PRACTICE IS PERFECT FOR ABC: According to The Hollywood Reporter, ABC has picked up David E. Kelley's legal drama The Practice through the 2003-04 season for a reported $5-$7 million an episode. No word on how many employees the network will have to lay off to come up with the cash.

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - ABC has picked up the legal drama "The Practice" from producer David E. Kelley through the 2003-04 season. The announcement was made Friday at the annual Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour in Pasadena.

The licensing fee for the three-year extension on the David E. Kelley Prods./20th Century TV drama will be be the second-highest paid for a one-hour series behind NBC's "ER" at an estimated fee of $5 million-$7 million per episode.

"The Practice," which premiered in 1997, has averaged 18.3 million viewers this season, a 14 percent increase from last season.

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ABC Will "Practice" Through 2004
by Joshua Grossberg
Jan 12, 2001, 11:00 AM PT

For ABC, The Practice makes perfect.

The network announced Friday that it has picked up the Emmy-winning show, a huge ratings draw, for three more seasons.

That means David E. Kelley's legal drama will be on the air through the 2003-04 season.

"The Practice has grown into one of the most compelling, evocative dramas on television, and I certainly couldn't imagine our schedule without it," says Stu Bloomberg, cochair of ABC Entertainment Television Group. "David and his team continue to craft stories that always leave you wanting more, while the amazing cast takes those stories and makes them come alive."

According to the Hollywood Reporter, negotiations went smoothly, with the show's coproducers, David E. Kelley Productions and 20th Century Fox Television, snagging an estimated $5 million to $7 million per episode.

That's a sharp increase from the $1.6 million per episode ABC is paying under the current contract, which was set to expire at the end of this season.

While the deal may seem like a big sum, it's kibbles compared to the whopping $13 million per-episode deal Warner Bros. TV brokered with NBC for ER.

The continuance is good news for The Practice stars Dylan McDermott and Lara Flynn Boyle, who will likely see their powers of attorney grow along with their audience.

Since its debut in 1997, The Practice has moved up the ratings chart. It is ABC's top-rated drama, a consistent top 10 performer and a dominant force in its Sunday-at-10 p.m. slot. This season, the show is averaging 18.3 million viewers and a 6.8 rating/16 share--up 14 percent from last season.

The ensemble drama about Boston legal eagles won the 1999 Emmy for best drama. It costars Emmy winners Camryn Manheim, Michael Badalucco and Holland Taylor. The show has also racked up a Golden Globe for best drama series, a Peabody Award, a Viewers for Quality Television Award and an American Bar Association Silver Gavel Award.

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - Law and medicine may mix on an upcoming crossover between ABC shows "The Practice" and "Gideon's Crossing." "Gideon" creator and executive producer Paul Attanasio, who also created the NBC series "Homicide," announced at Winter Press Tour from the show's set in Los Angeles that a crossover episode between the two shows is in the works.

Attanasio told reporters that he has been in talks with "Practice" executive producer David E. Kelly to plan a crossover episode to air in March. He thinks the interaction between the two shows will be an interesting one. No hints were given about the proposed plot or which stars would be involved.

"Gideon" producers also revealed that the medical drama, which stars Andre Braugher as Dr. Ben Gideon, is adding more women to the cast before the end of the season, replacing former series regular Sophie Keller.

Other highlights coming once the show moves to its new Monday night timeslot include Marlee Matlin, Kathy Baker and Billy Dee Williams as guest stars. Also look for the series to explore the personal lives of the doctors and current medical issues more closely.

Law and medicine may mix on an upcoming crossover between ABC shows "The Practice" and "Gideon's Crossing." "Gideon" creator and executive producer Paul Attanasio, who also created the NBC series "Homicide," announced at Winter Press Tour from the show's set in Los Angeles that a crossover episode between the two shows is in the works.

Attanasio told reporters that he has been in talks with "Practice" executive producer David E. Kelly to plan a crossover episode to air in March. He thinks the interaction between the two shows will be an interesting one. No hints were given about the proposed plot or which stars would be involved.

"Gideon" producers also revealed that the medical drama, which stars Andre Braugher as Dr. Ben Gideon, is adding more women to the cast before the end of the season, replacing former series regular Sophie Keller.

Other highlights coming once the show moves to its new Monday night timeslot include Marlee Matlin, Kathy Baker (Giebs here, saying WHOOPEE!) and Billy Dee Williams as guest stars. Also look for the series to explore the personal lives of the doctors and current medical issues more closely.