Breaking the fourth wall

[Sean Walsh]

Caught the last 20 minutes or so of BOSTON LEGAL - a show I keep telling myself I have to watch yet keep forgetting (buying the DVD set though!) - and there were 2 references made by the characters themselves that this was all a TV show: Denny wanting a kiss because it was "a sweeps episode" and Alan and Denny toasting "next season" ("Same night?" "God I hope so.")

Is this common? Seems kinda new for a David E. Kelley show, but not surprising whatsoever...

[mattbib]

No, in fact, aside from an occasional comment by Denny, the end of the finale was the most blatant breaking of the fouth wall that I remember.

[Jared]

Offhand, I remember Denny saying to Alan "where have you been? I haven't seen you all episode." And "I can act you know, I won an Emmy."
I guess they can get away with it because Denny is such an eccentric character, as far as I know he's the person to have said stuff like this.

[darkkeeperjr]

last week or two weeks ago,Alan told some girl that IIRC "we were going to get together but,They moved us to tuesday nights and you haven't been seen since."

[Phil Clark]

This has been going on for quite some time, and usually is subtle enough that many people miss it entirely. But I quite enjoy those moments. They are fun. Boston Legal is just a fun show to watch.

[borateen]

One of my co-workers, whenever talking about the show to me, always brings up how often they break the 4th wall. I would think it would have to be pretty blatant for him to notice it.

[Nate Grey]

I thought breaking the fourth was was specifically looking at the viewer, not just talking about the show as if its a show...the latter's easier to play off, I'd think. Still I think its funny. "See you next season." :D

[Ontir]

It can be directly addressing the audience, but essentially, it's any time that they break the suspension of disbelief - like when Denny's phone rings with a Star Trek tone, and then chirps like a communicator when he flips it open. So far, they've been able to be clever with it, as opposed to going straight into kitsch.

[borateen]

It can be directly addressing the audience, but essentially, it's any time that they break the suspension of disbelief - like when Denny's phone rings with a Star Trek tone, and then chirps like a communicator when he flips it open. So far, they've been able to be clever with it, as opposed to going straight into kitsch.

I have GOT to start watching this show.

[Jared]

It can be directly addressing the audience, but essentially, it's any time that they break the suspension of disbelief - like when Denny's phone rings with a Star Trek tone

I'd be shocked if there aren't people out there with phones set to do exactly that.

[darkkeeperjr]

I'd be shocked if there aren't people out there with phones set to do exactly that.

If so then Iwant one!!

[Acecool]

They break the forth wall, but they generally work it into a conversation or a reference to a previous episode. Denny for the most part started to reference their lives as seasons and episodes. The remark about same time and night was a double entendre, he was making a joke about how their conversation was referring to their lives as if it was a TV series, but at the same time referencing the fact that the show was moved from it's previous time slot. I love the way they do it.



I loved it when jeffery coho and Claire simms first arrive on the second episode of the season. Denny said, they can't be new, the season has already started.

Just another of one of a million reasons to watch this show.

[Matt]

There was one episode where Denny said "Cue the theme music" and ... well, it started.

[Acecool]

There was one episode where Denny said "Cue the theme music" and ... well, it started.

There was one where jerry said that working for the firm made him feel like singing and sherley asked, what song, and he started singing the theme.

[Toku King]

Alan's old assistant(I forgot her name) once said to Alan "Don't try it, Alan. She's only a guest star."