Tonight at 9p on ABC we will be saying goodbye to Boston Legal. But before the final credits roll at 10:59p one of the guys in those guys in the credits took the time answer my questions about this fabulous show. Bill D’Elia, who is an Executive Producer and Director on the show, was kind enough to tell me about his experiences on the multiple Emmy winning show. D’Elia has directed on such shows like David E Kelley’s Picket Fences, Ally McBeal and The Practice, and The West Wing and he also co-created and wrote for Judging Amy before becoming the Executive Producer on Boston Legal.
Here what he told me about the show:
Seriously? OMG! WTF: How did you get started with David E Kelley? Bill D’Elia: I first worked as a director on “Picket Fencesâ€Â. Then I directed a couole of episodes of “Chicago Hope†before David asked me to come on that show as an Executive Producer/Director.
SOW: You have worked on a lot of legal dramas, did you want to be a lawyer? BD: I had no ambition to enter the practice of law, but love to argue a point. My brother is an attorney so maybe there is something there in the bloodline.
SOW: What is your fondest memory from Boston Legal? BD: My fondest memory will always be that first balcony scene. I built that set simply because I thought Denny should have a balcony. I never imagined that it would turn out to be the iconic image for the show. Craziest? The first time we broke the fourth wall I remember thinking “How are we going to get away with this?â€Â
BD: SOW: What was it like directing the cast of characters that made up Boston Legal? BD: It was simply terrific.
SOW: The chemistry between William Shatner and James Spader is some of the best ever in TV history, what were they like when the camera wasn’t rolling? BD: They got along quite well and became friends. Their conversations in between takes on the balcony were sometimes as interesting as what we aired. It was a privilege to direct them.
SOW: What was the craziest thing you had to direct on the show? Because there have been some way out there antics on the show like Denny and his gun!!! BD: Frankly the craziest thing I had to direct on the show was the scene where Denny and Alan first express their love for each other. Bill and James were so amazing in their approach to the material that a scene that could have been quite strange became extremely touching.
SOW: Will viewers be satisfied with the finale? BD: I certainly hope so and think so. I was!!
SOW: What was the set like on the last few days of taping? BD: Bittersweet.
SOW: What and/or who will you miss most from the show? BD: The daily problems and figuring them out. I will miss the little things.
SOW: What are going to do now that your days at The Practice and Boston Legal are over? BD: Take a long nap, and figure it out when I wake up. I have several TV and film projects in the works.
SOW: Do you think will be the last we will see from the Crane, Poole and Schmidt offices?
I’m afraid so. Thankfully there will be DVD’s of all 5 seasons.
Thank you so much to Bill D’Elia for taking the time to answer my questions about his show that I will fondly remember! Also thanks to Lisa for setting up the interview!!!
Please tune into Boston Legal on ABC tonight at 9p for the two hour sendoff, if the show goes out with a big bang it is big old FU to ABC! And ABC needs as many FUs as possible!!!
