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The Practice

  • TV Series
  • 1976–1977
  • 30m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
41
YOUR RATING
The Practice (1976)
Comedy

Jules Bedford and son David are both doctors who often clash. The dad living working class, the son in a wealthy neighborhood. Jules is assisted by longtime nurse Molly and receptionist Hele... Read allJules Bedford and son David are both doctors who often clash. The dad living working class, the son in a wealthy neighborhood. Jules is assisted by longtime nurse Molly and receptionist Helen. Jenny is David's wife and they have two sons.Jules Bedford and son David are both doctors who often clash. The dad living working class, the son in a wealthy neighborhood. Jules is assisted by longtime nurse Molly and receptionist Helen. Jenny is David's wife and they have two sons.

  • Creator
    • Steve Gordon
  • Stars
    • Danny Thomas
    • David Spielberg
    • Dena Dietrich
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    41
    YOUR RATING
    • Creator
      • Steve Gordon
    • Stars
      • Danny Thomas
      • David Spielberg
      • Dena Dietrich
    • 1User review
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Episodes27

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    Photos

    Lucille Ball in The Practice (1976)
    "The Practice"  Candice Azzara,  Danny Thomas
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    Top cast

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    Danny Thomas
    Danny Thomas
    • Dr. Jules Bedford
    David Spielberg
    David Spielberg
    • Dr. David Bedford
    Dena Dietrich
    Dena Dietrich
    • Molly Gibbons
    Didi Conn
    Didi Conn
    • Helen
    Shelley Fabares
    Shelley Fabares
    • Jenny Bedford
    Mike Evans
    Mike Evans
    • Lenny
    Allen Price
    • Paul Bedford…
    Damon Bradley Raskin
    • Tony Bedford
    Damon Raskin
    • Tony…
    John Byner
    John Byner
    • Dr. Roland Caine
    Sam Laws
    Sam Laws
    • Nate
    Robert Lussier
    • Mr. Wall…
    Candice Azzara
    Candice Azzara
    • Naomi…
    Robert Miller Driscoll
    Robert Miller Driscoll
    • Mr. Hendricks…
    R.J. Adams
    • Dr. Daniel Perry
    Marlo Thomas
    Marlo Thomas
    • Judy Sinclair
    Matthew Labyorteaux
    Matthew Labyorteaux
    • Pete
    Lucille Ball
    Lucille Ball
    • Matilda Morrison
    • Creator
      • Steve Gordon
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In his 1994 book "We're ready for you, Mr. Grodin : behind the scenes at talk shows, movies, and elsewhere", Charles Grodin reveals that Marlo Thomas asked him to direct her father, Danny Thomas's screen test for this show. This was because the network saw him as a nightclub comic rather than an actor, and preferred to cast Jack Klugman instead. They prepared for a couple of weeks and after shooting the screen test, Grodin and Marlo Thomas worked through the night to edit it. Grodin never asked for any salary, but Danny repaid him several years later by helping him raise money to produce a friend's play off-Broadway.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: Danny Thomas/Jonathan Winters/Ralph Nader (1976)

    User reviews1

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Classic, brilliant, hilarious, poignant & long forgotten!
    I don't remember that many specific details about this program. It's been a while since I've seen it, and to the best of my knowledge, it's been a while since it's been available to be seen. However, I do remember that this was a funny, meaningful and intriguing program, right up there with the best intelligent classic television comedies of the seventies.

    Certain actors were meant to play gruff old men, and absolutely thrived when they did. Danny Thomas was one of them. Walter Matthau, of course, was another. Even when these performers were young, their successful characters generally had the personalities of jaded, sardonic, crotchety seniors. Walter, of course, peaked as old geezers like KOTCH and as Willy Clark of THE SUNSHINE BOYS, twenty years before he ever became a genuine GRUMPY OLD MAN. And as the old grumpy doctor in THE PRACTICE, genuine senior citizen Danny Thomas was at his best. Showbiz folklore is that Danny also felt that this was a masterpiece of a program, and that he never forgave NBC for canceling it.

    What's most significant about THE PRACTICE, and what's not even mentioned here in IMDb, is that a good amount of the episodes were written by the absolutely brilliant Steve Gordon. Steve, of course, made his mark by writing and directing one of the truly great comedies of the last quarter century, ARTHUR. Unfortunately, Steve died shortly after that, and never had the chance to leave us with more of his true genius. If Steve had lived another few years, his name might be in the film history books, next to Preston Sturgess. For that reason alone, this small bit of his creativity needs to be shared with the world. I can't imagine why this program has not been released on DVD. Maybe it's because Steve and Danny aren't around to make it happen.
    helpful•24
    0
    • zacdawac
    • Jul 22, 2005

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 30, 1976 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Lachen auf Rezept
    • Filming locations
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA
    • Production company
      • MGM Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      30 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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