Neil Young once asked whether it was better to burn out or fade way. What he meant was whether or not success should come and go at a fast pace, then disappear, or if a gradual fade to nothing would be more appropriate. For many television shows, leaving the air at a peak is more important then extending significantly into a downfall. British television shows have notoriously gone off the air earlier, then later, while many American shows have held on for way too long. Ally McBeal was a show that wasn’t on for too long and yet managed to last longer then it probably should’ve.
Following the tale of a wacky lawyer (Calista Flockhart in the title role) and her zany adventures at a burgeoning law firm, the series was known for using surreal touches and a dancing baby (amongst other things) in what was the middle of David E Kelley’s hot streak as a television writer/producer.
The first season follows Ally in the beginnings of her career at the law firm of a law school fried (Greg Germann), where the former love of her life (Gil Bellows) and his current wife (Courtney Thorne-Smith) also work. Throw in an assistant (Jane Krakowski) with her ears open to all the latest gossip and Ally is in for an interesting ride.
Ally McBeal is interesting, especially in its first season, because it doesn’t take itself quite as seriously as other shows about lawyers do. The law has a part in the firm, but this isn’t a show devoted to lawyers tackling legal issues. This is much more about the quirkiness of the characters then their profession and the show takes a while to settle into a groove. The first several episodes are a little choppy, so to speak, as the series format is still being tinkered with early on. There’s an uncertainty of style that disappears about four episodes in, as the show begins to settle into a groove that it wouldn’t break until Robert Downey Jr. would depart and take the series with him.
Presented in a full screen format with a Dolby digital surround, the series has a good but not great transfer. The audio is crystal clear, as obvious care was put into it, but the video transfer is a bit erratic. The colors are a bit off and muted.
None.
Ally McBeal may have overstayed its welcome later on its series run, but in its first season there is plenty of the magic that made it one of the ‘90s more memorable television shows.
20th Century Fox presents Ally McBeal (Season 1). Starring Courtney Thorne-Smith, Calista Flockhart, Greg Germann, Jane Krakowski. Running time: 969 minutes. Not Rated. Released on DVD: October 6, 2009. Available at Amazon.
