Line #118 Characters/AllyMcbeal


1	This is the character sheet for ''Series/AllyMcBeal''
2
3	----
4
5	[[foldercontrol]]
6
7	!Main Characters
8
9	[[folder:Ally [=McBeal=]]]
10	!!Ally [=McBeal=]
11	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ally_mcbeal.jpg]]
12	-->'''Played by:''': Creator/CalistaFlockhart
13
14	Title character and protagonist of the show. A litigator at Cage and Fish. Becomes senior partner in Season 5.
15	----
16	%%* ActionGirl: Rare, but it happens. Assaulted someone at a supermarket, no less.
17	* BirthdayHater: The closer her birthday was, the bigger her depression. She could never enjoy her day and celebrate, and had even trouble to civilly accepting best wishes. She hates getting older without a husband in sight and without a prospect of having babies soon.
18	%%* BunnyEarsLawyer: And an actual lawyer, to boot.
19	%%* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: Commented by Jenny (who's kooky herself) that Ally is more bizarre than she is.
20	* {{Crossover}}: Starred in one with ''Series/ThePractice'', as herself.
21	* EndearinglyDorky: Ally is quirky and dorky and she sometimes sees unicorns, dancing babies or hears music in her mind. Many men on the show find her quirks charming and fall in love with her. It helps that she's also very pretty.
22	* {{Fainting}}: Emotional variety, whenever she sees a girl she likes.
23	%%* FreudianSlip: Ally just can't get away from these.
24	* HighPoweredCareerWoman: She is a notable subversion. A Harvard Law grad who works for a Boston Law Firm and leaves after being sexually harassed by her boss for another firm in the first episode, Ally's narrative arc seems to be set up to follow the trope. However, it is quickly made apparent that unlike most versions of the trope, Ally is a [[LookingForLoveInAllTheWrongPlaces hopeless romantic]], who is just as motivated by love as she is her work (perhaps even more so), and she's a bit of a CloudCuckooLander and TheDitz. She often has wild {{Imagine Spot}}s, [[MrImagination daydreams]] about the problems she faces, and has [[BunnyEarsLawyer glaring holes in her knowledge about legal issues, despite being a lawyer]]. The character was subsequently criticized in the media as being anti-feminist and demeaning to women because of these traits, culminating with the character gracing the cover of ''Magazine/TimeMagazine'' with the headline, "Is Feminism Dead?"
25	%%* ItsAllAboutMe
26	* LookingForLoveInAllTheWrongPlaces: She's a naive romantic, and a rather desperate one since MyBiologicalClockIsTicking. This leads her to have quite e tumultuous love life over the course of the series.
27	* MrImagination: She frequently has {{Imagine Spot}}s about the occurrences and people in her life.
28	* MsFanservice: She's an attractive woman who tends to wear short skirts that show off her legs.
29	* MyBiologicalClockIsTicking: Her character is defined by her desire to find her true love and start a family with them, to the point she often hallucinates babies. Ironically enough, she already ''has'' a daughter from an egg donation, Maddie, who finds her in the last season and moves in with her.
30	* SweepsWeekLesbianKiss: Engages in one with Georgia. Later, does another with Ling.
31	* TheUnfairSex: Richard calls out Ally for believing this trope, as she was okay with a bride having an affair before marriage, but not the groom.
32	[[/folder]]
33
34	[[folder:John Cage]]
35	!!John Cage
36	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/img_20210712_045125.jpg]]
37	-->'''Played by:''' Creator/PeterMacNicol
38
39	One of the two initial senior partners at Cage and Fish. In the later episodes of Season 5, he becomes a member of a Mariachi band in a Boston Mexican restaurant.
40	----
41	* AmicableExes: While the initial break-up leaves him and Nelle acting very hostile at first, they eventually mend their relationship and act as cordial co-workers to each other.
42	* BunnyEarsLawyer: His legal defenses are brilliant and he wins the majority of his cases, and he's downright odd.
