The Practice
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224647865
2008-07-09T20:19:49Z
41.223.57.34
{{otheruses}}
{{infobox television
| show_name = The Practice
| image = [[Image:The Practice Title.jpg|260px]]
| caption = Title Screen
| format = [[Legal drama]]
| runtime = 60 minutes
| creator = [[David E. Kelley]]
| starring = [[Dylan McDermott]]<br />[[Michael Badalucco]]<br />[[Lisa Gay Hamilton]]<br />[[Steve Harris (actor)|Steve Harris]]<br />[[Camryn Manheim]]<br />[[Kelli Williams]]<br />[[Lara Flynn Boyle]]<br />''[[The Practice#Main cast|more...]]''
| followed_by = ''[[Boston Legal]]''
| company = [[20th Century Fox Television]]<br>Daydreamers Entertainment, Inc.<br>[[DHX Media|Decode Entertainment]]<br>David E. Kelley Productions
| country = {{USA}}
| network = [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
| first_aired = [[March 4]], [[1997]]
| last_aired = [[May 16]], [[2004]]
| num_seasons = 8
| num_episodes = 168 ([[List of The Practice episodes|episodes]])
| imdb_id = 118437
}}
'''''The Practice''''' is an Emmy Award winning [[United States|American]] [[legal drama]] created by [[David E. Kelley]] centering on the partners and associates at a [[Boston]] [[law]] firm. The show won the [[Emmy Award|Emmy]] in 1998 and 1999 for Best Drama Series, and spawned the [[Spinoff (television)|spin-off]] series ''[[Boston Legal]]'', which began airing in the fall of 2004 and deals with similar subject matter, though often taking a lighter, more character-oriented approach.
''The Practice'' focuses on the law firm of Robert Donnell and Associates (later becoming Donnell, Young, Dole & Frutt, and ultimately Young, Frutt & Berluti). Plots typically feature the firm's involvement in various high-profile criminal and civil cases that often mirror current events. There are a number of crossovers with other David E. Kelley shows, including ''[[Boston Public]]'', ''[[Ally McBeal]]'', and the short-lived medical drama ''[[Gideon's Crossing]]''. ''The Practice'' is one of David E. Kelley's more serious-themed shows, lacking much of the comedic breaks found in ''McBeal'', ''Boston Legal'', and others.
In its first season, the show stars [[Dylan McDermott]], [[Lisa Gay Hamilton]], [[Steve Harris (actor)|Steve Harris]], [[Camryn Manheim]], and [[Kelli Williams]]. With the exception of McDermott, the other cast members previously appeared on ''[[Law & Order]]''. By episode two of season one, [[Michael Badalucco]] joins the cast as Jimmy Berluti. Later, during the same season, [[Lara Flynn Boyle]] joins the cast as [[district attorney]] Helen Gamble, a role she played for six seasons.
By the end of the seventh season, faced with sagging ratings, ABC conditioned the show's renewal on a drastic budget reduction. As a result, six cast members were fired: [[Dylan McDermott]], [[Kelli Williams]], [[Lara Flynn Boyle]], [[Chyler Leigh]], [[Marla Sokoloff]], and [[Lisa Gay Hamilton]]. The addition of [[James Spader]] and [[Rhona Mitra]] to the cast for the eighth season somewhat revived the ratings; Spader went on to win an [[Emmy]] for his appearance. However, on [[March 11]], [[2004]], ABC announced that ''The Practice'' would not return for a ninth season; rather, Kelley would create a new spin-off series ''[[Boston Legal]],'' starring Spader, Mitra, and [[William Shatner]].<ref>{{cite news | title = How James Spader saved 'The Practice' | url = http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV/02/23/apontv.james.spader.ap/index.html | publisher = CNN | date = 2004-02-23}}</ref>
== History of the series ==
At the start of the series, attorney Bobby Donnell employs associate attorneys Ellenor Frutt, Eugene Young (who joined Bobby's practive seven years earlier), Lindsay Dole, and receptionist/paralegal Rebecca Washington (with whom Bobby started his practice). By the second episode, Bobby's friend Jimmy Berluti is hired as an associate. Jimmy was an attorney currently working as a loan officer. When he falsified loan documents to help Bobby's struggling practice, he lost his job, and Bobby hires him.
