The Official Opinion! (Ally McBeal)

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Product:	Ally McBeal
Date:	25/01/01 (414 review reads)
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In 1997, a tightly wound bunch of contradictions in a miniskirt arrived on our TV screens. I remember that few thought it would be a hit, but it certainly has proved the critics wrong!

The creator of this splendid show of sex, religion, business and politics is David E. Kelly. Evidently this series was the peoples saviour, there was previously something missing. People needed a good laugh and a brisk argument and this was the answer. The jokes and melodramatics broke the regular rules, coloured outside prescribed political lines and made people actually talk about issues. Throughout the last 3 years many issues have been raised, such as, hostile work environments, what constitutes adultery, discrimination legalisation, the moral implications of a one-night stand, the stubborn persistence of first love, the ethics of prostitution, whether size matters.

Well one question many people ask is what makes it work, well here's my views. Firstly, it's interactive entertainment. The story is written 'death-defyingly' close to airtime (at least it is in the USA), it responds to critics and rumours by means of scripts packed with jokes and through the use of visual gags. Anyway, I've cobbled together this opinion to give the reader a brief insight to the characters and short appraisal of the some of the best episodes, so here it goes!!!


Ally McBeal
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Ally McBeal, played by the Broadway actress Calista Flockhart is a serious lawyer and a serial kisser, single - minded about what she wants yet subject to multitudinous moods that mutiny against the reign of her Harvard - trained brain. Calista's character is one of those people who can always say something careless off the tip of her tongue. Yet, throughout the many episodes we see her regret the words that fly out of her mouth like deadly spirits. Ally (much to the disgust of judges) is fond of wearing short skirts, primarily so that her legs are the
topic of conversation with the guys in the series. Ally was certain from childhood that Billy and her were supposed to be life partners, whereas he was to practical - minded to believe this. Ally's parents had a disastrous marriage with no love, the reason why she is so intent on finding the right guy. Ally McBeal is everyone's favourite character, she's lippy, ignorant, sexy and down - right funny.

Since her debut as Ally McBeal, Calsita Flockhart has starred in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream,' 'Jane Doe' and 'Like a hole in the Head.' She has also stared in the Broadway 'Bash: latter day plays.'

Billy Thomas
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Billy Thomas, played by Gil Bellows appears to the viewers as pretty much as a nostalgic reflection in Ally's eyes: the perfect guy, the childhood sweetheart who got away. His transfer to the University of Michigan allegedly for Law Review, was in reality to pursue Georgia, a woman who he felt fated to marry ten minutes after they met. Billy and Ally are a strange couple (when they are momentarily together), during their work they are either biting each other's heads off, or infatuated with each other. Billy's big moment of the series was probably when he and Georgia unleashed their unruly inner selves, by having or trying to have passionate sex in a unisex stall. Throughout the series, there has always been a possibility of what might have been between Ally and Billy.

Since Gil Bellow's debut in 'Ally McBeal,' as Billy Thomas he has stared in 'Dinner at Fred's' and 'Judas Kiss.'

John Cage
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John Cage, played by Peter MacNicol is the most miraculously effective attorney in the firm, is by the far the strangest of the 'gang.' He is my favourite character for many reasons, what I particularly like about him is his role model, the legendary Barry White!!! Cage is probably most famous
for his court room antics. He orchestrates manipulative silences and has many sounds at his disposal: nose whistles, stomach rumbles. He can throw ventriloquist - fashion, squeaky shoes, clickers and whooshing blow torches. He is made a dancing fool by 'Gimme Dat Thing' one power that he can't control. Any things are strange about Cage including his obsession with a fresh bowl. When, Ally has to get the Fire Brigade in to free her butt from the toilet seat he is distraught. He is an enigma, but as Renee observes, a cute enigma with no intention of surrendering his mystery.

Since starring in Ally McBeal, Peter MacNicol has starred in 'The Pooch and the Pauper,' 'Baby Geniuses' (appropriate!) and 'Bean.'

Renee Radick
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Renee Radick, played by Lisa Nicole Carson is Ally's roommate, confidante, and fellow aficionado of ice - cream and occasional courtroom nemesis as assistant district attorney. She is the attainder of weddings and burner of bridesmaids' dresses, not to mention giver and receiver of lots of mostly sound love and advice. Renee is a talented singer - and this gets her into trouble with Ally when she impulsively cuts in on a solo love song Greg is crooning to Ally at the Bar. She turns it into a steamy duet and taking the spotlight from the jealous, serenaded Ally. There is always a great deal of conflict between Renee and Elaine probably down to them both being too similar. Good looks, good voices and that good old killer instinct, (talk about the use of 'good.')

Since her debut in Ally McBeal as Renee, Lisa Nicole Carson has acted in 'Life.'

Georgia Thomas
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Georgia Thomas, played by Courtney Thorne ' Smith, walks into Ally's life as a problem and swiftly develops into a close friend. Georgia is another, clever, sexy and determined character, probably the cause of many arguments with Ally. Georgia
and Billy look like a 'dead cert.' until Ally walks back into Billy's life, and then when Georgia joins the firm, even more problems arise. Unlike the other women of the series Georgia is a dreadful singer and her renditions of Dusty Springfield classics are so abominable that everyone in the room bursts into song to drown her out. When her marriage with Billy is on thin ice, she slips walks in on Billy naked in red high heels and lies down on his desk. She has athletic sex with him in a Unisex stall resulting with him getting a black eye.

