Season 5

Season 1

#1 Pilot (Sept 8, 1997)
The personal and professional life of an idealistic lawyer at a cutthroat law firm. Ally reluctantly goes to work for a former classmate's law firm where her ex-boyfriend Billy also happens to be employed.

#2 Compromising Positions (Sept 15, 1997)
Ally faces a moral dilemma when she's assigned to defend Richard's partner, who was arrested for solicitation. Meanwhile, Richard tries to use Ally to snag a client.

#3 The Kiss (Sept 22, 1997)
Georgia asks Ally to work on an age-discrimination case involving a TV newsanchor.

#4 The Affair (Sept 29, 1997)
Ally's racked with guilt when she's asked to give the eulogy at the funeral of a law-school prof with whom she once had an affair.

#5 One Hundred Tears Away (Oct 20, 1997)
A simple altercation in the supermarket leads to Ally's arrest. Billy gets her acquitted, but she must defend herself before the bar.

#6 The Promise (Oct 27, 1997)
Ally reexamines male-female relationships when a lawyer develops an unrequited crush on her, and she defends a prostitute

#6 1/2 The Attitude (Nov 3, 1997)
Ally clashes with a client's rabbi – and dates a handsome District Attorney – while Georgia considers suing her law firm for sex discrimination.

#7 Drawing the Lines (Nov 10, 1997)
Billy's revelation unsettles Ally. Meanwhile, Elaine hires an attorney in a sex-discrimination suit; and Ally and Georgia turn tough in a divorce case.

#8 The Dirty Joke (Nov 17, 1997)
Ally tries to shake off her prudish image; and the firm is sued again — this time by the object of Elaine's lawsuit.

#9 Boy to the World (Dec 1, 1997)
Ally defends a young transvestite on charges of prostitution, using a modified insanity defense. Meanwhile, Richard fights to have his dead uncle's unusual last request carried out.

#10 Silver Bells (Dec 15, 1997)
Ally's anything but jolly when she's assigned to represent a threesome who want to make their "marriage" legal.

#11 Cro-Magnon (Jan 5, 1998)
Ally confronts primitive drives when she goes out with a gorgeous guy, and defends a man who threw a punch to save his date's honor.

#12 The Blame Game (Jan 19, 1998)
Ally considers embarking on more cerebral activities with male-model Glenn, but the sexual nature of the relationship has already turned Billy off on Ally.

#13 Body Language (Feb 2, 1998)
Whipper ditches Richard after she catches him succumbing to his neck fetish with the Attorney General.

#14 Once in a Lifetime (Feb 23, 1998)
A case involving a "mentally incompetent" elderly man's right to marry stirs up Ally's old feelings for co-counsel Billy.

#15 Forbidden Fruits (Mar 2, 1998)
A lawsuit involving a love triangle arouses Georgia's suspicions about Ally's feelings for Billy, leading to a confrontation — and a strange proposal from Georgia.

#16 Theme of Life (Mar 9, 1998)
A high-pressure case and more visions of the dancing baby prompt Ally to go into therapy with the Biscuit's therapist. Meanwhile, Richard pursues Janet Reno.

#17 The Playing Field (Mar 16, 1998)
After Ally's first date with Greg Butters ends in a car accident, she defends him in court against the plaintiff's lawyer — a 9-year-old genius

#18 Happy Birthday, Baby (Apr 6, 1998)
Her upcoming birthday and Greg's lack of sexual interest are stressing Ally out. Meanwhile, Elaine plans a celebration for her.

#19 The Inmates Apr 27, 1998
The lawyers are forced to consult another law firm when they encounter a murder case.

#20 Being There (May 4, 1998)
Ally and John provide Renee's defense, but their antics in court have her baffled. Meanwhile, Georgia and Billy get news that they — and Ally — receive with mixed feelings.

#21 Alone Again (May 11, 1998)
Ally urges John to ask out an old friend to whom he's attracted; Georgia and Richard represent a bride jilted at the altar.

