PRACTICE, THE: WE THE PEOPLE {EIGHTH SEASON PREMIERE} (TV)
Summary
The eighth season premiere in this series of dramas about the idealistic attorneys at a struggling Boston law practice. In this episode, Ellenor pleads with client Brad Stanfield, charged with the murder of his wife and unborn son, to let his young daughter Emma testify on his behalf, but he instead demands bail and a press conference. Judge Harrod forbids Eugene and Jimmy from arguing "defense of others" for their client Aisha Crenshaw, who killed drug dealer Marcus Thayer, leaving them with only insanity as an argument. At the office, smug antitrust lawyer Alan Shore, known for his rule-bending courtroom antics, strolls in and requests to join their firm, as he has been fired from his own for some light embezzlement, and Ellenor instructs him to take on one of her cases, defending Randy Markham, a homeless man who forcibly kissed a woman, or "Halle Berryed her." A witness describes seeing a "fed up" Aisha execute Thayer, who was well-known for selling crack in their neighborhood, and he adds that the police never intervened to stop his dangerous actions, even after Aisha's child was killed in a drive-by shooting.
Alan annoys Tara by buying Randy a new wardrobe to impress the jury, and Aisha firmly refuses to claim insanity. Ellenor, still resistant to Brad's bail idea, learns that his sister-in-law believes him guilty, though Emma seems convinced that her depressed mother committed suicide via cyanide. Debbie Huber testifies about Randy's extremely unwanted kiss, describing him as smelly and sub-human, and Alan hints at a form of class prejudice. Later, he finds Randy and his young daughter Ashley in his own pool, and Randy admits that he's not quite homeless. Harrod grows annoyed as Aisha defiantly explains her determination to protect the neighborhood kids from Thayer, and though a mock jury thoroughly rejects the suicide idea, Brad continues to insist that his unfaithful wife "seemed very sad" before her death.
On the stand, Randy angrily admits to kissing Debbie to humiliate her after she insulted him in front of his daughter, and Eugene tries to convince Aisha to accept a plea of second-degree murder and not "martyr" herself to life in prison. Alan suggests that Debbie could sue Randy civilly for defamation of character — and drop the criminal charges — though Tara points out that he is essentially facilitating fraud. Ellenor gives a press conference firmly denying Brad's guilt, and Alan urges Debbie to apologize to Randy for her unkind insults. Jimmy offers a pointed closing argument, rhetorically reminding the jurors to "forget" about the importance of standing up to unjust laws, though D.A. SIlverman argues against the morality of vigilantism. Harrod scolds Jimmy, who challenges him to call a mistrial — but the jury returns after a scant 20 minutes and finds Aisha not guilty, and Jimmy and Eugene begin to doubt themselves when she publicly urges others to "take back our streets" through violence if necessary. Elsewhere, Alan is rattled when Randy sincerely thanks him for treating him with dignity. Includes commercials and promos.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: September 28, 2003 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:58:37
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:80246
- GENRE: Drama, legal
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, legal; Murder (trials); Sexual harassment; Lawyers
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1997-2004
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - "The Last Samurai" motion picture
- TV - Commercials - Alcoholics Anonymous organization
- TV - Commercials - America Online Internet services
- TV - Commercials - Arthritis Foundation
- TV - Commercials - Denny's restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Fisher-Price toys
- TV - Commercials - Ford automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Hummer automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Infant Adoption Awareness / National Council for Adoption
- TV - Commercials - Kellogg's Special K cereal
- TV - Commercials - Lexus automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Lowe's stores
- TV - Commercials - Make-A-Wish foundation
- TV - Commercials - Olive Garden restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Pizza Hut restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Revlon ColorStay Overtime lipstick
- TV - Commercials - Revlon Stay Natural cosmetics
- TV - Commercials - Target stores
- TV - Commercials - Verizon Wireless cellular services
- TV - Commercials - Victoria's Secret stores
- TV - Commercials - Visa Business credit cards
- TV - Commercials - Walmart stores
- TV - Commercials - Water Year 2003 environmental project
- TV - Commercials - Wellbutrin XL depression medication
- TV - PSA - Forest fire awareness
- TV - Promos - "8 Simple Rules ... For Dating My Teenage Daughter"
- TV - Promos - "According to Jim"
- TV - Promos - "I'm With Her"
- TV - Promos - "It's All Relative"
- TV - Promos - "Karen Sisco"
- TV - Promos - "L.A. Dragnet"
- TV - Promos - "Less Than Perfect"
- TV - Promos - "My Wife & Kids"
- TV - Promos - "NYPD Blue"
- TV - Promos - "Primetime Monday"
- TV - Promos - "The Bachelor"
- TV - Promos - "The Practice"
CREDITS
- Robert Breech … Executive Producer
- David E. Kelley … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Christina M. Musrey … Supervising Producer
- Lukas Reiter … Supervising Producer
- Jonathan Shapiro … Supervising Producer
- Janet Knutsen McCann … Producer
- Joseph Berger-Davis … Producer
- Steven Lang … Co-Producer
- Tammy Ann Casper … Co-Producer
- Lisa Martley … Associate Producer
- Dennis Smith … Director
- Marco Beltrami … Music by
- Tom Hiel … Music by
- Jon Hassell … Theme Music by
- Pete Scaturro … Theme Music by
- Camryn Manheim … Cast, Ellenor Frutt
- Michael Badalucco … Cast, Jimmy Berluti
- Steve Harris … Cast, Eugene Young
- Jessica Capshaw … Cast, Jamie Stringer
- Rhona Mitra … Cast, Tara Wilson
- James Spader … Cast, Alan Shore
- Chris O'Donnell … Cast, Brad Stanfield
- Viola Davis … Cast, Aisha Crenshaw
- Harve Presnell … Cast, Judge Dickem
- Norman Lloyd … Cast, D.A. Asher Silverman
- Brent Jennings … Cast, Malcolm Kane
- Cheryl White … Cast, Christine Shepard
- Kelly Overton … Cast, Debbie Huber
- Lesley Fera … Cast, A.D.A. Kate Barron
- Jeff Perry … Cast, Randy Markham
- Kenneth Welsh … Cast, Judge Harrod
- Beverly White … Cast, Reporter
- Alyssa Gainer … Cast, Emma Stanfield
- Bernie Hourihan … Cast, Jury Foreman
- Naelee Rae … Cast, Ashley Markham
- Reggie Jordan … Cast, Bailiff