Can anyone explain to me why there is a connection in casting between the shows Boston Legal and Startrek?

William Shatner?

If this was a riddle, steve6 wins.

But if you mean it as an actual question – that’s what details are for – many tv shows who have producers, directors, casting directors in common tend to cast people they know, have worked with and like.

Almost everyone on Oz has made an appearance on Law & Order: SVU
And Joss Whedon has a habit of recycling actors and actresses, repeatedly for all kinds of different shows.

asmonet: sure but Boston Legal has poached many actors from Startrek not just Whilliam Shatner. Does anyone actually know why?

Go to imdb.com and compare the production casts, I’d be willing to bet you’ll find the same people from a bunch of different series and such. It could very well be that the ‘big name’ star Shatner suggested many people he’d worked with and got them roles.