Bobby originally opens his practice with idealistic dreams of protecting the innocent, but during the firm's early days of financial struggle, Bobby quickly learns that drug dealers and other undeniably guilty clients tend to be the ones who provide the business that keep the firm running.
Bobby maintains sole control over the firm until an ultimatum by Lindsay motivates him to name Ellenor, Eugene, Lindsay, and Rebecca as junior partners. To maintain control over the firm, Bobby writes into the charter that each partner received one vote in partnership meetings, while Bobby would get two. While this decision prevents Lindsay's power play from becoming ugly, it temporarily causes some tension between Bobby and Jimmy, who feels insulted that he was the only one on staff who is not named a partner. This is exacerbated by the fact that Rebecca is made partner despite her being the receptionist and not an attorney. Rebecca eventually earns her law degree in season three, and Jimmy is eventually made partner at the end of season seven.
Bobby and his associates all share a friendship with A.D.A. Helen Gamble, who even shares a brief romance with Bobby{{ndash}} all highly unusual, considering how often Helen's job places her in opposition to the firm.
A recurring strategy used by the practice – especially Eugene – is informally known as the 'United States of America defense', an [[appeal to emotion|appeal to patriotism]] which emphasizes the rights of their client as Constitutional priorities that must be upheld by the jury. However, the firm is far more notorious for employing a strategy they refer to as 'Plan B', which involves creating doubt with the jury as to their client's guilt by accusing a third, usually innocent party of the crime in order to plant the seed of reasonable doubt. While the strategy is often effective, it would occasionally backfire once the D.A.'s office grew familiar with the strategy. This tactic invariably causes great emotional distress for the attorney employing the plan when they know that the target is most likely innocent. Thus, in such cases, Plan B is used only as a last resort. Despite the firm's friendship with Helen Gamble, the practice's use of Plan B, combined with the firm's high win/loss ratio against her, attracts ire and scrutiny from the D.A.'s office, particularly in the case of senior A.D.A. Kenneth Walsh.
In 2003, Bobby Donnell leaves the firm, fearing he had become the 'blue-chip' lawyer he had long resented. He names Eugene as senior partner. Along with Ellenor, Eugene decides to make Jimmy a full partner and extendes an offer to Lindsay (who had left to start her own practice), and her associate Claire Wyatt to return to the firm.
This occurrs at the end of season seven at the end of which, most of the cast is fired for budgetary reasons. When season eight begins with nearly half the original cast is missing without explanation, it caused confusion amongst longtime viewers of the show. It was never explained what became of Lindsay, Claire, Lucy, Rebecca, or Helen. Ellenor's baby also vanishes from the series without explanation. The recurring characters, such as judges Zoey Hiller ([[Linda Hunt]]) and Roberta Kittleson ([[Holland Taylor]]) are also completely written off.
During the final year of the firm's existence, the remaining attorneys are senior partners Ellenor, Eugene, and Jimmy, associate Jamie Stringer. Lucy Hatcher, the firm's longtime receptionist/paralegal, has been replaced by Tara Wilson, a third year law student and paralegal. Ellenor hires an old friend, Alan Shore, the top anti-trust attorney in Massachusetts after he is fired from his firm Carruthers-Abbot for embezzling. Alan's joining the firm is a mixed blessing; he attracts lots of business and generates enough revenue to make up for the three departed lawyers, but his unorthodox and often unethical or illegal methods often clash with Eugene, Jimmy, and occasionally, Ellenor. Near the series end, Eugene and Jimmy fire Alan without consulting Ellenor, creating a phenomenon known as a law firm divorce. It begins when, despite Alan's bringing in over $6,000,000 in revenue, he is given just $15,000 severance. Alan sues for wrongful termination and hires Matthew Billings and [[Denny Crane]] of the blue-chip firm [[Crane, Poole & Schmidt]] to represent him. After warning Shore of his impending dismissal, associate Tara is also fired by Eugene, and Lucy is brought back as a temporary receptionist. The jury decides that Young, Frutt & Berluti are to pay Shore $2.3 million, which contributes to the dissolution of the firm. Shore offers to forfeit his winnings, but the offer is declined. At Jamie's insistence, Jimmy then departs to start his own neighborhood law firm. Eugene is appointed a superior court judge, and Ellenor retires to spend time with her daughter. Jamie later joins Jimmy's firm. Alan and Tara are hired by Crane, Poole & Schmidt as an associate and paralegal respectively.
