Ally McBeal

Buzz

Ally McBeal ranks 1,758 out of the 18,229 shows on TV.com.

The 1,413 users who count themselves as Ally McBeal fans have written a total of 70 reviews.

Status

Premiered

Ended

Genre

Theme

Related Shows

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FOX's hit dramatic and humorous show tells the story of the trials and tribulations of a 28-year-old lawyer by the name of Ally McBeal (Calista Flockhart), who is just fresh out of Harvard Law School. Ally was harassed at the firm where she was originally working, and when she told the firm's partners, she ended... more »

FOX's hit dramatic and humorous show tells the story of the trials and tribulations of a 28-year-old lawyer by the name of Ally McBeal (Calista Flockhart), who is just fresh out of Harvard Law School. Ally was harassed at the firm where she was originally working, and when she told the firm's partners, she ended up losing her job. However, she then runs into an old friend and he offers her a new job at his brand new firm where she meets tons of new people and her old boyfriend, Billy with who she'll lead her new life full of cases and Ally's fantasies.

Once the darling of the network, rumors of anorexia plagued star Calista Flockhart. The second and third seasons, therefore, introduced more and more eccentric characters who were given essentially "nothing" to do, and original seriesa regulars Gil Bellows and Courtney Thorne-Smith both left to pursue other projects.

Ally McBeal was revitalized in its fourth season with the addition of Robert Downey Jr. as the lead character's love interest, Larry Paul. However, Downey's personal problems and numerous arrests, eventually wore out Kelley's patience and he was dropped. Lisa Nicole Carson, who played Ally's roommate, also left at the end of the fourth season following a brief stint in an institution and admitted problems with substance abuse.

Without Downey, the fifth season had floundered more than ever; bringing in Jon Bon Jovi as a love interest, and giving Ally a daughter played by Hayden Panettiere) hadn't helped. Lucy Liu's character was dropped to a recurring role, while James LeGros left. James Marsden and Julianne Nicholson were added to the cast, only to be dropped a few weeks later. David E. Kelley decided then to cancel the show instead of having FOX executives do it for him.

Awards/Nominations:

EMMY AWARDS:

> 1998 - Nominated - Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series [David E. Kelley; for episode "Theme Of Life"]
> 1998 - Nominated - Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Series [Tom Moore; for episode "Cro-Magnon"]
> 1998 - Nominated - Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series [Calista Flockhart]
> 1998 - Nominated - Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series [Allan Arkush; for episode "Cro-Magnon"]
> 1998 - Nominated - Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series [James Frawley; for episode 1]
> 1998 - Nominated - Outstanding Costuming for a Series [for episode "Cro-magnon"]
> 1998 - Nominated - Outstanding Comedy Series
> 1998 - Nominated - Outstanding Casting for a Series
> 1998 - Nominated - Outstanding Art Direction for a Series (for episode "Boy to the World")
> 1998 - Won! - Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy Series or a Special (for episode "Boy to the World")
> 1999 - Nominated - Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series [David E. Kelley; for episode "Sideshow"]
> 1999 - Nominated - Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series [Lucy Liu]
> 1999 - Nominated - Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series [Peter MacNicol]
> 1999 - Nominated - Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Series [Philip Carr Neel]
> 1999 - Nominated - Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series [Calista Flockhart]
> 1999 - Nominated - Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series [John Ritter; for episodes "George Madison"; "It's My Party" & "Story of Love"]
> 1999 - Nominated - Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series [Arlene Sanford; for episode "Those Lips, That Hand"]
> 1999 - Nominated - Outstanding Costume Design for a Series [Rachael Stanley; for episode "Making Spirits Bright"]
> 1999 - Nominated - Outstanding Casting for a Series
> 1999 - Nominated - Outstanding Art Direction for a Series [for episode "Making Spirits Bright"]
> 1999 - Won! - Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series [Tracey Ullman; for episodes "Tracy Clark" & "Sideshow"]
> 1999 - Won! - Outstanding Comedy Series
> 1999 - Won! - Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy Series or a Special [for episode "Love's Illusion"]
> 2000 - Nominated - Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series [Bill D'Elia; for episode "Ally McBeal: The Musical"]
> 2000 - Nominated - Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series [Peter Macnicol]
> 2000 - Won! - Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy Series or a Special [for episode "Car Wash"]
> 2001 - Nominated - Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series [Robert Downey Jr.]
> 2001 - Nominated - Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series [Calista Flockhart]
> 2001 - Nominated - Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series [Bernadette Peters; for episode "Cassandra Lewis"]
> 2001 - Nominated - Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series [jami gertz; for episode "Kimmy Bishop"]
> 2001 - Nominated - Outstanding Cinematography for a Single Camera Series [Billy Dickinson; for episode "Cloudy Skies, Chance Of Parade"]
> 2001 - Won! - Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series [Peter MacNicol]
> 2001 - Won! - Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series
> 2002 - Nominated - Outstanding Cinematography for a Single Camera Series [Billy Dickinson; for episode "Reality Bites"]

GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS:

> 1998 - Won! - Best TV-Series - Comedy/Musical
> 1998 - Won! - Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series - Comedy/Musical [Calista Flockhart]
> 1999 - Nominated - Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series - Comedy/Musical [Calista Flockhart]
> 1999 - Nominated - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture [jane Krakowski]
> 1999 - Won! - Best TV-Series - Comedy/Musical
> 2000 - Nominated - Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series - Comedy/Musical [Calista Flockhart]
> 2000 - Nominated - Best TV-Series - Comedy/Musical
> 2001 - Nominated - Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series - Comedy/Musical [Calista Flockhart]
> 2001 - Nominated - Best TV-Series - Comedy/Musical
> 2000 - Won! - Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV [Robert Downey Jr.]
> 2002 - Nominated - Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy [Calista Flockhart]
> 2002 - Nominated - Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy

Theme Song: "Searching My Soul" by Vonda Shepard

FOX Broadcast History
September 1997 - May 2002 -- Mondays 9:00 PMless «

• OMG!!! Ally McBeal finally being released in the U.S.!!!!!!

  Ally McBeal on DVD, in 2009 . Yup, our sources are telling us that 20th Century Fox is prepping the quirky David E. Kell...more »

  Ally McBeal on DVD, in 2009 . Yup, our sources are telling us that 20th Century Fox is prepping the quirky David E. Kelly series starring Calista Flockhart, Greg Germann, Jane Krakowski, Peter MacNicol, and many others. We're told the first season of the five season series (112 episodes) will be released later this year (the date, and maybe even the month aren't set in stone). But wait , that's not all... Fox is also prepping the complete series to be released on the same day as the season 1 set. So, if all goes according to plan (or the rumors), then serious collectors will be able to pick up the complete series, while casual fans, or people not wanting to fork out for the big set, will be able to pick up season 1. Seasons 2-5 would be released individually later on. Let me (Gord) be the first to say that I love this new release strategy from Fox, and I think the fans will love it as well. We'll keep you updated on any other information or rumors we hear. Please keep in mind this is a rumor and not an official announcement. Now, is that news worth posting late on a Friday? You betcha. Link below: http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Ally-McBeal-Release-Rumors/12155 less «

  jammer1128 Last online Jun 22, 2009
  6 comments, last one 1 day, 21 hrs ago + Add Comment

• The transition between 4th and 5th season...

  Hi all! new to the forum, nice 2 meet you everyone :) Anyway, something's been bothering me... a couple of things actu...more »

  Hi all! new to the forum, nice 2 meet you everyone :) Anyway, something's been bothering me... a couple of things actually, i'm only in the beginning of season 5 so try not to spoil anything please...but these are the things: A. The breakup of Larry & Ally... now what the hell was that? why exactly did he break up with her? just cause he 'thought' he'll fail again in the relationship due to previous failing ones? while she didn't even get the chance to answer his proposal? (cause she was never proposed by him eventually)... that's just...well preposterous! B. The strange disappearance of key characters in the series... for example: Jane.. which had just been hired on the firm at the end of season 4.. AND started having a relationship with Richard.. she just disappeared! wtf? And even worse is Jackson! a lead character for the entire 4th season with a clear romantic thing going on with Ling... and a lawyer at Cash & Fish lawfirm and suddenly.. 'poof?' gone? what's up with that? are we just suppose to accept it...? with no explenation whatsoever? Waiting for your helpful replies... Thanks ahead :) less «

  Nom1fan Last online Apr 25, 2008
  25 comments, last one Jun 11, 2009 + Add Comment

• Do you think it would work if they made a Ally McBeal Movie?

