ABC announced today that the current season of David E. Kelley's ground-breaking legal drama The Practice will be the last. After the long-running series experienced a resurgence in both ratings and quality this season in the wake a major re-tooling, fans had much to celebrate. But no more.
However, it appears comments that the show had essentially become a showcase for actor James Spader may have been acutely prescient:
The final episodes of the ABC show will set up a spin-off series, which has been given a 22-episode order by the network for the fall.While current stars Steve Harris and Camryn Manheim will be missed, fans of Kelley and the show can't help but be excited by the prospect of a lighter series focusing on Spader's Alan Shore character. With the failure of Girl's Club and the waning Boston Public, Kelley needs another hit, and this could be it.Sources said the pickup is not contingent on any actor, but speculation is that the latest additions to the show — James Spader and Rhona Mitra — have been approached for the spin-off.
Article comments
1 - Hal Pawluk
"the latest additions to the show -- James Spader and Rhona Mitra -- have been approached for the spin-off."
Incredible - they're why I stopped watching the show (although Lara Flynn Boyle's weird lip job may have contributed).
No accounting for tastes, is there?
2 - Mark Saleski
lara flnn boyle had a lip job?
what is it with these skinny actresses?
3 - Ms. Tek
Actually what happened is she had a strange illness where all her body fat migrated to her lips.
Talk about "top heavy".
4 - Mark Saleski
i'm still freaked out about meg ryan.
5 - Ms. Tek
so is dennis quaid