== Main cast ==
* [[Dylan McDermott]] as [[Bobby Donnell]] (1997–2003, 2004), senior partner of the firm. A deeply sensitive and compassionate man, Bobby often struggled with his conscience as he was forced to walk the line between his personal moral principles and his ethical obligations to his clients{{ndash}} a character trait frequently mirrored by the other members of the firm. Indeed, it was this conflict between [[legal ethics]] and personal morality that contributed to his character leaving the show, as Bobby began to suffer a nervous breakdown. Bobby left the firm in 2003 at the end of the seventh season, subsequently returning as a guest star for the series' final two episodes. Contrast Bobby with his replacement as main character, Alan Shore (see below) who had no problem choosing morality over ethics.
* [[Michael Badalucco]] as [[Jimmy Berluti]] (1997–2004), an associate, and later, partner at the firm. An Italian-American from a working-class background, Jimmy often struggled with his conscience, loneliness and feelings of inadequacy, as well as a brief story arc involving his problems with gambling addiction. Jimmy, like Bobby, was raised as a [[Catholic]], and his strict upbringing often played a part in his various ethical dilemmas.
* [[Lisa Gay Hamilton]] as [[Rebecca Washington]] (1997–2003). At the beginning of the series, Rebecca was the firm's receptionist and occasional paralegal. She passed the bar exam after attending law school at night for several years without the knowledge of anyone at the firm. She has worked for Bobby since he opened his first practice as a solo practitioner, and the two were very close. Rebecca left the firm for unknown reasons between the seventh and eighth seasons of the show. In reality, like a number of other cast members, Hamilton had been fired because of budget cuts.
* [[Steve Harris (actor)|Steve Harris]] as [[Eugene Young (character)|Eugene Young]] (1997–2004), was the second highest-ranking partner at the firm, and senior partner for the show's final season. Eugene also struggled with his conscience, but was more strongly devoted to the letter of the law and legal ethics than either Bobby or Jimmy. This was largely due to the influence of his older brother, who died in prison after a coerced confession led to his conviction for a crime he didn't commit. The first season made several references to the fact that Eugene was formerly a private investigator before becoming an attorney.
* [[Camryn Manheim]] as [[Ellenor Frutt]] (1997–2004), another partner at the firm. Ellenor, a single mother, had a child via artificial insemination, and often struggled with issues related to her weight and appearance. A running joke on the show was that nearly all of Ellenor's friends were murderers. This was because many episodes would open with Ellenor visiting or being visited by her previously unseen ''friends'' who would almost always reveal that they were being charged with murder, or that there was a body in their presence that they knew nothing about. Another recurring joke was Ellenor's tendency to knock across the room those who annoyed her past a certain point.
* [[Kelli Williams]] as [[Lindsay Dole]] (1997–2003), a partner at the firm, Bobby's ex-girlfriend and later, his wife. Lindsay was stalked and terrorized by three mentally unbalanced clients over the series, the last of whom she was convicted of murdering (the verdict was later reversed due to prosecutorial misconduct by A.D.A. Walsch). She and Bobby have a child together, but separated when Lindsey left to start her own firm, and eventually decided to divorce after she caught Bobby beginning an affair with a former girlfriend. At the end of the seventh season, Lindsay was invited by Eugene to rejoin the practice, but vanished without explanation before the eighth season. In reality, Williams was one of several actors fired from the show due to budget cuts.
* [[Lara Flynn Boyle]] as [[Helen Gamble]] (1997–2003), an Assistant District Attorney who often prosecuted cases in which the firm was involved. Helen, a personal friend of many of the firm's partners, is nevertheless relentless in her attempts to prosecute those who do wrong, sometimes crossing the line of legal ethics. During the series, Helen was a roommate to both Lindsay and Ellenor. Helen also vanishes without explanation after the seventh season, as Boyle was fired from the show due to budget cuts.
