Denny Crane. The ultimate one time hot-shot lawyer whose name acts as both business card and catchphrase. Much like its spiritual predecessor Ally McBeal, Boston Legal could gracefully mix serious drama with madcap humour as well as any other. Just because it could however, it often didn't, and generally the madcap humour always outweighed the drama. One particular aspect where the balance is often equal however, is the character of Denny Crane. As Crane, Shatner is an excessive character in every sense of the word; whether it be lording himself high over his office, invading courtrooms uninvited, or shooting a homeless man with a paintball gun, Denny Crane has done it all. But, it has to be said, there is also a flip side to this. He is scared. He is scared of growing old before his time, scared of living up the high reputation and expectations he created for himself during his youth, and scared that because of his antics people won't take him seriously any more. And so is Denny Crane. Much more than his other "fictional", or even real life appearances, Denny Crane is Shatner holding up a mirror to himself. Through this mirror he can laugh, and invites us to laugh along with him. But unlike the other exaggerated and over the top portrayals of "William Shatner", Crane is a fully rounded caricature, in which his flaws are just as accentuated as his buffoonery. Of all the roles he has portrayed in his career, this was the most... Human.
