Boston Legal - 5x01 - "Smoke Signals"

Bethany Horowitz asks Alan Shore to help her out with a case against a large tobacco company. But when it turns out that the defense attorney is Phoebe Prentice, an old flame of Alan's, he finds himself distracted and fears that he won't be able to perform in court. Meanwhile, Denny is distraught over his own personal lack of performance in the bedroom.

I quite liked this episode. Bethany's back, who I rather like. Wish she'd join the main cast. Prefer her to the blonde chick or Jerry. Is the crossdressing dude coming back? It seems so...

Interestingly enough, the entire cast of the show seem to be interacting once again. In the past couple of seasons it felt like Alan and Denny had their own clique, and the newbies had another clique, and only Jerry and Shirley would go back and forth between the two groups. I think they pulled the cast back a bit, so it opened the show up a bit.

I do like that they took on a cigarette company. Not an exceptionally novel idea, but I always like anti-smoking shit.

Denny's phone ringing in the middle of court with the exceptionally erotic ring-tone made me laugh.

One thing that was interesting about this episode was they mentioned the money that tabacco companies spend on 'anti-smoking campaigns' and I looked into it, and it's true. They do spend money on anti-smoking advertisements.

And then I realized (though they did make mention of it in the show...)... I mean... who else has ever seen an anti-smoking ad and said "oh my God, that is so lame... it'll probably lead kids to smoke just so they're not as dorky as these people" - and now I know why... it's pretty much doing exactly what it's meant to...