* [[Marla Sokoloff]] as [[Lucy Hatcher]] (1998–2003, 2004), the firm's wise-cracking, nosy receptionist. Lucy was hired after Rebecca became an associate. Lucy later became a part-time counselor for rape victims. Lucy initially vanished without explanation after the seventh season (like the other cast members, Sokoloff was fired due to budget cuts), but she returned as a guest star for the final episodes of the show.
* [[Jason Kravits]] as [[Richard Bay]] (1999–2001), a diminutive, hard-nosed Assistant District Attorney and frequent nemesis of the firm, Richard was killed by associates of a man that he had just successfully prosecuted. He was close friends with Helen Gamble, and on several occasions tried to initiate a romantic relationship with her.
* [[Ron Livingston]] as [[Alan Lowe (The Practice character)|Alan Lowe]] (2001-2002), who replaced Richard Bay as the firm's recurring adversary for a while. However, his character was underutilized and vanished without explanation after one season.
* [[Jessica Capshaw]] as [[Jamie Stringer]] (2002–2004), a high-strung, promiscuous Harvard Law School graduate and associate at the firm. Jamie joined the practice after Lindsay was convicted of murder, and eventually became involved in a brief romantic relationship with Eugene. When the firm dissolved, she joined Jimmy in his own practice.
* [[Chyler Leigh]] as [[Claire Wyatt]] (2003), Lindsay's associate at her new practice. In the seventh season finale, she was invited to join the firm, but vanished without explanation before the eighth season due to Leigh being one of those fired due to budget cuts.
* [[James Spader]] as [[Alan Shore]] (2003–2004), a highly unethical friend of Ellenor's who was hired by the firm at the beginning of the show's final season. In the last few episodes of the show's run, He was fired from the firm and went to work at Crane, Poole & Schmidt. This transitioned his character into the spin-off series ''[[Boston Legal]]''.
* [[Rhona Mitra]] as [[Tara Wilson (Boston Legal)|Tara Wilson]] (2003–2004), another associate. Tara was fired after informing Alan Shore of his impending dismissal from the firm, and helping him steal client files. Along with James Spader, Mitra also joined the cast of ''Boston Legal'' after ''The Practice'' ended.
== Recurring cast ==
* [[Bill Smitrovich]] as Assistant District Attorney Kenneth Walsh, was Helen Gamble's [[mentor]] and a chief prosecutor for the DA's office. Walsh despises criminal defense attorneys -especially those at Bobby Donnell's firm. Walsh once coerced a man charged with [[murder]] in order to obtain a confession. [[Bobby Donnell]], who was a young and inexperienced lawyer at the time, believed his client was guilty and didn't appeal the sentence. Walsh is also the D.A. who prosecuted and convicted Lindsay Dole for murder. It was later discovered that he had withheld a forensics report which might have supported a [[self-defense]] plea. This contributed to [[grounds]] which allowed Lindsay's conviction to be overturned. He once told Helen Gamble there was a time when he once befriended [[criminal defense]] [[attorneys]], but that time had long since passed.
* [[Holland Taylor]] as Judge Roberta Kittleson. Kittleson is an older woman with a notorious sex life, but is considered an excellent judge. She has a relationship with Jimmy during a few seasons of the show. Later, when Lindsay is being threatened by a stalker, Jimmy wrongly believes that Judge Kittleson may be the culprit, which leads to tensions between them. They eventually break up.
* [[Linda Hunt]] as Judge Zoey Hiller, a senior Judge that many of the firm's lawyers frequently appear before in trial. Hiller is known for being an excellent judge that always goes by the letter of the law. She has a close friendship with Bobby. Though they frequently quarrel on application of the law, they both maintain a strong respect for each other.
* [[Ray Abruzzo]] as Detective Mike McGuire. Mike is regularly the detective who interacts with the firm attorneys and their clients.
* [[Kate Burton (actress)|Kate Burton]] as A.D.A. Susan Alexander. She appears regularly in episodes from the pilot through the series finale.
