Animal Practice
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image = Animal Practice promo.jpg
| caption = Promotional image
| genre = Sitcom
| creator = {{Plainlist|
- Alessandro Tanaka
- Brian Gatewood
}}
| developer =
| writer =
| director =
| creative_director =
| presenter =
| starring = {{Plainlist|
- Justin Kirk
- Crystal the Monkey
- Joanna García Swisher
- Bobby Lee
- Kym Whitley
- Betsy Sodaro
- Tyler Labine
}}
| judges =
| voices =
| narrated =
| theme_music_composer =
| opentheme =
| endtheme =
| composer = Ludwig Göransson
| country = United States
| language = English
| num_seasons = 1
| num_episodes = 9
| list_episodes =
| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|
- Scot Armstrong
- Brian Gatewood
- Ravi Nandan
- Anthony Russo
- Joe Russo
- Alessandro Tanaka
}}
| producer =
| editor =
| location =
| cinematography =
| camera = Single-camera
| runtime = 22 minutes
| company = {{Plainlist|
- American Work, Inc.
- Universal Television
- Open 4 Business Productions
}}
| channel = NBC
| first_aired = {{Start date|2012|08|12}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2012|11|28}}
| related =
}}
Animal Practice is an American sitcom television series which aired on NBC from August 12 to November 28, 2012, on the network's Thanksgiving 2012 television schedule. The series premiered after the end of the 2012 Olympic games (which the network was showing) and was produced by Universal Television and American Work. The series starred Justin Kirk and is set at a veterinary office.{{cite web |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/06/14/nbc-announces-fall-premiere-dates-for-grimm-revolution-the-voice-animal-practice-more/138202|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616213449/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/06/14/nbc-announces-fall-premiere-dates-for-grimm-revolution-the-voice-animal-practice-more/138202/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 16, 2012|title=NBC Announces Fall 2012 Premiere Dates for 'Grimm', 'Revolution', 'The Voice,' 'Animal Practice' & More|last=Bibel|first=Sara |publisher=TV by the Numbers |date=June 14, 2012|accessdate=June 19, 2012}}
The series was canceled on December 3, 2012, due to low ratings,{{cite web|url=http://www.tvline.com/2012/10/18/animal-practice-cancelled|title=Monkey Flee: NBC Puts Animal Practice to Sleep, Replaces With Whitney|last=Ausiello|first=Michael |publisher=TVLine |date=October 18, 2012|accessdate=October 18, 2012}} and replaced by Whitney on November 14, 2012.{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/animal-practice-canceled-378328|title=NBC Cancels 'Animal Practice,' Adds 'Whitney' to Schedule|last=O'Connell|first=Michael |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=October 18, 2012|accessdate=October 18, 2012}} In addition, the final three episodes were released on NBC.com and Hulu on November 20, 2012.
Cast and characters
=Main cast and characters=
- Justin Kirk as Dr. George Coleman
- Wyatt Oleff as Young George
- Joanna García Swisher as Dorothy Crane
- Bobby Lee as Dr. Robert Yamamoto
- Kym Whitley as Juanita
- Betsy Sodaro as Angela{{cite web|url=https://www.deadline.com/2012/05/betsy-sodaro-upped-to-regular-on-new-nbc-comedy-animal-practice|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120522033826/http://www.deadline.com/2012/05/betsy-sodaro-upped-to-regular-on-new-nbc-comedy-animal-practice/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 22, 2012|title=Betsy Sodaro Upped To Regular On New NBC Comedy 'Animal Practice'|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=May 18, 2012|accessdate=June 15, 2012}}
- Tyler Labine as Dr. Doug Jackson
- Crystal the Monkey as Dr. Rizzo
=Recurring cast and characters=
- June Diane Raphael as Dr. Jill Leiter
- Brian Huskey as Nurse Howard
Development and production
The show was originally known as Animal Kingdom when it was in development. The network placed a series order in May 2012.{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2012/05/save-me-picked-up-to-series-as-nbc-starts-new-series-pickup-267793/|title=2ND UPDATE: '1600 Penn', 'Animal Practice', 'New Normal', 'Revolution' & 'Save Me' Picked Up To Series At NBC|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=May 7, 2012 |access-date=May 8, 2012}}
