tv time travel

the practice, the gripping legal drama which was the antecedent of boston legal, another david e. kelley production was once a guilty pleasure. it was a more serious approach and a simplier version of LA Law, on which kelley was the executive producer. whereas the steven bochco drama offered a lot of convolutions, the practice was more centered on legal ethics and criminal law. the cast was streamlined after the seventh season due to faltering ratings and budget cuts and eventually evolved into what is now boston legal, of which i haven't seen a single episode. but with the practice showing reruns on digital tv, i can't help but go back in time to relive the stimulating cases -- a podiatrist with a severed head in a bag, priests on trial for murder, a 13 year old boy pulling the trigger to kill his mother, etc. dylan mcdermott was excellent as bobby donnell, the show's central figure. charismatic and very good looking, the character could have used a proper sendoff. but barring thoughts of warrick brown, resolutions are not always so simple in tv land.