From 1997 to 2000, this was one of the best shows on TV. The interplay between the actors was topnotch; the show was involving, often both intense and funny within the same episode, and the large but extremely talented cast interacted to create some brilliant TV. These '97-'00 episodes are highly recommended, and fortunately they are in syndication on cable.
However, from 2000 on, it seemed that Kelley was either tired of the show or hated it, because the situations, plots, and scripting became evermore implausible and forced, sometimes ridiculous. The character of Lindsay was stalked by not one, not two, but THREE serial killers, testing the bounds of improbability (she wasn't THAT pretty).
Even worse, the main characters reverted to cliché. Lindsay was made into a shrieky neurotic, while Bobby became blustery and unstable. Eugene's character became bullying, obnoxious, and overbearing; Eleanor was thrown into the background and dragged out only to give this late version of the show some believability; Jimmy was once again reduced to a buffoon when he wasn't simply being used for wallpaper; and the lovely Lucy was simply dismissed altogether. Rebecca? She was disappeared so thoroughly you'd have thought a South American death squad took her.
The arrest and imprisonment of Lindsay for the killing of her third stalker/serial killer signaled the death knell for the show. Overwrought and over-dramatized, it began to lose viewers. Kelley then axed half of his cast and brought in James Spader as an extremely eccentric attorney to try to revive the series. Although Spader and new cast members brought moments of excitement, the damage had been done, and the show faltered to a halt in 2004, with some of the characters being brought over into another show.
Overall, despite the negatives I gave above, "The Practice" is well worth watching in reruns, especially the episodes before 2000. For the most part the cast did an excellent job, touching on topical issues with heart and conscience, and giving few easy answers. After 2000, though, the drop in quality is clearly evident. A shame, but such is life in television.
However, from 2000 on, it seemed that Kelley was either tired of the show or hated it, because the situations, plots, and scripting became evermore implausible and forced, sometimes ridiculous. The character of Lindsay was stalked by not one, not two, but THREE serial killers, testing the bounds of improbability (she wasn't THAT pretty).
Even worse, the main characters reverted to cliché. Lindsay was made into a shrieky neurotic, while Bobby became blustery and unstable. Eugene's character became bullying, obnoxious, and overbearing; Eleanor was thrown into the background and dragged out only to give this late version of the show some believability; Jimmy was once again reduced to a buffoon when he wasn't simply being used for wallpaper; and the lovely Lucy was simply dismissed altogether. Rebecca? She was disappeared so thoroughly you'd have thought a South American death squad took her.
The arrest and imprisonment of Lindsay for the killing of her third stalker/serial killer signaled the death knell for the show. Overwrought and over-dramatized, it began to lose viewers. Kelley then axed half of his cast and brought in James Spader as an extremely eccentric attorney to try to revive the series. Although Spader and new cast members brought moments of excitement, the damage had been done, and the show faltered to a halt in 2004, with some of the characters being brought over into another show.
Overall, despite the negatives I gave above, "The Practice" is well worth watching in reruns, especially the episodes before 2000. For the most part the cast did an excellent job, touching on topical issues with heart and conscience, and giving few easy answers. After 2000, though, the drop in quality is clearly evident. A shame, but such is life in television.