The Last Dance. "Boston Legal" series finale? WTF?????

Let me clarify my expletive. I mean, "WTF", as in "I didn't know the series was ending"...WTF???

And it's ABC's fault. And it's ABC's shortsightedness that angers me.

According to show creator, David E. Kelly, it was ABC that pulled the plug. In an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Dec 7th, Kelly said that it was in fact ABC's decision to end Boston Legal. He also stated that executives did not want to commit to a fifth season, so he had to fight to bring it back for a short season of 13 episodes.

It's ratings weren't blockbuster, but it maintained the majority of its audience over its five-year run despite being switched four different times to different nights (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.) According to Nielsen Media Research, Boston Legal drew the richest viewing audience on television, based on the concentration of high income viewers in its young adult audience (Adult 18–49 index w/$100k+ annual income).

This explains John Larroquette's argument to a jury in the second to the last episode about how the elderly aren't seen as a viable market by the various networks. Course I didn't realize Boston Legal was on the chopping block; however, I did think it was a strange case for Larroquette's character to be arguing.

Read the Los Angeles Times review here. Also from YouTube, a compilation tribute to the show, as well as the series final balcony scene with James Spader and William Shatner.

I will miss you, Boston Legal - particularly the characters Alan and Denny, played by Spader and Shatner respectively. They seemed so real to me. And in all their triumphs and flaws I saw a bit of myself in each of them. And I fell in love with them.

Emmy Awards:

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series James Spader (2007, 2005, 2004*)
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series Christian Clemenson (as Jerry 'Hands' Espenson: 2006)
Outstanding Single-Camera Sound Mixing for a Series Craig Hunter, Peter Kelsey, Clark King, William Butler (2006)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series William Shatner (2005)
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series William Shatner (2004*)

Golden Globe Awards:
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV William Shatner (2005)

*2004 awards were for The Practice but for the same character portrayed on Boston Legal.