#22 These Are the Days (May 18, 1998)
Bobby Donnell of The Practice comes to Ally for help with a case. Meanwhile, John Cage admits that he's "drawn to" Renee

Season 2

#23 The Real World (Sept 14, 1998)
A new associate, Nelle, joins the firm; and Ally defends a thirtysomething woman who, two years ago, had a fling with a 16-year-old — to whom Ally now finds herself drawn.

#24 They Eat Horses, Don't They? (Sept 21, 1998)
Ally's dislike of Nelle comes to a head over their first case together. Meanwhile, John defends a restaurateur.

#25 Fools Night Out (Sept 28, 1998)
A case involving a choir singer and her minister ex-lover hits too close to home for Ally, who's reminded of her breakup with Billy.

#26 Story of Love (Oct 26, 1998)
The defense of a jilted woman charged with assaulting her ex's new love hits home for Ally, whose loyalty to Elaine makes her reluctant to accept George's advances.

#27 Worlds Without Love (Nov 2, 1998)
Ally and John represent a nun who was dismissed after having an affair. Meanwhile, Renee contemplates renewing an old love affair; and Whipper admits to missing Richard.

#28 Happy Trails (Nov 9, 1998)
Ally has a hard time rejecting a man who won't take the hint. Meanwhile, Georgia and Billy represent a woman fired for her unusual color.

#29 Just Looking (Nov 16, 1998)
Ling turns to the firm when a local group threatens to shut down her mud-wrestling club. Meanwhile, Ally develops an interest in the opposing counsel, who once dated Georgia.

#30 You Never Can Tell (Nov 23, 1998)
Matters of the heart complicate the lives of the Cage and Fish gang, with Ling suing an employee for having "sexual thoughts" and Elaine smarting over a breakup.

#31 Making Spirits Bright (Dec 14, 1998)
At Christmastime, the firm faces losing its biggest client, a bond trader. Meanwhile, Renee's old flame returns.

#32 Love Unlimited (Jan 18, 1999)
Ling wants to sue the environment; a man seeks to annul his nine-year marriage; Greg wants to start dating Ally again. Bruce Willis guest stars as a therapist.

#33 Angels & Blimps (Feb 8, 1999)
An 8-year-old dying of leukemia asks Ally to help him sue God. And Ling, revealed to be a lawyer, comes out of retirement to help with the case.

#34 Sideshow (Feb 22, 1999)
Reeling from Billy's admission that he still has feelings for her, Ally seeks the help of Dr. Tracy Clark.

#35 Sex, Lies and Politics (Mar 1, 1999)
Ally and Billy disagree on whether to tell their significant others about their romantic indiscretion; and Cage pulls Ling into a libel case involving a bookshop owner and a senator.

#36 Civil War (Apr 5, 1999)
Ally's still fretting over the future of her relationship with Greg when Georgia becomes her opposing counsel on a date-rape case.

#37 Those Lips, That Hand (Apr 19, 1999)
Billy and Georgia represent a client in an age-discrimination suit; Fish wants to intensify his relationship with Ling; and Ally and John obsess over their upcoming birthdays.

#38 Let's Dance (Apr 26, 1999)
Nelle defends a law firm that denied partnership to a woman because she became a mother; Billy and Georgia visit a therapist; Cage tries to get back together with Nelle; and Ling reluctantly agrees to be Elaine's dance partner at a contest.

#39 Only the Lonely (May 3, 1999)
Elaine is thrilled when her face bra infomercial results in hundreds of orders — until her aunt (Jennifer Rhodes) appears with a summons claiming Elaine stole the idea from her deceased daughter; a woman sues her boss for encouraging employees to wear swimsuits to work.

#40 The Green-Eyed Monster (May 10, 1999)
Ally — aided by a reluctant Renee — cooks up a plot to make Greg jealous by dating a handsome male escort. Meanwhile, Georgia adopts a sexy new look.

