24. The Wedding That Never Was
Most law-based television shows are no laughing matter. They’re serious dramas about cases that make us cringe. Ally McBeal was different. It was a comedy that inadvertently ignited debates over feminism with Ally’s wardrobe choices and ditzy personality. By the third season, it felt stale until Robert Downey Jr. joined the cast, reviving the series as Ally’s new love interest (and ours).
The season 4 finale was originally written to end with Ally and Downey Jr.’s character, Larry, tying the knot, leading to a season 5 focus on the newlyweds, but Larry dumped Ally in a letter and peaced out to Detroit instead. The sudden departure spawned rumors Downey Jr. was fired, but the truth is his character was written out because the actor was arrested and did a stint in rehab.