BOSTON LEGAL - Denny Crane for President

This week Denny Crane's megalomania was wildly indulged when a friend from the Republican party (George Segal) convinced him that they were interested in Denny running for the office of President of the United States.  I couldn't see where they were going with this.  Boston Legal often has oddball storylines, but they make sense - this one just didn't add up.  Would the RNC really be interested in Denny?  Sure, he is a powerful attorney, but there is the mad cow thing.  And the hooker thing.

I should have known something sneaky was afoot when the Republican bigwigs continued courting Denny even after he does the old "pull my finger" gag in a meeting.  Behold:

Sure enough, the entire thing is a practical joke that climaxes with Denny being thrust onstage at his "campaign kick off party" wearing only a hospital gown and a bewildered expression.  For a moment I felt really bad for Denny, who seemed totally taken in by the whole prank.  Then a platoon of federal agents stormed into the party threatening to arrest everyone for illegal fundraising activity 0r something.  Everyone's freaking out - and then they realize that the agents are a counter-prank arranged by Denny.  Advantage:  Denny Crane.

Later Alan and Denny are talking to a baffled George Segal, who feels a little bad for staging such a cruel joke, and is impressed that Denny figured it out and trumped his joke.  Denny has a gleam in his eye - he's still formidable, despite the mad cow disease. 

And then Alan has to remind Denny what his name is.  Ah, brilliance and lucidity are such fleeting things.

--Dave Campbell

Comments

[Nancy]

Denny Crane for Prez what a senario. Loved it. The writers have outdone themselves with excellent satire. I enjoy weekley watching Boston Legal and connecting with the depth of "Tongue in cheek" intelligence.
Perhaps Denny Crane for Prez is what this country needs. Everything and "Everyone" would be done in a days record time, and be on the balcony sipping a high ball with Allen at 5pm...
Writers keep up the great insights and unlocking all the ambiguiousness of the Supreme Court. I truly appreciate Boston Legal giving the public viewers knowlege with a subtle kick in the pants attitute. Thank you Boston Legal.

[j allen slywolf]

the last installment of balegal was breathtaking in it's clear stance on the g.o.p. It's very clear that the writers are 'of the left for the left by the left'. The guns on the table bit was the worst piece of tv i have seen in a while. Sterotype huh?
I am a gun owner and I'm not even gay,but I also have a master's degree in musical theatre. I'm as right as you can get. Your writers are worthless, the show had something going at one time...but now I'm done with Boston leftest.

[Rosemary Dillon]

I have been a fan for a long time. I am a conservative and accepted the blatant liberal bias. It is just a manifestation of the same old worn out Hollywood storyline.
However, last night's Catholic bashing has turned me off. It went way beyond acceptable. Why is it okay to bash this one religion. Have serious mistakes been made by the human beings that make up the church -- absolutely. It is also a church made up of good people who love the good done daily by the majority of the faithful.
I am sure that the show will not be cancelled because I will stop watching but for the first time I have to stand up and say UNACCEPTABLE.

[God Insulted]

Last nights attack on the Catholic Church was a premeditated onslaught of deliberate mistruths, to for the most part, is an unsuspecting audience.It actaully attacked several religions but as usual the true Church founded by Christ was the main target.(hollywood/satan know where the real Church is and they attack it endlessly)There was no mention of how the Son of God set up the leadership of His Church on earth with men only.Writers of BL,if you think you know more than God ,which all of hollywood seems to think they do, I would do some serious praying that God shows you the way that he has designed.I am praying for you and all of tv people with an anti Christ agenda.

[Leona]

The ruling by the Judge played by Henry Gibson was so refreshing! Imagine - discriminating against women and losing tax exempt status. Lutheran Church Missouri Synod does NOT ordain women but Evangelical Lutheran Church in America does. Perhaps change is in the wind!

[RICH P]

I love the show and David Kelley is a genius. However, I think he missed the boat on this one. The arguments for legalizing prostitution were the old lame ones used forever. Why not consider Roe V Wade where, in essence, the Supreme Court said a woman's body was hers to control and she had the right to make decisions regarding it. Would this not only apply to abortion? Why does it not apply to her right to sell it's use? Does she not sell those same rights to her husband when he marries her? We know that in 50% of the cases it is only temporary, and after the divorce she can sell those rights to intercourse to someone else. What is the difference? Is not prostitution a short term verbal contract equivalent to the marriage contract? One celebrity was able to sell her body for less than 48 hours legally. Just a thought for an appeal of the loss on the case in the show. Kelley seems to be the only one taking on controversial issues and this is one that has been around forever. Why not a new argument?

