BOSTON LEGAL: LOOSE LIPS (TV)
Summary
One in this darkly comic series focusing on a firm of brilliant but emotionally-challenged attorneys in Boston. In this episode, Alan belligerently dresses as Santa Claus, complete with elf, during a boring staff meeting. They then learn that a department store Santa is there seeking counsel for wrongful termination and Denny jumps on the case, but is then shocked to find that the man is dressed in women's clothes. In therapy, Lori discusses being attracted to Alan despite finding him "repugnant," but Dr. Konigsberg seems distracted and asks for her advice as a lawyer, explaining that he has another patient who has talked about killing his ex-wife and wondering if he needs to report it. He shows her a tape of the man, Brian, describing his fantasies in detail, telling Lori that he feels stuck between moral obligation and doctor-patient confidentiality. Denny deals with his "sicko" patient, Gil, who explains that he is gay and a cross-dresser, but has no criminal record and has always been an excellent Santa Claus. Denny foists the case off on the far more liberal Alan, and Brad offers to bet on the case's outcome, with the loser having to dress as a Christmas elf. Lori asks for Alan's advice on the doctor's case and explains the conflict, but Alan bluntly points out that a woman's life should take precedence over their respective careers.
Brad pulls strings to have Gil's case handled by the notoriously conservative and homophobic Judge Hingham, who is outraged at the idea of a gay Santa working with children and denies all of Alan's motions. Alan, upon seeing how much the job means to Gil, humbly appeals to Hingham to at least listen to the man's explanation in a hearing. Later, Gil explains that the comforting "make-believe" aspect of Christmas appealed to him as a child when he felt like an outcast. Lori poses as Dr. Konigsberg's "colleague" during a session with Brian, who lies to her and claimed that he never seriously stated his intention to kill his ex. When Lori talks to Brad, he argues that confidentiality should come first, though acknowledges the difficulty of the situation. She asks about the elf bet, and forces him to admit that he desperately wants to win because he hates Alan and is jealous of his allure to women. Lori and Konigsberg show the tape to Brian's ex, Mary, who is terrified, but they assure her that Konigsberg will carefully "monitor" the situation and call the police if need be. In court, Gil explains that children and parents love him as Santa and that he has always kept his personal life separate, but when a young boy asked for St. Nick's help with his similar predilections, believing himself "sick," Gil reassured him by kindly telling him that he too wears female clothes and it is not wrong. The judge is affronted by this, and Alan, concerned about his closing statement, requests Denny's help with one last "Hail Mary."
Brian, angry that Konigsberg broke confidentiality, hires Paul as counsel, and is shocked to find that Lori is really a lawyer and not a therapist. Alan meets with Denny's personal friend Reverend Al Sharpton and asks him to "pretty please" assist with the bigoted judge, citing his talent for opening minds. When Hingham starts the day ten minutes early, Alan is forced to vamp and stall for time until Sharpton makes his grand entrance, at which point the Reverend gives an impressive speech in front of the media about equality and tolerance. Paul reprimands Lori and orders her to apologize to Brian for deceiving him and hope that he does not sue them, adding that he personally doubts that Brian would ever actually kill anyone. Brian explains that he uses therapy as a safe outlet for his anger and fears that Mary will take him too seriously, and Paul and Lori promise to talk to her again. Hingham gives in and Alan wins, allowing a grateful Gil to resume his role as Santa and forcing a surly Brad into an elf suit for the day. When Lori and Paul arrive at Mary's house, the police are already there, and Mary tells Lori that she shot Brian dead when he showed up, believing that he was there to kill her, and Lori cannot bring herself to confirm to Mary that she had no other choice. Includes commercials and promos.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: November 28, 2004 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:00:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:85211
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Drama; Lawyers
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 2004-2008
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Applebee's restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Buick automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Burger King restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Canon Digital Rebel cameras
- TV - Commercials - DeBeers diamonds
- TV - Commercials - Ford automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Habitat For Humanity
- TV - Commercials - Hallmark Gold Crown stores
- TV - Commercials - Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Kodak cameras and printers
- TV - Commercials - Lance Armstrong Foundation
- TV - Commercials - March of Dimes association
- TV - Commercials - Office Depot stores
- TV - Commercials - Pantene shampoos
- TV - Commercials - Philip Morris USA website
- TV - Commercials - Pizza Hut restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Sharp Aquos televisions
- TV - Commercials - Staples stores
- TV - Commercials - Subway restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Target stores
- TV - Commercials - United States Marines
- TV - Commercials - Verizon wireless cellular phones
- TV - Commercials - Wal-Mart stores
- TV - Commercials - Wheat Thins crackers
- TV - Commercials - Zelnorm medication
- TV - PSA - World Vision HIV/AIDS charity
- TV - Promos - "20/20"
- TV - Promos - "ABC World News Tonight with Peter Jennings"
- TV - Promos - "Alias"
- TV - Promos - "Blade: Trinity" motion picture
- TV - Promos - "Boston Legal" upcoming episode
- TV - Promos - "Closer" motion picture
- TV - Promos - "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"
- TV - Promos - "Lost"
- TV - Promos - "National Treasure" motion picture
- TV - Promos - "Nick and Jessica's Family Christmas"
- TV - Promos - "Primetime Live"
- TV - Promos - "The Five People You Meet in Heaven"
- TV - Promos - "The Polar Express" motion picture
- TV - Promos - Monday Night Football
CREDITS
- Bill D'Elia … Executive Producer
- Scott Kaufer … Executive Producer
- Jeff Rake … Executive Producer
- David E. Kelley … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Mike Listo … Co-Executive Producer
- Steve Ocko … Co-Executive Producer
- Steve Robin … Supervising Producer
- Lukas Reiter … Supervising Producer
- Jonathan Shapiro … Supervising Producer, Writer
- Janet Knutsen McCann … Producer
- Anne M. Uemura … Associate Producer
- Robert Breech … Consulting Producer
- Kerry Ehrin … Consulting Producer
- Jeannot Szwarc … Director
- Danny Lux … Music by
- James Spader … Cast, Alan Shore
- Monica Potter … Cast, Lori Colson
- Rhona Mitra … Cast, Tara Wilson
- Lake Bell … Cast, Sally Heep
- Mark Valley … Cast, Brad Chase
- William Shatner … Cast, Denny Crane
- H. Richard Greene … Cast, Judge Harry Hingham
- George Newbern … Cast, Dr. Allen Konigsberg
- Cheryl White … Cast, Mary Stevens
- Jim O'Heir … Cast, Gil Furnald
- Neal Matarazzo … Cast, Brian Stevens
- Wayne Wilderson … Cast, Attorney Paul Phillips
- Vicki Davis … Cast, Sylvia Donato
- Debbie Lee Carrington … Cast, Patty
- Rene Auberjonois … Cast, Paul Lewiston
- Al Sharpton … Cast, Himself
- Steven M. Gagnon … Cast, Detective Lowe
- Donna Cooper … Cast, Secretary
- Heidi Heller … Cast, Clerk