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Pleshette, Garner to appear in ‘8 Rules…’ as Ritter’s parents
LOS ANGELES: Veteran television actors Suzanne Pleshette and James Garner will join comedy 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter “to help fill the void left by the death of the show’s star John Ritter”, ABC has stated.
Pleshette and Garner will join the show for a one-hour special on November 4, the first post-Ritter show. Garner will guest star in four episodes of the comedy.
Media reports stated that ABC, owned by Walt Disney Co, decided to continue the show after Ritter’s sudden death on 11 September.
Pleshette and Garner – who starred together in shows like Maverick and The Rockford Files, will play parents of widow Cate Hennessy, played by Katey Sagal, and grandparents to her teenage children.
The story goes that the grandparents are separated, but put aside their differences to comfort the family after the unexpected death of Paul Hennessy, Cate’s husband, who had been played by Ritter.
Pleshette left NBC’s Good Morning Miami, after starring in the first season of the show last year. She played Emily Hartley, the wife of comedian Bob Newhart’s character, Bob Hartley, in The Bob Newhart Show which ran from 1972 to 1978. She co-starred with Garner in the 1957-62 Western Maverick, which launched Garner’s career.
In the 1970s, Garner earned five Emmy nominations and one win for his role as private investigator Jim Rockford in NBC’s ‘The Rockford Files.’
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.
