2020 Paley Archive Elements 3840x1536 Banner2

BOSTON LEGAL: THE OBJECT OF MY AFFECTION (TV)

Summary

One in this darkly comic series focusing on a firm of brilliant but emotionally-challenged attorneys in Boston. In this episode, Alan defends Patrice Kelly, who fatally shot her daughter's murderer, and the man's co-worker gives a melodramatic description of the killing and Patrice's calm, deliberate demeanor. A psychiatrist testifies that she was on "auto-pilot" during the killing, though A.D.A. Betts questions the validity of this convenient claim. Elsewhere, Denny summons an associate, Nancy, and matter-of-factly fires her for being overweight, and Carl blows up at him for the petulant and obviously lawsuit-worthy action. Leigh Swift, a quirky woman with mannerisms similar to Jerry's, arrives at the office and asks his help in recovering her missing "lover": a metal utility box. Alan and Whitney sternly inform Patrice that she must be "sincere" and emotional on the stand in order to win over the jury, and she testifies that she heard what she believed to be God's voice telling her to kill the man, weeping as she explains that she felt her daughter's soul required justice. When Betts points out that she was found competent to stand trial, she explains that she now understands that it was not God speaking, but merely her own subconscious justifying her desire for revenge. Katie researches objectophilia and suggests to Jerry that they simply find Leigh's "lover," and Lorraine tries to use Denny's attraction to her to smooth over the Nancy debacle.

Alan questions Denny about his actions, guessing that he is bitter about his exclusion from the high-profile Kelly case, and Katie tells a skeptical Carl that Leigh deserves justice, as the law is meant to protect society's most "vulnerable members." Father Maher suggests that God will forgive Patrice's righteous actions, though theological professor Benoit argues that the priest is misinterpreting God's words, and Alan angrily castigates him for pontificating about the woman's genuine grief from his "scholarly high horse." Leigh is upset to learn that the utility box has been destroyed, but Jerry reassures her that she is not "sick" and simply has intimacy issues, urging her to consider a relationship with a flesh-and-blood person. Nancy, aware that she has grounds for a hefty lawsuit, refuses Lorraine's offer of her job back plus a monetary bonus, and Denny makes the situation worse with his tactless comments about "winners and losers." Carl tries to point out that, as partner, Denny's actions are not solely "his business," though Denny is unmoved. Betts declares that Patrice had no right to take the law into her own hands, but Alan states that he is strongly against the death penalty and yet views Patrice's actions as moral, as she took personal and balanced revenge for a grave injustice. The jury, clearly conflicted, asks to add the lesser charge of manslaughter as an option, but Alan refuses, knowing that Patrice will not want to compromise.

Carl questions Denny about Nancy's upcoming case, wondering why he is willing to put his "mad cow disease" on public display, but Denny makes the baffling claim that obesity is dangerously contagious. Jerry is flustered but pleased when Leigh returns and asks him out on a date, and Patrice, Alan and Whitney are stunned when Patrice is found not guilty on all charges. Denny suggests that Alan is a hypocrite for supporting her, though Alan sticks to his guns, and when he suggests that Denny fired Nancy because she rejected him sexually, Denny admits that he resents that many people, including women, consider him to be "over." Alan wonders if Denny maintains their friendship as a means of "staying younger," but Denny assures him that he appreciates him – and their "sleepovers" – out of genuine love. Includes commercials and promos.

Details

  • NETWORK: ABC
  • DATE: November 6, 2007 Tuesday 10:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 0:56:06
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: B:93189
  • GENRE: Comedy
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Drama; Lawyers
  • SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 2004-2008
  • COMMERCIALS:
    • TV - Commercials - "Shrek the Third" home video
    • TV - Commercials - "Shrek the Third" home video
    • TV - Commercials - Aleve painkillers
    • TV - Commercials - AmeriCorps.gov organization
    • TV - Commercials - Apple iPhones
    • TV - Commercials - Avodart prostate medication
    • TV - Commercials - Canine Companions for Independence
    • TV - Commercials - Claritin allergy medication
    • TV - Commercials - Cymbalta depression medication
    • TV - Commercials - Ester-C vitamins
    • TV - Commercials - Glade scented oil candles
    • TV - Commercials - Honda automobiles
    • TV - Commercials - Hyundai automobiles
    • TV - Commercials - LensCrafters stores
    • TV - Commercials - Lexus automobiles
    • TV - Commercials - Make-A-Wish foundation
    • TV - Commercials - MasterCard credit cards
    • TV - Commercials - MetLife insurance
    • TV - Commercials - The Home Depot stores
    • TV - Commercials - Trident chewing gum
    • TV - Commercials - Victoria's Secret stores
    • TV - Commercials - Visa check cards
    • TV - Commercials - Zales jewelers
    • TV - Commercials - eBay website
    • TV - PSA - A Better Community volunteering project
    • TV - Promos - "20/20"
    • TV - Promos - "Boston Legal" upcoming episode
    • TV - Promos - "Good Morning America"
    • TV - Promos - "Grey's Anatomy"
    • TV - Promos - "Men in Trees"
    • TV - Promos - "Ugly Betty"
    • TV - Promos - "Women's Murder Club"
    • TV - Promos - CMA Awards

CREDITS

  • Bill D'Elia … Executive Producer
  • David E. Kelly … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
  • Mike Listo … Co-Executive Producer
  • Lawrence Broch … Co-Executive Producer
  • Steve Robin … Supervising Producer
  • Janet Knutsen McCann … Producer
  • Craig Turk … Producer
  • Anne M. Uemura … Associate Producer
  • Phoef Sutton … Consulting Producer
  • Susan Dickes … Consulting Producer
  • Robert Breech … Consulting Producer
  • Eric Stoltz … Director
  • Corinne Brinkerhoff … 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 / Clarice Bell
  • Tara Summers … Cast, Katie Lloyd
  • Saffron Burrows … Cast, Lorraine Weller
  • Taraji P. Henson … Cast, Whitney Rome
  • Candice Bergen … Cast, Shirley Schmidt
  • William Shatner … Cast, Denny Crane
  • Peter Onorati … Cast, A.D.A. Stewart Betts
  • Mary Gross … Cast, Leigh Swift
  • Pamela Adlon … Cast, Attorney Emma Path
  • Miriam Flynn … Cast, Gretchen Winters
  • Barry Primus … Cast, Professor Jeffrey Benoit
  • Jill Brennan … Cast, Gracie Jane
  • Chuck McCann … Cast, Judge Byron Fudd
  • Khali Macintyre … Cast, Nancy Wilding
  • Gregg Daniel … Cast, Dr. Jason Marcini
  • Enn Reitel … Cast, Father Kevin Maher
  • Rod McLachlan … Cast, Steve Hughes
  • Mare Winningham … Cast, Patrice Kelly
  • Melissa Cook … Cast, Producer
  • Leyna Nguyen … Cast, Reporter #1
  • Ted Garcia … Cast, Reporter #2
  • Mark Edward Smith … Cast, Bailiff
  • Ralph Drischell … Cast, Foreman
  • Matt Williamson … Cast, Sean Harmon