43	* CharacterTic: He has an absurdly high number of them -- his nose whistles, stammering "Poughkeepsie", his face above his lips shakes when he thinks about women's "moustaches", he has to be barefoot when preparing his closing arguments, he smiles intensely (a part of his therapy), has a personal song, he hangs in his office as a bat, he has to have a fresh toilet bowl, he has a secret small room in the office (don't ask where), and so on.
44	* EndearinglyDorky: Women who feel attracted to him find him adorably weird.
45	* InsecureLoveInterest: He's initially insecure about his relationship with Nelle, as he believes her gorgeous looks and confident demeanor place her out of his league.
46	* InSeriesNickname: "Biscuit". It's a very old nickname from school. Elaine would use it from time to time.
47	* MistakenForGay: Nelle suspects this because John had yet to sleep with her.
48	* MrImagination: He and his Barry White fantasy. Also had an ImagineSpot with Nelle the happy housewife and some kids.
49	* SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan: Sensitive Guy to Richard's Manly Man.
50	* PitbullDatesPuppy: With Nelle in Seasons 2 and 3. He's the puppy, being a sensitive dorky lawyer who's dating a confident, gorgeous, and icy career woman.
51	* VerbalTic: The nose noises and stammering "P-P-Poughkeepsie".
52	* WeirdnessMagnet: The firm's lawyers and clients themselves are weird, but John always seems to draw in the crazies.
53	[[/folder]]
54
55	[[folder:Richard Fish]]
56	!!Richard Fish
57	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/richard_fish.jpg]]
58	-->'''Played by:''' Creator/GregGermann
59
60	The other initial senior partner at Cage and Fish and Ally's classmate, who offers her a position at his firm.
61	----
62	* BetaCouple: Season 1, with Whipper.
63	* BunnyEarsLawyer: Double subverted. He has just as many quirks as the rest of the firm, and is an absolutely abysmal lawyer, to the point that you can hear judges' eyes rolling whenever he sets foot in a courtroom. However, his primary job isn't being a lawyer, but being the public face of the firm, and he excels at maintaining and expanding the firm's client base.
64	* TheCasanova: He's a major womanizer who ReallyGetsAround.
65	* CatchPhrase: "Bygones". Also "That's a Fishism".
66	%%* JerkWithAHeartOfGold
67	* LikesOlderWomen: Enjoys older women for the wattle, skin around the neck that clumps.
68	* NietzscheWannabe: Often says things like this.
69	* NobleBigot: Can be very sexist, but is never outright mean.
70	* PoorCommunicationKills: Richard believes the opposite, that communication itself is the death knell of any marriage.
71	* PoliticallyIncorrectHero: He frequently expresses sexist and bigoted opinions.
72	* SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan: The Manly Man to John's Sensitive Guy.
73	[[/folder]]
74
75	[[folder:Elaine Vassal]]
76	!!Elaine Vassal
77	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/elaine_vassal.jpg]]
78	-->'''Played by:''' Creator/JaneKrakowski
79
80	Gossipy and nosy secretary at Cage and Fish.
81	----
82	* AttentionWhore: She's an attention seeker and often strives to be at the center of people's attention.
83	* BeautifulSingingVoice: Well through the series. After all, Creator/JaneKrakowski is a trained vocalist.
84	%%* BunnyEarsLawyer
85	* TheCastShowoff: {{Subverted\|Trope}}. Creator/JaneKrakowski is a Tony award winning actress and sings many times during the show, but [[ItMakesSenseInContext it always works within the show.]]
86	* CoolBigSis: Has this vibe for John, and coaches him about sex and confidence to help him get intimate with Nelle.
87	* DumbBlonde: She's a blonde who's something of an airhead.
88	* GenkiGirl: She has a vivacious and energetic personality, and often makes scenes more lighthearted with her presence.
89	* GossipyHens: Enjoys office gossip and sits in the unisex with her legs up so no one thinks she's around.
90	%%* JerkWithAHeartOfGold
91	* MsFanservice: She once asks John if she oozes sex. His response: "In buckets."
92	* ReallyGetsAround: Meets and sleeps with many men.
93	* SassySecretary: Often talks back and jokes with her bosses.