[Grace Orlando]

I have been a fan of Boston Legal for years. I tolerated the liberal left bias political themes every week, even though I consider myself a Conservative. Your show was suppose to be a "comedy". But, May 15th episode of Catholic bashing and the assertion that women have a right to be ordained priests is not proper to the teachings and tradition of this great Church. You know nothing of the Catholic church or of God. I am sick of the media and Hollywood bashing the Catholics. Women have a great place in the church. So many are great Saints and let's not forget who the Mother of God is. Our Blessed Mary who we give much honor to. Jesus is the head of the church and He ordained men as the first priests and Bishops. He knew what He was doing. We respect and obey the teachings of Christ. Who do you think you are to challange the Son of God? I don't care if you believe or not. This is the truth. I'm sorry for all of you that you live in the darkness. I will pray for you. Jesus told us to pray for our eenemies.. Catholic bashers are ememies of God. God have mercy on you. I will NEVER, NEVER watch your show again....!

[Elle]

My family, friends, and I love Boston Legal and would like to know if it will be returning in the Fall. Does anybody know?

[Nora]

The show Grace (above) talks about did not only talk about Catholics. I find it interesting that now you're posting info that I commented to you on the message boards about Mary. It is your belief, not mine, that Mary is the mother of God. How can God have a mother? God is all there is - male/female, you name it. But women do not have a good place in the church. It's hypocritical to pray to Mary and not allow women priestesses.

[Dave]

I think BL is the most politically astute program on the air.

It raises many issues. I'm sorry that religious Catholics were offended. I don't think that was the shows intention.

Rather, the show tries to point out hypocrisy across all religions and politics and our society in general.

Certainly, the show is going to appeal more to progressive thinking liberals.

I should think that is the target audience.

For all the conservatives who are offended, you are not forced to watch. In the same way that I am not forced to listen to Rush and Hannity and all those fellows.

Sometimes I do however, because I believe we can learn, even from those whose ideas we may find heinous to say the least.

To all those who find the show offensive, I ask you to watch it with a really open mind.

Think for a moment about the Presidency. Has the current administration lived up to your expectations. As a religiously oriented administration, has it done for Americans and those around the world what you would hope a "Christian" thinking administration would.

Have we eradicated poverty, have we protected the rights of the individual, have we really tried to stamp out genocide? As religious people, please think about these questions and then decide if perhaps, within the teachings of your particular religion, there might not be a bit more of a tolerant way to deal with the rest of the world.

Boston Legal simply puts out some food for thought.
It's methods may seem abrupt, but its message is very clear.

[Miles]

I am so sick of David Kelley and his soapbox...go on CNN if you want to discuss politics!This is not the same show it used to be in it's early days,and Alan's character is definitely not the same as the one we were introduced to in "The Practice"..This show is getting old already! Stick to the unusual yet interesting cases, leave the politics out of it, and let us decide for ourselves who we are going to vote for!
What will the writers do when the election is over and they actually have to focus on writing stories we care about???

[Jimmy]

I find the show highly entertaining. The number one message I feel the writers convey is everyone needs to stop taking themselves too seriously.

I consider myself to be a recovering catholic. I was born and raised, with 8 yrs of elementary and 4 yrs of High School. Hell, I almost went to Cathedral Prep for high school. Yet as an adult that has managed to begin thinking on my own, I refuse to participate for a number of reasons. Perhaps the episode in question was a bit harsh, but it really was not that inaccurate of a concept in today's church communities.

Here's a story of a actual conversation that I had with a co-worker about another co-worker who is a devout catholic. Myself and "Jane" are relatively aligned with socio-political views. We're moderate left at best, but clearly standing on the left. I had commented on "John" (devout catholic with many children). There had been much negativity about John recently and I was sticking up for him with comments like "He's still a good man, good father, loving husband, etc, etc. He's not totally deserving of the treatment he's being given."... Jane's response was, "He does not believe that about us. We're going to hell because we don't think like he does."

In reality, I know not all devout catholics behave and feel this way. My sister for one is a devout catholic, and she does not have that same believe system as described above. In my heart I know Jane was correct about John.

I find the average devout religous follower to be just as guilty of bigotry as a the nazi's and arian nation followers. In some cases, the "John's" of the world are worse than the arian nation. The "john's" of the world lurk and silently display yet strongly spread their hatred by thier actions.

I once worked with a man who was an active Othordox Jew. He and I many times had to put an end to conversations because of his inconsistancies that could not let go. He would tell me the awful stories of how his car would get spit on and damage to his vehicle in the parking lot of the synagogue etc. Then however, when gay marriage came up in conversation, he would fly off the handle about how wrong it is to be gay etc.

I find a belief system that has far too little respect for other people to be insulting and counter productive to today's society.

Boston Legal does a good job of defending that descency and exposing the malices for what they are, and it makes me laugh too.

[Seth]

You have to be kidding me people. If you give the writers of this show anything more than gratitude from creating great fiction then you are just airing your own inequities.
It's hilarious. It's pokes fun. IT'S TV.
Now, if you are a member of any group, religious or not that can't take some poking,you are taking yourself too seriously.

Relax, enjoy and remind yourself that TV is another form of media that you can acknowledge or ignore. Just do it quietly. I'm sure something you found funny was heinously offensive to someone else at one time.

DENNY CRANE FOR PRESIDENT!!!!!