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This is about the entire series, for the character see Ally McBeal, for the main page see Ally McBeal Wiki.

Ally McBeal is an American comedy TV series, which aired the on FOX television network from 1997—2002.

About[]

The series, set in the fictional Boston law firm Cage & Fish, begins with main character Allison Marie "Ally" McBeal joining the firm Cage, Fish & McBeal 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 plot devices 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.

Trivia[]

  • Lara Flynn Boyle was one of the contenders for Ally. Calista Flockhart was one of the last people to read for the role.[1]
  • Anna Gunn was picked as Georgia Thomas in the original pilot.[1] Anna would go on to star as Jean Ward in The Practice, another legal drama created by David Kelley.
  • Due to it's early extremely popularity, David E. Kelly made Ally, a short half-hour series showing un-aired clips and a more focus on Ally's personal life.

Possible revival[]

In March 2021, it was reported that a revival as a limited series was in early development by 20th Television with Flockhart possibly returning.[2]

In August 2022, it was reported that ABC was in early development of a sequel series with Karin Gist writing and executive producing.[3]

Awards and Nominations received by Ally McBeal[]

American Choreography Awards[]

  • 2000: Outstanding Achievement in Television – Episode (for "I Will Survive", won)

American Cinema Editors (ACE)[]

  • 1999: Best Edited One-Hour Series for Television (for "Car Wash", won)

BAFTA Television Awards][]

  • 1998: Best International Programme or Series (nominated)

Casting Society of America (CSA)[]

  • 1999: Best Casting – Episodic Comedy (nominated)
  • 2000: Best Casting – Episodic Comedy (won)

Cinema Audio Society (CAS)[]

  • 1998: Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Television Series (for "Making Spirits Bright", nominated)

Costume Designers Guild (CDG)[]

  • 1999: Excellence in Costume Design for Television – Contemporary (nominated)
  • 2000: Excellence in Costume Design for Television – Contemporary (nominated)

Directors Guild of America (DGA)[]

  • 1997: Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing - Drama Series]] (James Frawley for "Pilot", nominated)
  • 2000: Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing - Comedy Series (Bill D'Elia for "The Last Virgin", nominated)

Emmy Awards[]

  • 1998: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series (David E. Kelley for "Theme of Life")
  • 1998: Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Comedy Series Or A Special (Kurt Kassulke, Peter R. Kelsey, Paul Lewis and Nello Torri for "Boy to the World") (won)
  • 1998: Outstanding Single-camera Picture Editing For A Series (Thomas R. Moore for "Cro-Magnon")
  • 1998: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (Calista Flockhart)
  • 1998: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series (James Frawley for "Pilot")
  • 1998: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series (Allan Arkush for "Cro-Magnon")
  • 1998: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series (David E. Kelley, Mike Listo, Jeffrey Kramer, Jonathan Pontell, Steve Robin and Pam Wisne)
  • 1998: Outstanding Casting For A Series (Jeanie Bacharach and Sharon Jetton)
  • 1998: Outstanding Art Direction For A Series (Diane O'Connell and Peter Politanoff for "Boy To The World")
  • 1998: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Costumes for a Series (Loree Parral, Shelly Levine and Michelle Roth for "Cro-Magnon")
  • 1999: [Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series (David E. Kelley for "Sideshow")
  • 1999: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (Peter MacNicol)
  • 1999: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (Lucy Liu)
  • 1999: Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Comedy Series Or A Special (Peter R. Kelsey, Paul Lewis and Nello Torri for "Love's Illusions") (won)
  • 1999: Outstanding Single-camera Picture Editing For A Series (Philip Neel for "Angels and Blimps")
  • 1999: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (Calista Flockhart)
  • 1999: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series (Tracey Ullman) (won)
  • 1999: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series (John Ritter)
  • 1999: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series (Arlene Sanford for "Those Lips, That Hand")
  • 1999: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Costumes for a Series (Rachael Stanley for "Making Spirits Bright")
  • 1999: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series (Peter Burrell, Jeffrey Kramer, David E. Kelley, Mike Listo, Jonathan Pontell, Steve Robin and Pam Wisne) (won)
  • 1999: Outstanding Casting For A Series (Jeanie Bacharach and Sharon Jetton)
  • 1999: Outstanding Art Direction For A Series (Diane O'Connell and Peter Politanoff for "Making Spirits Bright")
  • 2000: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (Peter MacNicol)
  • 2000: Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Comedy Series Or A Special (Paul M. Lewis, Peter R. Kelsey and Nello Torri for "Car Wash") (won)
  • 2000: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series (Bill D'Elia for "Ally McBeal: The Musical, Almost")
  • 2001: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (Peter MacNicol) (won)
  • 2001: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (Robert Downey Jr.)
  • 2001: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (Calista Flockhart)
  • 2001: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series (Bernadette Peters)
  • 2001: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series (Jami Gertz)
  • 2001: Outstanding Cinematography For A Single-camera Series (Billy Dickson for "Cloudy Skies, Chance of Parade")
  • 2001: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series (Ken Miller and Nikki Valko) (won)
  • 2002: Outstanding Cinematography For A Single-camera Series (Billy Dickson for "Reality Bites")

