Home > Ally McBeal > Season 1 « TV Series Page Ally McBeal: Season 1 (1997 - 1998) SEASON: Season 1 Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Season 4 Season 5 Want to see Episode List Season 1 Ally McBeal Critics Consensus The debut season of Ally McBeal has its charms, but may prove irksome due to its borderline stereotypical depiction of women in the workplace. 84% TOMATOMETER Critic Ratings: 32 75% Audience Score User Ratings: 10 NEW More Info × Close Want to see Super Reviewer Submit Super Reviewer Edit Review Episodes 1 Pilot Episode Air date: Sep 8, 1997 In the series pilot, Ally (Calista Flockhart) goes to work for a former classmate (Greg Germann). More 2 Compromising Positions Air date: Sep 15, 1997 Ally faces a moral dilemma when she's assigned to defend Richard's partner, who was arrested for solicitation. Meanwhile, Richard tries to use Ally to snag a client. More 3 The Kiss Air date: Sep 22, 1997 Georgia asks Ally to work on an age-discrimination case involving a TV newsanchor (Kate Jackson). More 4 The Affair Air date: Sep 29, 1997 Ally's racked with guilt when she's asked to give the eulogy at the funeral of a law-school prof with whom she once had an affair. More 5 One Hundred Tears Away Air date: Oct 20, 1997 In the series' 100th episode, Ally is hired by a man who believes he can fly, and he tries to prove to her that she can, too; and John scoffs as Richard and Elaine try matchmaker Harriet Pumple (Nell Carter). More 6 The Promise Air date: Oct 27, 1997 Ally reexamines male-female relationships when a lawyer develops an unrequited crush on her, and she defends a prostitute (Jamie Rose). More 7 The Attitude Air date: Nov 3, 1997 Ally's efforts to help a divorce (Brenda Vaccaro) make her separation legal in Jewish law go awry when she offends the woman's rabbi (Jason Blicker). More 8 Drawing the Lines Air date: Nov 10, 1997 Billy's revelation unsettles Ally. Meanwhile, Elaine hires an attorney (Sandra Bernhard) in a sex-discrimination suit; and Ally and Georgia turn tough in a divorce case. More 9 The Dirty Joke Air date: Nov 17, 1997 Ally tries to shake off her prudish image; and the firm is sued again---this time by the object of Elaine's lawsuit. More 10 Boy to the World Air date: Dec 1, 1997 Ally defends a young transvestite (Wilson Cruz) on charges of prostitution, using a modified insanity defense. Meanwhile, Richard fights to have his dead uncle's unusual last request carried out. More Show More Episodes Ally McBeal: Season 1 Photos View All Photos (44) Tv Season Info Genre: Drama Network: FOX Premiere Date: Sep 8, 1997 Exec. Producers: Bill D'Elia, David E. Kelley Cast Calista Flockhart as Ally McBeal Courtney Thorne-Smith as Georgia Thomas Gil Bellows as Billy Alan Thomas Greg Germann as Richard Lisa Nicole Carson as Renee Peter MacNicol as John Cage Jane Krakowski as Elaine Vonda Shepard Dyan Cannon as Whipper Cone Vonda Shepard as Vonda Shepard Tate Donovan as Richard Cheanie Brooke Burns as Jennifer Higgin Alaina Reed Hall as Judge Witt Jesse L. Martin as Greg Michael Winters as Judge Spitt Michael Easton Keene Curtis as Judge Hawk Jason Blicker Isaiah Washington as Michael Rivers Phil Leeds as Judge Boyle Dylan McDermott as Bobby Donnell Jay Leggett as Harry Kathleen Wilhoite as Janie Henry Woronicz as Austin Gill Kelly Connell as Dr. Noah Peters Tracey Ullman Richard Riehle as Jack Billings Sandra Bernhard Linda Gehringer as Janet Reno Rusty Schwimmer as Angela Steven Flynn as Sam Little Elaine Giftos as Nancy Foote Harriet Sansom Harris as Cheryl Harry Lennix as Ballard Bob Gunton as Michaelson Andrew Heckler as Jason Roberts Eddie Mills as Clinton Gill Willie Garson as District Attorney Frank Shea Nicolette Vajtay as Jill Marty Rackham as Joe Bepp Steve Harris as Eugene Brett Cullen as James Dawson Brenda Vaccaro Cristine Rose as Marci Dabbs Greer as Vincent Robbins Audrie J. Neenan as Mary Clarkson Harrison Page as Rev. Newman Harry Groener as Jake Vermont Susan Merson as Judge Stoller Lawrence Pressman as Judge Smart Brigid Brannagh as Paula Lee Wilkof as District Attorney Nixon Gibby Brand as Judge McGough Amy Aquino as Dr. Harper J. Kenneth Campbell