* [[Edward Herrmann]] as attorney Anderson Pearson. Pearson works at the firm Finley-Hoag as counsel for the tobacco industry and is Lindsay's former law professor. He originally is opposing counsel in the tobacco industry lawsuit, and later becomes a client of the firm when he is charged with murder.
* Anna Gunn as A.D.A. Jean Ward.
* [[James Pickens, Jr.]] as Detective Mike McKrew
== Notable guest stars ==
{{see|List of Awards for The Practice}}
The series holds the [[Emmy Award]] record for most wins in the Guest Actor and Actress categories for a single series, as well as most nominations in those categories. Emmys went to [[John Larroquette]], [[Edward Herrmann]], [[James Whitmore]], [[Beah Richards]], [[Michael Emerson]], [[Charles S. Dutton]], [[Alfre Woodard]], [[Sharon Stone]], and [[William Shatner]]. In addition, [[Tony Danza]], [[Paul Dooley]], [[Henry Winkler]], [[Marlee Matlin]], [[Rene Auberjonois]], and [[Betty White]] were nominated but did not win. Larroquette, who won for his guest appearance during the second season, was nominated again for an episode from the sixth season, but did not win.
The series won the Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for five consecutive years (from 1998–2002).
* [[Ed Asner]] appeared as two different judges in seasons 2 and 8
* [[Rene Auberjonois]]
* [[Dylan Baker]]
*[[Lake Bell]] as [[Sally Heep]] (final four episodes of season 8)
* [[Gil Bellows]] as Billy Alan Thomas ("Axe Murderer", Season 2 - crossover with ''[[Ally McBeal]]'')
* [[Andre Braugher]] as Dr. Ben Gideon ("Gideon's Crossover", Season 5 - crossover with ''[[Gideon's Crossing]]'')
* [[Tony Danza]] as Tommy Silva (three episode story arc, Season 3)
* [[Bruce Davison]] as Scott Wallace.
* [[Rebecca De Mornay]] as Hannah Rose (final four episodes of Season 8)
* [[Paul Dooley]]
* [[David Dukes]]
* [[Charles Durning]] as Stephen Donnell ("Passing Go", Season 3; and "Death Penalties", Season 4)
* [[Charles S. Dutton]] as Leonard Marshall ("Killing Time", Season 6)
* [[John Finn]]
* [[Calista Flockhart]] as [[Ally McBeal (Character)|Ally McBeal]] ("Axe Murderer", Season 2 - crossover with ''[[Ally McBeal]]'')
* [[Anthony Heald]] as two different characters: California judge Wallace Cooper, and his ''Boston Public'' character, Scott Guber ("The Day After", Season 5 - crossover with ''[[Boston Public]]'')
*[[Gregory Itzin]] (five appearances different characters through the show's entire run)
* [[John Larroquette]] as Joey Heric (six episodes of Seasons 2, 3 and 6)
* [[Virginia Madsen]]
* [[Marlee Matlin]] as Sally Berg ("Life Sentence", Season 4)
* [[Chi McBride]] as Steven Harper ("The Day After", Season 5 - crossover with ''[[Boston Public]]'')
* [[Michael Monks]]
* [[Chris O'Donnell]] as Brad Stanfield (four episode story arc, Season 8)
* [[Vincent Pastore]] as Lenny Pescatore (final three episodes of Season 8)
* [[C.C.H. Pounder]] as Helene Washington ("The Day After" and "Awakenings", Season 5)
* [[Robert Prosky]]
* [[Kim Raver]] as Victoria Keenan ("Reasonable Doubts", Season 2)
* [[Beah Richards]]
* [[Emmy Rossum]]
* [[Ernie Sabella]] as Harland Bassett (four episodes in season 4 and 5 including "The Case of Harland Bassett", Season 5)
* [[William Shatner]] as [[Denny Crane]] (five of the final six episodes of Season 8)
* [[Lane Smith]] (Season 6, Episode 1)
* [[Sharon Stone]] as Sheila Carlisle (three episode story arc, Season 8)
* [[Betty White]] as Katherine Piper (Episode 13, 14, and 15, Season 8)
* [[James Whitmore]] as Raymond Oz
* [[Henry Winkler]]
* [[D.B. Woodside]] as Aaron Wilton ("The Means", Season 2)
* [[Patrick Dempsey]] as Dr. Paul Stewart (three episode Arc, Season 8)
== Episodes ==
{{main|List of The Practice episodes}}
The Practice had 8 seasons and a total of 168 episodes.