#41 Love's Illusions (May 17, 1999)
Ally questions whether she'll ever find the perfect partner when a man sues his wife, claiming he was deluded by her love.

#42 I Know Him by Heart (May 24, 1999)
Ally realizes her ideal man might not exist, but decides to go on a dating frenzy after receiving encouraging words from Fish. Meanwhile, Nelle becomes annoyed with Cage due to his empathy for Ally.

Season 3

#45 Car Wash (Oct 25, 1999)
Ally makes love to a stranger inside a car wash; a bride-to-be asks for help when her minister refuses to perform the ceremony because he witnessed her being unfaithful to her fiancé; Renee ends her career as a DA to start her own firm, and takes on a surprising partner.

#46 Buried Pleasures (Nov 1, 1999:)
Ling suddenly wants to develop a friendship with Ally after having an erotic dream about her; Billy and Renee defend a woman (Heidi Mark) accused of being too sexy in the workplace; and Cage overhears Nelle describing a surprising sexual fantasy she has.

#47 Seeing Green (Nov 8, 1999)
Ally seeks the help of a therapist (Betty White) after she starts hallucinating. Meanwhile, Billy tries to get help when he realizes he's a male chauvinist, and a boy gets charged with sexual assault after he kisses a girl at school.

#48 Heat Wave (Nov 15, 1999)
Ally is sued for intentional infliction of emotional distress by the woman (Tracy Middendorf) whose wedding Ally disrupted; Georgia is upset when Billy hires a young, sexy assistant (Gina Philips); Ling makes a startling confession to Fish, which makes him long for Whipper.

#49 Troubled Water (Nov 22, 1999)
Ally invites her parents and all of her co-workers to share Thanksgiving dinner at her apartment — but the celebration quickly turns into a colossal disaster.

#50 Changes (Nov 29, 1999)
The editor-in-chief (Farrah Fawcett) of a Boston magazine sues the publication's staff for sexual harassment after they all call in sick and she's fired. Meanwhile, Cage is ridiculed by reporters for his stuttering and his courtroom antics; and Fish and Ling break up.

#51 Saving Santa (Dec 13, 1999)
Georgia goes up against John in court when she defends a prominent Boston department store that is being sued for firing the man (Jim O'Heir) who traditionally plays their Santa Claus. Meanwhile, Ally tries to get Billy and Georgia back together.

#52 Blue Christmas (Dec 20, 1999)
While walking by a nativity scene, Elaine discovers a baby boy who has been abandoned, and she tries to gain custody of him. Meanwhile, Billy asks Georgia to the firm's Christmas party; and Ally is determined to perform a sexy holiday song there, even though most everyone else is against the idea of her singing.

#53 Out in the Cold (Jan 10, 2000)
Ally is berated by a homeless man who seems to know her better than she knows herself; Ling is arrested for allegedly running a prostitution ring; Nelle discovers a surprising secret about Cage that leaves her shocked and disgusted.

#54 Just Friends (Jan 17, 2000)
"You want to end up with Mr. Right you have to make it happen," Elaine, an aggressive dater, tells Ally, who has found the man of her dreams — John Cage. So she decides to try to make it happen with him. As for Elaine, the object of her aggression proves to be pretty aggressive himself. Meanwhile, Sally Hingle resigns. "You're a jerk," she tells Billy.

#55 Over the Rainbow (Feb 7, 2000)
Georgia sues the firm of Cage and Fish for breaking up her marriage with Billy, claiming the office is a "sexually charged arena" that interfered with marital relations.

#56 In Search of Pygmies (Feb 14, 2000)
Ally intentionally rear ends a car to meet the good-looking man driving it; Ling attempts to help a friend who's being thrown out of a nursing home because of his wild stories, which incite the other residents and make it difficult to control them.

