Vonda Shepard says Ally McBeal reunion could be possible

As iconic American TV shows from the late 90s/early naughties like Will & Grace and Rosanne are getting rebooted, Vonda Shepard – musical star of Ally McBeal – thinks there’s a place for the legal comedy to make a comeback.

‘Absolutely! Why not?’ the 54-year-old told MailOnline when asked about the show that made her famous. ‘Actually there was talk of doing something like a musical version. The show was so music-based.

‘I talked to [Ally McBeal creator] David [E Kelley] about it actually. We talked about doing a movie or a Broadway show. So yeah, I’m thinking about it.

Bring it back! As iconic American TV shows from the late 90s/early naughties like Will & Grace and Rosanne are getting rebooted, Vonda Shepard – musical star of Ally McBeal – thinks there’s a place for the legal comedy to make a comeback

‘I bet the cast would be up for it – the idea of an offshoot Broadway show or a movie.’

Last year the show celebrated its 20th anniversary – with many looking back on it as a series that was ahead of its time.

While Friends has recently landed on Netflix and been criticised by some for not melding well with a 2018 audience, the same can never be said of Ally McBeal – which has very much stood the test of time, give or take some stonewashed denim here and there.

Millennial viewers have branded Friends ‘transphobic’, ‘homophobic’ and ‘sexist’ due to plots involving Chandler Bing’s cross-dressing father and horror at being presumed gay, and Ross Geller’s uncomfortable reaction to having a male nanny for his child.

Centre stage: She sang duets with cast members, as well as celebrity guests stars [the likes of Barry White, Dame Edna Everage, Sting, Jon Bon Jovi and Tina Turner appeared on the series]

Wind down: Vonda’s career was launched by Ally McBeal. She penned the catchy theme song, acted as a music producer and performed on the series in the bar that the characters went to every night after work

Yet Ally McBeal featured a smorgasbord of characters, including women that used to be men, men that dressed as women and same-sex couples. And its female protagonist who was notorious for being a career-driven singleton was far from sexist.

‘It was groundbreaking and ahead of its time,’ Vonda went on. ‘Feminism as an issue was prevalent and it was exciting to be a part of that show. I think other series then followed suit.’

Vonda’s career was launched by Ally McBeal. She penned the catchy theme song, acted as a music producer and performed on the series in the bar that the characters went to every night after work.

Quirky: Vonda performed most of the music that was played whenever Ally had one of her off-the-wall hallucinations

A colourful career: The singer – who released five albums in conjunction to Ally McBeal but has also released a further 11 records, the latest being 2015’s Rookie – resides in Los Angeles

She sang duets with cast members, as well as celebrity guests stars [the likes of Barry White, Dame Edna Everage, Sting, Jon Bon Jovi and Tina Turner appeared on the series] and she performed most of the music that was played whenever Ally had one of her off-the-wall hallucinations.

‘To still be able to play because of Ally is amazing. And I just loved being a part of it,’ Vonda said. ‘It was pretty exciting to get the script and see what to expect each week.

Vonda says her favourite guest star was Robert Downey Jnr, who was a regular cast member in season four. And she admits she is still friendly with the cast.

‘I am so close with Renee [Goldsberry] who was one of my backing singers on the show. She has gone on to win the Tony award for [musical] Hamilton.

Soft spot: Vonda says her favourite guest star was Robert Downey Jnr, who was a regular cast member in season four

Pals: ‘Calista [Flockhart] and I stay friends. She’s a very close friend of mine. When we first met we had a connection, and we don’t have to see each other for six months but we’re still always the same,’ Vonda said

‘Greg Germann and I are friendly. If I were to see Jane [Krakowski] in the street we would pick each other up and spin.

‘Calista [Flockhart] and I stay friends. She’s a very close friend of mine. When we first met we had a connection, and we don’t have to see each other for six months but we’re still always the same.’

Vonda was in her early 30s when she started work on Ally McBeal – and credits it as her big break, admitting that she was a struggling singer/songwriter before that.

‘It was a time in my life when I had been playing clubs since I was 14. When I got the show I was struggling, literally lugging my keyboard around in New York in the rain.

‘Then, after the success of the show [which lasted for five seasons until it was cancelled in 2002] when it ended I was actually relieved because I was so burnt out.

Reboot? Ally McBeal lasted for five seasons until it was cancelled in 2002

Then and now: Vonda was in her early 30s when she started work on Ally McBeal – and credits it as her big break, admitting that she was a struggling singer/songwriter before that

‘I was concerned that I would be in vacuum or quagmire though. I found out it was going to end six months before it ended. And it opened the door up to the whole world for me. It was amazing and I am so grateful to it.’

Now Vonda is still recording and touring – presently writing a new album and recording a live album.

‘It took me three years to write because I was coming up with the ideas really. I love to bring my journal around with me and to write. I will have it with me on my new tour.’

Vonda is coming to the UK and Europe – playing around the country in February in the likes of London, Glasgow and Cardiff.

She will be heading to Spain in July and doing a couple of weeks in the likes of Germany, Austria, Belgium and Paris.’

Post show success: ‘I was concerned that I would be in vacuum or quagmire. But it opened the door up to the whole world for me. It was amazing and I am so grateful to it,’ Vonda said of when the show came to an end in 2002

On her way: ‘I’m very excited to come and play for the lovely people of the UK,’ she added

The singer – who released five albums in conjunction to Ally McBeal but has also released a further 11 records, the latest being 2015’s Rookie – resides in Los Angeles. She and Mitchell Froom are parents to son Jack who is now 11. 

‘I have an 11-year-old, so I am always running around taking him to basketball games so I am a busy mom,’ she said. ‘So writing is all about having discipline and desire on top of that stuff.’

‘I’m very excited to come and play for the lovely people of the UK,’ she added.

Details of Vonda’s tour can be found at her website vondashepard.com.

Coming soon:Vonda is coming to the UK and Europe – playing around the country in February in the likes of London, Glasgow and Cardiff