ALAN SHORE AND JERRY ESPENSON TAKE ON A TABLOID TALK SHOW FOR ALLEGEDLY CAUSING THE MURDER OF A WOMAN AFTER SHE TURNED DOWN A MARRIAGE PROPOSAL ON-AIR, SHIRLEY SCHMIDT DEFENDS A FRIEND FOR SHOOTING SEALS FOR MEALS, AND DENNY CRANE GOES ALL-OUT TO TRY TO WIN BACK SHIRLEY'S AFFECTIONS, ON ABC'S "BOSTON LEGAL"

"Tabloid Nation" � Alan Shore and Jerry Espenson take on a tabloid talk show when a woman is murdered by her ex-boyfriend after declining his marriage proposal on television; and Shirley Schmidt defends a friend � an unstable war hero -- for shooting seals for meals. Meanwhile, Denny Crane goes to extreme measures to win Shirley's affections back when she invites him to dinner; and Lorraine Weller tells Alan that he should seek professional help after he confesses to her that he used to murder his toys as a child, on "Boston Legal," TUESDAY, APRIL 8 (10:02-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"Boston Legal" stars James Spader as Alan Shore, John Larroquette as Carl Sack, Christian Clemenson as Jerry Espenson, Gary Anthony Williams as Clarence/Clarice Bell, Tara Summers as Katie Lloyd, Saffron Burrows as Lorraine Weller, Taraji P. Henson as Whitney Rome, with Candice Bergen as Shirley Schmidt and William Shatner as Denny Crane.

Guest starring are Christopher Rich as Attorney Melvin Palmer, Chuck McCann as Judge Byron Fudd, Nick Searcy as Harry Beckham, Ray Abruzzo as USAG Sciarra, Ron Pearson as Spencer Hamilton, Richard Gant as Judge Vincent Kimball, Stephen Root as Ethan Melman and Kevin Will as Officer Michael Bardo.

"Tabloid Nation" was written by David E. Kelley and directed by Bill D'Elia.

"Boston Legal" is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1-channel surround sound and Spanish subtitles via secondary closed captioning.

A TV parental guideline will be posted closer to airdate.