Ah, short skirts, unisex bathrooms, dancing babies, and killing feminism. The cast of Ally McBeal all got together to reminisce about the show that tackled all that (often through song-and-dance numbers) in the first of two group interviews on this morning’s Good Morning America to celebrate the long-awaited release of the beloved hit on DVD. Calista Flockhart and company didn’t reveal much of any consequence, except that they’ve all aged rather gently in the past 12 years since the show’s debut and that Ally was struggling with balancing career and baby-making urges, blah blah. (“I think it was her biological clock, it was representative of that tick,” Flockhart said of the famous computer-generated tyke. Duh.) We, of course, have seen her on Brothers & Sisters and Jane Krakowski (who joined them via satellite from New York) on 30 Rock. But, oh, it was wonderfully nostalgic to see Gil Bellows (is it possible he looks more fabulous now than he did with all his hair, or do I just miss this show?), club chanteuse Vonda Shepard, and, most definitely, Lisa Nicole Carson. She’s been MIA from public view since having her huge moment while playing Renee on the show (and doubling up as Eriq LaSalle’s girlfriend on ER at the same time). She may or may not have been obliquely referencing her struggles when Tom Bergeron asked her about playing one of the show’s “least eccentric” characters and she cracked, “That’s a testimony to what a good actress I am.” But nonetheless, it was lovely to see the gang together again — here’s to hoping things get a little juicier tomorrow.
What did you think, PopWatchers? Did the GMA appearance make you miss Ally McBeal? Will you tune into part 2 of the reunion? Anything in particular you hope they address tomorrow?
Photo Credit: ABC
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The show got a little too crazy (and silly) later in the series but for those first two seasons it was one of the best shows on television and definately something different from the norm. I miss that.
*sigh* I remember back when TV use to have origial shows. I can’t wait to buy the DVDs!
D’oh! That’s suppose to say ‘original’.
I especially remember when Fox used to have original, creative shows. Now, the channel has whored itself out to reality TV.
Aren’t Bones & House on Fox??
i’ll wait till some posts it up on you tube
My favorite show of the 1990s. Well, at least for the first 3 years. After the third year, it
slipped. Calista should have been a much bigger star. To reduce her
to the “Kitty” character on B&S is a joke.
Maybe after 6 years of being the center of attention, eating disorder rumors, and hounded about cast infighting, she might have wanted a supporting role.
“Brothers & Sisters” was originally engineered to revolve around Kitty. Sally Field came in after they shot the pilot and it became much more of an ensemble affair. Also, nothing about “Brothers & Sisters” is a joke–it’s good TV.
It was great REALLY to see them all..my favorite show from back then, so happy to see Lisa Nicole, she is still so stunning…12 years has it been ? i have the dvd now and excited to watch with friends, RDJ’s time there was a great time but I agree the first 3 years the best…
Robert Downey Jr was the best part of that show. Wish he would have been able to stay on. It started sliding after he left.
I concur. It was his comeback, so to speak(even though he did a stint in jail, which kept him from returning). That was the pinnacle of the show and you’re right, it started to slip afterwards. But why no Lucy Liu or Portia De Rossi? They weren’t original cast, but they had a Downey-esque impact on the show with their alpha female characters.
KT, I could not agree more……the first two seasons, I couldn’t beleive that a man could write like that for a female character, it was so powerful and fun and incredibly moving. Most shows I ended bawling. After Billy’s brain tumour and subsequent death episode (which I cried so hard in I almost couldn’t SEE), the show jumped waaay off the tracks and I gave up watching, right around the Ann Heche arc, but at the end I returned and the final episode I cried my eyes out again.
I loved Ally McBeal. As a Barry White fan, I really enjoyed “The Biscuit’s” fantasies with Barry. I realize Lucy Liu and Portia DeRossi weren’t originals, it would’ve been nice to include them also.
That was my first thought, as their performances were two of my favorites.
omg im so excited! ive been waiting for years for this!! love ally mcbeal!! i agree with what ppl said about robert downey jr. being a great part of the show, i so drooled over him a lot after that! i also agree lucy and portia shouldve been included. that being said, this article seemed to be disrespectful to calista flockhart (blah blah blah and duh to comments she had made). not cool ew.
Agree. What’s with the “duh” thing? She was just answering a question!
The show was really excellent the first 2-3 seasons, then it went off the rails. But those first few seasons were pretty damn memorable.
I miss my Ally!
I’d like to ask David Kelley why and how he let his special creation become such a crazy horse saloon as seasons went by. The eccentricities that once charmed became too over-the-top and the thoughtful legal issues and love affairs became lost.
News to GMA, Ally McBeal has been on DVD for over a year. I purchased it last summer on amazon.com
ASlly McBeal was my favorite show of all time and I really miss it. Love, love, loved that show and all the characters.
No Blu-Ray? No sale.
Knowing that Lisa Nicole Carson was on the reunion and doing well is a wonderful relief. She was one of my favorites
I miss this show, im saving up to buy the complete series.
Ally was my ish. Fell out with it during the last couple of seasons though.
I miss this show terribly; I loved everything about it; there no show that even come close to how good this was one. Good luck to all of the actors.
I loved loved this show. I still have some old VHS tapes with episodes on them. I have been waiting for it to come out on DVD in the states forever!! What took so long? I hope the interview does get more detailed tomorrow.
I truly enjoyed the GMA segment, and loved Ally with the exception of the final, cringe-worthy season and especially the finale. Thought it was a little weird when Calista/Gil said they don’t loathe each other- the way it went down almost made me think there must have been some issue with them, but to use a Fishism: “Bygones.” They all look great except for GB’s hair!
I heard somewhere that Lisa had some sort of breakdown regarding her lovelife or something like that. I did not see the reunion but from what i could see from the photo, they all look great.I always thought Gil Bellows was a fox anyway you slice it. I’m loving Calista on “BROS & SIS” and I love that show. I miss Ally.
It reminded me of how awesome the show was – at least in the early years before it got too crazy. I love Calista Flockhart and think she deserves an Emmy for her work on Brothers & Sisters. All the nonsense about feminism being dead because of her was ridiculous. At the time, her character really resonated with single women, myself included.
I smiled throughout the entire interview. Everyone looked great and brought back great memories of hurrying home in time for Ally McBeal weekly. I already have the full DVD series on my Christmas list .. can’t wait! Guess I can finally throw out all those VHS tapes I’ve been holding onto. And, yes, I’ll be watching ABC for the reunion part II. Thanks so much!