Ally McBeal

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FOX (ended 2002)
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Show Summary

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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 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 PMmoreless
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Episode Guide

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S 5 :  Ep 22 Aired 5/20/02
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S 5 :  Ep 21 Aired 5/13/02
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S 5 :  Ep 20 Aired 5/6/02
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S 5 :  Ep 19 Aired 4/29/02
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S 5 :  Ep 18 Aired 4/22/02
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Fan Reviews (74)

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  • Get Serious with Ally and her crew!

    7.0
    "Good"
    By T_VFan, Apr 30, 2012
    The beginning of law shows might've started with Ally for the 90's. Who really knows?! All I know was I looked up to her as a lawyer despite her dealing with love issues. The cast knew what they were doing and so did Ally. That's why I liked this show. Reliable to watch, conservative role playing, and great cases!

  • Lawyers push the envelope in this show.

    1.0
    "Abysmal"
    By Valentine_76, Nov 29, 2011
    Was this one of the first shows involving lawyers and the way they are in real life? If so, I truly feel sorry for some of the lawyers out there, to a point. The Cage's of this world must be miserable. Cage has so many strange little things that he does just to calm him down it started to get annoying. Fish is what I thought a lawyer was; he is so money hungry its not funny, but every once in a while he shows emotion. The relationship between Ally, Billy, and Georgia made me uncomfortable. And Elaine; what a woman. She is the only character that I really liked on the show. She was who she was, face bra and all, and didn't care what people thought. I also liked the woman judge that dated Fish in season 1.moreless

  • Ally McBeal is the best show ever!It's so sad that Robert Downey Jr were fired before the end.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By kaizu6, Sep 13, 2011
    There sould be a movie or new season with Larry&Ally wedding like it was originally planned.I cried when he sends a letter to Ally and then he left to Detroit. So I make proposal to reunion, make a movie or new season where they get back together :)

  • 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.moreless

    10
    "Perfect"
    By Big-Ben-66, Sep 13, 2011
    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.moreless

  • Ally McBeal is a young lawyer who starts working at a firm where her first love works (and

    10
    "Perfect"
    By matt_oc, Sep 13, 2011
    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 watchingmoreless
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  • episode
    Can anyone tell me what episode of Ally Mcbeal aired on April 17, 2000
    By tazz123708, Jun 23, 2010
    04/15/12
    5
    Reply
  • Favorite Character?
    My order would have to be1. Elaine2. Ling3. Richard4. Larry5. Nelle 6. Johnetc.I think all the characters (except renee!) are real...
    By janekrakowski, May 19, 2006
    04/15/12
    57
    Reply
  • Poll: Which of Ally's men do you like the most?
    Vote for your favorite person. Who do you think Ally was the happiest with?I'd have to say Larry. I know that Billy is her soulmat...
    By dmarex, Aug 26, 2006
    02/07/12
    33
    Reply
  • Top ten episodes.
    What are youe top ten Ally McBeal episodes?Mine are in no paticular order:BygonesCar WashPilotFools Night OutBoy Next DoorIn searc...
    By trustno1uk, Dec 21, 2006
    02/07/12
    22
    Reply
  • A Tribute to Ally
    Ally McBeal was one of the greatest shows to ever grace the small screen. Nothing since has come close to its brand of wonder and ...
    By TvWatcha3, Jul 13, 2011
    07/13/11
    1
    Reply

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