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Tailor-made TV: 'Suits' still sharp after cast changes

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Kyla Brewer / TV Media
Gabriel Macht stars in "Suits"

Gabriel Macht stars in "Suits"

Things are about to get "Litt" in prime time -- Louis Litt that is. The "Suits" character, played by Rick Hoffman ("The $treet"), has just been named managing partner, and that isn't the only change on the horizon for one of TV's most popular legal dramas.

Gabriel Macht ("The Spirit," 2008) also returns as legendary lawyer Harvey Specter, head of Manhattan corporate law firm Zane Specter Litt, in the second half of the new season of "Suits," premiering Wednesday, Jan. 23, on USA Network. Specter and his highly intelligent-yet-awkward partner Litt, along with secretary-turned-COO Donna Paulsen (Sarah Rafferty, "Tremors"), make a formidable trio as they tackle top corporate cases.

Some of the show's main cast members have left the series in the past few seasons, and as a result "Suits" has seen a lot of changes in season 8. When the show premiered in 2011, Specter had made the brash decision to hire brilliant college dropout Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams, "Old School," 2003) as an associate, even though Ross didn't have a law degree. Despite his lack of qualifications, Ross often served as the firm's moral center, but he's moved to Seattle to start a socially conscious firm with his wife, Rachel Zane, played by Meghan Markle ("Fringe"), Duchess of Sussex.

Both Adams and Markle left the show in season 7, but in January 2018, news broke that "Suits" had been renewed for an eighth season featuring new cast members and a new storylines. Cast shake-ups aside, creator and executive producer Aaron Korsh promised the new season would be a roller-coaster ride for viewers.

"Season 8 will have everything from shifting alliances and internal power plays to secrets, betrayals and fiery relationships," Korsh said in a news release announcing the renewal.

In an official promo for the show, Rafferty claimed that season 8 has something for everyone.

"You could begin 'Suits' now in season 8 -- you could come to it as a new viewer, but our loyal fans will still see their familiar friends, so it's great," the actress said.

Macht has been equally optimistic about the new season.

"There's so much opportunity for these stories to continue to grow and to develop, and to bring you in a whole new world in a way," he said in the promo.

Season 8 brings plenty of challenges for the core cast. While Rafferty's Paulsen has been lamenting the loss of her bestie Rachel, Specter has been learning to navigate his personal and professional entanglements without Ross around. In the midseason finale, Litt took over for Robert Zane (Wendell Pierce, "The Wire") as the firm's managing partner, and viewers will see how he reacts to his new-found power in the second half of season 8.

In an apparent attempt to fill the void left by Adams and Markle, a couple of recurring cast members have been promoted to series regulars this season. Amanda Schull ("Center Stage," 2000) has been portraying associate Katrina Bennett since season 2, and she's now joined the main cast for season 8. Dulé Hill ("The West Wing") has also joined the main cast as Alex Williams, an old friend of Specter's who recurred in season 7.

Dulé Hill in a scene from "Suits"

Dulé Hill in a scene from "Suits"

New to the cast this season is Katherine Heigl, who rose to fame as Izzie Stevens in the ABC medical drama "Grey's Anatomy," a role that earned her a 2007 Emmy. In "Suits," the actress stars as powerhouse attorney Samantha Wheeler, who forced her way into Zane Specter Litt at the beginning of season 8 and challenged the status quo. Heigl's casting created a huge buzz in the television industry when it was announced in January of last year, and few, it seemed, were as excited as Heigl herself.

"I have watched 'Suits' from the very beginning," the actress said, "and feel incredibly lucky to be the newest member of the Pearson Specter Litt family."

The Pearson to which Heigl refers is Specter and Litt's former partner, Jessica Pearson, played by Gina Torres ("Firefly"). The actress, who earned an ALMA Award nomination for her role as Pearson, decided to leave "Suits" in season 6, only to return to the show in a recurring capacity in season 7. Viewers probably won't see Pearson pop up in season 8, but take heart Pearson fans -- Torres is preparing to take up the role once again, just not in "Suits."

In March, USA Network announced the pickup of a "Suits" spinoff centered around Pearson tentatively titled "Second City." The drama will follow the shrewd lawyer as she navigates the waters of Chicago politics while working for the city's mayor. The cast of the spinoff also includes Morgan Specter ("Homeland") as Mayor Bobby Golec, Bethany Joy Lenz ("One Tree Hill") as ambitious attorney Keri Allen, Chantel Riley ("Wynonna Earp") as Pearson's cousin Angela Cook, Eli Goree ("Ballers") as the mayor's press secretary, Derrick Mayes, and Isabel Arraiza ("Driven," 2018) as Pearson's assistant, Yoli Castillo.

As for Pearson's former colleagues at Zane Specter Litt, they'll have to rely on their knowledge of the law, wit and intuition as they deal with the loss of key partners and take on big cases when "Suits" returns Wednesday, Jan. 23, on USA Network.