Golden Globe Awards[]

  • 1997: Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Musical or Comedy Series (Calista Flockhart for playing "Ally McBeal", won)
  • 1997: Golden Globe Award for Best Series - Musical or Comedy (won)
  • 1998: Best Actress – Musical or Comedy Series (Flockhart, nominated)
  • 1998: Best Series – Musical or Comedy (won)
  • 1998: Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress - (Mini)Series or TV Film (Jane Krakowski for playing "Elaine Vassal", nominated)
  • 1999: Best Actress – Musical or Comedy Series (Flockhart, nominated)
  • 1999: Best Series – Musical or Comedy (nominated)
  • 2000: Best Actress – Musical or Comedy Series (Flockhart, nominated)
  • 2000: Best Series – Musical or Comedy (nominated)
  • 2000: Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - (Mini)Series or TV Film (Robert Downey, Jr. for playing "Larry Paul", won)
  • 2001: Best Actress – Musical or Comedy Series (Flockhart, nominated)
  • 2001: Best Series – Musical or Comedy (nominated)

Producers Guild of America (PGA)[]

  • 2000: Television Producer of the Year – Episodic Comedy (nominated)

Peabody Awards[]

  • 1998: Peabody Award (won)[4]

Satellite Awards[]

  • 1998: Best Actress – Musical or Comedy Series (Calista Flockhart for playing "Ally McBeal", nominated)
  • 1999: Best Actress – Musical or Comedy Series (Flockhart, nominated)
  • 2000: Best Actress – Musical or Comedy Series (Jane Krakowski for playing "Elaine Vassal", nominated)
  • 2002: Best Supporting Actor – Musical or Comedy Series (Peter MacNicol for playing "John Cage", nominated)

Screen Actors Guild (SAG)[]

  • 1997: Outstanding Actress – Comedy Series (Calista Flockhart for playing "Ally McBeal", nominated)
  • 1997: Outstanding Cast – Comedy Series (nominated)
  • 1998: Outstanding Actor – Comedy Series (Peter MacNicol for playing "John Cage", nominated)
  • 1998: Outstanding Actress – Comedy Series (Flockhart, nominated)
  • 1998: Outstanding Cast – Comedy Series (won)
  • 1999: Outstanding Actor – Comedy Series (MacNicol, nominated)
  • 1999: Outstanding Actress – Comedy Series (Flockhart, nominated)
  • 1999: Outstanding Actress – Comedy Series (Lucy Liu for playing "Ling Woo", nominated)
  • 1999: Outstanding Cast – Comedy Series (nominated)
  • 2000: Outstanding Actor – Comedy Series (Robert Downey, Jr. for playing "Larry Paul", won)
  • 2000: Outstanding Actor – Comedy Series (MacNicol, nominated)
  • 2000: Outstanding Actress – Comedy Series (Flockhart, nominated)
  • 2000: Outstanding Cast – Comedy Series (nominated)

Media[]

A Young Lawyer and Her Fantasies (NEW YORK TIMES • SEPTEMBER 1997)
Ally McBeal (VARIETY • SEPTEMBER 1997)
"Ally" Makes GLAAD Mad (E! • NOVEMBER 1999)
'Ally McBeal' at 20: Calista Flockhart, David E. Kelley and More on Dancing Babies, Feminism and Robert Downey Jr. (THR • SEPTEMBER 2017)
‘Ally McBeal’ Revival With Calista Flockhart Explored By 20th Television (DEADLINE • MARCH 2021)

Videos[]

Music Video[]

External Links[]

Notes and references[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Tomashoff, Crag. "‘Ally McBeal’ at 20: Calista Flockhart, David E. Kelley and More on Dancing Babies, Feminism and Robert Downey Jr.", hollywoodreporter.com, Hollywoodreporter, September 4 2017. Retrieved on October 14 2022. 
  2. "'Ally McBeal' Revival With Calista Flockhart Explored By 20th Television", Deadline Hollywood, March 26, 2021. 
  3. Andreeva, Nellie (August 19, 2022). Ally McBeal Sequel With New Lead In Works At ABC From Karin Gist; Calista Flockhart Eyed To Return. Deadline Hollywood.
  4. "Ally McBeal Fox, David E. Kelly Productions", Peabodyawards.com, Peabody Awards, October 16, 1998. Retrieved on October 16, 2022. 
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