Quote:

Im Not Mister Mxyzptlk said:
The problem with David E Kelley shows is that at some point they start introducing new characters that are completely pointless. Then they realize the characters are pointless and instead of making them work, they fire them after a few episodes and hire new ones. The worst part is that each character comes with a lot of potential plotlines (like a romantic interest for another cast member), which are completely abandoned when the actor is fired.



I've noticed a pattern with David E Kelley which corresponds to what you've observed.

At some point, Kelley will be out of work. Then he'll come up with a great show: Picket Fences, the Practice, Boston Legal. It will be really good.

Then, the networks all beg him to create another show: Chicago Hope, Ally McBeal, Boston Public, the Girls Club, Wedding Bells, whatever, to run concurrently during the season. Most of these shows also start out pretty good (if they aren't they tend to get canceled).

Unfortunately, Kelley likes to write most of the eps of any show he produces. So now he's spread too thin writing more than one show a week. So, he gets sloppy and starts producing whatever script idea pops into his head instead of letting his internal editor throw up the stuff that isn't so good.

This, in turn, makes each show both a little "weirder" and starts him losing each show's unique "voice." Finally, all his current shows either end up canceled, very generic (see, eg, the Practice pre-Alan) or he quits.

Then, after a year or so of being out of work, he comes up with another good idea for a show, and the cycle begins anew.