as Yorkin Miriam Flynn as Karen Coolie Jamie Rose Stan Ivar as Jason Hatfield Richard Kiley as Seymore Little Kelli Williams as Lindsay Zeljko Ivanek as Judge Pink Ben Siegler as Hoverless Dina Meyer as Anna Flint McNally Sagal as Mary Halliday Richard Schiff Betty Bridges-Nacasio as Clerk Eric Pierpoint Barry Miller Eric McCormack as Kepler Carol Locatell as Judge Fulham Mike Hagerty as Michael Huttle Kate Jackson Steve Vinovich as Jerry Burrows Wilson Cruz J. Patrick McCormack Liz Torres as Hanna Goldstein Christine Dunford as Eva Curry Donna Murphy Cynthia Stevenson Larry Brandenburg as Judge Hopkins Amanda Carlin Kathy Baker Joshua Ryan Evans as Oren Koolie Michael Eason as Glenn Katie Mitchell Michael Galeota as Young Billy Jerry Hardin as Minister Josh Evans LisaGay Hamilton as Rebecca Washington Armin Shimerman as Judge Walworth Elizabeth Ruscio as Cynthia Pierce Dawn Stern as Jeanette Mika Boorem as Young Ally David Spielberg as TV Station Executive Peter Roth as Network President Nate Reese as Clerk Bailey Thompson as Jean Horton Gary Bullock as Judge Steele Albert Hall as Judge Seymour Walsh John Fink as President of Brigham Health Management Wren T. Brown as Mr. Stone Camryn Manheim as Ellenor Frutt Jenjer Vick as Secretary Mark Metcalf as Hatfield's Lawyer Adrian Sparks as Katz Paul Guilfoyle (II) as Harold Lane Robert Lee Jacobs as Greg Stone Erica Nicle Dickerson as Young Renee Jennifer Holliday as Lead Choir Singer John Thaddeus as Michael Young Andrew Bloch as Mr. Colson Danny Borowicz as Officer David Dunard as Judge Hupp Nelson Mashita as Foreperson Shea Farrell as Mr. Tyler Daniel Hutchinson as Officer Kenter Roberta West as Foreperson Shannon Welles as Elderly Woman Rhonda Dotson as Julie Martin Holliston Coleman as Cara Dawson Ronald Hunter as Detective Green Derk Cheetwood as Dwayne Stokes Paul Collins as Judge Williams Neal Lerner as George Pullman Daniel Wantland as D.A. Daniel Corbett Daniel Mahar as Michael Lamb Ken Abraham as Hendrix John Cirigliano as Man #1 Cissy Wellman as secretary Gerald Emerick as Johnson David Doty as Minister Herb Corben as Elderly Man Michael Bofshever as Judge Allen Stephenson Niles Brewster as Attorney Ken Banks Sharon Omni as Bailiff Jocko Marcellino as Prison Guard Dale Weston as Reporter Don Perry as Foreman Jerry Sroka as Joel Michael Caslin as Henry Horton Jeffrey von Mayer as Attorney Skroot Patricia Tate as Bailiff Carrie Stuaber as Female Cop Michael Brandon as D.A. Adam Dawson Susan Knight as Joanne Wilder James Mathers as Dr. Carpenter Karen Elyse as Foreperson Vince Brolato as Foreperson Sally Wingert as Tour Guide Earl K. Kim as Foreperson Gerry Vichi as Foreman Barry Livingston as Dr. John Emburg Dean Purvis as Man Landry Bard as Clerk Landry Barb as Clerk Evan O'Meara as Male Cop Kim Delgado as Court Clerk David Burke as Harry Glance Heavenward as Pedestrian Christopher Michael as Bailiff Joyce Greenleaf as Bystander #1 Bil Dwyer as Band Leader Tony Amendola as Judge Walter Swan Bill Bishop as Foreman Kenneth Zanchi as Bystander #2 Annika Brindley as Tory Bill Finkelstein as William Tom Virtue as Ally's father Al Pugliese as Joel Hurt Eric Mansker as Bailiff Daniel Dae Kim as Testifying Police Officer Mary Margaret Lewis as Foreperson Nancy Stephens as Dr. Karp George Cedar as Judge Jonathan Harker Paul Jenkins as Detective Kale Show More Cast Episodes 1 Pilot Episode Air date: Sep 8, 1997 In the series pilot, Ally (Calista Flockhart) goes to work for a former classmate (Greg Germann). More 2 Compromising Positions Air date: Sep 15, 1997 Ally faces a moral dilemma when she's assigned to defend Richard's partner, who was arrested for solicitation. Meanwhile, Richard tries to use Ally to snag a client. More 3 The Kiss Air date: Sep 22, 1997 Georgia asks Ally to work on an age-discrimination case involving a TV newsanchor (Kate Jackson). More 4 The Affair Air date: Sep 29, 1997 Ally's racked with guilt when she's asked to give the eulogy at the funeral of a law-school prof with whom she once had an affair. More 5 One Hundred Tears Away Air date: Oct 20, 1997 In the series' 100th episode, Ally is hired by a man who believes he can fly, and