Kelley Fires Teachers from 'Boston'

By Stephen M. Silverman

Wednesday May 28, 2003 05:01 PM EDT

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Only days after downsizing his Emmy-winning ABC legal drama "The Practice," producer David E. Kelley has issued pink slips to four of the most recent cast members on his FOX series "Boston Public," says the Hollywood Reporter.

The goners -- Joey McIntyre, Jon Abrahams, Cara DeLizia and China Shavers -- will not be back on the high school series this fall.

Of course, such a move is nothing new on the 3-year-old series, the trade paper points out. Last season saw the departure of original cast members Jessalyn Gilsig and Rashida Jones and the recruitment of McIntyre, Abrahams and DeLizia.

"Boston Public" is also moving from its current Monday 8 p.m. slot to Fridays at 9 p.m. come fall.

As PEOPLE.com reported last week, Dylan McDermott, Lara Flynn Boyle, Kelli Williams, Lisa Gay Hamilton, Marla Sokoloff and Chyler Leigh were all cut from "The Practice" after David E. Kelley Productions and 20th Century Fox TV did not pick up their options.

The dramatic downsizing of the Boston law firm was blamed on the drastic reduction -- an estimated 50 percent -- of the licensing fee paid by ABC for the Emmy-winning series. The Hollywood Reporter said Kelley also wishes to follow the lead of "Law & Order" and "ER," which have revolving doors when it comes to casting.

McDermott -- who, like Boyle has been with the 7-year-old series from the start -- will guest-star in at least four episodes next season, according to the trade paper. But it is not known whether the others will ever show up again.