Amy Huberman played the role of "Dorothy Crane" in the original pilot; however, the role was recast with Joanna García.{{Cite web |url=https://www.deadline.com/2012/05/animal-practice-to-recast-female-lead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510113740/http://www.deadline.com/2012/05/animal-practice-to-recast-female-lead/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 10, 2012|title=Animal Practice To Recast Female Lead |last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|website=Deadline Hollywood |date=May 8, 2012|accessdate=May 8, 2012}}{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2012/05/joanna-garcia-set-as-female-lead-in-new-nbc-comedy-animal-practice-277867/ |title=JoAnna Garcia Set As Female Lead In New NBC Comedy 'Animal Practice' |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=May 24, 2012 |access-date=June 15, 2012}}
Crystal the Monkey's character was originally known as "Dr. Zaius" but the rights to the name could not be obtained.{{Cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tca-animal-practice-justin-kirk-crystal-monkey-353662 |title=TCA 2012: NBC's 'Animal Practice' Cast Upstaged by a Monkey |date=July 24, 2012 |last=Rose |first=Lacey |work=The Hollywood Reporter |accessdate=July 25, 2012}} At the time of production, Crystal was known for her appearances in a number of motion pictures, most notably the Night at the Museum series.
Marco Pennette replaced Gail Lerner as showrunner after the third episode had been shot.{{cite web|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|title=Showrunner Change On NBC's 'Animal Practice' – Marco Pennette To Take Over |url=https://deadline.com/2012/08/showrunner-change-on-nbcs-animal-kingdom-marco-pennette-to-take-over-321991/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=21 August 2012 |access-date=21 August 2012}}
Promotion
{{rquote|right|NBC executives "are high on [the show]. I'm not sure they're high on it because of the writing or if it's a real good show, or because it tested well with the monkey."|Sam Armando, senior VP
at SMGx, a unit of Publicis Groupe}}
While promoting the show to ad buyers, NBC told them that "Crystal" the capuchin had had "powerful reception among test audiences", and "is perhaps the best-known element about the new show—and, maybe, NBC's entire fall season."{{cite web| title= Can This Monkey Conquer Prime-Time TV?| url= http://adage.com/article/media/monkey-animal-practice-conquer-prime-time/237388/| date= September 25, 2012 | work= Advertising Age | first=Brian |last=Steinberg | accessdate=2012-10-19}}
NBC ran a sneak preview of the series on August 12, 2012, as a lead-out for the closing ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics; controversially, the already tape-delayed and abridged broadcast was interrupted to air the pilot, causing the finale (which featured a performance by The Who) to be preempted after late local newscasts.{{cite web | url=https://edition.cnn.com/2012/08/13/sport/olympics-nbc-fail/index.html | title=Viewers outraged after NBC cuts away from Olympics closing ceremony | work=CNN | date=2012-08-13 | access-date=2012-12-21}}{{cite web|author=John Clarke |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnclarke/2012/08/13/is-nbcs-animal-practice-the-most-hated-show-on-television/ |title=Is NBC's 'Animal Practice' The Most Hated Show On Television? |publisher= |work=Forbes | date=2012-08-13 | accessdate=2012-12-21}}
Episodes
{{Episode table |background=87CEEB |overall= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |prodcode= |viewers= |country=U.S. |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 1
|Title = Pilot
|DirectedBy = Anthony & Joe Russo
|WrittenBy = Brian Gatewood & Alessandro Tanaka
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|08|12}}
|ProdCode = 101
|Viewers = 12.80{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/08/13/nbc-releases-animal-practice-preview-ratings-data/144783 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120816001226/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/08/13/nbc-releases-animal-practice-preview-ratings-data/144783/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 16, 2012 |title='Animal Practice' Preview Draws 12.8 Million Viewers|last=Kondolojy|first=Amanda |publisher=TV by the Numbers |date=August 13, 2012|accessdate=August 13, 2012}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 87CEEB
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 2
|Title = Little Miss Can't Be Wrong
|DirectedBy = Jeff Melman
|WrittenBy = Jamie Rhonheimer
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|09|26}}
|ProdCode = 103
| Viewers = 5.19{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/09/27/tv-ratings-wednesday-the-middle-modern-family-return-down-animal-practice-guys-with-kids-go-low-the-neighbors-premiere/150390|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930001808/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/09/27/tv-ratings-wednesday-the-middle-modern-family-return-down-animal-practice-guys-with-kids-go-low-the-neighbors-premiere/150390/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 30, 2012|title=TV Ratings Wednesday: 'The Middle' & 'Modern Family' Return Down, 'Animal Practice' & 'Guys With Kids' Go Low + 'The Neighbors' Premiere|last=Kondolojy|first=Amanda |publisher=TV by the Numbers |date=September 27, 2012|accessdate=September 27, 2012}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 87CEEB
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 3
|Title = Clean-Smelling Pirate
|DirectedBy = Anthony Russo
|WrittenBy = Aseem Batra
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|10|03}}
|ProdCode = 102
| Viewers = 4.56{{cite web |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/10/04/wednesday-final-ratingsthe-x-factor-survivor-adjusted-up-animal-practice-guys-with-kids-the-neighbors-adjusted-down-plus-final-debate-numbers/151507/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005034153/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/10/04/wednesday-final-ratingsthe-x-factor-survivor-adjusted-up-animal-practice-guys-with-kids-the-neighbors-adjusted-down-plus-final-debate-numbers/151507/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 5, 2012 |title=Wednesday Final Ratings:'The X Factor', 'Survivor' Adjusted Up; 'Animal Practice', 'Guys With Kids' & 'The Neighbors' Adjusted Down Plus Final Debate Numbers|last=Bibel|first=Sara |publisher=TV by the Numbers |date=October 4, 2012|accessdate=October 4, 2012}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 87CEEB
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 4
|Title = Dr. Yamamazing
|DirectedBy = Jay Chandrasekhar
|WrittenBy = John Blickstead & Trey Kollmer
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|10|10}}
|ProdCode = 104
| Viewers = 3.80{{cite web |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/10/11/wednesday-final-ratingsthe-x-factor-survivor-the-neighbors-no-adjustments-for-arrow/152524 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013180840/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/10/11/wednesday-final-ratingsthe-x-factor-survivor-the-neighbors-no-adjustments-for-arrow/152524/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 13, 2012 |title=Wednesday Final Ratings:'The X Factor', 'Survivor', 'The Neighbors' & 'Modern Family' Adjusted Up; No Adjustments for 'Arrow'|last=Kondolojy|first=Amanda |publisher=TV by the Numbers |date=October 11, 2012|accessdate=November 19, 2012}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 87CEEB
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 5
|Title = Who's Afraid of Virginia Coleman?
|DirectedBy = Jeff Melman
|WrittenBy = Curtis Gwinn
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|10|17}}
|ProdCode = 105
| Viewers = 3.85{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/10/18/wednesday-final-ratings-modern-family-survivor-animal-practice-adjusted-up-csi-adjusted-down-plus-unscrambled-fox-ratings/153617|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021000925/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/10/18/wednesday-final-ratings-modern-family-survivor-animal-practice-adjusted-up-csi-adjusted-down-plus-unscrambled-fox-ratings/153617/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 21, 2012|title=Wednesday Final Ratings: 'Modern Family', 'Survivor', 'Animal Practice' Adjusted Up; 'CSI' Adjusted Down Plus Unscrambled FOX Ratings|last=Bidel|first=Sara |publisher=TV by the Numbers |date=October 18, 2012|accessdate=October 18, 2012}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 87CEEB
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 6
|Title = The Two George Colemans
|DirectedBy = Elodie Keene
|WrittenBy = Steve Hely
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|10|24}}
|ProdCode = 106