he tries to prove to her that she can, too; and John scoffs as Richard and Elaine try matchmaker Harriet Pumple (Nell Carter). More 6 The Promise Air date: Oct 27, 1997 Ally reexamines male-female relationships when a lawyer develops an unrequited crush on her, and she defends a prostitute (Jamie Rose). More 7 The Attitude Air date: Nov 3, 1997 Ally's efforts to help a divorce (Brenda Vaccaro) make her separation legal in Jewish law go awry when she offends the woman's rabbi (Jason Blicker). More 8 Drawing the Lines Air date: Nov 10, 1997 Billy's revelation unsettles Ally. Meanwhile, Elaine hires an attorney (Sandra Bernhard) in a sex-discrimination suit; and Ally and Georgia turn tough in a divorce case. More 9 The Dirty Joke Air date: Nov 17, 1997 Ally tries to shake off her prudish image; and the firm is sued again---this time by the object of Elaine's lawsuit. More 10 Boy to the World Air date: Dec 1, 1997 Ally defends a young transvestite (Wilson Cruz) on charges of prostitution, using a modified insanity defense. Meanwhile, Richard fights to have his dead uncle's unusual last request carried out. More Show More Episodes Critic Reviews for Ally McBeal Season 1 All Critics (32) | Top Critics (16) | Fresh (27) | Rotten (5) It was pretty imaginative for its time. The narrative techniques were original, and they were surprising. Now we're accustomed to fantasy sequences, song interludes, viral videos... But back then, these flourishes still seemed relatively fresh on TV. Mar 12, 2019 | Full Review… Matthew Gilbert Boston Globe Top Critic Based on the pilot and its potential, Ally McBeal is one new series to keep your eye on this season. Apr 16, 2018 | Full Review… Hal Boedeker Orlando Sentinel Top Critic Ally McBeal is a show where you hardly can wait for the next episode. Apr 13, 2018 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review… David Bianculli New York Daily News Top Critic What woman can't relate to this scenario? Well, none, actually. Mar 13, 2019 | Full Review… Amanda Ripley Washington City Paper Ally's outer strength and inner turmoil may not be politically correct but they are unerringly accurate. Mar 13, 2019 | Full Review… SCMP Staff South China Morning Post With the assonance of its name matched only by the asininity of the rest of it, Ally McBeal exudes a kind of obscene fluffiness. Mar 13, 2019 | Full Review… Eddie Holt Irish Times Whimsical and light, "Ally McBeal" offers television that is both easily accessible and realistically compelling. Mar 13, 2019 | Full Review… Rob Owen Times Union (Albany, NY) A risky series that parades many debates on things like fetishes or incongruency in religion all while correctly balancing a mixture of reality and fiction. [Full review in Spanish] Mar 13, 2019 | Full Review… Javier Del Pino El Pais (Spain) Some scenes are melodramatic, and the writing is sometimes weak and corny. But despite these flaws, its sassy and fresh story line shows potential. Mar 13, 2019 | Full Review… Lisa Leigh Parney Christian Science Monitor It's not that the show feels dated -- that original snap is still there -- it's just that TV's come a long way, baby. Mar 13, 2019 | Rating: B+ | Full Review… Alynda Wheat Entertainment Weekly Top Critic Ally McBeal has a spark of hope in her that you just can't turn your back on... How can one not root for someone like that, annoying flaws aside? Mar 13, 2019 | Full Review… Allan Johnson Chicago Tribune Top Critic Hitting the right notes in a show with the kind of quirky tone that distinguishes this one is not easy. Flockhart misses only a few. Apr 16, 2018 | Full Review… David Zurawik Baltimore Sun View All Critic Reviews (32) Audience Reviews for Ally McBeal: Season 1 Jun 30, 2019 Love these series since the beginning... its funny to see Ally love live mix with her fantasy and her law firm career. The writer done a good job making scenario which make the audiences laugh and entertained. Thats way these series has a huge fans world wide and in my oppinion in its own unique way, one of tv series that has big influence in its decade beside friends and baywatch. 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