please help me settle a bet with my husband re: Boston Legal

[Orangepeel]

In tonight's episode, Rene Auberjonois was shown in the credits as a main character -- with his picture and his name. Did he receive that type of billing previously, or was his name just listed after the credits, like as a guest star?

If he used to be a guest star and is now a regular, how long ago did it happen?

[Longhorn]

1. I can't say for sure about the credits

but he's been a main character the whole time and I don't think there's been an episode without him so I don't see him having been billed as a "guest star."

If I had to put money on it, I would say that he's always been one of the top-billed principals of the show.

[peekaloo]

2. Before last night he always got support billing.

I guess since Lake Bell got dumped and Candace Bergen added as a partner it was only right that he got top billing, too. He makes the perfect foil for Crane/Shore.