The Practice Review

A couple of weeks ago I noticed on my Tivo's "Now Playing" list a couple of episodes of one of my favorite series, The Practice.

The episodes featured were the last of the eighth season.  The characters, Alan Shore (James Spader) and Denny Crane (William Shatner) were featured in these episodes.  Of course today we know these characters as those of the popular Boston Legal series.

Let's Back Up

Although it seems like yesterday, in early 1997 I had a sneak preview of the pilot episode of The Practice.  The show wasn't half over when I declared it a winner.  The person showing me the pilot beamed.  She too thought this show would stick.

The Practice

This legal thriller/soap opera initially starring Dillon McDermott, Lisa Gay Hamilton, Camryn Manhiem, Steve Harris and Kelli Williams had me at hello.

In its earliest days it portrayed a small struggling law practice situated in Boston who successfully defended the offensively guilty as well as taking on some noble causes.

David E. Kelley (Ally McBeal) created the show and it was quick to grab its share of Emmys.

Toward the end of the series (eight seasons), the show had lost a lot of its appeal.  The stories were getting old as were the characters.

By the start of the final season ABC renewed it only after firing a number of its highest paid stars.  McDermott, Hamilton, Williams were suddenly gone.

But then there was the appearance of Spader and Shatner who not only breathed new life into the show, but set up the introduction of Boston Legal, airing the very next season.

Where are we now?

This past weekend, the series started all over again starting with the pilot.  It airs on the FX channel at the ungodly hour of 8am (Eastern) on Saturdays and Sundays.

My Viewpoint

This is a series worth watching all over again.  Perhaps not if it means waking up on a Saturday and Sunday at 8am, but then isn't that what DVRs are for?

It's not too late to get into the early episodes of this series.  With the exception of the very last episodes, the earliest episodes were its finest.  I recommend this series highly.  Set your Tivos and enjoy.

Rudi