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.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.
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.
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