Ally and Harry

By Shannon

I’ve been watching Ally McBeal on Netflicks.  I loved that show when it was on from 1997 to 2002.  Last night I watched an episode that aired in the spring of 2000 about the two senior partners’ (Richard and John) vacation to L.A.  Richard got arrested as soon as the plane landed.  He had talked to the first-class passengers about updating their wills before take-off because of the rash of recent plane crashes.  The pilot ordered him not to speak for the duration of the trip.  Richard didn't obey.  When the fat man sitting next to him began passing gas and sweating profusely, Richard started talking again and opened the ceiling compartment and put on the air mask.  This led to his arrest upon landing.  In court John defended him and argued that the airlines already expect us to put up with so many indignities in order to fly – delayed and cancelled flights, being herded like cattle through security, etc – that Richard's behavior was justified.  The judge dismissed the case.

Less than a year and a half later 9/11 happened.

I’ve felt a bit of melancholy as I’ve watched the first few seasons of Ally McBeal - the last few before our world forever changed.  Watching this show I can clearly remember what our “normal” was like before 9/11, Gitmo, Bin Laden, the Patriot Act, Porn Scanners, etc.  Even T.V. still seems less funny ten years after 9/11.  Days after 9/11, when regular programming finally resumed, I remember David Letterman saying something like: “If you live a thousand years will you ever understand what happened?”  No we won’t and our T.V. reflects this darker reality.  It was shortly after 9/11 that Ally was cancelled - as was Sex in the City.  They were frivolous shows, but fun nevertheless.  However, "fun" seemed inappropriate right after 9/11.  Reality TV and serious cop and lawyer and medical shows took over, pushing out our comedies.  30 minute sitcoms were cancelled to make room for one hour dramas.  I remember the days when my family would watch 30 minute comedies in the evenings after dinner.  The majority of shows seemed to be 30 minute sitcoms back then.  The only one hour show I remember my family watching back then was Star Trek:  The Next Generation.  (Yes, we were dorks.)  Now my mother and I enjoy the hour-long dark-drama called Criminal Minds.  Those who were small children or not yet born on 9/11 will never remember laughing with their families in front of the T.V. the way we did before…

We talk about all the ways 9/11 changed us, the nation, and the world.  However, I’ve not heard anyone talk about the way it changed our television.  The creator of Ally McBeal has finally created another funny lawyer show.  It’s called Harry’s Law and I love it.  It has moments of hilarity, but each episode is much more poignant than Ally ever was.  Ally was pre-9/11 and Harry is post-9/11 – the day that changed television forever.