The Practice – Volume One (TV Series/Fox)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: C-     Episodes: B-

 

 

When The Practice began its hit run, it brought back how good L.A. Law was until it derailed itself.  An early David E. Kelley triumph, the show’s cats was a real winner, including Dylan McDermott, Lara Flynn Boyle, Camryn Manheim, Michael Badalucco, Steve Harris and everyone else down to the supporting guest stars.  One of the secrets of Kelley’s success is casting and great chemistry resulting from it.  This is one of the best examples.

 

McDermott plays the head lawyer of an ambitious firm (yes, in Boston) whose members are together because they believe in justice and have a moral center that leads them into some strange cases as well as serious ones where civil rights are concerned.  These first 13 hour-long shows hold up well and are as good as I remembered.  The show would eventually lose its way, but not before making an impact that made all involved look good.  It is the kind of intelligent, entertaining television that seems like a dying breed.

 

The 1.33 X 1 image is fine for its age with good transfers of the filmed materials.  I just wonder how this will look in HD when the inevitable Blu-rays come along.  Detail and depth limits exist, but they are not too bad and color is consistent.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo is said to have Pro Logic surrounds, but they are not the strongest and some may want to stick with stereo-only playback.  The only extra is a featurette Setting Up The Practice about the launch of the show.  Hope the next set offers more.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo