WISE Score
Avg. Tomatometer
A short-lived 2012 sitcom where the animals are smarter than the vets, but the jokes are mostly on life support.
17%
17%View →Look, sometimes a show is a 'one-season wonder' because it’s a hidden gem. This isn't one of those. Animal Practice is a relic of 2012 network TV that tried to lean on a monkey to save a mediocre script.
If you have an animal-obsessed kid, they’d be better off with a documentary or even a more modern vet-focused reality show. The humor here is dated, the ratings were abysmal, and honestly, it’s just not worth the rental fee on Google Play in 2026.
Best for ages 12 and up. While the animals might appeal to younger kids, the actual plot is a workplace comedy about adult relationships and bitterness that will likely bore anyone under middle school age.
It's a standard workplace sitcom. While it centers on helping animals, the core is snarky office politics and ex-relationship drama, which isn't exactly 'wholesome' in a traditional sense, just typical network TV fluff.
The premise of a vet hospital is fine, and using a capuchin monkey as a recurring character adds a bit of flair, but it follows very predictable sitcom beats without much creative risk-taking.
It was a primetime NBC show, so it's relatively safe. Expect some suggestive dialogue regarding the lead's ex-girlfriend and typical sitcom 'adult' humor, but nothing graphic or alarming.
You won't learn much about actual veterinary medicine here. It's entertainment-first, and according to critics, it didn't even succeed much at that.
In 2012, NBC thought they had a hit with Animal Practice. They even used the London Olympics to give it a massive 'sneak peek' premiere. But the hype didn't last. The show features Justin Kirk as Dr. George Coleman, a 'House-lite' veterinarian who loves animals but hates humans. It’s a trope we’ve seen a thousand times, and this version doesn't add much to the pile.
The real star—and the only reason anyone remembers this show—is Crystal the Monkey, playing Dr. Rizzo. Crystal is a Hollywood veteran (Night at the Museum, The Hangover Part II), and she does most of the heavy lifting here. If you're watching this, you're watching it for the monkey.
The show struggled to find a balance between being a 'quirky animal show' and a 'cynical workplace comedy.' The relationship between George and his boss, Dorothy, feels forced and relies on the kind of 'battle of the sexes' tropes that felt tired even fifteen years ago. When you combine that with a 17% Rotten Tomatoes score, you get a show that was canceled before its first season even finished airing.
Unless you are a student of failed TV history or a die-hard fan of Crystal the Monkey, there is almost no reason to dig this one up. There are far better ways to spend 22 minutes with your family.
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