MEET SHIRLEY SCHMIDT (CANDICE BERGEN) OF CRANE, POOLE & SCHMIDT, A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH, ON ABC'S "BOSTON LEGAL"

"Schmidt Happens" - Founding Crane, Poole & Schmidt partner Shirley Schmidt (Candice Bergen) returns to the firm to help bring order to the chaotic office. The firebrand Schmidt proves to be a formidable adversary to Alan Shore, and gets under the skin of Denny Crane, with whom she has a checkered history. Meanwhile, Lori represents a Sudanese native who sues the U.S. government for lack of action in the face of the horrific atrocities being committed in his country, and Alan Shore defends a man who killed his mother in a fit of rage, hitting her over the head with a skillet, on "Boston Legal," TUESDAY, AUGUST 16 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD: 1/9/05)

"Boston Legal" stars James Spader as Alan Shore, Monica Potter as Lori Colson, Rhona Mitra as Tara Wilson, Lake Bell as Sally Heep, Mark Valley as Brad Chase, Rene Auberjonois as Paul Lewiston, with Candice Bergen as Shirley Schmidt and William Shatner as Denny Crane.

Guest-starring in "Schmidt Happens" are Leslie Jordan as Bernard Ferrion, Fiona Hale as Della Ferrion, Greg Alan Williams as John Zenawi, Thom Gossom, Jr. as Judge Blake Winters, Ray Laska as Judge James Billmeyer, Brenda Wehle as Judge O'Keefe, Lisa Kaminir as D. A. Valerie Murrow, Michael Wiseman as D.A. Bret Haber, Tony Pasqualini as U.S. Attorney Joyner, Ron Butler as Dr. Kohler, Rhomeyn Johnson as Detective Willet, Alex Paez as Officer Coulier, Barry Sigismondi as Officer James, Crystal Allen as Maddie Tyler, Jodi Lyn O'Keefe as Nora, Phillip Palmer as anchor, Obie Sims as paramedic and S. Zylan Brooks as clerk.

"Schmidt Happens" was written by David E. Kelley and directed by Allison Liddi-Brown.

"Boston Legal" is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1-channel surround sound.

This program carries a TV-PG,D,L parental guideline.