BOSTON LEGAL: HELPING HANDS (TV)

Summary

One in this darkly comic series focusing on a firm of brilliant but emotionally challenged attorneys in Boston. In this episode, Paul and Shirley panic upon learning that Denny is engaged yet again, sure that it will end in disaster and hurt the firm. Alan, defending Jerry for his impulsive attack on Shirley, makes an argument of temporary insanity, though A.D.A. Ginsberg declares that Jerry is a dangerous flight risk and the judge denies bail. Daniel visits Denise and asks to sit second chair on her latest case, that of a teacher seeking an injunction against two "helicopter parents," and he easily charms Denny and gets the necessary permission to help out. Alan manages to get Jerry released and decides to seek a continuance, hoping that Shirley will agree to a plea bargain once everyone has "cooled down," but Jerry protests that he cannot risk disbarment, as the law is his greatest love. Shirley, seeing Alan's determination to get Jerry off, creates a "Chinese wall" and prevents the rest of the firm, including his assistant Melissa, from helping with his defense. In court, the teacher explains that the parents in question have been contacting her non-stop to micromanage their daughter's grades and progress, and Daniel proves his talents when he skillfully charms the judge with his savvy questions.

Shirley meets with Denny's fiancée, Beverly, and when she freely admits that she is attracted to Denny's wealth and power, Shirley makes it very clear that she will make Beverly sorry if her "friend" is hurt. During a round of dance practice, Denny voices his hopes that his best friend will like his latest wife-to-be, and though he refuses to cross Shirley's "wall," he unintentionally gives Alan some useful advice about Jerry's case. Denise and Daniel come up with a clever strategy in which they aggressively question the mother together and, when scolded by the judge, agree that "badgering" is a harmful and annoying tactic. On the stand, Shirley declares that Jerry's actions were intentional and not at all insane, though Alan points out that oddball Jerry was repeatedly deemed "not partnership material" despite his excellent law skills, suggesting that Shirley deliberately mislead him with false promises about his career's future. Ginsberg, however, counters that Jerry was not fired and stood to make a significant salary even without the partnership.

Jerry, aware that the case is not going well, tells Alan about his father and his "never give up" attitude. Daniel suggests to Denise that she is unusually "forthcoming" with him because of his terminal illness, while elsewhere Alan is startled to learn from a doctor that Jerry likely has long-undiagnosed Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism that causes social difficulties and seemingly odd behavior. Paul orders Denny to sign a newly-revised prenup, making it clear that he wants to protect the firm from any future fallout from Denny's inevitable breakup with Beverly, though Denny angrily informs him that he is still the "captain" of the firm and Paul a mere "deckhand." In their closing statements, the parents' lawyer argues that the academic world has grown extremely competitive and his clients are right to safeguard their daughter's future, though Daniel, noting that he has a unique worldview because of his illness, argues that teachers are not sufficiently respected for their hard work and that one "can't control life" with obsessive scrutiny. Jerry is relieved to hear of his likely diagnosis, but he refuses to use it as his official defense, sure that no one will hire a "mental case" lawyer. Alan appeals directly to Shirley, firmly stating that it is only fair to drop the case on the condition that Jerry receives appropriate treatment, and Shirley finally gives in. Daniel and Denise celebrate their win in bed, though Denise grows upset when she realizes that she is falling for a man with a very grim prognosis. Alan finally meets Beverly and assures Denny that he cares only about his happiness and not the other lawyers' opinions, and Denny smooths things over with Paul, agreeing to pretend that he "forgot" about their fight because of his "mad cow." Includes commercials and promos.

Details

• NETWORK: ABC
• DATE: January 17, 2006 10:00 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 0:58:09
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: B:88410
• GENRE: Comedy
• SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Drama; Lawyers
• SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 2004-2008
• COMMERCIALS:
  • TV - Commercials - Afrin nasal spray
  • TV - Commercials - American Medical Association
  • TV - Commercials - Ameriprise Financial services
  • TV - Commercials - Applebee's restaurants
  • TV - Commercials - Celebrity Cruises cruise line
  • TV - Commercials - Chevrolet automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - Creme Savers candies
  • TV - Commercials - Enterprise Rent-a-Car services
  • TV - Commercials - Expedia.com travel website
  • TV - Commercials - Glade Plug-In air fresheners
  • TV - Commercials - H&R Block tax services
  • TV - Commercials - Imitrex migraine medication
  • TV - Commercials - Kia automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - L'Oréal Revitalift wrinkle cream
  • TV - Commercials - Match.com dating website
  • TV - Commercials - MedlinePlus.gov medical website
  • TV - Commercials - Monster.com job search website
  • TV - Commercials - National Television Academy website contest
  • TV - Commercials - Pizza Hut restaurants
  • TV - Commercials - Pledge household cleaner
  • TV - Commercials - Smart Balance butter substitute
  • TV - Commercials - Staples stores
  • TV - Commercials - United States Marine Corps
  • TV - Commercials - Verizon Wireless cellular services
  • TV - Promos - "Boston Legal" upcoming episode
  • TV - Promos - "Crumbs"
  • TV - Promos - "Dancing With the Stars"
  • TV - Promos - "Desperate Housewives"
  • TV - Promos - "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"
  • TV - Promos - "Grey's Anatomy"
  • TV - Promos - "Invasion"
  • TV - Promos - "Lost"
  • TV - Promos - "Primetime"
  • TV - Promos - "inJustice"

CREDITS

• Bill D'Elia … Executive Producer, Director
• David E. Kelley … Executive Producer, Created by
• Mike Listo … Co-Executive Producer
• Janet Leahy … Co-Executive Producer, Writer
• Steve Robin … Supervising Producer
• Janet Knutsen McCann … Producer
• Andrew Kreisberg … Producer, Writer
• Anne M. Uemura … Associate Producer
• Lawrence Broch … Consulting Producer
• Robert Breech … Consulting Producer
• Phoef Sutton … Consulting Producer, Writer
• Danny Lux … Music by
• James Spader … Cast, Alan Shore
• Julie Bowen … Cast, Denise Bauer
• Mark Valley … Cast, Brad Chase
• Rene Auberjonois … Cast, Paul Lewiston
• Justin Mentell … Cast, Garrett Wells
• Ryan Michelle Bathe … Cast, Sara Holt
• Candice Bergen … Cast, Shirley Schmidt
• William Shatner … Cast, Denny Crane
• Michael J. Fox … Cast, Daniel Post
• Marisa Coughlan … Cast, Melissa Hughes
• Christian Clemenson … Cast, Jerry Espenson
• Currie Graham … Cast, A.D.A. Frank Ginsberg
• Veronica Cartwright … Cast, Judge Peggy Zeder
• Megan Gallagher … Cast, Gigi Gering
• Audrey Wasilewski … Cast, Traci Carpenter
• Lou Beatty Jr. … Cast, Judge Gordon Kolodny
• Kelly Connell … Cast, Attorney John Hoberg
• Michael Kostroff … Cast, Dr. David Cannon
• Joanna Cassidy … Cast, Beverly Bridge
• Takayo Fisher … Cast, Clerk
• Robert Frank Telfer … Cast, Man