L.A. Practice

***L.A. Pratice*** is an American legal drama/soap opera television series that ran for twenty-seven seasons on NBC, from 1997, to 2024.

Created by Runwaygirl20, it centers on the partners, associates and staff of a Los Angeles law firm. The show contains many of the trademark features, including an ensemble cast, large number of parallel storylines, social drama, and off-the-wall humor. It reflects the social and cultural ideologies that were occurring when the show was produced in the 90's, the 2000's, 2010's, and the 2020's, and many of the cases featured on the show dealt with hot-button issues such as capital punishment, abortion, racism, homophobia, sexual harassment, HIV/AIDS, and domestic violence. The series often also reflects social tensions between the wealthy senior lawyer protagonists and their less well–paid junior staff.

The show was popular with audiences and critics, ranking in Nielsen Top 30 for its first 6 seasons and winning 15 Emmy Awards throughout its run, four of which were for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series.

## Synopsis

The series is set in and around the fictional Los Angeles–based law firm == and featured attorneys at the firm and various members of the support staff. The original characters featured Matt Taylor, Stacey Costello, Hector Ortega, Mindy Long, Cathy Ling, Nadia Larkin, April Stevens, . By the 2010's, the firm had new faces such as Mark Hamilton, Samantha Chapman, Jacqui Long (Mindy's sister), Nick Henshall, Verity Reynolds, and Zoey Tate, while Matt, Stacey, Hector, and Nadia took over the firm as partners. By 2020, Matt and Stacey left the firm to start their own practice, and Hector and Nadia, along with Cathy, Mindy, and April have moved on. Mark takes over the firm, along with Samantha, Jacqui, Zoey, and with experienced lawyers Leanne Cavanaugh, Billy Kincaid, and Kevin Holt. They are joined by young fresh-faced associates: Jake Berman, Paige Madison, Hayley Steele, Stefanie Masterson, and Cody Marshall.

## Notes

* In early 1991, a season five episode had two female characters, and the newcomer kissing each other. The scene was recognized as the first kiss between two women in a prime time American series, and was considered quite controversial.
* 5700 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA (Spelling Television Inc.) is the building used by the show for exterior establishing shots of where the L.A. Properties is located.
* Kelly Packard joined the cast in the fifth season to play newcoming realtor Lauren Shelby. her storylines revolved around her rivalry with Stacey Costello and her relationship with Stacey's on and off lover, Matt Taylor.
* All three ---- have featured on the show.
	+ Chris Hemsworth as Jamie Kane (2002).
* Liam Hemsworth as Josh Taylor (2007-2008).
	+ Luke Hemsworth as Nathan Tyson (2001-2002)/John Carter (2008).
* L.A. Practice featured a colorful cast of characters from different eras:
	+ From the 1990's era of Neighbours:
		- Natalie Imbruglia as Matt Taylor.
		- Lesley Baker as Stacey Costello.
		- Daniel MacPherson as Nina Tucker.
		- Benjamin McNair as David Cronin
		- Jesse Spencer as Billy Kincaid
		- Kym Valentine as Lauren Shelby
		- Carla Bonner as Stephanie "Steph" Scully.
		- Holly Valance as Felicity Scully.
	+ From the 2000's era of L.A. Listings:
		- Delta Goodrem as Nina Tucker.
		- Natalie Bassingthwaighte as Isabelle 'Izzy' Hoyland.
		- Jordan Patrick Smith as Andrew Robinson.
		- Pippa Black as Elle Robinson.
		- Morgan Baker as Callum Rebecchi.
		- Scott Major as Lucas Fitzgerald.
		- Margot Robbie as Donna Freedman.
	+ and from the 2010's era of L.A. Listings:
		- James Mason as Kendall Morgan
		- Olympia Valance as Paige Madison
		- Kate Kendall as Lauren Romano
		- Ben Hall as Ned Willis.
		- Zoe Cramond as Amy Williams.
		- Jodi Gordon as Elly Conway.
		- Bonnie Anderson as Beatrix "Bea" Nilsson.
		- Olivia Junkeer as Yashvi Rebecchi.
		- Chris Milligan as Kyle Canning.
		- Zima Anderson as Roxy Canning.
* The series featured a pair of twins in the series.
* Hayley Steele seducing -- for a bet was heavily influenced by Cruel Intentions (1999).
* Hayley Steele was voted "One of L.A. Practice's most annoying characters".
* -- was voted "One of L.A. Practice's most hated characters".
* Shannon Tattersall was voted "One of L.A. Practice's most loved characters".
* Hayley Steele was voted "One of L.A. Practice's most annoying characters".
* Lauren Shelby was voted "One of L.A. Practice's most disliked characters".
* Matt & Stacey was voted "One of L.A. Practice's most popular couples".
* On July 23, 2003, the series made television history when the characters of - and Matt Taylor shared the first same-sex kiss in an American soap opera.
* The daily drama of this show was set in the fictional law firm Los Angeles, California.
* The show had many different type relationships such as interracial relationships, same-sex relationships, and age-gap relationships.
	+ List of interracial relationships.
		- Hector Ortega and Mindy Long (Hector is Latino and Mindy is black)
		- Matt Taylor and Cathy Ling (Matt is white and Cathy is Asian)
		- Billy Kincaid and Jacqui Long (Billy is white and Jacqui is black)
		- Leo Vasquez and Shannon Tattersall (Leo is mixed-raced and Shannon is white)
		- Miguel Delgado and Leanne Cavanaugh (Miguel is Latino and Leanne is white)
	+ List of same-sex relationships.
	+ List of age-gap relationships.
		- Paul Brinkman and Zoey Tate (Paul is 56 and Zoey is 34)
		- Billy Kincaid and Helen Tate.
		- Eduardo Delgado and Zoey Tate.
		- Kevin Holt and Leanne Cavanaugh
		- Cody Marshall and Stefanie Masterson
		- Eddie Delgado and Stefanie Masterson
		- Matt Taylor and Rosario Delgado
* Alex Heartman (Jake Berman), Christina Masterson (Paige Madison), and Cameron Jebo (Declan Wade) appeared in Power Rangers in the 2010's decade.
* Similarities between Kelli Williams's characters in The Practice and this show: Both are lawyers, had one and off relationships with leading men: Bobby Donnell and Matt Taylor. Both gave birth outside of the hospital; Lindsay gave birth to a baby boy at a courtroom and Stacey gave birth to a baby girl at law firm.
* Kelly Packard (Lauren Shelby), Brent Gore (Brian Shaw), and Jennie Kwan (Cathy Ling) appeared in California Dreams (1992).
* The series had three sets of sisters
	+ Mindy and Jacqui Long.
	+ Isabella and Gabriella Cortino
* Jodie Sweetin (Samantha Chapman), Lacey Chabert (Zoey Tate), and Autumn Reeser (Shannon Tattersall) have appeared in numerous Hallmark Channel movies.
* Jessica Plummer (Stefanie Masterson) is British in real-life, while her character on L.A. Practice is an American.