94	* SexGoddess: Part of her UrbanLegendLoveLife is her legendary sexual prowess and she likes to give unsolicited sex advice to her co-workers to improve their sex lives.
95	* SexySecretary: She's the sexpot secretary to the Cage and Fish firm, being a MsFanservice with an UrbanLegendLoveLife.
96	* SleepsWithEveryoneButYou: Elaine is notorious for her oozing sexuality and being TheTease. She is sued by her friend nicknamed Peanut who feels she intentionally humiliated him. Eventually, his issues are revealed — he's in love with her and thinks everyone is her type but him. They manage to patch things up and he drops the lawsuit, though she doesn't like him back in that way.
97	* TheTease: She enjoys teasing and flirting with every man around.
98	* UrbanLegendLoveLife: She claims she's a SexGoddess who ReallyGetsAround but later seasons imply Elaine doesn't sleep around that much and has problems finding a relationship.
99	[[/folder]]
100
101	[[folder:Renee Raddick]]
102	!!Renee Raddick
103	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/renee_raddick.jpg]]
104	-->'''Played by:''' Creator/LisaNicoleCarson
105
106	Ally's roommate and intially a D.A. later forms her own firm. Often sets Ally up with many different men.
107	----
108	* AlliterativeName: '''R'''enee '''R'''addick
109	* BeautifulSingingVoice: As with Creator/JaneKrakowski, Creator/LisaNicoleCarson is also a trained vocalist.
110	* BigBreastPride: Deconstructed. Renee favours plunging necklines that show off her assets, but it turns out that this is in reaction to her having been bullied as a teen for being an early bloomer - essentially, she flaunts her body to prove that no one can make her feel ashamed of it. However, for the same reason she gets very uncomfortable when someone pays too much attention to it.
111	* TheCastShowoff: Less so than Elaine, but frequently sings. Still subverted, as her singing is incorporated into the plot.
112	* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: After Season 4. It wasn't explained why she and Ally suddenly were no longer roommates or what happened to her law firm.
113	* FriendlyEnemy: Being a D.A until Season 3, she often speaks against Cage and Fish's clients. Still goes out to the bar with them after work, and lives with Ally.
114	%%* OnlySaneWoman
115	* ReallyGetsAround: She gives Elaine a run for her money.
116	%%* SassyBlackWoman
117	%% * TokenBlackFriend
118	* {{UST}}: With John in the first season.
119	[[/folder]]
120
121	[[folder:Billy Thomas]]
122	!!Billy Thomas
123	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/de4e342476ffa0d257ac104a3781e871_2.jpg]]
124	-->'''Played by:''' Creator/GilBellows
125
126	Associate at Cage and Fish, former boyfriend of Ally, and husband of Georgia.
127	----
128	* AnyoneCanDie: [[spoiler:He had a brain tumour and died unexpectedly in season 3. He came back for the finale as a posthumous character.]]
129	* BackForTheFinale: [[spoiler: As a ghost]].
130	* ExpositoryHairstyleChange: Bleaches his hair in Season 3.
131	* FirstGirlWins: Doubly Subverted. Dates Ally, leaves her, marries Georgia, but always loved Ally.
132	* FondMemoriesThatCouldHaveBeen: Billy confessed his love for Ally just moments before he died. He hallucinated and believed they were married and had kids together.
133	* TestosteronePoisoning: Goes through this in Season 3, hiring several attractive women to be his assistants.
134	%%* TookALevelInJerkass: In Season 3
135	[[/folder]]
136
137	[[folder:Georgia Thomas]]
138	!!Georgia Thomas
139	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/georgia_thomas.jpg]]
140	-->'''Played by:''' Creator/CourtneyThorneSmith
141
142	Associate at Cage and Fish, wife of Billy.
143	----
144	* BackForTheFinale: Surprises Ally with a visit.
145	* NeverMyFault: Blames the sexualized office of Cage and Fish for [[spoiler: her destroyed marriage.]]
146	* OnlySaneWoman: Or the closest this series comes to one except maybe for Renee.
147	* PutOnABus: [[spoiler: Leaves after Season 3, after Billy's death.]]
