Reach Out and Touch

Season: 4

Episode: 13

Production Code: AM-413

First Air Date: February 12, 2001

Writer: David E. Kelley

Director: Kenny Ortega

# of Times Richard said Bygones: 0

Guest Stars:

Anne Heche as Melanie West
Taye Diggs as Jackson Duper
Barry Manilow as himself
Albert Hall as Judge Seymore Walsh
John Michael Higgins as Mr. Milter
Kevin Rahm as Clayton Hooper
Missi Pyle as Marsha Hooper
Gregory Jbara as Reverend Compton
Christopher Neiman as Mathers
Renee Goldberry as a singer
Vatrena King as a singer
Sy Smith as a singer
Debra Ortega as Stenographer
Thomas Crawford as Foreperson

Synopsis:

Once upon a time there was a nameless guy that gave Ling her groove back...

Coincidentally, said virile man, we’ll call him Jackson Duper (Taye Diggs) walked in as a new associate and quickly became the firm’s Scully. One feels almost giddy (swell word) watching his normal reaction to his absurd surroundings. His first case (an Ally toss-off) involved some guy wanting an annulment because his nympho wife had an affair with his minister (whom was unsuccessfully sued).

Do you like that Jackson refuses to just go with the flow of weirdness?

Skeptical of the practice as he may be, Duper still reels in the ladies without much trying, except for the elusive one he really wants. Elaine was worked up into a spinning sweat, and Renee somehow became demure with her crush. Alas, his heart is stuck on Ling much to Richard’s chagrin, although she (aren’t we all), is repulsed by handsome, wealthy, smart guys.

Who should Jackson be with: Renee or Ling?

Ally knows exactly whom she wants, only what’s his name (like we could forget!) is off in Detroit. Now that she’s put the snowman in the freezer, A’s biding her time playing Dear Abby to the guys in the office and getting her romance fix with Barry Manilow hallucinations. Their duet, well, that was scarier than Hannibal was.

Is there someone more happening that she should have envisioned in honor of Larry? Robbie Williams, maybe?

As Madge says, "Music makes the people come together,"- it certainly did for John, once he found out about Mel’s love for BM, he got down on bended knee inside his secret hole in the wall (behind the unisex, natch). Problem is Melanie believes marriage is antique so she asked the Biscuit to wait awhile and rewarded his patience with a Manilow concert- lucky guy.

If Mel continues her aversion to wedded bliss, should John dump her?

In an overpopulated zany law office, the movie stars have upped their lead to 3-0 over their television counterparts. It’s time for Nelle to really let down her hair, though Russell Crowe probably isn’t available.

©2001 Almost Human