David E. Kelley is a television juggernaut. With shows like Chicago Hope, Ally McBeal, L.A. Law, and Boston Legal it's safe to say that Kelley has carved out a remarkable boob-tube empire for himself. While each of these titles has enjoyed some level of popularity, one of his most successful series by far has to have been The Practice.

Originally released in 1997 The Practice logged in an impressive 168 episodes before going off the air in 2004. During its run it also garnered a couple of Emmy nominations and awards including Best Drama Series. Critical praise across the board and Kelley's strong involvement in the first seasons helped the show find its voice and place among competitors.

Like Ally McBeal and subsequent spin-off Boston Legal, The Practice also took place within the confines of Boston's city limits. More importantly it spent most of its runtime within the courtrooms of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. With a focus on trials, the law process, and discovery of the accused, the show also found room for some well crafted character drama. These personalities were well developed thanks to dialogue driven scripts and though this first season features the cast "finding their way" through some of it, each actor does a remarkable job.

For this first volume a total of thirteen episodes have been gathered from the freshman and sophomore seasons. The overlap of seasons is due to the manner with which the show aired in the first place but don't worry; these episodes appear in their broadcast order. Like many series the pilot episode here was arguably the weakest of this collection. Make no mistake though; this was still a great launching point for the The Practice and it set the groundwork up perfectly.

The show follows the exploits of the law firm of Donnell and Associates. At the center of everything is Bobby Donnell (Dylan McDermott) who is the man in charge of this particular operation. He started the business ten years prior with receptionist and paralegal Rebecca Washington (Lisa Gay Hamilton) though they have fallen on some pretty rough times. With Lindsay Dole (Kelli Williams), Ellenor Frutt (Camryn Manheim), and Eugene Young (Eugene Young) on the payroll making rent has proven difficult for the defense team.

The financial troubles come about thanks mostly to the clientele Donnell and Associates tends to defend. In most cases these persons are indeed guilty or financially inept which leaves one of two results from a case: either they lose or they simply are not paid. With mounting piles of debt and checks issued few and far between it's safe to say that Donnell and friends are circling the law practicing drain. What's worse is their reputation has suffered due in part to the nature of their business and unsavory defense techniques. For the most part they are honest though; well, as honest as lawyers can get I suppose.

The episodes here are mostly one-shot deals but there are many storylines that flow throughout the series and recur during multiple scripts. Many of these have to do with cases and the defendants in question. However, most of them revolve strictly around the character development of the main roster.

One of the most interesting angles that surfaces during these episodes was Bobby's struggle with becoming a leader by setting the example. His techniques aren't exactly the type of stuff that you want to role model and through this volume we see him slowly evolve into someone with a conscience. Don't get me wrong. He's certainly not a bad guy or anywhere near as devious as Alan Shore (Boston Legal and the latter part of this series) but Bobby isn't exactly a saint in the courtroom either.

The relationship between the DA's office and that of Donnell and Associates is another recurring sub-plot that springs up from time to time. District Attorney Helen Gamble (Lara Flynn Boyle) plays a big role when it comes to The Practice. In many cases she is a nemesis of the firm but at the same point she's also friends with Lindsay and pursues a romantic relationship with Bobby in later episodes of this volume. Included in these episodes are other District Attorneys such as Dickey who is motivated by revenge and is willing to go out of his way to run Donnell and Associates out of business.

Some other flowing character traits appear from time to time as well. Lindsay becomes disgusted by the fact that drug dealers love having her on the defense. Ellenor deals with obesity and attempts to go on blind dates throughout these episodes though one in particular ends with a lawsuit. Eugene also emerges many times as the intimidator and appears to have a good time with it. He also becomes famous for his "United States of America" defense strategy which almost always seems to work with juries.

After watching all thirteen episodes it's certainly safe to say that while the writing was phenomenal it was the characters that drew me in. There is just something "real" about Kelley's characters and it's one of the reasons I have appreciated many series he was involved in. I'm pleased to say that The Practice is no different. This is a show that truly hit the ball out of the park from the start and there are so many powerful episodes/trials in this volume.

Fans have been patient for some time to see this series on DVD and now that the day has finally come I can honestly say it was well worth the wait. The pilot episode may be the weakest of the bunch (in my opinion) but the volume as a whole is remarkably entertaining. The Practice is a thought-provoking and engaging program that latches onto you with memorable characters and well-crafted writing. It's easy to see how this show inspired Boston Legal and in many ways it was an inspiration to the law genre.

Originally broadcast in 1997, The Practice's first volume offers material that unfortunately has not aged well. The transfer here is presented with the original 1.33:1 full frame aspect ratio but issues with the master print that weren't addressed make for a dated experience.

The picture is soft throughout with only a few moments where the image becomes sharp enough to define details. Grain permeates nearly every scene and though some cases aren't that bad, many scenes are blanketed by grain and noise. Edge enhancement is kept minimal and contrast seems appropriate but again the quality wavers in both categories from time to time.

This leaves the long-awaited DVD release looking marginally better than old VHS tapes with quality on par with how the show looked when it aired. I was disappointed to say the least but the presentation here thankfully doesn't ruin the experience. It just doesn't enhance it either.

The Practice comes with English, Spanish, and French 2.0. This was essentially what I was expecting for a ten year old show and in that regard I was not disappointed by the presentation. Considering this is a dialogue driven show it is served well by the front channels though the lack of directionality does go noticed. The stereo track here does allow for a little more room than most but for the most part the sound is restricted. The overall presentation values are good with clean and crisp audio but don't expect to be blown away.

Only one supplemental feature makes its way onto the first volume of The Practice. "Setting Up The Practice" clocks in at 17:54 and is an interesting look at what went into producing the show. It's most filled with clips and interviews from the time that the series was aired but the content goes beyond the typical fluff that we usually see with these featurettes. This wasn't exactly the special feature that I was hoping for and it's certainly underwhelming that it's the only extra inclusion but for what it is it's decent enough.

The Practice was a fantastic show. All of the pieces clicked and though it faltered towards the end of its run you'd be hard-pressed to deny the quality of the earlier years. All of the pieces fell into place to create a well thought out and finely crafted program. This first DVD volume brings thirteen great episodes to the table that will please fans and newcomers alike. The aesthetic quality of this release may leave many wanting but if you come just for the series and not a remastered presentation then you're going to be happy enough. This is simply one of those rare shows that will keep you glued to your television set until the final moment. Highly Recommended

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