148	* WorkingWithTheEx: When Georgia comes to work at the firm, she does this with Ally, who dated Billy. They actually work very well together. [[spoiler: At first, then Ally and Billy kiss, they go to therapy,]] and [[FromBadToWorse it goes downhill from there.]]
149	[[/folder]]
150
151	[[folder:Nelle Porter]]
152	!!Nelle Porter
153	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nelle_porter.jpg]]
154	-->'''Played by:''' Creator/PortiaDeRossi
155
156	Associate at Cage and Fish, joined at the beginning of Season 2.
157	----
158	* AmicableExes: While the initial break-up leaves her and John acting very hostile at first, they eventually mend their relationship and act as cordial co-workers to each other.
159	* BeneathTheMask: Can actually be very sweet and loving beneath her cold exterior.
160	* BirdsOfAFeather: She develops a friendship with fellow mean-spirited co-worker Ling.
161	* BunnyEarsLawyer: Just as eccentric as everyone else, but she was the firm's most productive associate and was specifically brought in as a "rainmaker", to generate new business.
162	* CareerVersusMan: Her relationship with John dissolves once he discovers she has no desire to be a mother or start a family, preferring instead to be a career-oriented woman.
163	* DeadpanSnarker: She has a sarcastic wit and is a frequent source of biting, witty one-liners.
164	* DemotedToExtra: She has much more of a background role in seasons 4 and 5.
165	* EveryoneLovesBlondes: Nelle isn't exactly loved, but she becomes sort of a queen bee of the place and her hair is frequently mentioned as a key aspect of her attractiveness.
166	* {{Foil}}: Her character was made to be the antithesis to Ally, with Nelle being a glamorous and confident beauty who has no desire to be a parent, contrasting with the meek and insecure Ally who's desperate to settle down and start a family.
167	* HeadTurningBeauty: Everyone in the firm considers her to be a gorgeous, [[ProudBeauty including herself]].
168	* HighPoweredCareerWoman: Unlike Ally, Nelle is actually ambitious and devoted to her law career. She joined the law firm with the intention of one day becoming a partner. When Richard reveals to her this isn't happening, she aggressively starts poaching clients from the firm and intends to start her own.
169	* IceQueen: She was called "sub-zero" for this reason. She doesn't even stick her hand all the way out for a handshake. [[CharacterDevelopment It changes as the series progresses.]]
170	** DefrostingIceQueen: Season 4 really starts this for her, starting when she spends the day with a doctor going to jail for euthanizing a client.
171	* InSeriesNickname: "Sub-zero" because she's so icy and unapproachable.
172	* KickTheDog: Nelle leaves the firm in Season 3, and tries to steal the clients by manipulating Elaine. [[spoiler: It doesn't go well for Nelle.]]
173	* LettingHerHairDown: She usually wears her hair in a PrimAndProperBun, but occasionally she lets her long, platinum blond hair down, causing everyone in the scene to gape in adoration.
174	* PetTheDog: Nelle has a few, but ultimately the largest is when she helps Elaine fulfill her dream to become a Broadway star.
175	* PrimAndProperBun: Often wears her hair in a professional bun while she's working.
176	* ProudBeauty: She's very proud and smug abour her good looks, although unlike Ling, she doesn't like to use them to manipulate men, preferring to succeed based on her intelligence and merits as a litigator.
177	* PitbullDatesPuppy: With John. She's the pitbull, being a confident, gorgeous, and icy career woman who's dating a sensitive dorky lawyer.
178	* RichBitch: She's fairly well-off and has a rather snobbish attitude.
179	* SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan: She becomes attracted to John due to his good-natured nature.
180	* WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes: She's extremely scared of frogs, which becomes a source of drama as her LoveInterest John has a frog as a pet.
181	* WomanScorned: Leaves the firm in Season 3 thanks to her break up with John, but comes back later.
182	[[/folder]]
183
184	[[folder:Ling Woo]]
185	!!Ling Woo
186	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ling_woo.jpg]]
187	-->'''Played by:''' Creator/LucyLiu
188
189	Associate at Cage and Fish, started as a client of Nelle's before she was hired a few episodes later. Friend of Nelle's.