| Viewers = 3.68{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/10/25/wednesday-final-ratings-the-middle-guys-with-kids-criminal-minds-law-and-order-svu-world-series-game-1-final-numbers/154656|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130210014815/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/10/25/wednesday-final-ratings-the-middle-guys-with-kids-criminal-minds-law-and-order-svu-world-series-game-1-final-numbers/154656|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 10, 2013|title=Wednesday Final Ratings: 'The Middle', 'Guys With Kids', 'Criminal Minds', & 'Law and Order: SVU' Adjusted Up + World Series Game 1 Final Numbers|last=Kondolojy|first=Amanda |publisher=TV by the Numbers |date=October 25, 2012|accessdate=October 25, 2012}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 87CEEB
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 7
|Title = Wingmen
|DirectedBy = Jeff Melman
|WrittenBy = Amelie Gillette
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|10|31}} {{small|(broadcast)}}
{{Start date|2012|11|01}} {{small|(NBC.com)}}
|ProdCode = 108
|Viewers =
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 87CEEB
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 8
|Title = Ralphie
|DirectedBy = Joe Russo
|WrittenBy = Brian Gatewood & Alessandro Tanaka
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|11|7}} {{small|(broadcast)}}
{{Start date|2012|11|20}} {{small|(NBC.com)}}
|ProdCode = 107
|Viewers =
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 87CEEB
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 9
|Title = Turkey Jerky
|DirectedBy = Eric Appel
|WrittenBy = Laura Chinn
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|11|20}} {{small|(NBC.com)}}
{{Start date|2012|11|28}} {{small|(broadcast)}}
|ProdCode = 109
|Viewers =
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 87CEEB
}}
}}
Reception
According to Metacritic, the show has received a score of 48/100 and mixed critical reviews. Drusilla Moorhouse, of entertainment news website Zap2It, wrote that "It's too cringe-worthy for overempathizing animal lovers, but general audiences might tune in for a lighthearted, escapist laugh."{{cite web |url=http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2012/09/animal-practice-review-charismatic-cast-delivers-lighthearted-fun-for-everyone----except-animal-love.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928001929/http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2012/09/animal-practice-review-charismatic-cast-delivers-lighthearted-fun-for-everyone----except-animal-love.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 28, 2012 |title='Animal Practice' review: Charismatic cast delivers lighthearted fun for everyone -- except animal lovers |last1=Moorhouse |first1=Drusilla |date=September 26, 2012 |work=From Inside the Box |publisher=Zap2It |accessdate=November 19, 2012 }} While Moorhouse's review was more positive, Robert Bianco of USA Today gave a negative review, stating "The shame is that Practice has a fine human cast...but Kirk and his cohorts quickly get taken down by the barrage of stupidity the show sends their way."
Awards and accolades
| class="wikitable" rowspan=6; style="text-align: center; background:#ffffff;"
|+ Awards and accolades for Animal Practice !Year!!Award!!Category!!Recipient!!Result!!Ref. |
| 2013
|Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries, Special or Pilot - Supporting Young Actress |Bobbie Prewitt |{{nom}} |
International broadcasts
In the UK, Animal Practice aired on ITV2 beginning February 11, 2013.{{cite web|last=Munn|first=Patrick|title=ITV2 Sets UK Premiere Date For 'Animal Practice'|url=http://www.tvwise.co.uk/2013/01/itv2-sets-uk-premiere-date-for-animal-practice/|work=TV Wise|date=30 January 2013 |accessdate=10 February 2013}}
See also
- Mr. Smith, a 1983 NBC sitcom featuring an orangutan
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.nbc.com/animal-practice}}
- {{IMDb title|2246569|Animal Practice}}
- {{cite web|last=Wallace |first=Benjamin |title=Crystal Takes Hollywood |url=https://nymag.com/arts/tv/features/crystal-the-monkey-animal-practice-2012-10/index1.html |work=New York Magazine |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112222941/http://nymag.com/arts/tv/features/crystal-the-monkey-animal-practice-2012-10/index1.html |archivedate=2012-11-12 }}
Category:2012 American television series debuts
Category:2012 American television series endings
Category:2010s American medical television series
Category:2010s American single-camera sitcoms
Category:2010s American workplace comedy television series
Category:American English-language television shows
Category:Television series about monkeys
Category:Television series by Universal Television
Category:Television shows set in New York City