The Practice

Name: The Practice
Genre: Drama
Released: March 4, 1997
Rating: 74
Cast: Rhona Mitra, Michael Badalucco, Steve Harris, Camryn Manheim, Jessica Capshaw

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Generally favorable reviews based on 30 Critic Reviews

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The Practice

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Series Details & Credits

ABC | Release Date: March 4, 1997

Starring: Rhona Mitra, Michael Badalucco, Steve Harris, Camryn Manheim, Jessica Capshaw, James Spader

Summary: David E. Kelley's Emmy Award-winning legal drama, The Practice, had eight amazing seasons, with promising, provocative, issue-related stories, coupled with the writer's trademark humor.

Set in Boston, The Practice centers on a firm of passionate attorneys to whom every case is important and every client worth a fight to the end. LegalDavid E. Kelley's Emmy Award-winning legal drama, The Practice, had eight amazing seasons, with promising, provocative, issue-related stories, coupled with the writer's trademark humor.

Set in Boston, The Practice centers on a firm of passionate attorneys to whom every case is important and every client worth a fight to the end. Legal maneuvering is the firm's modus operandi, and they have it down to a science, making even the most questionable arguments convincing. And while they can't - and don't - win every trial, the pursuit of justice remains the priority until the final verdict is announced … and sometimes afterwards. Pursuing justice, however, often confronts them with serious ethical and moral issues of conscience. The end of last season saw Bobby Donnell quitting the firm and leaving Eugene Young (Steve Harris) in charge. In the final season, we find Eugene not only tackling his new role as head of the firm, but also the new dynamic with co-workers Ellenor Frutt (Camryn Manheim), a single mom known for her fervent commitment to clients and for refusing to take "no" for an answer; Jimmy Berluti (Michael Badalucco), a hard-working "good guy" with a winning record and unparalleled loyalty to the firm; and a budding relationship with Jamie Stringer (Jessica Capshaw), a young associate recently out of law school. In addition to returning cast members Manheim, Harris, Badalucco and Capshaw, in the final season, Kelley injected the series with intriguing new characters, including acclaimed film actor James Spader, who will play Alan Shore, a complicated and ethically challenged lawyer, and Rhona Mitra, who will play Tara Wilson, a confident paralegal in her third year of law school who is also the firm's new tough-as-nails assistant.

The multiple Emmy Award-winning drama has also earned a Golden Globe Award for Best Drama Series, a Peabody Award, a Viewers for Quality Television Award, an American Bar Association Silver Gavel Award and, most recently, a coveted Humanitas Award.

Spin-offs: Boston Legal
Other related shows (within the same "universe"): Ally McBeal, Boston Public, Gideon's Crossing

Awards and Nominations

1998 Emmy Awards

• Nominated Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series (David E. Kelley for Betrayal) • Won Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (John Larroquette for playing "Joey Heric" in Betrayal)

• Won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Camryn Manheim)

• Won Outstanding Drama Series1999
Golden Globe Awards

• Won Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture (Camryn Manheim) (Tied with Faye Dunaway for "Gia") • Won Best Performance by an Actor in a TV-Series - Drama (Dylan McDermott)

• Won Best TV-Series - Drama"The Practice" has received the award for Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series every full-length season.

• John Larroquette as "Joey Heric" (Season 2)

• Edward Herrmann as "Atty. Anderson Pearson" (Season 3)

• James Whitmore as "Raymond Oz" (Season 4)

• Michael Emerson as "William Hinks" (Season 5)

• Charles Dutton as "Leonard Marshall" (Season 6)

• Sharon Stone as "Sheila Carlisle" (Season 8)

• William Shatner as "Denny Crane" (Season 8)

Broadcast History
-----------------
First telecast: March 4, 1997 Last telecast: May 16, 2004 Show type: Drama Number of episodes: 168
Newtork: ABC
(Simulcast in HDTV for the 2000-2001 season through the 2003-2004 season)
------------------------------
Spinoff: Boston Legal… Expand

