Isaiah Washington: The Firing Fallout
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.
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/
June 13th, 2007 6:51 PM
I agree with Dixiegirl....and the story on the link does seem to point to a pattern of behavior.
June 13th, 2007 7:23 PM
Well, Dixiegirl and Purplemerder, it tells me that ABC is trying to cover their butt. They are trying to make it appear to the outside world that it was a good decision so that they won't anger IW/Burke fans who will then turn off GA. Anyone who believes anything that ABC has to say on the subject or Ausiello for that matter, is reading completely biased and questionable accounts with ulterior motivation. It isn't enough that they have fired him, they now have to smear his reputation further because they do not want another network to hire him and have the GA fans who watched for Burke and Cristina follow him to a new network. It is all business, folks, and a dirty business at that. I am sure that his pattern of behavior that is a liability is #1. he referred to TR by a word that is now considered to be a slur rather than a slang expression for gay, and #. 2. He tried to clarify that he didn't directly call TR this word at the Golden Globes and embarrassed the cast, ABC, and himself. That is his history that has become a liabiliity. Any other incidents would have certainly been reported by now. Because he says, I am really, really sorry that I have caused all of this bad publicity for the show and have offended TR, what can I do to make things right, and the network executives tell him what they would like him to do, and he does it, does not mean that he is not sincere in his desire and efforts to make amends. Why are you so quick to make that assumption. Ausiello has done enough damage to Isaiah without casting this kind of light on his apology and PSA. I find it completely reprehensible. Vicky has a right to her opinion. Just because it is not the popular one tonight does not mean that she isn't right. I don't know if anyone would have been fired for using a slur or if anyone would have ever known about it outside of the cast and crew of Grey's Anatomy. It would have depended upon how Isaiah reacted to it, or James or Chandra or Sandra Oh, for that matter if it had been directed at them. A slur is only as powerful as the person hearing it wants to make it. TR decided to make it huge. In going to the media in an appeal for sympathy and in an attempt to discredit completely his castmate, he made it impossible to rectify. I will miss Burke. I will also miss Isaiah.
June 13th, 2007 7:28 PM
Hi Dixiegirl. Just my thoughts on your earlier question. I don't know, but I am pretty sure that the original intention was for Burke and Cristina to get married at the end of season 3. Shonda said in an interview that we would have a wedding. George and Callie eloped, so although they are married, we did not have a wedding. Isaiah told Melissa Rivers on the red carpet before the Golden Globes that there would be marriages this season. The last weeks of season 3 the entire tone of the Burke/Cristina relationship began to change. Suddenly we were have the idea of Cristina turning into someone else as a negative thing when before we were watching her grow and develop and it was presented as a positive thing. So, I believe if it had not been for the Golden Globes incident, they would have been married. Shonda was even quoted as saying she wasn't interested in people breaking up over and over but rather how they worked things out as a couple. I think they would have been the married couple and it is very disappointing to me that we do not have the chance to watch them work through those issues.
June 13th, 2007 7:33 PM
Hi Kim, I don't think he did blatently offend TR. I think he used an ugly word in the midst of an argument without even realizing that TR could hear it. I think he was genuinely sorry for offending him. It is really a shame that the apology that happened right at the time was not enough. All of their performances this season three were still wonderful. It did not seem to impact the performances, only the off screen relationships. I don't think any of us realize how many squabbles happen on long running television series among castmembers who work so closely together for so long. They are bound to happen. This one was must made very, very public. Then once the media sinks their teeth into something that gets a public reaction they ride it for as long as they can. To be honest, I am guilty. Before this I had never logged into eonline or tvguide.com. I had never heard of Ted Casablanca or Mike Ausiello. Now, although I can't stand either one of them, I certainly know who they are.
June 13th, 2007 10:25 PM
Thank you Burke Backer. I'm entitled to my opinion just like the next person. None of the other storylines will hold my interest. Maybe to see what Christina's gonna do, maybe check and see if the cheif got his wife back. If Addison was still on there I might watch it. I like her. Other than that, the show will be pretty drab. I've come to love and respect Isaiah Washington through his character Preston Burke. So, where ever he goes, I go. If he ends up on ER, I'm watching ER! If he ends up on House, I'm watching House! Heck, he could be a new intern on The Office. I don't care. He's earned my loyalty. I support him 100%!
June 13th, 2007 10:56 PM
I agree with both Vicky & Burke Backer.
BTW - He looks pretty pimp in that picture! : D
June 14th, 2007 12:29 AM
G A is my favorite show on TV. I really like all the people on the show. The thing with Isaiah and TR is just plain stupid. They are both great actors and have a major part on GA. Isaiah did all he could to apologize to TR. They should get over it and call it a day. Its so stupid to fire someone over that. How can he prove that he is sorry? Get over it TR. Let Isaiah come back. I think they will lose alot of people watching it. Also they need to keep Addison on too. The show she is going on really looks stupid and I know I won't watch it.
BRING BURKE BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 14th, 2007 1:04 AM
Oh hot4dempsey, there you go again with your highly intelligent comments! OMG! HAHAHAHAHAHA
June 14th, 2007 1:08 AM
now cristina would have to answer the question izzie posed to her in season 3 episode 1 - "what would you do if you never saw burke again" =(
as much as i look forward to seeing how cristina deals with it (and i'm sure sandra oh will definitely not disappoint!), my heart broke along with her's when burke left.
June 14th, 2007 2:02 AM
Who had any interest of going on and on with this story? Even in Europe they don't stop talking about the slur.
I am sure someone hates GA so much that his/her aim is to start a destruction process starting with IW to at the end definitely kill the show.
Le succes derange!! (Fame disturbs)
June 14th, 2007 7:45 AM
Okay, I love love love grey's, watched it from the beginning....but I'm really okay with Burke leaving...he sounds like the one jerk at work that everyone wants them to leave so maybe it will be good for the cast, also I really enjoyed his character, but I didn't love him, so I think the show will be just fine!
June 14th, 2007 8:47 AM
i'm glad isaiah got fired, he totally deserved it after making that huge unnecessary scene about T.R's sexuality. So he's a homophobic, big deal, it's life.
Laterz
mwa
June 14th, 2007 8:58 AM
VICKY, YOU ARE A MORON LIKE ISAIAH! YOU SHOULD RESPECT THE ACTORS WHO WORKED WITH A MORON FOR 3 YEARS AND YOU SHOULD RESPECT DEREK AND MEREDITH FANS!
June 14th, 2007 9:02 AM
Oh, I totally agree that this became a media firestorm and probably would've been handled completely differently had it not been leaked.
I really don't have a 'right / wrong' opinion on this. I can see a lot of different angles.
However - I do agree that ABC is doing a CYA. I think they are setting the stage to use the whole incident / subsequent events as an excuse for slumping ratings & criticism in S3 and possibly S4.
I hope that this site will continue to be a place for rational discussion and sometimes respectful disagreement, and not deteriorate into personal bashing over this. A lot of other sites have really seen some ugly posts, and I think that's a shame.
June 14th, 2007 9:17 AM
I don't disrespect Derek and Meredith fans. I just don't give them any thought. No more thought than I give to Derek and Meredith. They're not interesting enough. Now, I like DEREK, but not with Meredith. I like Derek with Addison. She's sexy and mature with alot more class. Not once have I heard her whine about anything. That once, in Joe's Bar, but she was drunk. And who could blame her. Her Handsome husband chose a pathetic, whiney, dark and twisted needy little girl over her.