#57 Pursuit of Loneliness (Feb 21, 2000)
Ally refuses the advances of a man working in a coffee shop, until she learns some surprising information about him; Billy tells Sandy he has feelings for her; John accuses Nelle of being a snob; the firm represents a man who claims he should not have to pay alimony because his ex-wife is a lesbian and never was attracted to him.

#58 Oddball Parade (Feb 28, 2000)
Ally and Elaine enter a contest to be Tina Turner's backup singer for a night; John and Richard represent an eccentric foursome who were fired from their jobs because of their appearances.

#59 Prime Suspect (Mar 20, 2000)
Former client Paul Potts, who was recently fired from his job because of a nervous habit, is accused of killing his old boss. Meanwhile, Billy experiences hallucinations and visits a neurologist.

#60 Boy Next Door (Mar 27, 2000)
Despite continuing hallucinations, Billy insists on working, joining Ally to represent a woman whose husband wants an annulment because of her plastic surgeries. In another plotline, Cage gets stuck in an elevator.

#61 I Will Survive (Apr 10, 2000)
James LeGros joins the cast as new associate Mark Albert, who helps Ally and Ling defend a woman who killed her cheating husband.

#62 Turning Thirty (May 1, 2000)
On her 30th birthday, Ally sees a plastic surgeon and looks for God; Mark and John defend a woman accused of smothering her elderly husband with her breasts; and Elaine and Renee team to serenade Ally at the inevitable party.

#63 Do You Wanna Dance? (May 8, 2000)
Ally suspects opposing counsel is her Internet romance as the firm represents a man suing his best friend for emotional distress after the pal slept with his wife; discourse gets nasty between Cage and Nelle, who makes a threat when denied partnership.

#64 Hope and Glory (May 15, 2000)
Elaine is recruited for a "dastardly" plot that prompts a Cage-and-Fish fight; Ally quickly becomes enamored of former foe Brian Selig. Singer Macy Gray has a cameo.

#65 Ally McBeal: The Musical, Almost (May 22, 2000)
Cast members sing songs by Randy Newman in this musical third-season finale, which includes the Biscuit's birthday, Nelle's regrets, and Brian's meeting with Ally's parents. Newman also appears.

Season 4

#66 Sex, Lies and Second Thoughts (Oct 23, 2000)
Robert Downey Jr. joins the cast in the fourth-season opener as a proposal from Brian sends Ally in search of a therapist. Meanwhile, Cage represents a friend seeking to annul her six-year marriage, which emphasized companionship over passion.

#67 Girls Night Out (Oct 30, 2000)
Ally resolves to be proactive in her social life; John is attracted to his client, who's accused of sexual harassment; Richard strains to keep his client's personal secret as Mark approaches her socially.

#68 Two's a Crowd (Nov 6, 2000)
A self-help guru is indicted for bad advice; Ally sees opportunities abound as she shares a mutual attraction with an older attorney; Mark finally learns what's up with Cindy.

#69 Without a Net (Nov 13, 2000)
A former law-school classmate sues Ally for defamation; Larry meets Ally's colleagues; Mark and Cindy visit a therapist suggested by John. Jeffrey Osborne has a cameo.

#70 The Last Virgin (Nov 20, 2000)
Ling offers assistance when Ally frets about her first kiss with Larry, who turns out to be the opposing counsel after Ally is hired by the prude who sued her.

#71 'Tis the Season (Nov 27, 2000)
The firm represents a fired newscaster who told the truth about Santa; Ally learns why Christmas depresses Larry; John lies to Kimmy and her mother. Macy Gray sings "Winter Wonderland."

#72 Love on Holiday (Dec 4, 2000)
Elaine prompts a sexual-harassment suit against the firm; John takes a stand against Kimmy's mother; Nelle and Ling bet on who's more desired at a charity auction, where Richard garners surprising attention.

#73 The Man with the Bag (Dec 11, 2000)
Nelle's teacher father is fired because he believes he's Santa Claus; a surprise visit from Larry's ex coincides with the firm's Christmas party.