==DVD release==
In 2007, [[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment|20th Century Fox]] released the first season of ''The Practice'' on DVD in Region 1, 2, and 4.
''The Practice'', Volume 1, was released as a Four-Disc DVD Set in North America on [[June 12]], [[2007]]. The set includes all six episodes of season 1 and the first seven episodes of season 2. It also includes a featurette, "Setting Up The Practice".<ref>[http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=7026 The Practice - Date, Details & Artwork For The Practice - Volume 1 Hits Retailers]</ref>
It was released [[June 6]], [[2007]], in Australia.<ref>[http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/793143 Practice, The - Vol. 1 (4 Disc Set) @ EzyDVD<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> A region 2 version (Europe) was released on [[March 30]], [[2008]].<ref>[http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000RGUN8Q Amazon.co.uk: The Practice - Series 1 [1997]: DVD: Michael Badalucco, Kelli Williams, Dylan McDermott, Mick Jackson<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
On [[July 1]], [[2007]], Volume 1 was released in Italy and Greece.
{| class="wikitable"
! DVD Name
! Region 1
! Region 2
! Region 4
|-
! Volume 1
| [[June 12]], [[2007]]
| [[March 30]], [[2008]]
| [[June 6]], [[2007]]
|}
== U.S. television viewership ==
Viewer numbers per season of ''The Practice'' on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]].
''Note: Each U.S. network television season starts in late September and ends in late May, which coincides with the completion of [[Nielsen Ratings|May sweeps]].''
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background-color:#E0E0E0"
! | Season
! | Timeslot<BR>(Eastern & Pacific Time)
! | Season Premiere
! | Season Finale
! | TV Season
! | Viewers<BR>(in millions)
! | Viewer<BR>Rank
! | Household<BR>Rank
|- style="background-color:#E0E0E0"
|- style="background-color:#F9F9F9"
! style="background:#F9F9F9;text-align:center;font-weight:normal" | '''2nd'''
! style="background:#F9F9F9;font-size:11px;font-weight:normal;text-align:center;line-height:110%" | Saturday 10:00PM<BR>''([[September 20]], [[1997 in television|1997]] to<BR>[[January 3]], [[1998 in television|1998]])''<BR><BR>Monday 10:00PM''<BR>(from [[January 5]], [[1998 in television|1998]])''
| [[September 20]], [[1997 in television|1997]]
| [[May 11]], [[1998 in television|1998]]
! style="background:#F9F9F9;font-weight:normal;text-align:center" | 1997–1998
! style="font-weight:normal;text-align:center" | '''10.2'''<ref name="variety">{{cite news|url=http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=practice100&articleID=VR1117798566|publisher=Variety|date=May 3, 2001|title='Practice's' good legal standing|first=Rick|last=Kissell}}</ref>
! style="text-align:center" |
! style="font-weight:normal;text-align:center" | '''#88'''<ref name="variety">{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/1998/05/25/DD61876.DTL&type=chart|publisher=San Francisco Chronicle|source=Nielsen Media Research|date=May 25, 1998|title=Final Ratings for '97-'98 TV Season}}</ref>
|- style="background-color:#F9F9F9"
! style="background:#F9F9F9;text-align:center;font-weight:normal" | '''3rd'''
! rowspan="4" style="background:#F9F9F9;text-align:center;font-weight:normal" | Sunday 10:00PM
| [[September 27]], [[1998 in television|1998]]
| [[May 9]], [[1999 in television|1999]]
! style="background:#F9F9F9;font-weight:normal;text-align:center" | 1998–1999
! style="font-weight:normal;text-align:center" | '''12.7'''<ref name="variety">{{cite news|url=http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=practice100&articleID=VR1117798566|publisher=Variety|date=May 3, 2001|title='Practice's' good legal standing|first=Rick|last=Kissell}}</ref>
! style="font-weight:normal;text-align:center" |
