The Practice
The Practice was a long-running (March 4 1997 - May 16 2004, eight seasons) ABC legal drama TV series created by David E. Kelley about a Boston, Massachusetts law firm. It will be followed with a spin-off legal drama, Boston Legal, in fall 2004.
The Practice originally focused on the law firm Donnell, Young, Dole and Frutt, featuring the firm's involvement in a number of high-profile criminal and civil cases that often mirrored events occurring in real life. There were a number of crossovers with other David E. Kelley shows, including Boston Public, Ally McBeal and the short-lived medical drama Gideon's Crossing.
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, several cast members left. The addition of James Spader and Rhona Mitra to the cast for the eighth season helped to revive the ratings somewhat; however, on March 11, 2004, ABC announced that it would not renew the series for a ninth season, but that Kelley would instead create the new spin-off series starring Spader, Mitra and William Shatner, who began appearing as Denny Crane during the final months.
Series Finale
The remaining members of the law firm go their separate ways. Eugene becomes a judge. Ellenor focuses more on her family. Jimmy and Jamie become neighborhood lawyers. The final scene shows Bobby Donnell behind a desk thinking about his law firm and the impact it has made.
Main Cast
- Bobby Donnell, played by Dylan McDermott (1997-2003, cameo appearance in final episode)
- Eugene Young, played by Steve Harris
- Jimmy Berluti, played by Michael Badalucco
- Ellenor Frutt, played by Camryn Manheim
- Rebecca Washington, played by Lisa Gay Hamilton (1997-2003)
- Lindsay Dole, played by Kelli Williams (1997-2003)
- Assistant District Attorney Helen Gamble, played by Lara Flynn Boyle (1997-2003)
- Lucy Hatcher, played by Marla Sokoloff (1998-2003)
- Jamie Stringer, played by Jessica Capshaw (2002-2004)
- Alan Shore, played by James Spader (2003-2004)
- Tara Wilson, played by Rhona Mitra (2003-2004)
