New faces for ‘Boston Legal’

You can’t accuse “Boston Legal” creator David E. Kelley of complacency. When production on the ABC drama’s fourth season begins June 27, some familiar faces will be gone.

No worries, fans: James Spader, William Shatner and Candice Bergen will be back. But their cohorts -- Julie Bowen, Mark Valley, Rene Auberjonois and Constance Zimmer -- will not be, a representative for David E. Kelley Productions said Wednesday. In an effort to keep the show fresh, the representative said, the actors’ contract options were not picked up.

Instead, joining the cast will be John Larroquette (“Night Court”) as a senior partner who transfers from the firm’s New York office to Boston.

Additionally, Christian Clemenson, who won an Emmy for his guest-star portrayal of Jerry Espenson last year, will become a series regular, and Tara Summers (“Dirt”) joins the firm as a young associate.