Ally McBeal is an American legal comedy-drama television series, originally aired on Fox from September 8, 1997, to May 20, 2002. Created by David E. Kelley, the series stars Calista Flockhart in the title role as a lawyer working in the fictional Boston law firm Cage and Fish, with other lawyers whose lives and loves were eccentric, humorous, and dramatic. Ally McBeal (TV Series 1997–2002) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.
Series title card.GenreCreated byStarringTheme music composerOpening theme'Searchin' My Soul'Composer(s)Vonda ShepardCountry of originUnited StatesOriginal language(s)EnglishNo. Of seasons5No. Of episodes112 ProductionExecutive producer(s)David E. KelleyProducer(s)Kayla Alpert (2000–01)Kim Hamberg (1998–2002)(1997–2000)Jack Philbrick (2000–02)(1997–2002)Pamela J. Wisne (1997–2002)CinematographyThomas F. DenoveDavid A. HarpCamera setupRunning time45–48 minutesProduction company(s)David E.
Kelley ProductionsDistributorReleaseOriginal networkPicture format(seasons 1-2)(season 3-5)Audio formatOriginal releaseSeptember 8, 1997 ( 1997-09-08) –May 20, 2002 ( 2002-05-20)ChronologyRelated showsExternal linksAlly McBeal is an American, originally aired on from September 8, 1997, to May 20, 2002. Created by, the series stars in the as a lawyer working in the fictional Cage and Fish, with other lawyers whose lives and loves were eccentric, humorous, and dramatic. The series received critical acclaim in its early seasons, winning the in 1997 and 1998, and also winning the in 1999. Contents.Overview The series, set in the fictional Cage and Fish, begins with main character joining the firm co-owned by her law school classmate Richard Fish after leaving her previous job due to sexual harassment. On her first day, Ally is horrified to find that she will be working alongside her ex-boyfriend Billy Thomas —whom she has never gotten over. To make things worse, Billy is now married to fellow lawyer Georgia , who later joins Cage and Fish. The triangle among the three forms the basis for the main plot for the show's first three seasons.Although ostensibly a legal drama, the main focus of the series was the romantic and personal lives of the main characters, often using legal proceedings as to contrast or reinforce a character's drama.
For example, bitter divorce litigation of a client might provide a backdrop for Ally's decision to break up with a boyfriend. Legal arguments were also frequently used to explore multiple sides of various social issues.Cage & Fish (which becomes Cage/Fish & McBeal or Cage, Fish, & Associates towards the end of the series), the fictional law firm where most of the characters work, is depicted as a highly sexualized environment symbolized by its unisex restroom. Main article: SeasonEpisodesOriginally airedFirst airedLast airedRankRating23September 8, 1997 ( 1997-09-08)May 18, 1998 ( 1998-05-18)N/AN/A23September 14, 1998 ( 1998-09-14)May 24, 1999 ( 1999-05-24)239.621October 25, 1999 ( 1999-10-25)May 22, 2000 ( 2000-05-22)N/AN/A23October 12, 2000 ( 2000-10-12)May 21, 2001 ( 2001-05-21)N/AN/A22October 29, 2001 ( 2001-10-29)May 20, 2002 ( 2002-05-20)N/AN/AIn Australia, Ally McBeal was aired by the Seven Network from 1997 to 2002. In 2010, it was aired repeatedly by Network Ten.Crossovers with The Practice. See also:Seymore Walsh, a stern judge often exasperated by the eccentricities of the Cage & Fish lawyers and played by actor Albert Hall, was also a recurring character on The Practice.
In addition, Judge Jennifer (Whipper) Cone appears on The Practice episode 'Line of Duty' (S02 E15), while Judge Roberta Kittelson, a recurring character on The Practice, has a featured guest role in the Ally McBeal episode 'Do you Wanna Dance?' Most of the primary Practice cast members guest starred in the Ally McBeal episode 'The Inmates' (S01 E20), in a storyline that concluded with the Practice episode 'Axe Murderer' (S02 E26), featuring Calista Flockhart and Gil Bellows reprising their Ally characters. What's unusual about this continuing storyline is that Ally McBeal and The Practice aired on different networks. Bobby Donnell, the main character of The Practice played by, was featured heavily in both this crossover and another Ally McBeal episode, 'These are the Days'.Regular Practice cast members and each had a cameo in Ally McBeal (Boyle as a woman who trades insults with Ally in the episode 'Making Spirits Bright' and Badalucco as one of Ally's dates in the episode 'I Know him by Heart') but it is unclear whether they were playing the same characters they play on The Practice.Reception Upon premiering in 1997, the show was an instant hit, averaging around 11 million viewers per episode. The show's second season saw an increase in ratings and soon became a top 20 show, averaging around 13 million viewers per episode. The show's ratings began to decline in the third season, but stabilized in the fourth season after joined the regular cast as Ally's boyfriend Larry Paul, and a fresher aesthetic was created by new art director Matthew DeCoste. However, Downey's character was written out after the end of the season due to the actor's troubles with drug addiction.The first two seasons, as well as the fourth, remain the most critically acclaimed and saw the most awards success at the Emmys, SAG Awards and the Golden Globes.
