Ironically tonight Boston Legal made explicit mention of Network and it's writer, Paddy Chayefsky. The lead attorney, played by the guy from Pretty in Pink, was trying a case against a Dr. Phil-type show where a girl had been killed by an ex-boyfriend after turning down his marriage proposal on TV. He told the jury, "Network was a film far ahead of its time, but today it appears dated, because even Paddy Chayefsky couldn't have foreseen a day when people would eat meal worms for prizes or women would humiliate themselves to marry fake millionaires on national TV."

It was a nice nod, and maybe even an acknowledgment of influence. I can't say I make a point to get in the recliner for Boston Legal like I do American Idol, but I still say it's one of my favorite TV shows. When people have told me I write well, I think they're snowed by the fact my sentences are generally grammatically correct and properly punctuated. Now the guy(s) behind Boston Legal -- now THAT'S writing! I'd really like to have a DVD of just the amazing courtroom scenes from that show.

I just thought that was cool that Boston Legal mentioned Network.