18 Years Later, William Shatner’s Best Quote In Boston Legal Is Still The Greatest Meta Joke In TV History

Published Oct 20, 2026, 3:30 PM EDT Cher Thompson is a Senior Staff Writer at Screen Rant, where she covers everything from explosive reality TV moments to cast interviews about the twists and turns of scripted dramas. With a background in creative writing, marketing, and teaching, Cher knows how to spot both the storytelling genius and the guilty pleasures in pop culture. Her work blends wit with insight, making readers feel like they’re chatting with a friend who just happens to know way too much about TV. After spending years building one of TV's most recognizable characters, William Shatner's time on Boston Legal gave him the chance to make one of the most iconic meta jokes in the history of the medium, one that still hits nearly 20 years later. Shatner, who began working in the early 1950s, has long been one of the most beloved actors in Hollywood, appearing in TV, films, and various other projects for more than half a century. A familiar face, Shatner's most recognizable role quickly became Captain James Kirk, the commanding officer of the USS Enterprise in the Star Trek franchise. Shatner's time as Captain Kirk helped establish him as an icon of science fiction, and the character's influence has been immeasurable for both the franchise and the actor's career. After his initial Star Trek run, Shatner's career continued to flourish with shows like police drama T.J. Hooker and films like Miss Congeniality, as well as his time on the series Boston Legal, where he played eccentric and lauded attorney Denny Crane. A role that stood far apart from Kirk, Denny was a departure from the type of character that Shatner had played in the past, showing off his wide range. While the shadow of Star Trek and Captain Kirk are always looming large over Shatner's work, the actor tends to lean into his legacy rather than brushing it off. This propensity to be in on the joke, thankfully, provided Shatner with one of the best meta jokes in TV history. A spinoff of The Practice that starred James Spader as Alan Shore, Boston Legal centers on the chemistry between Spader's Shore and Shatner's Denny Crane, a mid-70s partner who's in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. Crane, an eccentric character to begin with, is also obsessive about his reputation and the legacy he leaves behind, which comes through in several ways, including his continual repetition of his own name. While Shore and Crane aren't on the same page in many ways, their relationship is a close one, and made for some iconic moments throughout the show's five season run. During an early episode of Boston Legal season 3, in a moment of self-promotion surrounding his new website, Denny begins listing off the jobs he's held in the past. In a cheeky moment, Denny explains, "I once captained my own spaceship!" The obvious Star Trek reference is made all the better because of the way Shatner delivers it, with a pure tongue-in-cheek tone, making it clear that he's entirely in on the joke. What makes the joke even richer is the fact that, as a character, Denny has the personality to carry the punchline without the added implication of Shatner's past role, but the meta-level of the delivery makes it iconic. Denny Crane Is Shatner’s Best TV Character Since Captain Kirk Although Captain Kirk is easily Shatner's most defining TV role, Denny Crane is the character that brought the actor back to the small screen. While the characters couldn't be more different, Shatner's charm and charisma radiates through both Denny and Kirk in his signature way. Both confident and commanding characters, seeing Shatner as Denny was powerful, especially years after his last time featured so consistently on a series. His performance on Boston Legal made it clear that Shatner understood how to play Denny for comedy and how to use his inflated ego as a defense mechanism. While Shatner's career has seen him take on a wide range of roles, Boston Legal's Denny was a strong performance that cemented him in a completely different role. Allowing the actor to lean into his comedic sensibilities, Denny had a nuance to him that allowed Shatner to take lofty swings when it came to line delivery, physicality, and his cadence toward other actors like Spader. Denny's self-importance was so visibly fun for Shatner to play, and made the moments the character was more vulnerable even more exciting to see. After nearly 20 years, even a single line on Boston Legal still makes Shatner's Denny a standout. Release Date 2004 - 2008-00-00 Showrunner David E. Kelley Writers David E. Kelley Creator(s) David E. Kelley