In 2007, Ally McBeal placed #48 on 's 2007 'New TV Classics' list. Ratings SeasonU.S.
RatingsNetworkRank.4 millionFox#59.8 millionFox#2012.4 millionFox#35.0 millionFox#4052001–029.4 millionFox#65Feminist criticism Ally McBeal received some criticism from TV critics and feminists who found the title character annoying and demeaning to women (specifically regarding professional women ) because of her perceived flightiness, lack of demonstrated legal knowledge, short skirts, and emotional instability. Perhaps the most notorious example of the debate sparked by the show was the June 29, 1998, cover story of Time magazine, which juxtaposed McBeal with three pioneering feminists (, ) and asked 'Is Feminism Dead?' In episode 12 of the second season of the show, Ally talks to her co-worker John Cage about a dream she had, saying 'You know, I had a dream that they put my face on the cover of Time magazine as 'the face of feminism'.' This section needs additional citations for. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: – ( January 2012) Ally McBeal was a heavily music-oriented show., a virtually unknown musician at the time, was featured continually on the show. Her song 'Searchin' My Soul' became the show's theme song.
Many of the songs Shepard performed were established hits with lyrics that paralleled the events of the episode, including ', ' and '. Besides recording background music for the show, Shepard frequently appeared at the ends of episodes as a musician performing at a local frequented by the main characters. On rare occasions, her character would have conventional dialogue. A portion of 'Searchin' My Soul' was played at the beginning of each episode, but remarkably the song was never played in its entirety.Several of the characters had a musical that played when they appeared. John Cage's was ', Ling Woo's was the theme from, and Ally McBeal herself picked ', when told by a psychiatrist that she needed a theme.Due to the popularity of the show and Shepard's music, a soundtrack titled was released in 1998, as well as a successor soundtrack titled in 1999.
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Two compilation albums from the show featuring Shepard were also released in 2000 and 2001. A Christmas album was also released under the title Ally McBeal: A Very Ally Christmas. The album received positive reviews, and Shephard's version of ’s Christmas song ', received considerable airplay during the holiday season.Other artists featured on the show include,. Played the role of Malcolm Wyatt in the May 2001 season finale, performing 'You're Still You'. The series creator, David E.
Kelley, was impressed with Groban's performance at The Family Celebration event and based on the audience reaction to Groban's singing, Kelley created a character for him in that finale. Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (2007).
The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present (Ninth Edition). Ballantine Books. P. 1695.
Cronin, Brian (March 5, 2014). Comic Book Resources.
From the original on February 24, 2018. Retrieved February 24, 2018. June 18, 2007. From the original on January 15, 2018. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
May 29, 1998. Archived from on October 20, 2009. June 1, 2001.
May 28, 2002. Michelle L. Hammers, 'Cautionary Tales of Liberation and Female Professionalism: The Case Against Ally McBeal' Western Journal of Communication 69 2, April (2005): 168. 'The ease with which McBeals depictions of women are reincorporated into dominant masculinist discourses. Is particularly problematic for professional women.
The increased danger that co-optation poses for professional women is due to the complex ways in which the discursive sedimentation that surrounds the female body, particularly as it has been traditionally sexualized and linked to emotionality, operates as a barrier to women's full and effective participation in professional spheres. Thus, McBeal operates as a cautionary tale about the dangers presented by the co-optation of postfeminist and third-wave feminist discourses as they relate to current professional discourses surrounding the female body. Time Magazine.
June 29, 1998. Retrieved February 24, 2018. 20th Century Fox.
August 22, 2009. Atkinson, Terry (December 3, 2000) ' TV Shows Breed Christmas Albums' The Post-Tribune (Gary, Indiana) (Entertainment News Service), page D-5. July 3, 2009. Archived from on July 7, 2009. August 7, 2009. Archived from on August 11, 2009. Archived from on July 17, 2010.
Retrieved July 14, 2010. Archived from on December 31, 2012. Retrieved January 28, 2012. Retrieved April 8, 2013. Rogovoy, Seth (February 18, 2003). Berkshire Eagle. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
Retrieved on 2012-04-23. June 17, 2016, at theExternal links Wikiquote has quotations related to:. at. on. at. on.
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