History YMMV / ThePractice

* HilariousInHindsight: In an intentionally botched closing, Jimmy questions why so many celebrities show their support for AIDS sufferers by wearing red ribbons, and asks why there is no ribbon for heart disease, which his father died of. Well, now there is a ribbon for heart disease... and it's red.

* NightmareFuel: Before Michael Emerson played [[Series/{{Lost}} Ben Linus]], he played a serial killer on this show. In fact, The Practice probably has a lot more to do with the fact that he's typecast as a villain than anything else he's ever done.

* BaseBreaker: The {{Retool}} in the final season caused this. While most seem to agree that it stemmed the declining plots that had marked the later seasons, there's still a lot of debate as to whether Alan Shore and the additional law firm was needed. Some enjoyed the fact that there were finally characters who embraced their roles as [[AmoralAttorney amoral attorneys]] and were fun to watch, while others thought Alan was a SmugSnake and didn't like the fact that the main cast were basically sidelined for the majority of it, in favor of Alan and Denny's antics.

* NightmareFuel: Before [[HeyItsThatGuy Michael Emerson]] played [[Series/{{Lost}} Ben Linus]], he played a serial killer on this show. In fact, The Practice probably has a lot more to do with the fact that he's typecast as a villain than anything else he's ever done.

* DeaderThanDisco: The legal drama equivalent of ''NYPDBlue''. At its height it was a smartly written, well-acted show with tons of Emmy nominations and wins. Now, it's barely remembered as a footnote in James Spader's career (as well as being difficult to find on home media). It doesn't help that the final season was essentially a set-up for ''Series/BostonLegal'' (which ran for longer and was a bit more irreverent and fun).

* DarknessInducedAudienceApathy: Not at first, but as the moral integrity of the firm and all the characters degraded, it became clear that you wanted the audience wanted them to lose all their cases.

* BaseBreaker: The {{Retool}} in the final season caused this. While most seem to agree that it stemmed the declining plots that had marked the later seasons, there's still a lot of debate as to whether Alan Shore and the additional law firm was needed. Some enjoyed the fact that there were finally characters who embraced their roles as [[AmoralAttorney amoral attornies]] and were fun to watch, while others thought Alan was a SmugSnake and didn't like the fact that the main cast were basically sidelined for the majority of it, in favor of Alan and Denny's antics.

* BaseBreaker: Some fans loved Alan Shore and his amoral antics, others thought he was a slimy SmugSnake and wanted him to go away
* DarknessInducedAudienceApathy: Not at first, but as the moral integrity of the firm and all the characters degraded, it became clear that you wanted them to lose all their cases.
* DeaderThanDisco: The legal drama equivalent of ''NYPDBlue''. At its height it was a smartly written, well-acted show with tons of Emmy nominations and wins; now it's barely remembered as a footnote in James Spader's career.
** Much like NYPD Blue, this may be due to the show's lack of coverage on Home Media more than anything else.
* EnsembleDarkhorse: Ellenor, in part for being a well-written overweight, female character on primetime television (something quite rare, unfortunately). The role earned actress Camryn Manheim both an Emmy and a Golden Globe.
** Alan Shore. James Spader was a shot in the arm for the series and the role earned him an Emmy, as well as a starring role in a very successful spin-off.
* FiveManBand:
** TheLeader: Bobby
** TheLancer: Eugene
** TheSmartGuy: Lindsey
** TheBigGuy: Ellenor
** TheHeart: Jimmy
** TheChick: Rebecca
** TheSixthRanger: Lucy
** EleventhHourRanger: Jamie

* NightmareFuel: Before [[HeyItsThatGuy Michael Emerson]] played [[Series/{{Lost}} Ben Linus]], played a serial killer on this show. In fact, The Practice probably has a lot more to do with the fact that he's typecast as a villain than anything else he's ever done.
* SeasonalRot
* TomHanksSyndrome: To comedienne Camryn Manheim.

* NightmareFuel: Before [[HeyItsThatGuy Michael Emerson]] played [[{{Lost}} Ben Linus]], played a serial killer on this show. In fact, The Practice probably has a lot more to do with the fact that he's typecast as a villain than anything else he's ever done.

* JerkassWoobie: Alan looks just so HURT as Ellenor testifies against him in "The Case Against Alan Shore". Even though we're supposed to take from it that she's right, and he knows she's right...still, the truth hurts.

* TearJerker: The. Look. On Alan's face. As Ellenor is on the stand testifying against him, and says he'll destroy himself one day, she can't have that at her firm, etc. Try not to cry as you watch it, and ZOMG James Spader is such an awesome actor, even when he has no lines at at all.

* TearJerker

* FiveMandBand:

** Alan Shore. James Spader was a shot in the arm for the series and the role earned him an Emmy, as well as a starring role in a very successful spin-off.

* TearJerker

* NightmareFuel: Before [[HeyItsThatGuy Michael Emerson]] played [[{{Lost}} Ben Linus]], he scared the ''fuck'' out of us as a serial killer on this show. In fact, The Practice probably has a lot more to do with the fact that he's typecast as a villain than anything else he's ever done.

* HighOctaneNightmareFuel: Before [[HeyItsThatGuy Michael Emerson]] played [[{{Lost}} Ben Linus]], he scared the ''fuck'' out of us as a serial killer on this show. In fact, The Practice probably has a lot more to do with the fact that he's typecast as a villain than anything else he's ever done.

* EnsembleDarkhorse: Ellenor, earning actress Camryn Manheim both an Emmy and Golden Globe.

* EnsembleDarkhorse: Ellenor