Dancing With Denny Crane

OMG the ending of last night's episode of Boston Legal was a scream! Alan Shore dressed up like Shirley and Denny Crane wanting to dance with him on the balcony.

Denny:"Image what someone looking accross at to here and seeing Shirley dancing with Cheney would think."

Alan: "If they are regular viewers, they know anything goes."

What a priceless scene that was and as much as the writing does deserve credit, I think the reason the scene worked so well is all down to the incredible chemistry and comedic timing between William Shatner and James Spader who are willing to take the risk.

Of course James Spader has always been willing to take the risk in his career with roles and scenes that might make other actors cringe in fear. He's kissed other men, dressed like a woman, been a ruthless killer, a geeky jerk.

William Shatner on the other had has, IMHO until this role, played it safe in his career. With few exceptions that were designed to poke fun at himself he has been the proper 'leading man' material' all the way. It seems that age has become a liberator for him. That he's reach a point in his career where he seems to feel a measure of safety in which to take chances and do something different.

It seems a lot of 'old school' actors go this route. Leslie Nielsen, Peter Graves, Lloyd Bridges..all stalwart leading men and 'rugged action heroes' in their early days yet after a certain age found that they could take comedic risks and poke a little fun at those images of themselves along the way.

Personally I think William Shatner is the best he has ever been. Don't get me wrong, I will always remember him best as Captain James Kirk, but Denny Crane is a masterpiece of work on his part. The writers give him great scenes and great dialog and Shatner shines in them. He also shows that you don't have to be a twentysomething year old man to be virile and sexy. That older age doesn't mean an actor is relegated to playing the grumpy old codger, the crazy old coot or the devoted grandpa(grandma). That older age is just another stage in life to play upon.

And whomever got the bright idea to pair William Shatner up with James Spader needs an award for the brilliance of that move. I admit right here and now, I only watch BL for the two of them together.

Shine on Shatner and Spader...you've got a winning combo going there!

Marla