"The Practice" is already spawning one spinoff series, with James Spader's character heading into a new job at a high-priced law firm.

There's also a possibility that a second show, following the life of Ellenor Frutt (Camryn Manheim) after she leaves Boston, will see the light of day on ABC. And, improbably, it's a sitcom.

The Spader series, which has been set up in recent episodes of "The Practice," has a spot on ABC's fall schedule. Manheim hopes to get a midseason slot at the network for her comedy. "The Practice" is bowing out Sunday, May 16 after eight seasons.

The comedy project is still in its embryonic stages, says Manheim, who won an Emmy for playing the dead-serious Ellenor in 1998. Its premise has her moving back to her hometown (possibly Buffalo, N.Y.) and reconnecting with her mother and two sisters.

"I think she'll teach at the local college, so she'll be able to spout her legalese and all of her righteousness, but then have to deal with the people who know her the best," she says. "I haven't seen a script yet, but I'm really looking forward to it."

The idea for the spinoff comes from Dan O'Shannon, who's worked on "Frasier," "Cheers" and "Newhart." Manheim says their work together thus far has been "incredibly positive," and "Practice" creator David E. Kelley has given his blessing as well, although he won't be directly involved in the project.

"David really loved the idea too, so that gives me a lot of hope," Manheim says. "Because David knows from good television."

Manheim has done some comedy work in the past, in films such as "Scary Movie 3" and "Romy and Michele's High School Reunion" and guest appearances on "Will & Grace" and "Family Guy." In transferring Ellenor to a comedic setting, she also hopes to bring a little more of herself to the character.

"If I could give something to Ellenor that she doesn't have, I'd like to give her a little spontaneity, a little whimsy," she says. "I think she gets bogged down in global injustice and never really lets her hair down. That's what I hope I could give her for a half-hour [show]."

Manheim hopes to shoot a pilot episode by the fall, with a goal of getting the comedy on ABC's schedule in early 2005. The network, which just shuffled its top management, has yet to give a green light to the project.

"I don't know exactly what to expect, but I'm hoping Ellenor Frutt isn't just relegated to late-night reruns," Manheim says. "I hope we can see her some more. I'm certainly not tired of her."