Spoilers

*NEW- SHEILA CARLISLE (SHARON STONE) TRIES A CASE ON BEHALF OF THE FIRM, AND ELLENOR STRUGGLES TO COME TO TERMS WITH THE TRUTH ABOUT HER CLIENT, ON ABC'S "THE PRACTICE"
"Cause of Action" - Eccentric attorney Sheila Carlisle (Sharon Stone), whom Alan Shore hired on a temporary basis without consulting anyone else, takes on a lawsuit on behalf of the firm; and Ellenor finds herself in a moral dilemma when faced with the truth about her client, on "The Practice," SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. Starring in "The Practice" are Michael Badalucco as Jimmy Berluti, Jessica Capshaw as Jamie Stringer, Steve Harris as Eugene Young, Camryn Manheim as Ellenor Frutt, Rhona Mitra as Tara Wilson, and James Spader as Alan Shore. Guest starring in "Cause of Action" are Sharon Stone as Sheila Carlisle, Frank Birney as Judge Warren West, Dana Ivey as Judge Natalie Brown, Rick Zieff as Attorney George Collins, Ken Campbell as Roland Huff, Randy Oglesby as Judge Kelly White, Robert Clotworthy as Judge Tyler Flynn, Mary Major as reporter, Tyrees Allen as A.D.A. Mark Campbell, Chris O'Donnell as Brad Stanfield, Alyssa Gainer as Emma Stanfield, Bari Hochwald as Nancy Huff, Bill Doyle as Richard Ward and Aaron Lustig as Attorney Michael King. PICTURES

THE PRACTICE -- "The Chosen" - Alan Shore agrees to help friend Sheila Carlisle (Sharon Stone), a successful attorney who claims God speaks to her, and who has subsequently been fired from her law firm for being mentally incompetent. Meanwhile there are startling new developments in the case of Brad Stanfield (Chris O'Donnell), whom Ellenor and Jamie are defending for allegedly poisoning his pregnant wife, on "The Practice," SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. Pictures

THE PRACTICE -- "We the People" - Alan Shore (James Spader), an ethically challenged anti-trust lawyer who was recently fired from his firm for embezzling, approaches Ellenor, a friend from the past, about a job. She reluctantly agrees to give him a chance, but first he must prove himself by taking over a case. Meanwhile, Eugene and Jimmy defend a woman who, fed up, shot a neighborhood drug dealer in cold blood, and Ellenor and Jamie take on the case of Brad Stanfield (Chris O-Donnell), a man who stands accused of murdering his pregnant wife, on the season premiere of "The Practice," SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television . Here is a link to actual screencaps taken from the season premiere. PICTURES

7/25- ABC's legal drama "The Practice" will put Chris O'Donnell on trial in a three-episode arc this fall. And no, it's not for "Batman & Robin." The actor will play a man accused of murdering his pregnant wife in a storyline that opens the show's eighth season, the network says. The role is O'Donnell's first significant foray into series television. He also continues a string of high-profile guest appearances on the show, ranging from John Larroquette to Henry Winkler to Alfre Woodard, who's up for an Emmy this season. Sharon Stone is also set to appear in several episodes this fall. In addition to playing Robin in the third and fourth "Batman" movies, O'Donnell has also starred in "Scent of a Woman," "Cookie's Fortune" and "Vertical Limit." He'll star opposite Liam Neeson and Laura Linney in "Kinsey," a biography of sex researcher Alfred Kinsey set for release next year.

7/21- James Spader is a smarmy lawyer. Bobby is MIA until the fifth or so episode, when he returns to go against the firm on a case. And Sharon Stone joins the show as a client of the firm. She's a lawyer who is suing her firm for firing her because she's schizophrenic. They end up winning the case against her former employer, and she goes to work at the gang's practice. It's only then they realize that, whether or not she's on her medication, she's totally looney tunes. According to Camryn Manheim, "Expect a lot of new stuff: new people, new storylines, new relationships. I think we're going back to where we were at the beginning: more fast-paced, more humor, not so subdued."

7/18- Practice Makes Perfect...Heartbreak: Brave soul, that David E. Kelley. The Practice creator--and "surviving" cast members (including newbie James Spader)--faced hundreds of reporters this week in a panel session, in which Kelley explained that firing nearly half of his legal eagles (including Dylan McDermott and Lara Flynn Boyle) was "the toughest day I can remember, career-wise, including finding out shows that were canceled."Later, at the ABC party, Camryn Manheim said it was no picnic for the cast either--even the returning stars. "It's difficult," she said. "It's obviously very complicated. I have some survivor's guilt about it, but on the flip side, I'm incredibly grateful. Even though I will desperately miss my friends, I still love my job. No one expected us not to come back out of loyalty, but we all feel heartbroken." As do the fans. Kelley says he decided whom to let go based on creative necessity, with one exception--McDermott, whose fee was "too expensive." An insider tells me McDermott returns about six weeks into the season for four of five episodes, and when he does, he's working elsewhere and does the unthinkable--goes against his old firm. Fall sweeps anyone? Also, the same insider also tells me Sharon Stone joins up for three episodes, and another source reveals she plays a schizophrenic (Sharon Stone, nutty? Now that's a stretch) lawyer who sues her old firm for firing her. Turns out, she's cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs, even on her meds.