PRACTICE, THE: ADJOURNED {A.K.A. CHEERS} {SERIES FINALE} (TV)

Summary

The finale in this series of dramas about the idealistic attorneys at a struggling Boston law practice. In this episode, Denny's friend Walter Shepley visits him and explains that he has been accused of sexual harassment by several of his physically disabled employees and that the trial is that same day, but Denny refuses to represent the "evildoer" alone and recruits fellow "sexual deviant" Alan to second chair. Hannah, wearing a neck brace after Ellenor's punch, asks Sally to provide her with medicinal marijuana for the pain. Jamie visits Jimmy's hectic new office and offers to volunteer her service, though the others disapprove of the clean-cut Harvard grad. Everyone is stunned when Eugene turns out to be the judge on Alan and Denny's case, and a furious Eugene recuses himself, as he previously fired Alan. Ellenor tells Bobby that she wants to take time off from law to spend time with her daughter, and though she worries that the firm will die if she leaves, as Jimmy and Eugene have already departed, Bobby assures her that "everything ends." Lynda Hobbs testifies against Walter, and Denny offends everyone by appearing in a motorized wheelchair, claiming he wants to understand the experience of being disabled. He points out that Lynda filed a similar claim at her previous job after other women were harassed, and Denny asks if she was hurt not to be regarded in the same way. Alan marvels to Tara that Denny's methods are strangely effective, and when talk turns to the attraction between them, she says that they would not be a good match despite her "urges."

Matthew scolds Sally for giving pot to Hannah, sending her to the file room for a week as punishment. Lenny deals with a case involving a squabble over a wedding dress contract, and as Jimmy attempts to intervene, Jamie wonders if the firm breaks more laws than it supports. Ellenor brings Zoey to visit Bobby and invites him to a good-bye celebration with the others, but he explains that he has "moved on" and dislikes looking backwards. A psychiatrist testifies that Walter's fetish is a common one, stemming from Freudian childhood experiences, and Denny tells A.D.A. Alexander that he can likely convince at least one juror that Walter's actions were "involuntary." Alan visits the still-banished Sally, who explains that her psychiatrist is helping her understand her attraction to "sexy old guys," suggesting that they make her feel "safe," and the two share another kiss. Alexander makes a rather exaggerated allusion to war and terrorism in her closing arguments, saying that Walter, like America, must be held accountable for his actions. Alan, however, points out that they are a nation of "finger-pointers," saying that Walter has a medical excuse for his behavior and should be given treatment, not jail time. He then visits Eugene, telling him that Walter settled his case, and though Eugene is still angry about Alan's previous flippant attitude, Alan assures him that he respects him highly as a person, not just a judge.

Jimmy declares that their firm will work towards being "totally honest," establishing Manny as a paralegal and Jamie as an associate. Walter sincerely thanks Denny for his assistance and then becomes interested in Hannah, still in her elaborate neck brace. Alan and Tara discuss their relationship again, with Alan admitting that he "likes himself less" with her but wants to follow a "less lonely path," and she gives him a file to take to storage, suggesting that she supports his budding romance with Sally. Ellenor, Jamie, Jimmy and Eugene then all share a goodbye drink, toasting and making speeches to their history together and their exciting futures, while elsewhere, a saddened Bobby sits alone in his now-empty office. Includes commercials and promos.

Details

• NETWORK: ABC
• DATE: May 16, 2004 10:00 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 0:58:41
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: B:82658
• GENRE: Drama, legal
• SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, legal
• SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1997-2004
• COMMERCIALS:
  • TV - Commercials - Alavert allergy medication
  • TV - Commercials - Alcoholics Anonymous
  • TV - Commercials - Ameriquest financial services
  • TV - Commercials - Apple iPod and iTunes
  • TV - Commercials - Chrysler automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - CiitiCard identity theft protections
  • TV - Commercials - Faith in Action association
  • TV - Commercials - Ford automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - McDonald's restaurants
  • TV - Commercials - National Council for Adoption
  • TV - Commercials - Nissan automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - Sierra Mist soft drinks
  • TV - Commercials - State Farm insurance
  • TV - Commercials - Verizon Wireless cellular services
  • TV - Commercials - Wal-Mart Give Kids the World association
  • TV - Commercials - Walt Disney World resorts
  • TV - Commercials - Wellbutrin XL depression medication
  • TV - Commercials - XM satellite radio
  • TV - PSA - Forest fire awareness
  • TV - Promos - "20/20"
  • TV - Promos - "Alias"
  • TV - Promos - "America's Funniest Videos"
  • TV - Promos - "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"
  • TV - Promos - "Fleet Street" ("Boston Legal")
  • TV - Promos - "Motown 45"
  • TV - Promos - "Paycheck" home video
  • TV - Promos - "Super Millionaire"
  • TV - Promos - "The Bachelor"
  • TV - Promos - "The Day After Tomorrow" motion picture
  • TV - Promos - "The Nick & Jessica Variety Hour"
  • TV - Promos - "The Stepford Wives" motion picture
  • TV - Promos - "The Terminal" motion picture
  • TV - Promos - "The Ultimate Love Test"

CREDITS

• Robert Breech … Executive Producer
• David E. Kelley … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
• Lukas Reiter … Supervising Producer
• Jonathan Shapiro … Supervising Producer
• Christina M. Musrey … Supervising Producer
• Janet Knutsen McCann … Producer
• Joseph Berger-Davis … Producer
• Steven Lang … Co-Producer
• Tammy Ann Casper … Co-Producer
• Lisa Martley … Associate Producer
• Bill D'Elia … Consulting Producer
• Jeannot Szwarc … Director
• Marco Beltrami … Music by
• Tom Hiel … Music by
• Jon Hassell … Theme Music by
• Pete Scaturro … Theme Music by
• Michael Badalucco … Cast, Jimmy Berluti
• Steve Harris … Cast, Eugene Young
• Camryn Manheim … Cast, Ellenor Frutt
• Jessica Capshaw … Cast, Jamie Stringer
• Rhona Mitra … Cast, Tara Wilson
• James Spader … Cast, Alan Shore
• Dylan McDermott … Cast, Bobby Donnell
• Rebecca De Mornay … Cast, Hannah Rose
• Kate Burton … Cast, A.D.A. Susan Alexander
• Vincent Pastore … Cast, Lenny Pescatore
• Lake Bell … Cast, Sally Heep
• Billy Gardell … Cast, Manny Quinn
• Adriana DeMeo … Cast, Suzy Paponi
• Frank Birney … Cast, Judge Warren West
• Vince Colosimo … Cast, Matthew Billings
• Garrett M. Brown … Cast, Walter Shepley
• Lenny Venito … Cast, Eddie
• Stanley Anderson … Cast, Psychiatrist
• Betsy Brandt … Cast, Lynda Hobbs
• William Shatner … Cast, Denny Crane
• Alyssa Shafer … Cast, Zoey Frutt
• Lydia Blanco … Cast, Clerk
• Jacquie Barnbrook … Cast, Angelina Torelli