It looks like ABC’s Boston Legal will be returning this fall. Though the drama has a devout audience, its future was up in the air because of another David E. Kelley series.
Kelley owns the U.S. rights to Life on Mars, a BBC series which follows a 21st Century detective who finds himself thrown back to the 1970s. Kelley has been developing an American version of the show since 2006 when ABC committed to the pilot. He was serving as scriptwriter and executive producer but has recently decided that he wants to bow out. ABC wants to give the Mars series a greenlight but apparently needed to negotiate a new deal with Kelley. Legal was caught in the middle of those negotiations.
A deal for Mars has been worked out and the network has given the series a greenlight. ABC has also renewed Legal for season five.
The Legal good news may come with a cost however. As part of the renewal deal, it sounds like Kelley will have to do some cost cutting.
To start, ABC may cut its episode order to just 13. It also looks like the show’s cast list will be trimmed once again. Word is that all but Alan (James Spader), Denny (William Shatner), Shirley (Candice Bergen), and a few others will return as regular characters. Will Carl (John Larroquette), Jerry (Christian Clemenson), Clarence (Gary Anthony Williams), Katie (Tara Summers), Lorraine (Saffron Burrows), or Whitney (Taraji P. Henson) survive to see the new season? Who would you like to see return? 
goodbye denny & alan. Have a happy marriage 😀
I thought it was the best show on tv and was constantly touched and amused by William Shatner. I will miss it.
Tonight is the finale of Boston Legal and I would like to sue ABC or David Kelly-whoever is responsible for canceling the BEST show on TV. Why is it every time there is something both entertaining and intelligent on TV some power brings an end to it?? Don’t give us any more reality shows, they are insulting.
I’m thrilled the show is returning. The chemistry is so great, which is rare on a big crew show. I hope they keep Gerry–he’s a “hoot”–im sad that Eli Stone got the ax, but win some lose some.
Gladys, off-topic much?
It really irritates me when I see that a TV show is in trouble or cancelled because its demographic is older. I am older and I buy!!! Those really stupid shows that are put on to tittilate the “younger audience” are just that STUPID. I won’t watch them and many of us “older” viewers will watch other shows. We will find things to watch and won’t watch the junk that advertisers seem to want to push. I guess that means we won’t watch their advertising either.
Bill Tanski
This is the best, smartest, and funniest show on television. So entertaining. I hope ABC doesn’t make the mistake to can this fine show.
i would like a show to be done about wide screen movies and shows. why are we being forced to watch these shows and movies. most people have tv that can’t change the size of the picture. We are not being given a choice. thank you