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Dylan McDermott, Lara Flynn Boyle to exit ‘The Practice’
MUMBAI: This will come as a huge disappointment for fans of legal drama The Practice. Dylan Mcdermott, Lara Flynn Boyle and four cast members will leave the show.
In India the show airs on Star World every Wednesday at 10 pm. A Reuters report indicates that the slimming of The Practice’s actor payroll comes as the Emmy-winning series faces at least a 50 per cent reduction in the license fee paid by ABC.
The show had a difficult seventh season. The ratings took a dive after a midseason time-slot shift to Monday — and secured an eleventh-hour pickup for 2003-04 on condition that the estimated $6.5 million license fee get reduced by half.
McDermott will guest-star in at least four episodes next season. The creator of the show David E Kelley has been quoted in the report saying, “Due to economic and creative realities, many key people will not be returning, including Dylan. It hurts, professionally and personally. This is perhaps the finest group of actors and people one could ever hope to work with; I hope for all of them to recur if possible, and if I’m lucky, I’ll get to work with them on future projects as well. I’m indebted to each and every one of them.”
The report indicates that cast reduction was Kelley’s idea and is part of his plan to rejuvenate the veteran show, which won the outstanding drama series Emmy in 1999. Kelley is said to have noted how other long-running dramas, including NBC’s Law & Order and ER have constantly used cast changes as an effective vehicle to keep a show fresh and even bring in new viewers.
Original Practice cast members who are still with the show include Camryn Manheim and Michael Badalucco.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
