strong feelings on the election we just had, and I watched untold hours of coverage and analysis all year, but I did not feel like throwing myself into the discussion. Sometimes you have the energy, and sometimes you don't.)

I must confess to having a soft spot for "Boston Legal," despite its obvious flaws. It does what it sets out to do fairly well. And that seems to be, like "The Practice" before it, to provide a (liberal) soapbox for writer/creator David E. Kelley to preach from while showcasing its quirky cast of characters. (Read more...)