Though The Practice is on its way off first-run television, it's given William Shatner a new role that is likely to last into the series' spinoff.

Speaking to Zap2It, the legendary Captain Kirk actor said that at 73 he had not been eager to do another television series, but then, "David Kelley called...and when David Kelley calls, trumpets sound, tympanis."

The actor agreed to meet the highly acclaimed television producer for breakfast, and Kelley convinced him to join the cast of The Practice for the penultimate episodes leading into a new series to star James Spader, who plays Alan Shore.

"I'm actually in love with James Spader," Shatner said. "He's a wonderful actor, wonderful guy. I just love spending time with him."

As for the appeal of working with Kelley, he noted that there was experimentation on the series, "which is almost unheard-of in television. My vote would be for a man who's fighting, if not Alzheimer's, then a certain amount of senility. But we also know from research that the brain does not necessarily lose brain cells as you get older, but through activity, you can actually gain them. So it's my secret belief that he's doing mental exercises to regain some of the lost cells."

"I think he was in the military," he said of his character, Denny Crane. "The way I stand, bark orders, change certain words...I think he was in combat somewhere, mayhem, and had to stand up for his men and took up law as a result."

Though no contract has been signed for the unnamed spinoff series, Shatner said that so far he has been very pleased with the work and hopes to continue.

The original interview is at Zap2It.

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