PRACTICE, THE: THE RETURN OF JOEY HERIC (TV)
Summary
One in this series of dramas about the idealistic attorneys at a struggling Boston law practice. In this episode, everyone is taken aback by the reappearance of their former client, the charmingly sociopathic murderer Joey Heric, who happily reveals that he has become a lawyer himself and desires their help with his first case. Elsewhere, Jimmy is upset to learn that Jennifer Cole is still working as a prostitute and was raped by one of her johns, a high-powered lawyer named Russell Mathis. Bobby and Ellenor reluctantly agree to assist Heric in defending Daniel Carrington, who is accused of murdering his married lover Jean Holmstead, and Heric makes some highly ironic comments about how killers should be harshly punished before assuring the jury that Carrington is innocent. Helen tells Jimmy that Mathis is claiming extortion after consensual sex, and though the medical examiner states that Carrington's DNA was found on Holmstead's body, Heric does an effective job of suggesting reasonable doubt. Holmstead is heard nervously ending her relationship with Carrington on the very night of her death in an answering-machine message, but Heric argues that no weapon has been found and that the blood "evidence" in Carrington's car is microscopic. Bobby suggests that Carrington accept a lesser plea of first-degree manslaughter, but Carrington opts to trust Heric and try for an acquittal.
Heric announces that he intends to present Holmstead's widower as a viable alternate suspect, much to Ellenor's disgust, and Jimmy, aware that he cannot mount a successful criminal case against Mathis, visits him and demands that he settle with Jennifer immediately or face an embarrassing civil case. Mathis, however, declares that he has an "army" in his own firm and will not be intimidated. Mr. Holmstead testifies that he knew about the affair and that his wife was afraid of Carrington's reaction to the breakup, but Heric reveals that Jean had made romantic advances towards her own stepson, thus giving her husband considerable motive after all. Ellenor and Bobby are furious at the attention-seeking "surprise" and order him to put Carrington himself on the stand. Jimmy regretfully tells Jennifer that she may have to "let it go," but Mathis' receptionist then reveals that a junior partner, Mark Green, has damning information about her boss, and Jimmy moves to depose him immediately. Carrington explains that he and Jean attended a sex club on the night of her death and that he never heard the breakup message, but the prosecutor then reveals that he has a previous conviction for assault against a girlfriend, and Ellenor and Bobby are again angered to find that Heric was aware of the arrest and opted not to tell them.
Green firmly denies any knowledge of the alleged rape and Mathis smugly vows to ruin Jimmy, but Jimmy is then joined by his own "army," the rest of his firm, all of whom firmly state that they intend to fight for Jennifer's rights. Jennifer is thrilled to learn that they have secured her a $175,000 settlement, and she emotionally thanks Jimmy as he urges her to "start over." In his closing arguments, Heric reiterates his claims of reasonable doubt, contemptuously stating that "anyone" could have killed Mrs. Holmstead, and Bobby and Ellenor come to a sickening realization. Heric casually admits that his client is actually his former lover, and they accuse him of murdering Mrs. Holmstead himself and framing Carrington, which he does not outright deny. Green visits Jimmy and reveals that Jennifer was lying after all and pulled the same con on him, producing his cashed check to her as proof, and a disillusioned Jimmy confronts Jennifer and threatens to have her child taken away if she tries her trick again. Carrington is found guilty, and though Heric makes a show of promising to appeal, Bobby and Ellenor realize that they can never sufficiently prove his trickery. Includes commercials and promos.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: April 14, 2002 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:58:39
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:71395
- GENRE: Drama, legal
- SUBJECT HEADING: LGBTQ+ Collection - Drama; Drama, legal
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1997-2004
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Applebee's restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Arm & Hammer vacuum-free carpet cleanser
- TV - Commercials - Brawny paper towels
- TV - Commercials - DeBeers diamonds
- TV - Commercials - Generation E environmental group
- TV - Commercials - Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind
- TV - Commercials - Honda automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Lexus automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Listerine mouthwash
- TV - Commercials - Martha Stewart K-Mart collection
- TV - Commercials - MaxFactor Lipfinity lipstick
- TV - Commercials - Maybelline Wet Shine Diamonds lipstick
- TV - Commercials - Mazda automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Nivea skin-firming lotion
- TV - Commercials - Oral-B CrossAction toothpaste
- TV - Commercials - Pearl Harbor Memorial fund
- TV - Commercials - Pier 1 Imports stores
- TV - Commercials - Propel fitness water
- TV - Commercials - Scotts Pure Premium grass seed
- TV - Commercials - Sears stores
- TV - Commercials - Stuttering Foundation
- TV - Commercials - Tylenol P.M. sleep aid
- TV - Commercials - Uncle Ben's Breakfast Bowls
- TV - Commercials - Venus razors
- TV - Commercials - Visa credit cards
- TV - Promos - "20/20: Downtown"
- TV - Promos - "Gilda Radner: It's Always Something"
- TV - Promos - "Good Morning America"
- TV - Promos - "NYPD Blue"
- TV - Promos - "Once and Again"
- TV - Promos - "Philly"
- TV - Promos - "Primetime Thursday"
- TV - Promos - "The Bachelor"
- TV - Promos - 2002 World Music Awards
CREDITS
- Robert Breech … Executive Producer
- David E. Kelley … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- John Tinker … Co-Executive Producer
- Christina M. Musrey … Supervising Producer
- Pamela Wisne … Producer
- Lynne E. Litt … Co-Producer
- Joseph Berger-Davis … Producer
- Gary M. Strangis … Producer
- Tammy Ann Casper … Supervising Associate Producer
- Steven Lang … Supervising Associate Producer
- Dwight Little … Director
- Marco Beltrami … Music by
- Jon Hassell … Theme Music by
- Pete Scaturro … Theme Music by
- Dylan McDermott … Cast, Bobby Donnell
- Michael Badalucco … Cast, Jimmy Berluti
- Lisa Gay Hamilton … Cast, Rebecca Washington
- Steve Harris … Cast, Eugene Young
- Camryn Manheim … Cast, Ellenor Frutt
- Marla Sokoloff … Cast, Lucy Hatcher
- Kelli Williams … Cast, Lindsay Dole
- Lara Flynn Boyle … Cast, Helen Gamble
- John Larroquette … Cast, Joey Heric
- Lawrence Pressman … Cast, Atty. Russell Mathis
- Tracy Middendorf … Cast, Jennifer Cole
- Tony Crane … Cast, Daniel Carrington
- Ray Abruzzo … Cast, Detective Michael McGuire
- Bruce Wright … Cast, Mr. Holmstead
- Richard McGonagle … Cast, Judge Patrick Wilcox
- Frank Birney … Cast, Judge Warren West
- Richard Topol … Cast, Coroner Dr. Josh Inwood
- Larry Braman … Cast, Mark Green
- Denis Arndt … Cast, A.D.A. Roland Hill
- Grant Thompson … Cast, Michael Holmstead
- Tim Choate … Cast, Attorney Miles
- Zoe Yeoman … Cast, Foreman
- Page Leong … Cast, Pauline