! style="font-weight:normal;text-align:center" | '''#35'''<ref name="variety">{{cite news|url=http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/4616/ew0604.html|publisher=Entertainment Weekly|date=June 4, 1999|title=TV Winners & Losers: Numbers Racket A Final Tally Of The Season's Shows}}</ref>
|- style="background-color:#F9F9F9"
! style="background:#F9F9F9;text-align:center;font-weight:normal" | '''4th'''
| [[September 26]], [[1999 in television|1999]]
| [[May 21]], [[2000 in television|2000]]
! style="background:#F9F9F9;font-weight:normal;text-align:center" | 1999–2000
! style="font-weight:normal;text-align:center" | '''16.4'''<ref name="variety">{{cite news|url=http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=practice100&articleID=VR1117798566|publisher=Variety|date=May 3, 2001|title='Practice's' good legal standing|first=Rick|last=Kissell}}</ref>
! style="text-align:center" |
! style="font-weight:normal;text-align:center" | '''#10'''<ref name="eonline00">{{cite news|url=http://cache.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,6539,00.html|publisher=E! Online|date=May 25, 2000|title=Regis Wins Season Ratings Race|first=Mark|last=Armstrong}}</ref>
|- style="background-color:#F9F9F9"
! style="background:#F9F9F9;text-align:center;font-weight:normal" | '''5th'''
| [[October 8]], [[2000 in television|2000]]
| [[May 13]], [[2001 in television|2001]]
! style="background:#F9F9F9;font-weight:normal;text-align:center" | 2000–2001
! style="font-weight:normal;text-align:center" | '''18.3'''<ref name="eonline01">{{cite news|url=http://cache.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,8327,00.html|publisher=E! Online|date=May 25, 2001|title=Outback in Front: CBS Wins Season|first=Mark|last=Armstrong}}</ref>
! style="font-weight:normal;text-align:center" | '''#9'''<ref name="eonline01" />
! style="font-weight:normal;text-align:center" | '''#10'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theenvelope.latimes.com/extras/lostmind/ratings/2000_2001.htm|accessdate=2006-09-30|title=2000-2001 Television Season Top Rated Shows}}</ref>
|- style="background-color:#F9F9F9"
! style="background:#F9F9F9;text-align:center;font-weight:normal" | '''6th'''
| [[September 23]], [[2001 in television|2001]]
| [[May 19]], [[2002 in television|2002]]
! style="background:#F9F9F9;font-weight:normal;text-align:center" | 2001–2002
! style="font-weight:normal;text-align:center" | '''12.9'''<ref name="usatoday02">{{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/2002/2002-05-28-year-end-chart.htm|publisher=USA Today|date=May 28, 2002|title=How did your favorite show rate?}}</ref>
! style="font-weight:normal;text-align:center" | '''#26'''<ref name="usatoday02">{{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/2002/2002-05-28-year-end-chart.htm|publisher=USA Today|date=May 28, 2002|title=How did your favorite show rate?}}</ref>
! style="font-weight:normal;text-align:center" | '''#27'''<ref name="medialife02">{{cite news|url=http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2002/may02/may20/3_wed/news2wednesday.html|publisher=Media Life Magazine|date=May 22, 2002|title=NBC takes all in sweeps and season|first=Kevin|last=Downey}}</ref>
|- style="background-color:#F9F9F9"
! style="background:#F9F9F9;text-align:center;font-weight:normal" | '''7th'''
! style="background:#F9F9F9;font-size:11px;font-weight:normal;text-align:center;line-height:110%"| Sunday 10:00PM<BR>''([[September 29]], [[2002 in television|2002]] to<BR>[[December 15]], [[2002 in television|2002]])''<BR><BR>Monday 9:00PM''<BR>([[January 27]], [[2003 in television|2003]] to<BR>[[May 5]], [[2003 in television|2003]])''
| [[September 29]], [[2002 in television|2002]]
| [[May 5]], [[2003 in television|2003]]
! style="background:#F9F9F9;font-weight:normal;text-align:center" | 2002–2003
