Name some David E. Kelly Cliches
04-23-02 | 03:31 PM
#1
Thread Starter
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Name some David E. Kelly Cliches
So David E. Kelly has certain devices that he uses in almost all his shows. Whether it be Picket Fences, Chicago Hope, The Practice, Ally Mcbeal, or Boston Public. He uses these things so much that while they were fresh at one point, they are really now just cliches of his shows.
Of course, spontaneous musical numbers have been mentioned numerous times so we can get that out of the way.
My offering is that whenever a character is talking about another character behind their back, it follows David E. Kelly law that the character being spoken about is either standing behind them or is within earshot.
Lets name some other cliches!
Of course, spontaneous musical numbers have been mentioned numerous times so we can get that out of the way.
My offering is that whenever a character is talking about another character behind their back, it follows David E. Kelly law that the character being spoken about is either standing behind them or is within earshot.
Lets name some other cliches!
04-23-02 | 03:39 PM
#2
Moderator
Female lawyers, of course.
How about surprise visits from children that the characters didn't know they had? He's used that twice this season on two seperate shows.
How about surprise visits from children that the characters didn't know they had? He's used that twice this season on two seperate shows.
04-23-02 | 04:23 PM
#3
DVD Talk Limited Edition
The annoying general behavior that helped inspire (among others, likely) Sex and the City: a juvenile fascination with so-called "deviant" sexual behavior and body functions, which in Kelley's mind in and of themselves are supposed to be funny--but actually serve no effectively witty or humorous scenarios, unlike Monty Python, or even South Park. 
04-23-02 | 04:26 PM
#4
Characters with Tourettes syndrome!
Kelley first used this device when he was a writer for L.A. Law and he recycled it again for Ally McBeal.
In fact, I recently watched all the L.A. re-runs on A&E and I was amazed how many plotlines and cast members were later used in Ally McBeal and The Practice.
Kelley first used this device when he was a writer for L.A. Law and he recycled it again for Ally McBeal.
In fact, I recently watched all the L.A. re-runs on A&E and I was amazed how many plotlines and cast members were later used in Ally McBeal and The Practice.
04-23-02 | 04:36 PM
#6
Thread Starter
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
How about verdicts? Most of the time they are "Not Guilty" but if the verdict is ever "Guilty", you can bet theat the sentece will be miniscule. "Time served" or 2 days in jail or something like that.
04-26-02 | 05:58 AM
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From: The Planet of the Apes
As a big DEK fan, here are some cliches I have noticed:
-Unique midget characters.
(Can be found as guests or regulars on most DEK shows...)
-Annoying secretaries.
(L.A. Law, Lucy of The Practice, the short lady on Picket Fences, etc)
-Characters who are crazy but have hearts of gold.
(The Superman freak on The Practice, the bird guy on Ally, etc.)
-Character caught in hooker fiasco.
(Guber in BP, John Cage in Ally, Jimmy in The Practice.)
-Elevator mishap precedes or is cause of major death.
(Just kidding, but Rosalind Shayes in L.A. Law died in an elevator shaft, and Billy on Ally McBeal died in the same episode where Cage got stuck in an elevator.)
-Fyvush Finkel.
-C00Ki3
-Unique midget characters.
(Can be found as guests or regulars on most DEK shows...)
-Annoying secretaries.
(L.A. Law, Lucy of The Practice, the short lady on Picket Fences, etc)
-Characters who are crazy but have hearts of gold.
(The Superman freak on The Practice, the bird guy on Ally, etc.)
-Character caught in hooker fiasco.
(Guber in BP, John Cage in Ally, Jimmy in The Practice.)
-Elevator mishap precedes or is cause of major death.
(Just kidding, but Rosalind Shayes in L.A. Law died in an elevator shaft, and Billy on Ally McBeal died in the same episode where Cage got stuck in an elevator.)
-Fyvush Finkel.
-C00Ki3
