Several months ago, I mulled over a column about "Ally McBeal" executive producer David E. Kelley hiring Robert Downey Jr. almost the moment he was released from jail. And, frankly, at the time it didn't seem like such a great idea for a couple of reasons.
First, there was the question of whether Downey deserved another chance, given his long history of drug problems and arrests. Second, "Ally" seemed pretty much irretrievably bad after last year's dreadful season, and hiring Downey seemed like little more than a lame publicity stunt.
But the column never made it out of my head and onto the page. Frankly, I was somewhat conflicted about the question of Downey's personal life. As much as the parade of rich, pampered stars who become substance abusers then proclaim they've reformed and jump right back into high-profile parts has become tiresome, there was always the chance that this time this actor could actually turn his life around.
A week ago, I came this close to writing another "Ally McBeal" column — this one proclaiming that all my earlier, unexpressed concerns were groundless. And expanding on a note in October, when the show launched its current season, that "The biggest surprise is that Robert Downey Jr., who's joining the cast for at least eight episodes, is quite good. He plays Ally's new therapist, and he and Calista Flockhart have great chemistry. So maybe 'Ally' will be watchable again. Maybe."
The fact is that "maybe" became a "definitely." After last year's disaster, "Ally McBeal" has once again become as entertaining as it ever was.
Oh, it's still over-the-top and tacky. That bit last week with Nell (Portia di Rossi) speculating about Santa Claus being a pedophile was typical Kelley excess. And sometimes his storytelling ignores all reality — like the heartfelt bit about Larry (Downey) missing his child, who lives in Detroit, without addressing the issue of why, if he loves the boy so much, he chose to move to Boston.
But "Ally" is offbeat and loony again instead of just plain stupid and tawdry. And Downey deserves a great deal of credit for the show's revival.
Whatever else you can say about him, Downey is an excellent actor. And he's perfect as Ally's love interest — funny, sardonic, sarcastic and emotional at turns. He's the best actor to play opposite Flockhart since the show debuted.
But before I could get that column out of my head and onto the page, Downey was arrested again for drug possession.
I'm not wise enough to pass judgment on Downey, even if the charges prove true. But, as has been the case with everyone from Brett Butler to Christian Slater to Todd Bridges to Charlie Sheen, it's amazing to hear those close to him making excuses for his behavior and blaming it on Hollywood. Most of us aren't lucky enough to have the privileges Downey has enjoyed — and it's difficult to feel sorry for anyone who has.
According to Fox executives, the actor will be finished shooting his final two episodes on "Ally" by the end of this week, before he has to appear on court on the latest charges. They also point out that his character's arc on the show was always meant to be closed-ended (although Kelley did add him to two more episodes than originally planned).
And while Fox execs are holding out the possibility of Downey returning to the show at a later date, that, of course, depends in part on whether he's a free man or not.
And it will be interesting to see how "Ally" fares without him.
But that, of course, is secondary to how Downey fares in life.
E-MAIL: pierce@desnews.com