2005 Paley Festival: Boston Legal

See William Shatner, James Spader, Betty White, Rene Auberjonois, David E. Kelley, and other cast and creatives from the wickedly entertaining Boston Legal, onstage at The Museum of Television & Radio's 2005 William S. Paley Television Festival. It's an evening of lively discourse about creating the brilliant, somewhat eccentric, civil litigators of Crane, Poole & Schmidt.

All proceeds benefit The Museum of Television & Radio.

This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply. Amazon.com

More of James Spader..

It was interesting to watch the whole Boston Legal cast on the stage along with the writer and producer but I wish there was more of the actor James Spader talking. November 21, 2007

Lackluster Legalisms

I love Boston Legal and by the end of August, deprived of my weekly injection of intelligent and creative zaniness, I'll do anything to see a new showcase of the talents of this group of actors and writers. The DVD for Season 3 wasn't available yet, so I ordered this DVD instead. I thought it would be sort of a roast of the series or at least a fun way to get the actors' perspectives on their characters.

I was wrong. The format for this panel discussion was surprisingly banal. I assume someone must have edited the live talk show this was taped from but there were still yawn-making pauses while the microphone slowly traveled from one audience member to another so they could address questions to the panel. The actors were mostly quite amusing but couldn't say anything unless they were called on. The producer and director took themselves far more seriously than I had expected.

This is not a FUN video, although there were a few interesting behind the scenes insights. For example, Renee Auberjonois' character was added because it was felt that at least ONE person at the law firm should look like they took life seriously and were working hard to make sure the executive john didn't run out of toilet paper. Now I understand why they are writing him out for Season 4 but I felt his amazing talents were always underutilized on this show. He got the same backseat treatment on the panel.

If this ever comes up as a "4-for-3" special and you can get it for free, without paying shipping, it would be worth that. September 27, 2007

I don't know...

After having read the reviews I bought this rather pricey DVD. I am a great fan of Boston Legal and was however really disappointed. Indeed, the whole thing is conducted in a really stiff way. One would think that they are at a meeting of the UN council discussing world peace or something like that. Also a writer for Rolling Stone magazine (come on, that is one paper that is over-the-hill and which never really was good with movie reviews)who thinks he is funny and intelligent introduces the whole thing. I mean this is too much. Also some of the actors come over as stiff and much less lively than on the show. James Spader for example was really disappointing: I mean in the show he is fantastic and here...a bore. Buy this only if you must. May 5, 2007

PALEY FESTIVAL BOSTON LEGAL

IF YOU ARE A BL FAN THIS DVD GIVES YOU AN INSIDE LOOK
AT WHAT GOES ON MAKING THE SERIES. QUITE A LOT MORE
COMPLICATED THAN IT SEEMS WHEN ONE WATCHES THE EPISODES.
AND THE TWO LEAD MALE ACTORS COME ACROSS AS REALLY FOND
OF EACH OTHER AND APPRECIATIVE OF EACH OTHERS TALENTS.
I LOVED IT. March 22, 2007

Entertaining and enjoyable

It's nice to see these folks outside of the courtroom. They seem to really enjoy each other's company, and I recommend this for the die-hard 'Boston Legal' fan. July 9, 2006

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