! style="font-weight:normal;text-align:center" | '''10.0'''<ref name="rank-0203">[http://groups.google.com/group/rec.arts.tv/browse_thread/thread/ee82c0640bcaeb06/82c78e0fe7710443?lnk=st&q=%22practice%22++2002-03+%22primetime%22+friends+survivor&rnum=1&hl=en#82c78e0fe7710443 Nielsen's TOP 156 Shows for 2002-03]</ref>
! style="font-weight:normal;text-align:center" | '''#55'''<ref name="rank-0203"/>
! style="font-weight:normal;text-align:center" | '''#52'''<ref name="rank-0203"/>
|- style="background-color:#F9F9F9"
! style="background:#F9F9F9;text-align:center;font-weight:normal" | '''8th'''
! style="background:#F9F9F9;font-weight:normal;text-align:center"| Sunday 10:00PM
| [[September 28]], [[2003 in television|2003]]
| [[May 16]], [[2004 in television|2004]]
! style="background:#F9F9F9;font-weight:normal;text-align:center" | 2003–2004
! style="font-weight:normal;text-align:center" | '''9.1'''<ref name="rank-0304">[http://www.abcmedianet.com/pressrel/dispDNR.html?id=060204_11 2003-04 Season To Date Program Rankings from 2003-09-22 Through 2004-05-30]</ref>
! style="font-weight:normal;text-align:center" | '''#63'''<ref name="rank-0304"/>
! style="text-align:center" |
|}
The first season was a 6-episode run on Tuesdays 10:00 pm (Eastern & Pacific Time) from [[March 4]], [[1997 in television|1997]], to [[April 8]], [[1997 in television|1997]]. No ratings information were found for this episode run.
The exposure from its [[January 30]], [[2000 in television|2000]], post-[[Super Bowl]] episode (attracting 23.8 million viewers)<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.spectramarketing.com/news/p_2005_superbowl.jsp|publisher=[[Nielsen Media Research]]|date=February 2, 2005|title=VNU Media and Marketing Guide for Super Bowl}}</ref> plus their weekly lead-in from early [[2000 in television|2000]] to mid-[[2001 in television|2001]], the then mega-hit ''[[Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (US game show)|Who Wants to Be a Millionaire]]'', helped the series reach its ratings peak from 1999–2001.
==Trivia==
{{trivia| date=September 2007}}
In Season 5, Episode 22, reference is made to the broadcast of the television series ''[[Boston Public]]'' to help establish a time with regard to a suspected murder. In episode 14 of the same season, characters of both shows interact with each other.
== References ==
{{reflist|2}}
== External links ==
* {{imdb title|118437|The Practice}}
* {{tv.com show|223|The Practice}}
{{start box}}
{{succession box | before = [[The X-Files]] | title = [[List of Golden Globe Awards: Television, Best Series, Drama|Golden Globe - Best Television Series Drama]] | years = 1999 | after = [[The Sopranos]]}}
{{succession box | before = ''[[Family Guy]]'' | title = ''[[Super Bowl]]'' lead-out program | years = 2000 | after = ''[[Survivor: The Australian Outback]]''}}
{{end box}}
{{Kelleytvshows}}
{{EmmyAward DramaSeries 1976-2000}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Practice, The}}
[[Category:1990s American television series]]
[[Category:1997 television series debuts]]
[[Category:2000s American television series]]
[[Category:2004 television series endings]]
[[Category:American Broadcasting Company network shows]]
[[Category:Drama television series]]
[[Category:Edgar Award winning works]]
[[Category:Legal television series]]
[[Category:Peabody Award winners]]
[[Category:Television series by Fox Television Studios]]
[[Category:Television shows set in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:The Practice (TV Series)| ]]
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[[fr:The Practice : Bobby Donnell & Associés]]
[[it:The Practice - Professione avvocati]]
[[he:הפרקליטים]]
[[ja:ザ・プラクティス ボストン弁護士ファイル]]
[[sh:The Practice]]
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[[sv:Advokaterna]]