Candace Bergen to be in 'Boston Legal'

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- In her first regular U.S. TV role since CBS' "Murphy Brown," Candace Bergen has joined the cast of ABC-TV's new drama "Boston Legal."

In the show's high-end civil law firm of Crane, Poole & Schmidt, Bergen will play the company's partner Shirley Schmidt, said Hollywood Reporter Tuesday.

William Shatner stars as Denny Crane, while Larry Miller plays attorney Edwin Poole.

"Boston Legal," by David E. Kelley Prods., has been given a full-season order. It also stars James Spader, Monica Potter, Rhona Mitra, Mark Valley and Rene Auberjonois.

However, co-star Lake Bell's option is not expected to be picked up beyond the show's initial 13 episodes. She plays Sally Heep.