190	----
191	* AloofDarkHairedGirl: She has long dark hair, which hints at her cold and aloof personality.
192	%%* AlphaBitch: And HOW!
193	* AsianRudeness: The only Asian character in the cast and by far the rudest and meanest.
194	* BeneathTheMask: Sobs when one of her clients dies of leukemia, but only when she's alone.
195	* BirdsOfAFeather: She develops a friendship with fellow mean-spirited co-worker Nelle.
196	* BitchInSheepsClothing: The second she opens her mouth, the bitch comes out.
197	* BreakoutCharacter: She was introduced in season 2 as a client, but ended up so popular she joined the main cast and became one of the most popular characters in the show.
198	* BrutalHonesty: She never minces words and frequently tells exactly what's on her mind.
199	* DeathGlare: She gives these frequently to her co-workers.
200	%%* DepravedBisexual
201	* DragonLady: She was meant to embody the stereotypes of exotic Asian women being sensual yet vicious and domineering. Some {{Imagine Spot}}s even show breathing fire like a literal manifestation of a dragon lady.
202	* EveryoneHasStandards: When Georgia attempted to sue the firm for ruining her marriage, none other than Ling said "even for me that's bogus".
203	* FemmeFatale: Her sexuality is portrayed as predatory and she enjoys using her sensuality to manipulate men.
204	* {{Foil}}: Like Nelle, her character was made to be the antithesis to Ally. Where the dark-haired Ling is sensual, cold, mean and confident, blonde Ally is awkward, warm, nice, and insecure.
205	* FreudianExcuse: In a show known for these, she is noticeably [[SubvertedTrope the only one who doesn't have one]]. Smith attributes this to her Asian "mysteriousness"
206	* IronLady: For all her flaws, she is a tough-as-nails lady who doesn't take shit from anyone, to which both Ally and Nelle admire her for.
207	-->'''Ally:''' She's my hero, she's vicious, I disagree with almost everything she says, she treats me like dirt, and somehow she's my hero.
208	* ItsAllAboutMe: She's often uninterested and dismissive of anything that does not affect her personally.
209	* {{Jerkass}}: She harasses and belittles pretty much everyone in the cast. Even people with disabilities aren't safe from being insulted by her.
210	* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Despite her abrasive personality and wildly offensive comments, she has her PetTheDog moments, such as volunteering at an old folk's home, and going out of her way to make Elaine feel better after she lost in a contest.
211	* LackOfEmpathy: Rarely shows any empathy for people, and has plenty of KickTheDog moments where she acts as {{Jerkass}} to sick or debilitated people.
212	* {{Leitmotif}}: Every time Ling walks into a scene Ally imagines that she hears the ''Wicked Witch of the West'' theme from ''Film/TheWizardOfOz''.
213	* ManipulativeBitch: Often pulls mean tricks and manipulations to get her way, both in her professional ''and'' personal life.
214	* MsFanservice: Her sexual agressiveness was often played for {{Fanservice}}.
215	* ProudBeauty: She's extremely confident about her beauty and sexual prowess.
216	* RefugeInAudacity: Convinces a dying boy that he can sue God, yells at handicapped people for getting all of the good parking spaces, pretends to be blind and causes car accidents to cross a street, and it goes on.
217	%%* RichBitch:
218	* RunningGag: She constantly reprimands people about mispronouncing her name, but when she "corrects" them, it sounds exactly the same as how they said it.
219	* SexGoddess: Ironically, she considers her sexual prowess to be a problem. She's so ridiculously phenomenal in bed that she's hesitant to sleep with men she dates because then all they ever want from her is sex, and she much prefers the romance.
220	-->'''Ling:''' I'm amazing in bed! I'm not proud, but I've ruined lives. I can't take men saying there's nobody after me. I've tried everything. Half-speed, slow. It's always the best sex he's ever had. Suddenly, no talking, movies, dinner. It's sex, sex, sex!
