Tag: Henry Gibson

Would Someone Please Tell David E. Kelley I’m A Fan?

I have written about Boston Legal in the past, though only peripherally. I would guess it’s my favorite show on television… and one of the few continuing dramas I watch.

Actually, is it a drama or comedy? I’m not sure. The Golden Globes thinks it’s a comedy. It is on film, which makes it a different animal from sitcoms and other taped shows.

I’ve wanted to tell David E. Kelley, the one-man-band behind it, how much I like it, but he is well hidden on the Internet. Trust me. I pride myself on ferreting out people I’d like to contact. He’s really well hidden.

What makes the show so good is it’s character driven. Some characters came in well established. Others have grown over time. The show is organic in that way.

Good character development allows for sometime outlandish situations. I’m willing to forgive where that’s concerned.

James Spader, the lead of leads, is so quirky good that I wondered why I wasn’t a fan of his earlier. Then, I caught something he’d done before and realized, though very good, he’s better with Kelley’s scripts and sensibilities.

The show is not perfect. I’m a huge Candice Bergen fan, but I find her character wanting. I’ve had more than enough with William Shatner’s spouting, “Denny Crane.”

On the other hand, I couldn’t be more pleased with Renee Auberjonois as a tightly wound, humorless curmudgeon and Henry Gibson’s judge.

A few weeks ago I discovered Marisa Coughlan. This being the Internet age I “Googled” her and found she worked in a movie (arguably the worst move ever filmed) where the producer was best man from my wedding.

He told me “Mareeeesa” was very nice. Good. I don’t want my bubbles burst.

It is one of the few shows that gets DVR’ed and watched every time it’s on.

So, if you know David E. Kelley, would you tell him Geoff in Connecticut thinks he’s an amazingly talented person… and I’m almost ready to forgive him for killing off Jason Kravits in The Practice.

Wedding Crashers – Review

The day was sunny. The temperature warm with low humidity. It was a holiday. What better day to go to the movies?

OK, it’s not your conventional movie going day, but it was good for us.

Helaine asked me to decide between Wedding Crashers and 40 Year Old Virgin. Neither of us wanted to make the choice. On the phone, my friend Peter made it for us. “Wedding Crashers,” he said, and that’s what we saw.

Good choice Peter. This was the best movie I’ve seen in years.

By now (the movie’s been out for some time now) you probably know the story. Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn crash weddings in order to pick up women. Everything goes well until they go to one wedding and both fall in love. That’s not what wedding crashers are supposed to do.

There is nothing in this script you haven’t seen before. There’s no plot turn that isn’t predictable. It makes no difference. You don’t care. The movie transcends the plot.

The success of this movie is all about Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson. Their chemistry is as good as any I’ve ever seen on screen. And, they are both very likable.

Their back-and-forth, often praising, often denigrating, was effortless and seamless. Some of that goes to well written dialog, but I don’t really think you can coach or direct this kind of repartee. It’s more organic.

The rest of the cast was pretty good as well, especially Christopher Walken, Rachel McAdams and Henry Gibson.

Recently, Gibson has made himself a good living playing Henry Gibson. Good for him.

Not in the credits, but heavily featured, the currently overexposed Will Ferrell. I understand why he was there. I just don’t approve. And though I like Henry Gibson playing Henry Gibson, I’m not happy with Will Ferrell doing the same&#185.

At about two hours, this movie is too long. Unfortunately, nearly every movie is too long.

Note to Showcase Cinemas… If I see the Charlie Sheen pre-show short about movie theater restrictions one more time, I will march up to the screen and start reciting along with the actors as if it were the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

&#185 – Before the movie began, we saw a trailer for “The Man,” starring Samuel L. Jackson and Eugene Levy. Levy, whose work on SCTV ranks among television’s all-time best, may be approaching the saturation point in playing Eugene Levy. Samuel L. Jackson has earned a lifetime pass after “Pulp Fiction.”

Henry Gibson

I am working tonight, so I can’t watch “Boston Legal” as it airs. It is on here at work&#185, and I keep seeing it in monitors as I move around.

I am pleased to see Henry Gibson on tonight’s show. It looks like he’s playing a judge, but with the sound down, who can know for sure.

What makes Henry Gibson so interesting is, you can’t say his name without saying “Laugh In,” and that show hasn’t been on TV in over 30 years (1968 – 1973)! That his name is so well known, even now, might have something to do with his poems, which began, “A poem, by Henry Gibson.” So, he was not only seen, but identified by name.

I wonder if he minds being remembered this way and if, over time, “Laugh In” has been good or bad for his career?

&#185 – One of the seldom mentioned benefits of working at a TV station is virtually everyone has a TV at their desk.