It's Ally World Funny, charming, and smart, award-winning Ally McBeal stole the hearts of critics andviewers alike from its premiere episode in 1997. The "hippest, hottest show on television" (TV Guide), now in its third season, continues to cultivate and entertain growing legions offans. Illustrated with more than 400 photographs, this official full-color companion guide takesreaders on an engaging trip through the hilarious, intelligent, and sometimes heartbreakingworld of the endearingly odd Ally and her friends and colleagues. Chock-full of fascinatingfacts and tidbits, this insider's guide includes: An exclusive, behind-the-scenes glimpse at the show and stag-from lifeon the set to the writers, crew, wardrobe, and special effects A complete guide to each episode An up close look at the show's creator and driving force, David E. Kelley Judge "Whipper,'' the Dancing Twins, "Happy'' Boyle, Stefan the frog, and more Fishisms, McBealisms, and Elaine's best inventions The lowdown on the show's music and the spectacular success of Vonda Shepard Interviews with the actors Plus special sections on the personal and professional--from Ally's men,memorable cases and clients, to her relationship with Billy and Georgia, to life in the Unisex universe.

Divertida, encantadora e inteligente, la premiada Ally MeBeal robo el corazon de critica y publico desde el primer episodio. Tras dos temporadas, sigue cautivando y entreteniendo a nuevas legiones de seguidores. Con mas de 400 fotografias en color, esta guia acompana a los lectores en un increible viaje por el mundo hilarante, inteligente y a veces conmovedor de la encantadora y peculiar Ally y de sus amigos y companeros. Llena de anecdotas y noticias, esta guia contiene: - Una vision exclusiva de la serie y sus protagonistas: desde la vida en el plato hasta los guionistas, el equipo, el vestuario y los efectos especiales. >

During its five-year run from 1997 to 2002, the popular TV show Ally McBeal engaged viewers in debates over what it means to be a woman or a man in the modern workplace; how romance factors into the therapeutic understanding of relationships; what value eccentricity has and how much oddity society should tolerate; and what utility fantasy has in the pragmatic world. In addition to these social concerns, however, Ally McBeal stood out for being well-constructed, narratively complex, and stylistically rich—in short, beautiful TV. Starting from the premise that much of television today is "drop-dead gorgeous" and that TV should be studied for its formal qualities as well as its social impact, Greg M. Smith analyzes Ally McBeal in terms of its aesthetic principles and narrative construction. He explores how Ally's innovative use of music, special effects, fantasy sequences, voiceovers, and flashbacks structures a distinctive fictional universe, while it also opens up new possibilities for televisual expression. Smith also discusses the complex narrative strategies that Ally's creator David E. Kelley used to develop a long-running storyline and shows how these serial narrative practices can help us understand a wide range of prime-time TV serials. By taking seriously the art and argument of Ally McBeal, Beautiful TV conclusively demonstrates that aesthetic and narrative analysis is an indispensable key for unlocking the richness of contemporary television.

As well as being an episode-by-episode guide to Ally McBeal, this book takes a deeper and wittier look at Ally's life and trials. If you've ever wondered whether the lawyers of Cage & Fish ever lose a case, or why anyone would see a dancing baby, then this is the place to look.