I'd totally forgotten that Elanore had a kid. talk about ignoring something for a few seasons

I lost it when Denny came out in a wheelchair to cross examine that woman

Alan is going have so many options on "Fleet Street"...

"Your honor this is disguised Bush bashing, I ask that counsel be disbarred immediately"

I thought Denny Crane stole this episode.

I don't remember Lake Bell looking this good on Miss Match

So Bobby's firm's doors are finally closed for good.

Eugene almost has a heart attack when his first case has Alan representing the defendant, Eugene recuses himself from the case very hastily.

The case was just a springboard for David E. Kelley to get more of his views on the Iraqi situation out in the open.

Jamie goes to work with Jimmy (stays an associate because Jimmy's partner is still a bit on the violent side, and she passes on the partnership offer.)

Eleanor is just going to take some time off and be a mom.

Alan pushes Tara away, and seems to be gravitating towards Sally. Sally made the mistake of giving Rebecca DeMornay's character some pot to help her with the pain cause by getting punched by Eleanor in the last episode. Sally got put on case filing duty for a week.

The last scene had Bobby sitting in the old firm's conference room, with tears almost welling up in his eyes.

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Lake Bell was also in "buddy/bartender" mode on "Miss Match" so she wasn't ever called to be the hottie on the show.

that Iraq diatribe pissed me off. I don't watch tv to be bombarded with politics

totally missed that

I don't believe there has been a single episode all season where David E. Kelley hasn't interjected his own personal anti-Bush bias into the scripts. We get it already, you don't like the President and you disagree with his administration's policies...talk about beating an issue into the ground. It bothers me whenever a show's creative team exploits their own characters in an attempt to use them as tools for preaching their rhetoric at me, and rarely has a television program taken such a condescending attitude toward anyone in it's audience who doesn't agree with the political agenda set forth by it's creator.

I feel somewhat bad for the actors who have to deliver DEK's political rants.

That was pretty disappointing. Shore and Crane are hilarious, and I look forward to the new series, but that was about it. I didn't feel particularly moved over the departure of the characters or the closure of the firm, and I can't really say I'm going to miss them that much. The political grandstanding was eye-rollingly pathetic, considering how much we've tolerated this season, and especially in the show's final episode when focus should be on the characters, not DEK's politics. I really hope he gets over himself during the offseason, so the new series isn't bogged down with all of that.

das

I guess you guys all missed that the "political rant" was delivered by opposing counsel and was called out by William Shatner's character (and in a hilarious way). It would have been one-sided had it just layed out there, or was said by one of the main characters we are supposed to root for, but I think the way it was presented was pretty funny.

The chambers scene with Eugene was classic with the 1-2 punch of "Denny Crane" and Alan asking for a hug.

I think the plaintiff's attorney made the worst, most irrelevant summation I have ever seen. She should have been disbarred for that. DEK should have his law licence revoked but fortunately he doesn't practice.

I do hope next year Eugene makes occasional appearances on Fleet Street in his capacity as a judge.

It went a little something like this with Louis Armstrong in the background (though I do not know the song)

I have a feeling it's just going to get worse when the shows return shortly before elections.

What a disappointing ending to it all. This was one of my favorite shows for years before it took a horrendous downturn. I thought this season was redeeming, but of late, it had gone down the tubes again. I would have preferred for the show to end about two years ago, but it didn't.

Frankly, I don't know why Kelly just didn't make this year Fleet Street and end The Practice altogether. To use the series finale as the springboard for your new series is appalling. And the politcal diatribes need to cease immediately.

I read somewhere this week (Entertainment Weekly? Damn... I can't remember) that ABC is considering letting DEK spin off a sit-com (!) with the Eleanor character.

Yeah, I read that too. Eleanor just screams "I'm funny, dammit!" But I think I'd watch her as a boxing trainer, though...maybe some K-1 action...

Well, I have to admit that I laughed when she gave the knowing head-nod to that rebel judge a few weeks ago. Although, I suspect that wasn't a comedic scene.

das

Jimmy has more comedic potential than Eleanor does, especially after teaming up with Big P----.

cool little gif, thanks
I totally thought it odd that he was in the episode earlier but not at the end, and it turns out it's just because I somehow missed it

Kind of like Lou Grant and/or Trapper John, M.D. in reverse.

I've only been watching this show since Shatner came aboard and will continue to watch the new show next season. It wasn't exactly so much of a finale as a "see you next season in the new show".

I agree with mikehunt: I watch the news to get my political bashing, not this. Even when Denny Crane balances the argument out, I'd rather it not be there at all.

Is Shatner going to be a regular on the new series in the fall? I've NEVER watched The Practice before, but tuned in to some of it just to catch Bill...I think he's still fun to watch after all these years - I'm suprised Hollywood doesn't use him more in TV and movies.

"I don't defend perverts" - great line!

Just in the advertising for "Fleet Street" they list 4 actors, and Shatner is on the listing (along with James Spader, Lake Bell, and Rhona Mitra).