SEASON PREMIERE

ALAN SHORE REPRESENTS "THE BLACK WIDOW," AN ICY BEAUTY ACCUSED OF POISONING HER RICH, ELDERLY HUSBAND, ON THE SEASON PREMIERE OF ABC'S "BOSTON LEGAL"

Heather Locklear Guest-Stars as Kelly Nolan, AKA "The Black Widow," And Rupert Everett Guest-Stars as Tara Wilson's Former Lover, Malcolm Holmes

Led by an Emmy Award-winning cast, "Boston Legal" returns for a second season to tell the professional and personal stories of a group of brilliant but often emotionally challenged attorneys, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. Emmy Award winners James Spader and William Shatner play Alan Shore and Denny Crane, unlikely kindred spirits among the brigade of high-priced litigators at Crane, Poole and Schmidt. In addition, one of the founding law partners, Shirley Schmidt -- five-time Emmy winner Candice Bergen -- has been coaxed back to the Boston law firm to help bring order to the chaotic office. She keeps a vigilant eye on all, particularly Denny Crane, with whom she has a checkered history.

The firm's other attorneys include Brad Chase (Mark Valley), an ex-Marine, who often finds himself in a test of wills with Alan Shore, and Paul Lewiston (Rene Auberjonois), the "lawyer's lawyer," who continually tries to save Crane from himself. Additions this season are Denise Bauer (Julie Bowen), a tough, smart senior associate who is on track to making partner and who won't let anything (including a messy divorce) stand in her way; Garrett Wells (Justin Mentell), an ambitious junior associate who sometimes has trouble recognizing when to back off; and Sara Holt (Ryan Michelle Bathe), another junior associate who is highly intelligent (first in her class, editor of the Law Review) but challenged when applying her book-smarts to everyday law practice at the upscale Boston firm.

In the season premiere episode - "The Black Widow" - Alan Shore and Brad Chase represent Kelly Nolan (Heather Locklear), a cold-as-ice- beauty dubbed "The Black Widow" by the media, on trial for poisoning her wealthy and much older husband. Denny Crane lusts after Mrs. Nolan and begs Shore to let him lend a hand in any way possible. Denise Bauer enlists junior associates Garrett Wells and Sara Holt to assist her on a case involving a Jewish man who feels his civil rights were violated when his Christian co-workers held Bible readings in the workplace. To complicate matters, Denise's husband serves her with divorce papers in front of them. Meanwhile, Shirley Schmidt and Tara Wilson (Rhona Mitra) defend a respected surgeon accused of sexually assaulting a mute woman, who ultimately testifies by very unconventional means. Shore is taken aback when he finds out that opposing counsel on the case is Tara's former lover, Malcolm Holmes (Rupert Everett).

"Boston Legal" stars James Spader as Alan Shore, Julie Bowen as Denise Bauer, Mark Valley as Brad Chase, Rene Auberjonois as Paul Lewiston, Justin Mentell as Garrett Wells and Ryan Michelle Bathe as Sara Holt, with Candice Bergen as Shirley Schmidt and William Shatner as Denny Crane.

Guest starring in "The Black Widow" are Betty White as Catherine Piper, Heather Locklear as Kelly Nolan, Rhona Mitra as Tara Wilson, Rupert Everett as Malcolm Holmes, Anthony Heald as Judge Harvey Cooper, James Eckhouse as Dr. Adam Carter, Leslie Jordan as Bernard Ferrion, Shawn Christian as Tim Bauer, Gregory Itzen as A.D.A. Todd Milken, Richard Portnow as Judge Peter Harding, Randy Oglesby as Walter Edmunds, Marty Belafsky as Joshua Abrams, Ron Ostrow as Atty. Everett Cone, Jennifer Kuhn as Mary Bradley, Christina Souza as Ellen Webster, Julie Pop as Laurie Berger, Fred Myers as Willis Berger, Jason Brooks as Justin Murray, Ellen Crawford as Frances Stadler and Deirdre M. Smith as jury foreperson.

"Boston Legal" was created by David E. Kelley. Kelley and Bill D'Elia are executive producers. The series is produced by David E. Kelley Productions in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television, and premiered October 3, 2004.

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

This program carries a TV-14,D,L parental guideline.