QUICK TAKE

THREE NEW CAST MEMBERS JOIN ABC'S "BOSTON LEGAL"

Three new cast members will be joining the cast of "Boston Legal," as the fast-paced and darkly comedic series enters its second season.

Julie Bowen ("Jake in Progress," "Ed") will play Denise Bauer a tough, smart senior associate who is on track to making partner and who won't let anything (including a messy divorce) stand in her way.

Justin Mentell will play Garrett Wells, an ambitious junior associate who sometimes has trouble recognizing when to back off.

Ryan Michelle Bathe ("ER," Showtime's "Good Fences") will portray Sara Holt, another junior associate. Sara is highly intelligent (first in her class, editor of the Law Review) but challenged when applying her book smarts to everyday law practice at Crane, Poole and Schmidt.

"Boston Legal" tells the professional and personal stories of a group of brilliant but often emotionally challenged attorneys. The series confronts social and moral issues, while its characters continually stretch the boundaries of the law.

"Boston Legal" stars James Spader as Alan Shore, Mark Valley as Brad Chase, Rene Auberjonois as Paul Lewiston, Julie Bowen as Denise Bauer, Justin Mentell as Garrett Wells and Ryan Michelle Bathe as Sara Holt, with Candice Bergen as Shirley Schmidt and William Shatner as Denny Crane.

"Boston Legal" was created by David E. Kelley. Kelley and Bill D'Elia are executive producers. The series is produced by David E. Kelley Productions in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television. It airs on Tuesday nights (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.