BOSTON LEGAL: THE INNOCENT MAN (TV)

Summary

One in this darkly comic series focusing on a firm of brilliant but emotionally-challenged attorneys in Boston. In this episode, Alan advises Katie about the Joseph Washington case, urging her to trust herself. Shirley, however, doubts that they can win, as Joseph looks very guilty, and then awkwardly reveals to Alan that she has hired his ex Lorraine as an associate. In court, the coroner describes the victim's death in emotional terms, though Jerry points out that he is not a psychologist and that none of the medical evidence clearly implicates Joseph. Gloria asks Alan to make a decision about having a child with her, though Denny declares that she is "psycho." Alan quickly rekindles his romance with Lorraine when she approaches him for dinner, though this does not prevent Denny from aggressively hitting on her and noting that Alan is a habitual cheater. Katie meets with the victim's psychiatrist and asks him if she ever mentioned Joseph, but he refuses to break confidentiality. Detective Berenson testifies that Joseph confessed to the crime and that DNA evidence supports his guilt, but Katie points out that his confession came only after 36 hours of forceful interrogation and that the police did not bother investigating any other suspects.

Shirley talks to Alan about Gloria's idea, and he admits that he comes from a line of "dreadful" fathers. Katie and Jerry are highly upset when Dr. Rivers, the victim's husband, states on the stand that he believes Joseph guilty, as he previously stated that he did not suspect him, but Alan reminds them that they only need to create reasonable doubt, not definitively prove innocence. On cross, Katie questions Rivers about his wife's affair with Joseph, which he denies, and then points out the inconsistencies in the timeline of his movements that night. She then pointedly asks if he in fact killed his own wife, and Alan chastises her for making herself appear to be "the bad guy." Joseph refuses to accept a plea of second-degree murder, and they decide to subpoena the shrink after all, having no other choice. When the doctor takes the stand, Katie points out that he can waive privilege, as his patient is dead, and he admits that she did indeed confirm an affair with Joseph. Alan upbraids Denny for hitting on Lorraine, though he forcefully claims that he is not still in love with her. He then tells Katie that the shrink's testimony created sufficient reasonable doubt, but questions the value of calling Joseph to the stand, as he can be difficult and may hurt his own cast. Katie, however, states that she has grown so appreciate Joseph's gentle side and genuinely believes in his innocence, and Alan agrees.

On the stand, Joseph explains that he and the victim were intimate shortly before her death and that he falsely confessed after being sleep-deprived and harassed by the detectives. He also explains that his previous date rape conviction came from a girlfriend wanting to avoid trouble with her father, though he admits to his past drug-related crimes. Brad tries to argue that he is simply making a series of excuses, but Joseph firmly reiterates his innocence. Carl offers to speak to Denny about his attitude towards Lorraine, and Jerry plans his closing argument late into the night. Alan encourages him to speak from the heart, and Jerry tells him that he would make an excellent father after all. In closing, Brad states that Joseph is either guilty or improbably "unlucky" in life, but Jerry explains thoroughly that the husband had clear motive and time in which to commit the crime, meaning that there is clear reasonable doubt in Joseph's favor. Alan ends things with Gloria when he states that he cannot have a child with her, and Joseph, Jerry and Katie are all shocked when the jury comes back after only half an hour. Joseph is found not guilty on all counts, and Brad tells Dr. Rivers not to leave town. Later, Denny is shocked and jealous when Alan suggests that Shirley and Carl are secretly together. He realizes that he cares more for Shirley than he does any other woman, as Alan does for Lorraine, and they agree that love is "an ugly business." Includes commercials and promos.

Details

• NETWORK: ABC
• DATE: October 2, 2007 Monday 10:00 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 01:00:00
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: B:92953
• GENRE: Comedy
• SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Drama; Lawyers
• SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 2004-2008
• COMMERCIALS:
  • TV - Commercials - AT&T cellular services
  • TV - Commercials - Byetta medication
  • TV - Commercials - Canine Companions For Independence
  • TV - Commercials - Chase Freedom credit cards
  • TV - Commercials - Chemistry.com
  • TV - Commercials - Enterprise Rent-a-Car
  • TV - Commercials - Girls and Boys Town National Hotline
  • TV - Commercials - Honda automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - Hunt's tomatoes
  • TV - Commercials - Hyundai automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - Macy's stores
  • TV - Commercials - Make A Wish foundation
  • TV - Commercials - Mucinex DM cough medication
  • TV - Commercials - Nasonex allergy medication
  • TV - Commercials - Nissan automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - One-A-Day Women's vitamins
  • TV - Commercials - Progresso Light soups
  • TV - Commercials - Schick Intuition Plus razors
  • TV - Commercials - Staples stores
  • TV - Commercials - Target stores
  • TV - Commercials - The Home Depot stores
  • TV - Commercials - Trident chewing gum
  • TV - Commercials - eBay website
  • TV - PSA - A Better Community
  • TV - Promos - "Big Shots"
  • TV - Promos - "Boston Legal" home video
  • TV - Promos - "Boston Legal" upcoming episode
  • TV - Promos - "Dirty Sexy Money"
  • TV - Promos - "Grey's Anatomy"
  • TV - Promos - "Private Practice"
  • TV - Promos - "Pushing Daisies"
  • TV - Promos - "The Jungle Book" home video
  • TV - Promos - "Ugly Betty"

CREDITS

• Bill D'Elia … Executive Producer
• David E. Kelley … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
• Lawrence Broch … Co-Executive Producer
• Mike Listo … Co-Executive Producer, Director
• Steve Robin … Supervising Producer
• Janet Knutsen McCann … Producer
• Craig Turk … Producer
• Anne M. Uemura … Co-Producer
• Phoef Sutton … Consulting Producer
• Robert Breech … Consulting Producer
• Susan Dickes … Consulting Producer, Writer
• Danny Lux … Music by
• James Spader … Cast, Alan Shore
• John Larroquette … Cast, Carl Sack
• Christian Clemenson … Cast, Jerry Espenson
• Gary Anthony Williams … Cast, Clarence Bell
• Tara Summers … Cast, Katie Lloyd
• Saffron Burrows … Cast, Lorraine Weller
• Candice Bergen … Cast, Shirley Schmidt
• William Shatner … Cast, Denny Crane
• Mark Valley … Cast, Brad Chase
• Craig "muMs" Grant … Cast, Joseph Washington
• Obba Babatunde … Cast, Dr. Stanley Rivers
• Tony Todd … Cast, Detective Walter Berenson
• Rob Brownstein … Cast, Dr. Timothy Wood
• Ken Jeong … Cast, Coroner Myron Okubo
• Gail O'Grady … Cast, Judge Gloria Weldon
• Takayo Fisher … Cast, Clerk
• Kurt Scholler … Cast, Court Bailiff
• David Trice … Cast, Foreman