‘Boston Legal’ Still Churning Out Episodes: Last-Minute Scripts Keep Show in Production

By Zap2It, Chicago

Dec. 5–Just about every network TV show has shut down over the course of the five-week-old writers’ strike. A handful of series, though, are still working through stockpiled scripts.

ABC’s “Boston Legal” will film through next week, when it would have been scheduled for an end-of-year hiatus anyway. The continued work is thanks to creator David E. Kelley, who finished three scripts shortly before the strike began, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The network will have 14 episodes of the series to work with once filming on the final pre-strike hour finishes. ABC has aired eight so far this fall, so the remaining six should keep the 10 p.m. Tuesday timeslot in original episodes through January.

ABC hasn’t announced its midseason plans yet, but it has several new scripted shows in reserve, along with reality fare ranging from “Wife Swap” to “Dance War,” a new show featuring “Dancing with the Stars” judges Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli.

The prolific Kelley co-wrote the final three episodes — with Susan Dickes, Lawrence Broch and Dickes and Corinne Brinkerhoff, respectively — and they received approval for filming the week before the strike started.

Barring a strike settlement, only two network shows — NBC’s “Law & Order” and ABC’s “According to Jim,” both of which are known for their efficiency — are expected to be filming after the new year.

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