  I was wandering if the quality of the TV show would work in a movie form, like Sex and the city. What do you think?:?:)

  I was wandering if the quality of the TV show would work in a movie form, like Sex and the city. What do you think?:?:)less «

  Bygones Last online Feb 13, 2009
  7 comments, last one Jun 7, 2009 + Add Comment

•  

  10 Perfect

  The most surprising show! hide « show »

  When the show was first aired, it came as a huge surprise: a witty combination between comedy and drama, seen from the eyes of a childish lawyer who has love problems. We all remember the dancing cupid and the unicorns, it all became usual at a point. But Ally surprised us some more when she had wild sex in a car-wash station! Then, she fell in love with the hot shrink, then, with the hot plummer (by the way, who would have ever thought Jon Bon Jovi was gonna star in the show!?).
  Bottomline, this show was always like a breath of fresh air, not only because of Ally's "adventures", but because of the silly trials featured, because of funny John, materialist Richard, sexy Elaine, cold hard Nelle, non-human Ling, etc., who all seemed to be just like Ally after all...

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  i_m_in_hiding Added Jun 25, 2009 All my reviews
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  10 Perfect

  Ally McBeal is a young lawyer who starts working at a firm where her first love works (and hide « show »

  such an amazing show! ive read so many times how it was only good during seasons 1 and 2... after seeing the first 4 seasons (the last one i still have to download it) let me say its just flawless. yes. there might be one or two (no more) silly episodes, but the rest are oh so great. calista flockhart is just amazing in every episode and all the others actors are just as well, the guest stars are fantastic and the stories just get better. i agree season 5 might suck a little cuz robert downey jr stops acting on it :( !!!! but still... as long as Ally is there... ill be watching

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  matt_oc Added May 5, 2009 All my reviews
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  10 Perfect

  Ally Mcbeal was a show that within a blink of an eye you could be tearing up, smiling, or burst out laughing, a show that made you feel great each week, of course it is well missed but DVDS bring it back. hide « show »

  I am a big TV watcher, grew up in the 70's and watched lots of shows and if I were to pick my Favorite or the Best it be Ally Mcbeal.
  
  Now there was only one other show that was this good it was MASH, different type of shows but kept you coming back .
  
  I really enjoy the years Ally was on, to hear the intro song till the ending credits well worth the hour. Now the cast were perfect choices each one had their own mark on the show which made it as Popular as it was.
  
  I bought the DVDS of complete seasons which very tough to get cheap, but it is like the show never went off the air. I love to see a rebroadcast of the complete seasons on TVland or even SOAP channel.
  
  The music now there was a real treat just great tunes, the bar made you want to work in this kind of atmoshere just a great time, great guest singers, funny plots, all time favorite is John's Bary White Dance. Yes this is a show saddly missed love to see a reunion show like MASH did, or even a Movie version be awesome with original cast only though this show can not be remade.

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  Big-Ben-66 Added Feb 28, 2009 All my reviews
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  9 Superb

  Wow this show is superb!!!!! hide « show »

  I started to watch Ally McBeal today...its 2009 and the show has been on forever. Always seen snatches and said I would try it. It is brilliant. It thought it would be mainly of interest to women...how wrong I was. After seeing two episodes I am hooked. Its funny, sad and quirky. At episode two the characterisations are developing so well. Fish's description of why he is into Whipper.."the waddle", the judge who is tolerant to prostitution, Fish's partner who made a speech to staff and then sent around a questionnaire about his delivery of the speech..all alittle insage. I am hooked on this superb TV series.

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  BrianFowler Added Jan 20, 2009 All my reviews
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  10 Perfect

  It is a wonderful Character Study! hide « show »

  I am a big big fan of this series and for that matter all the series that David made that had legal twist to it. I will not call Ally MCBeal to eb a Legal TV Series. It is not Perry Mason and it is not even The Practice which was still a legal drama nevertheless.
  I found the relationship between Ally and Georgia to be the epitome of balance that any writer can achive. I am quite sure that inthe later seasons were written to cash in on the brillian three seasons that the series was based on. This is a major TV series and I am sure that this will be remembered kindly.

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  dangerouslydead Added Nov 26, 2008 All my reviews