221	%%* SweepsWeekLesbianKiss: Engaged in one with Ally.
222	* TokenEvilTeammate: Easily the most selfish and almost outright evil person in the law firm. Only Richard and Nelle find her a good addition to the law firm.
223	[[/folder]]
224
225	[[folder:Mark Albert]]
226	!!Mark Albert
227	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mark_albert.png]]
228	-->'''Played by:''' Creator/JamesLeGros
229
230	Associate at Cage and Fish, hired during the end of Season 3 following the death of [[spoiler: Billy]]. Series regular in Season 4.
231	----
232	* BunnyEarsLawyer: Nicknamed "The Closer" due to his skill in closing arguments, and obsession with hygiene.
233	* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: Disappeared from the firm in Season 4 with no explanation.
234	* InSeriesNickname: "The Closer"
235	* OutOfFocus: Thanks to Robert Downey Jr. joining the cast.
236	* TwoFirstNames: Mark Albert are both first names.
237	[[/folder]]
238
239	[[folder:Larry Paul]]
240	!!Larry Paul
241	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/larry_paul.jpg]]
242	-->'''Played by:''' Creator/RobertDowneyJr
243
244	A lawyer who is introduced in Season 4 when Ally mistakes him as her therapist. Ends up dating Ally.
245	----
246	* EndearinglyDorky: Larry Paul often comes off as a {{Cloudcuckoolander}} who snarks adorably and charms practically every woman he meets. He wears scarves and geeky glasses. He's a fun dad who can ride a monocycle. Ally considers him her soul mate.
247	%%* OfficialCouple: With Ally.
248	%%* TwoFirstNames
249	[[/folder]]
250
251	[[folder:Coretta Lipp]]
252	!!Coretta Lipp
253	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/coretta_lipp.jpg]]
254	-->'''Played by:''' Creator/ReginaHall
255
256	Associate at Cage and Fish. Guest starred in Season 4, became a series regular in Season 5.
257	----
258
259	[[/folder]]
260
261	[[folder:Jenny Shaw]]
262	!!Jenny Shaw
263	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/jenny_shaw.jpg]]
264	-->'''Played by:''' Creator/JulianneNicholson.
265
266	Associate hired by Ally at the beginning of Season 5. Glenn's former girlfriend.
267	----
268	* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}
269	* EndearinglyDorky: Jenny Shaw is a dorky young lawyer and essentially Ally lite. Ally considers her adorable and sees her as her own younger version. She's clumsy and weird, has freckles and slightly sloppy bob haircut.
270	* PutOnABus: Written out in the middle of Season 5.
271	[[/folder]]
272
273	[[folder:Glenn Foy]]
274	!!Glenn Foy
275	-->'''Played by:''' Creator/JamesMarsden
276
277	Associate hired by Richard at the beginning of Season 5. Jenny's former boyfriend.
278	----
279	* PutOnABus: Written out in the middle of Season 5.
280	[[/folder]]
281
282	[[folder:Raymond Millbury]]
283	!!Raymond Millbury
284	-->'''Played by:''' Creator/JoshHopkins
285	Associate hired at the beginning of Season 5.
286	----
287
288	[[/folder]]
289
290	!Other Characters
291
292	[[folder:Vonda Shepard]]
293	!!Vonda Shepard
294	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/vonda_shepard_3.jpg]]
295	-->'''Played by:''' Music/VondaShepard
296
297	Singer at the piano bar the lawyers frequent.
298	----
299	* TheChanteuse: Pianist and singer in residence at the attorneys' bar.
300	* AsHerself: Vonda Shepard is playing the character of herself.
301	* GreekChorus: Sometimes.
302	%%* SofterAndSlowerCover: Former TropeNamer
303	[[/folder]]
304
305	[[folder:Whipper Cone]]
306	!!Whipper Cone
307	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/whipper_cone.jpg]]
308	-->'''Played by:''' Creator/DyanCannon.
309
310	Judge and on-again, off-again lover to Richard.
311	----
312	* BetaCouple: With Richard in Season 1
313
314	[[/folder]]
315

Context Characters / AllyMcbeal