Do you know Jerry Espenson on Boston Legal? Jerry is a lawyer with Aspersers’ Syndrome, portrayed by Christian Clemenson. Last year, Clemenson won the Emmy for best Guest Actor in a Dramatic Series. Now Jerry has become a regular on the show.

Jerry’s odd and quirky behaviors, including lots of hand flapping and rubbing are characteristic of a person with Aspersers’ who, when under stress, exhibits. Clemenson’s guest role on the show had the story line of Jerry being passed over for promotion to partner because he was “weird” (not all the characters put it that bluntly, just Denny Crane, the outrageous senior partner played by William Shatner.) So Jerry was very hurt, then very agitated and ended up holding one of the other senior partners, Shirley Schmidt, played by Candace Bergen, hostage in the conference room with a knife to her throat. Once free, Shirley fired Jerry and filed charges. But all was resolved when Jerry’s Aspersers’ Syndrome became common knowledge and he agreed to enter therapy.

I’m sure there are people out there truly bothered by Jerry getting off using Aspersers’ as a defense. But you have to admit that the topic is timely. And you have to remember that this is fictional TV, and that Boston Legal is an over-the-top show on many topics. Still the way that Clemenson portrays Jerry (and the way the character is written) isn’t a caricature of a man with Aspersers’…it looks very much like the real thing.

Jerry exhibits lots of physical behaviors that look very odd. Call them perseverative behaviors, complex tics or just odd movements. He is constantly rubbing his hands on his legs or self-soothing by doing something with his hands. Eye gaze is averted and he often repeats phrases. Unexpected changes frustrate him, and he has a very hard time communicating his emotions. While some of his characteristics might be larger-than-life, truth is, it does look very much like this.

I see much of LuLu in Jerry. The symptoms he portrays (and the show labels as Aspersers’) have a resemblance to what we’ve labeled as Tourettes/OCD. In many ways it doesn’t matter. What, to me, requires that I suspend my disbelief and go with the story line is that Jerry would have made it this high up the corporate and educational ladder with all those social quirks and off-putting behaviors to actually become a lawyer. I suppose (and truly hope) it is possible. But I shudder to imagine the challenges and heartaches he’s already been through. So my guess is that Jerry would have long ago needed therapy and interventions for his Aspersers’. But then, this is TV.

Boston Legal's Wikipedia Site

Photo Credit