It's official

And I believe I can call this:

Boston Legal has jumped the shark. Or nuked the fridge, if you prefer it that way.

What makes me say this: the teaser sequence for the eight episode of season five. When you resort to slo-mo action sequences, badly choreographed "fight" scenes with funny noises, you have lost.

The show was increasingly looking this way anyway; it's a formulaic show, and this was bound to happen. It's a heady mix of legal procedural utopianism with high-quality, high-caliber actors, even if I can't stand some of them; James Spader, shithead with that hypnotically powerful voice; Shatner, oh Shatner, with your despicably fantastic acting; and that royal vixen and diva that is Candice Bergen, who is still so damn hot at her age. It so happens that this formula David E. Kelley concocted was one with remarkable staying power.

Oh christ, an addendum: This episode continues ascend the hill of mediocrity; hot-button issues and excessive self-reflexivity does not bode well for your future.