#74 Reasons to Believe (Jan 8, 2001)
Anne Heche plays a woman with Tourette's who's on trial for murder, with John assisting her lawyer, whose wife wants to divorce him for taking the case.

#75 The Ex Files (Jan 15, 2001)
Larry's ex wants to move with their son to Canada; Ling's friend suspects her fiancé still loves Ling; Melanie is fired from her teaching job.

#76 Mr. Bo (Jan 22, 2001)
Melanie's homeless friend distrusts John; Ally objects to a client who fired a worker based on looks; Chubby Checker plays the bar for a twist contest that Elaine is determined to win.

#77 Hats Off to Larry (Feb 5, 2001)
Larry's son visits; transsexual Cindy McCauliff wants to sue to get married; Nelle's dancer friend seeks to stop another from doing his moves.

#78 Reach Out and Touch (Feb 12, 2001)
Barry Manilow (in a cameo) further links John and Melanie; Richard hires a rainmaker, who's thrust into arguing for annulling the marriage of an admitted nymphomaniac.

#79 Boys Town (Feb 19, 2001)
Jackson defends — and Renee prosecutes — a woman who fired all her male employees; John and Richard see a therapist about their strained friendship; Ally tries to mend fences between Mark and Elaine.

#80 Falling Up (Feb 26, 2001)
Separate therapists give Ally doubts about Larry; John and Melanie hit a stumbling block; a wily opponent throws John.

#81 The Getaway (Mar 19, 2001)
Richard talks John into a brief vacation in L.A., where their impromptu itinerary includes meeting new women — and court appearances

#82 The Pursuit of Unhappiness (Mar 26, 2001)
Elaine asks Ally to help cover an infidelity; a son claims his father's good cheer is bad business; Jackson and Larry clash over building a pre-nup for a betrothed couple.

#83 The Obstacle Course (Apr 16, 2001)
John's L.A. woman visits; Ally and Larry oppose each other in a suit about a romance broken by appearances; Jackson admits feelings for Ling.

#84 In Search of Barry White (Apr 23, 2001)
John struggles to find his muse as he and Larry face off in court over human cloning; Ling sees Jackson in a bothersome new light; Nelle hooks Elaine into online romance.

#85 Cloudy Skies, Chance of Parade (Apr 30, 2001)
Larry defends Sting in a suit brought by a fan's husband; a Streisand impersonator protests his nose job; Richard makes a move on Cindy Margolis to make Ling jealous.

#86 Queen Bee (May 7, 2001)
An ad-agency owner is sued for ruling her all-male staff with her sexuality; two choir members vocalize their mutual animosity for each other over the minister they've dated.

#87 Home Again (May 14, 2001)
Ally meets Larry's ex-wife at an inopportune moment; Richard tries to keep a magazine from publishing nude photos of his L.A. friend Jane.

#88 The Wedding (May 21, 2001)
In the fourth-season finale, Ally has visions as she represents a high-school boy with a broken heart; and the sunniness of Richard's new assistant unveils a darkness within the firm.

Season 5

#89 Friends and Lovers (Oct. 29, 2001)
A pair of new lawyers at Cage & Fish sets Ally's world spinning in the fifth-season opener. To her latest therapist, Ally describes bumping into Jenny Shaw, an attorney who's lost her job and her boyfriend. Ally sees so much of herself in Jenny that she hires her, hoping to be a mentor. But when the two arrive at the office, they find Richard has just hired Glenn Foy ---Jenny's ex. And in the story's telling, the therapist detects something interesting: Ally's latent attraction to Glenn. Meanwhile, John overhears a conversation that puts Ally in a new light for him. Boz Scaggs appears briefly in a cameo.

#90 Judge Ling (Nov. 4th, 2001)
Dame Edna Everage plays the effusive plaintiff in Jenny's class-action suit. Also, Ling benefits from kind comments delivered with covert sarcasm; and John is offered a makeover by Corretta.