"Boston Legal" proceedings scheduled for fall

By Nellie Andreeva

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - "Boston Legal" will return for a fifth season in the fall.

After intense negotiations with show creator David E. Kelley, ABC on Sunday reached an agreement with the writer-producer to bring the critically praised legal series back in the fall.

The network originally had intended to hold "Legal" for midseason.

The "Boston" deal opens the door for a series pickup of Kelley's new project, "Life on Mars," a time-traveling detective drama starring Jason O'Mara.

The network had been zeroing in on a pickup of "Mars," but such a deal had to be blessed by Kelley, who owns the rights to the property, an American version of the British series of the same name.

Now such a pact appears likely.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter