BOSTON LEGAL: MAD COWS (TV)
Summary
One in this darkly comic series focusing on a firm of brilliant but emotionally-challenged attorneys in Boston. In this episode, as Election Day approaches, Denny frustrates Alan with his plans to vote for John McCain because of "salmon and women," and Alan soon recruits him to assist with a case involving (actual) "mad cow" disease. Katie learns that she will be interviewed regarding Jerry's formal consideration for partner, and Denny and Alan, representing attractive cattle rancher Carol Hober, are surprised to find themselves squaring off against former colleague Denise Bauer. Prickly Judge Clark Brown is outraged to find Denny and Alan once again suing the government, this time for banning expensive and life-saving mad-cow tests. Carol argues that she should be allowed to test every one of her cattle for the deadly disease, rather than "picking and choosing" as the government allows large slaughterhouses to do.
Katie tries to obey Carl's instructions to remain "unbiased" about Jerry, but when the partners seem overly concerned with his unusual "quirks," she gives them a thorough dressing-down about maintaining the "old, white establishment" while claiming to promote diversity. Angered, Carl warns her that she may have just ruined her friend's chances, and Jerry prepares to face the board himself. U.S.D.A. Representative Joel Beavis claims that mad-cow tests don't really help in preventing the disease anyway and points out that American beef industry is infamously hard to defeat in court, and Alan and Denise descend into squabbling about the dangers of the illness. Denny advises Alan to bring up throw her off by bringing up Brad Chase, her probably-ex, though the two friends again fall into a political argument.
Carol refuses to settle if it means not advertising her commitment to testing her cattle, and Denise admits to a smug Alan that she and Brad are preparing to divorce. Denny barges into Jerry's board meeting and threatens to leave the firm if Jerry isn't made partner – which some view as an incentive rather than a deterrent – but Jerry forces them all to reconsider with a humble suggestion that the firm is in need of some level of kindness to offset the usual "bullying" atmosphere. Alan and Denny's Obama/McCain fight ratchets escalates to the point of shooting one another with paintball guns, much to Carl's chagrin, and Denise hints at some "unfinished business" with Alan before revealing that she and Brad are actually still married and quite happy together. Jerry is overwhelmed with emotion to learn that he has indeed made partner, and when Alan delivers a speech about the government's "greed and incompetence" superseding customers' safety, Brown uncharacteristically agrees with him and strikes down the no-testing ban. With the trial over, the lawyers head off to the voting booths – and Alan is shocked when Denny hints that he "crossed the aisle" for the first time ever. Includes commercials and promos.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: November 3, 2008 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:56:09
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 115654
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Drama; Lawyers; Politics
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 2004-2008
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - "Get Smart" home video
- TV - Commercials - "Kung Fu Panda" motion picture
- TV - Commercials - Abilify depression medication
- TV - Commercials - Advair asthma medication
- TV - Commercials - Apple MacBook computers
- TV - Commercials - Apple iPhone 3G devices
- TV - Commercials - Colgate Total toothpaste
- TV - Commercials - Conservation.org website
- TV - Commercials - CoverGirl TruBlend cosmetics
- TV - Commercials - DirecTV satellite television
- TV - Commercials - Dodge Ram automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Federal Student Aid financial services
- TV - Commercials - Girl Scouts of America organization
- TV - Commercials - Lexus automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Macy's stores
- TV - Commercials - Nissan automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Prilosec OTC heartburn medication
- TV - Commercials - Sprint wireless networks
- TV - Commercials - T-Mobile G1 cellular phones
- TV - Commercials - Travelers insurance
- TV - Commercials - USO organization
- TV - Commercials - Verizon Wireless cellular services
- TV - Commercials - Visa credit cards
- TV - Commercials - Volkswagen automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Windows computers
- TV - Promos - "Boston Legal" upcoming episode
- TV - Promos - "Dirty Sexy Money"
- TV - Promos - "Life On Mars"
- TV - Promos - ABC News
- TV - Promos - CMA Awards
CREDITS
- Bill D'Elia … Executive Producer
- Lawrence Broch … Executive Producer
- Mike Listo … Executive Producer
- David E. Kelley … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Susan Dickes … Co-Executive Producer
- Steve Robin … Supervising Producer, Director
- Janet Knutsen McCann … Producer
- Anne M. Uemura … Co-Producer
- Sanford Golden … Co-Producer
- Karen Wyscarver … Co-Producer
- Den Menchaca … Associate Producer
- Robert Breech … Consulting Producer
- Danny Lux … Music by
- James Spader … Cast, Alan Shore
- John Larroquette … Cast, Carl Sack
- Christian Clemenson … Cast, Jerry Espenson
- Tara Summers … Cast, Katie Lloyd
- Candice Bergen … Cast, Shirley Schmidt
- William Shatner … Cast, Denny Crane
- Rene Auberjonois … Cast, Paul Lewiston
- Julie Bowen … Cast, Denise Bauer
- Henry Gibson … Cast, Judge Clark Brown
- Ned Vaughn … Cast, U.S.D.A. Representative Joel Beavis
- Jim Jansen … Cast, Marshall Kennedy
- Steven Anderson … Cast, Walter Seymore
- Pamela Dunlap … Cast, Yellowstone
- Valerie Bertinelli … Cast, Carol Hober
- Karen Lew … Cast, Clerk