Courtney Thorne - Smith since starring in Ally McBeal as Georgia, has stared in 'Venus Conspiracy' and 'Chairman of the Board.'

Richard Fish
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Richard Fish, played by Greg Germann is Ally's long time friend, since being classmates at Harvard Law. He still clams he's only in it for the money . Really, we can all see that he started the firm for the sheer morally malleable fine of it. My favourite lines of his were in his debut episode, if I remember it correctly it was: 'I didn't become a lawyer because I like the law. The law sucks. It's boring. But, it can also be used as a weapon. You want to bankrupt somebody? Cost him everything he's worked for, make his wife leave him, even cause his kids to cry? We can do that.''It's not just winning, it's winning ugly that matters.' He is obsessed with sex, not love but sex and so when Ling makes him wait for it he gets really angry.

Since his debut in Ally McBeal, as Richard Fish, Greg Germann has stared in 'Jesus' Son.'

Elaine Vassal
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Elaine Vassal, played by Jane Krakowski is the best secretary a law firm ever had, and also the worst. She's fast, organised and willing to sue her own firm to the brink of bankruptcy when the mood strikes. Yet, she bounces back and expects to be welcomed back by the boss she&#
39;d almost taken to court. Elaine plays the superior character in the series, if you need the relevant precedents on a capital case then get Elaine on the case!!! Shes obsessed with inventions, by far her best was the face bra, which cause many problems for her and the firm. The series wouldn't be the same without her she is always happy and funny a quality that is necessary if you want to star in Ally McBeal.

Since her debut in Ally McBeal, Jane Krakowski has starred in 'The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas,' 'Go,' 'The Rodgers and Hart Story' and 'Dance with Me.'

Nelle Porter
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Nelle Porter, played by Portia de Rossi was originally created as someone who would cut through the warm world of the law firm like a well - aimed ice pack. Her looks have brought the firm lots more custom and her attitude and short temper have added to the humour of the series. At one stage, she had a long relationship with John Cage (senior partner), but this ended by her dumping him while he was stuck in an elevator shaft. She is another women with high ambitions and at one is always moaning about being senior partner. At the end of the last series she tried to start up a firm of her own, trying to steal as many clients form Cage and Fish as possible. But, like all scams against the firm, it failed, and the forgiving Fish let her back.


Since her debut in Ally McBeal, Portia de Rossi has starred in 'Girl,' 'The Invisibles,' and 'Stigmata.'

Ling Woo
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Ling Woo, played by Lucy Lui, is one of the latest additions to Cage/Fish and Associates, but she is in zero danger of getting overlooked in the crowd. Ling has even more impulse - control problems then Ally, because she sees no reason to control her impulses. Link speaks her version of truth to power, to weakness, to innocent passers-by in wheelchairs, to glasses of liquid refreshment that displease
her. She is famous for her ability to sue whomever she pleases (up to and including God). Her most famous episode is when she literally shouts 'Action!' straddling Fish, she so intimidates him that he 'turtles' and is unable to perform. Don't worry, Viagra bought him out of his shell, and Ling looked very impressed!!!

Since her debut in Ally McBeal as Ling, Lucy Lui has starred in 'Shanghai Noon,' 'Molly,' 'Payback' and 'True Crime.'

Judge - Whipper - Cone/ Dr. Tracy Clark/ Vonda Shepard
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These three are the 'extra's' in the series. Judge Cone appears in many episodes as the courtroom judge and even she is impressed by the lawyers at Cage and Fish. But, like the other judges, she often gets fed up with Cage?s antics and Ally's short temper. Dr. Tracy Clark makes few appearances, and when she does its always amusing. Vonda Shepard's songs are in all episodes and she sometimes makes appearances which is great because her songs are superb.

Below I have briefly described my favourite episode, which is 'One Hundred Tears Away.'

Ally quarrels with a woman at the supermarket over the last can of Pringles. Ally trips the woman, is also accused of shoplifting, and winds up facing a hearing to determine her mental fitness to practice law. It really is funny, this time she?s facing the charges, she's facing the arrogant lawyer and she's in the dock. It's suddenly not all as easy as she reassures her clients, but Fish and Cage have got the whole firm working to sort it out and with that kind of reassurance would you be scared. - I would!!! What makes the prosecutions case more convincing is the CCTV camera's in the supermarket, which clearly show Ally guilty. I won't let you know the verdict or what it entails, so you?ll have to watch it yourself sometime.

Another personal
favourite is the one with the dancing baby. I can't remember the actual name of the episode but it is one of the most famous ones. Many people say it was the one that made it so popular, well if you can get hold of that then go for it that?s what I say.

My verdict - Ally McBeal best comedy/romance/drama series of 1997-2000 and hopefully 2001 as well. Again, any comments on Ally McBeal or on this opinion are welcomed + Who DOOYOO think Ally will end up with after the dramatic death of Billy!!!

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