You remember the dancing baby. Everyone does. That weird, pixelated CGI infant shimmying to "Hooked on a Feeling" basically defined a specific era of late-90s television. But when we look back at the cast of Ally McBeal, it’s easy to forget just how much of a powder keg that show actually was. It wasn't just about short skirts and unisex bathrooms. It was a career-making, and sometimes career-breaking, machine.
The Reality of Being Ally
Calista Flockhart was everywhere in 1998. She was on the cover of Time magazine as the face of modern feminism, which, looking back, was a lot of pressure for one person to carry. People were obsessed with her weight, her character’s neuroses, and whether or not a woman could be a successful lawyer while hallucinating about her ex-boyfriend.
Honestly? Flockhart handled it with a lot of grace. After the show wrapped in 2002, she didn't just disappear, though she definitely stepped back from the "It Girl" spotlight. She spent years starring in Brothers & Sisters and later brought some serious gravitas to the first season of Supergirl as Cat Grant.
Most recently, she’s been leaning back into the prestige TV world. You might have caught her in Feud: Capote vs. The Swans playing Lee Radziwill. It’s a very different vibe from Ally, much more controlled and sharp. She’s also been married to Harrison Ford since 2010—sorta the ultimate Hollywood power couple that nobody really gossips about because they're just... normal?
The Robert Downey Jr. Chaos
We have to talk about Larry Paul. Because, wow.
When Robert Downey Jr. joined the cast of Ally McBeal in Season 4, it was supposed to be his big comeback. And for a minute, it was. He was incredible. He and Calista had this chemistry that made the show feel fresh again after a bit of a Season 3 slump. He even won a Golden Globe for it.
The plan was for Larry and Ally to get married. A happy ending! But then life got in the way. RDJ was struggling with addiction, and after a couple of high-profile arrests in 2000 and 2001, David E. Kelley had to let him go.
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It was abrupt. It was sad. One day he was the leading man, and the next, he was written out with a heartbreaking note. It’s wild to think that if things had gone differently, he might have stayed on a sitcom instead of eventually becoming Iron Man and winning an Oscar for Oppenheimer.
The Breakout Stars You Forgot Were There
If you rewatch the show now, the sheer amount of talent in the supporting cast is staggering.
Jane Krakowski (Elaine Vassal): Before she was Jenna Maroney on 30 Rock, she was the office's "inventor" of the face-bra. Jane is a Broadway powerhouse who basically found her comedic voice in those Cage & Fish hallways. She's been hosting Name That Tune lately and remains one of the hardest-working people in show business.
Lucy Liu (Ling Woo): Ling wasn't even supposed to be a regular. Lucy Liu originally auditioned for the role of Nelle Porter (which went to Portia de Rossi). Kelley liked her so much he created Ling just for her. She turned a "guest spot" into a cultural phenomenon. After the show, she became an action star in Charlie's Angels and Kill Bill, and then spent seven seasons on Elementary.
Portia de Rossi (Nelle Porter): She was the "ice queen," but she brought so much nuance to the role. Of course, most people know her now for Arrested Development or for her marriage to Ellen DeGeneres. She’s mostly retired from acting now to focus on her art curation business, General Public.
Regina Hall (Coretta Lipp): This is the one that trips people up. Yes, Regina Hall was in the final seasons! She was just starting out, and now she’s a massive movie star (Girls Trip, Scary Movie).
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The "Biscuit" and the Boss
Peter MacNicol, who played John "The Biscuit" Cage, was the heart of the show. His performance was so specific—the remote-control toilet flushes, the stuttering, the Barry White obsession. He won an Emmy for it, and honestly, he deserved five. He’s been working steadily ever since, with great runs on Veep and Grey's Anatomy.
Then there’s Greg Germann as Richard Fish. "Fishism" was a whole language back then. Germann is one of those "that guy" actors who is in everything. He had a long stint on Grey's Anatomy recently as Dr. Tom Koracick, a character who was basically a slightly more evolved version of Richard Fish.
What's Really Happening with the Reboot?
Rumors about an Ally McBeal revival have been swirling for years. It’s one of those things that feels inevitable but also impossible.
In late 2022, news broke that a sequel series was in development at ABC. The twist? It wouldn't necessarily focus on Ally herself, but on a young Black woman—possibly the daughter of Ally’s roommate Renée Raddick (played by Lisa Nicole Carson)—joining the firm.
Calista Flockhart has reportedly been approached to produce and potentially appear. David E. Kelley has given his blessing but said he wouldn't write it, famously saying that if it’s done today, it should be led by a woman.
The industry is different now. A show about the "inner thoughts" of a woman would probably look more like Fleabag than a glossy network legal drama. But there's something about the cast of Ally McBeal that people can't let go of.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're feeling nostalgic, here is how you can actually engage with the world of Ally McBeal today:
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- Streaming: The entire series is currently on Hulu. If you haven't watched it since it aired, be prepared: the music is still great, but some of the office politics have... not aged well.
- Vonda Shepard: The singer who was the "voice" of the show is still touring! She released an album recently and often plays the hits from the show.
- Career Watching: Follow the current projects of the "graduates." If you liked the humor of Ally McBeal, you’ll likely enjoy Jane Krakowski in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt or Peter MacNicol in Veep.
The show was a fever dream of the 90s, but the careers it launched are very much real and still thriving. Whether we ever get that reboot or not, the original run remains a bizarre, brilliant capsule of a time when the biggest problem in the world was a dancing baby and a unisex bathroom.
Next Steps: You can check out Vonda Shepard's latest tour dates to catch some of that original 90s nostalgia live, or head over to Hulu to see if the Robert Downey Jr. episodes still hold up as well as we remember.