The Shark well this does seem good. James Woods, check. Jeri Ryan, yep very good.
and who's this - that's not Calista Flockhart is it? I know she's in something - no she's in Brothers & Sisters on Sunday on ABC after Desperate Housewives. which makes sense because this young woman as ambitious new lawyer I like (and I'm pretty sure I disliked the actress playing AllyMcBeal). this young woman I know from somewhere, a role where she's scary maybe? or cold ... ah. yes there it is: she was on Boston Legal. she was represented by Brad, who was attracted to her, in a case where she was being sued by her female lover and former business partner. and Brad thought there was some lying going on, maybe this girl indeed wasn't a lesbian, which is what the ex-girlfriend claims. but in fact the lie was that they had broken up. they set up the lawsuit for more publicity "It Girls are Split Girls." anyway, good, this actress is pretty compelling.
oh and so that makes 2 series regulars who appeared as guest stars on Boston Legal since Jeri Ryan did also. I like them both here, very much, in this episode.
I like the daughter too. is she familiar? picture on imdb sure seems like I've seen it before, but I don't see anything in her filmography that I've watched.. ah, no, there it is - a lifetime movie right - Mom at 16 - I saw some of that. ...yes this actress seems good. she is actually young - 19 I guess, born 1987. the end of this pilot, where she unexpectedly chooses to live with her dad, moved me. well done.
ah and yes he does have an in-home courtroom - noted below? read somewhere and wondered - it's not a functioning court room (~ of course) but one he uses to prepare. and has filled with furniture that was in court rooms during famous trials eg Snopes Trial.

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ok Patrick Demspey won me back, he is awfully likeable as Derek telling Meredith "I'm in love with you. I've been in love with you forever. I know I'm a little late in telling you this. ... Take your time. take all the time you need - because I had a choice to make - and I chose wrong."

--but, he didn't actually say anything about Addison here, like 'I'm leaving my marriage.' it shouldn't depend on Meredith, right?

anyway I like Flynn. but I'd choose Derek. that wasn't obvious but after his speech, that's who I'd like Meredith to choose.