Genre(s): Drama

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Recent Episodes

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S8:E22. Cheers (a.k.a Adjourned: Series Finale)
Air Date: May 16, 2004
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S8:E21. New Hoods on the Block
Air Date: May 2, 2004
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S8:E20. Comings and Goings
Air Date: April 25, 2004

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

Positive:

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Critic Reviews

100

David Bianculli

Jul 23, 2013

Season 1 Review: Kelley does two things better than anyone else writing courtroom dramas on television. He exposes and unveils legal tactics in a detailed and inventive fashion, and he does so while creating and sustaining strong characterizations. [4 Mar 1997]

Marvin Kitman

Jul 12, 2013

Season 1 Review: There is an engaging sleaziness about "The Practice" that makes it special. [7 Apr 1997]

Terry Kelleher

Jun 27, 2013

Season 5 Review: Even if the characters are growing overfamiliar, creator David E. Kelley's stories remain compelling and surprising. Read full review

Lon Grahnke

Jul 23, 2013

Season 1 Review: Unlike "L.A. Law," which presented its stars as invincible courtroom warriors, Kelley's "Practice" emphasizes the gritty details and strange maneuvers that lead to out-of-court settlements and quick Friday verdicts. [4 Mar 1997]

Steve Johnson

Jul 23, 2013

Season 1 Review: Some of the dialogue, as is Kelley's wont, goes a step too far. ... But the pace is fast and no case served up in the preview episodes (one and four) is less than compelling. [3 Mar 1997]

John Haslett Cuff

Jul 23, 2013

Season 1 Review: Well written, cast and acted, and definitely entertaining even though it breaks no new ground. [4 Mar 1997]

Ken Tucker

Jun 14, 2013

Season 8 Review: It's gone low-rent. Read full review

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Seasons & Episodes

74

Series Overview
Season 8

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- Season 8 Overview
  Air Date: September 28, 2003
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  S8:E22. Cheers (a.k.a Adjourned: Series Finale)
  Air Date: May 16, 2004
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  S8:E21. New Hoods on the Block
  Air Date: May 2, 2004
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  S8:E20. Comings and Goings
  Air Date: April 25, 2004
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  S8:E19. The Firm
  Air Date: April 18, 2004
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  S8:E18. The Case Against Alan Shore (3)
  Air Date: March 28, 2004
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  S8:E17. War of the Roses (2)
  Air Date: March 21, 2004
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  S8:E16. In Good Conscience (1)
  Air Date: March 14, 2004
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  S8:E15. Mr. Shore Goes to Town (3)
  Air Date: March 7, 2004
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  S8:E14. Pre-Trial Blues (2)
  Air Date: February 22, 2004
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  S8:E13. Going Home (1)
  Air Date: February 15, 2004
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  S8:E12. Avenging Angels
  Air Date: January 18, 2004
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  S8:E11. Police State
  Air Date: January 11, 2004
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  S8:E10. Equal Justice
  Air Date: December 7, 2003
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  S8:E9. Victims' Rights
  Air Date: November 30, 2003
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  S8:E8. Concealing Evidence
  Air Date: November 23, 2003
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  S8:E7. Rape Shield
  Air Date: November 9, 2003
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  S8:E6. The Lonely People (2)
  Air Date: November 2, 2003
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  S8:E5. The Heat of Passion (1)
  Air Date: October 26, 2003
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  S8:E4. Blessed Are They (3)
  Air Date: October 19, 2003
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  S8:E3. Cause of Action (2)
  Air Date: October 12, 2003
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  S8:E2. The Chosen (1)
  Air Date: October 5, 2003
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  S8:E1. We the People
  Air Date: September 28, 2003
Season 7

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- Season 7 Overview
  Air Date: September 29, 2002
Season 6

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- Season 6 Overview
  Air Date: September 23, 2001
Season 5

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- Season 5 Overview
  Air Date: October 8, 2000
Season 4

tbd
- Season 4 Overview
  Air Date: September 26, 1999
Season 3

tbd
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: September 27, 1998
Season 2

tbd
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: September 20, 1997
Season 1

74
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: March 4, 1997