Well-connected TV Guide sleuth Michael Ausiello has gossip from the Grey's Anatomy world concerning fallout from the firing of Isaiah Washington. Below are his responses to two questions on the subject...
Question: What's been the fallout from Isaiah Washington's Grey's Anatomy firing behind the scenes?
Ausiello: Well, the folks over at Grey's Anatomy are apparently pretty steamed about comments Isaiah's rep, Howard Bragman, made Friday â" specifically the part about how Washington jumped through hoops only to be fired anyway.
"Apparently, Isaiah missed the point that he should have been apologizing and working on his anger issues because it's the right thing to do," a source close to the Grey's Anatomy set remarked.
"It wasn't just supposed to be an empty exercise he went through for the sake of appearances."
Question: Why did ABC wait so long to fire Isaiah Washington?
Ausiello: The alternative would've been to fire him right in the middle of Season 3, and that would've been a disaster both legally and creatively. The easiest thing to do was release him at the end of his contract, and that's what happened. What's not clear is when exactly the decision to axe him was made. Some say it was as far back as February; others insist a final verdict didn't come until last week when it was announced. Only a handful of people know for sure, and, unfortunately, one of them (Shonda Rhimes?) is nicknamed the Information Nazi.
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49 Comments
June 13th, 2007 12:56 PM
this doesn't make it any better. this is still bullshit. is no one thinking of the fans or the quality of the show come season 4.
June 13th, 2007 1:13 PM
I'm not happy about the firing of Isaiah Washington and will rethink as to whether I will continue watching. What more did you want him to do? If being gay is sooo important to TR and everyone elso, then why is he the adultress husband on the show? The show portrays him as a husband who is trying to be faithful but Izzy won't let him (Also, PLEASE stop her "I lost my best friend, I want my best friend back" whining--it's getting annoying). Mr. Washington's character was one solid one in the whole show.
Why is it ok to be gay, but not ok to NOT be gay?
June 13th, 2007 1:46 PM
I think they did the right thing, even if I do love Dr Burke. If TR had used a racial slur against him he would have been fired as well. IW did the whole appology tour just to try to keep his job not because he was truly sorry he said it but truly sorry he got in so much trouble for it. I imagine the tension on the set after that situation would have really made the actors performances suffer, so I think they did the right thing. I did love his character but he should never have blatenly offended someone like that and not expect some serious consiquences.
June 13th, 2007 2:47 PM
sounds like there's a disconnect between IW and his rep, as well. IW's statement released today (I guess) did not sound at all like the "angry / going to sue" person that Bragman presented last week.
It makes sense that he was written out and released at the end of his contract, although I'm sure if a new incident had occurred, they might've done things differently. I feel certain that ABC didn't expect the firestorm that resulted to be so fierce or so prolonged.
I've been wondering IF the incident hadn't happened, how would S3 be different? Would Burke and Christina have lived happily ever after?
June 13th, 2007 3:23 PM
kim is right on.....
June 13th, 2007 3:56 PM
No, TR wouldn't have been fired for calling IW a racial slur. They would have had him apologize and that would be it. And, if Dempsey had called TR whatever IW was ACCUSED of calling him, he wouldn't have been fired either. Why? Because he is MCDREAMY. Him and his dried up of an exausting relationship with that whiney pathetic Merideth. That mess is getting old!
June 13th, 2007 5:21 PM
Seriously vicky what exactly is ur problem? so what if meredith is whiney and pathetic? after all what she has been thru? wouldnt u be on anti-depressent by now? besides its just a tv show,why are u all talking this personal and on the remaining characters?
June 13th, 2007 5:30 PM
Exactly, stop being whiney and pathetic Vicky, its not anyone's fault.
June 13th, 2007 5:43 PM
hey, separate the real people from the characters, too. And right or wrong, in these times, people are not going to get away with using language considered to be "hate" language, no matter who they are. Don Imus, Michael Richards (the guy from Seinfield), Mel Gibson....
I venture to say that had someone used the N word, not only would they have been let go, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton would've been asking for their head on a stick. All the NAACP has done for IW is "ask for a clarification" of the exact reason he was not renewed...
Here's a new link to MSNBC, who cites unnamed sources 'close to the production' that said it was a business decision, that his pattern of behavior had become a liability. That tells me it wasn't just a word, it was a behavior.
We'll probably never know all the details. I will miss IW's portrayal of Burke - he did some great acting.
I have to say I'm really disheartened at how many people have taken this so personally that they fell they have to be rude to others, regardless of their perspective...
June 13th, 2007 5:43 PM
oops - forgot the link
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19213045/