Isaiah Washington Takes the High Road
Regardless of what really happened on the Grey's Anatomy set, we all know the ultimate result was that Isaiah Washington was not asked to return to the program.
As Isaiah attempts to restart his career, he paid a visit to the set of Access Hollywood for a candid interview with Billy Bush - mere hours after it was announced that T.R. Knight received an Emmy nomination.
"Do you think he benefited from this dust up?" Isaiah was asked by Bush regarding T.R. Knight and his Emmy nomination.
"T.R. Knight is a good actor. He has been a wonderful actor from day one," Isaiah said. "T.R. Knight, congratulations. He finally got the attention he deserved."
In fact, it was only well wishes from Isaiah for his former Grey's Anatomy co-star who received his first Emmy nomination on Thursday.
"Whether or not it serves any particular agenda that he's nominated now, to make a point, I can't speak on that. That's theoretical. I don't know, but good for him," the former Dr. Burke said.
Washington claims the controversy stemming from the Grey's Anatomy set had nothing to do with his decision to not submit his name for Emmy consideration, as actors typically do.
"It wasn't about not submitting because of the backlash," Isaiah Washington said. "I didn't want the pain of being nominated and losing. I didn't have a good time at the last Emmys. It was the stress of 'Are we going to win? Are we going to win?' the whole day. I remember being on the red carpet and my wife and I had the biggest argument because of my nerves."
Of course, it's not the first time the pressure of an awards show appears to have gotten to Washington, there was the post-Golden Globes incident.
"When you got up on the mic and used 'the word' for the second time, was that not just trying to disarm everybody and address the big elephant in the room?" Bush asked.
"Yes," Isaiah said. "It backfired hugely."
But did the party atmosphere of the Globes contribute to the notorious remark?
"The thing about the Golden Globes, why it's such a great awards show, is that everybody has a few drinks," Bush noted. "Did you have a couple of cocktails?"
"Oh yes. I was kind of asleep at the wheel," Isaiah laughed.
However, ABC's ultimate reaction wasn't exactly swift.
"It took ABC eight months to fire you. That rules out moral outrage," Billy said. "Sometimes in organizations people look and see who is more of a legal problem. Did you lose a political struggle?"
"I don't think I lost. I think the executive producers and the creator lost," Washington replied.
It was Grey's Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes who called Isaiah to give him the news.
"She didn't call to fire me," he said. "She called to give me a heads up as a friend."
But that very same day, Isaiah Washington got another phone call - from NBC, offering him a guest spot on Bionic Woman.
July 23rd, 2007 4:05 PM
good for him?
July 23rd, 2007 4:58 PM
enough already.
July 23rd, 2007 10:34 PM
Who cares...
July 24th, 2007 1:11 AM
whatever......
July 24th, 2007 2:57 AM
He is great! I am really looking forward to read/hear more on Bionic Woman and I hope he is on the show for a few episodes!
He really is a brilliant actor. I just saw True Crime and he played the part extremely good!
I wish him all the best!
July 24th, 2007 7:40 AM
So happy for him!! Can't wait to see Bionic Woman.
July 24th, 2007 2:38 PM
i can't wait for the new show..
iw is so classy! way to handle an awkward situation!
July 24th, 2007 7:38 PM
Isaiah is a blessed man! I've been praying for him!
July 25th, 2007 1:43 AM
Isaiah Washington is very classy and is great at handling the pressure of awkward situations. I commend him & can't wait to see more of his acting!
July 25th, 2007 3:36 AM
He will come back to GA. The story line goes like this..
cristina has her flings..but still misses burke
GA's rating jobs..ABC executives realize they need to bring back IW. ABC offers him a bigger contract with more perks..
he comes back..just watch :)
July 25th, 2007 6:12 AM
I think every fan of IW's and GA's would love for him to come back to the show - but let's face it: apart from the fact that the people at ABC are stupid: Burke is waaaay to unrealistic for the show.
I mean, he is dedicated to his job, he loves only one woman, he is talented beyond imagination, he can cook AND he is faithful!
No wonder they had to cut the character, after all he was the only man on the show who did not cheat and who had sex with only one woman during the entire three seasons.
Now they have only cheating and whining guys left on the show - good luck, GA!
Still: I would be happy if he came back, I really would!
July 25th, 2007 10:07 AM
I liked yur comment "aha", it was very funny and so true. I would watch Greys again if he came back, but I personally wouldn't want him to go back because they had they chance and blew it. God has bigger and better things for him now. I think he would be going backwards if he went back.
July 25th, 2007 10:09 AM
Who cares?
Enough already!!
Whatever!
July 26th, 2007 1:17 AM
I agree with you, vicky! It will be better for him to move on. I am so glad that the guys from NBC recognize his talent and I'm sure many others will too.
July 26th, 2007 8:10 PM
you know, people are getting tired of hearing about Isaiah and telling us enough already. why don't you write greys insider, tell them to stop putting his news on this website. he's not on the show anymore, but yet they are still talking about him, and it is for us to comment on these articles, so get mad at this website, not the fans of IW.
July 26th, 2007 8:12 PM
SERIOUSLY!!!!
July 29th, 2007 11:48 PM
I am happy to read so many other loyal Isaiah Washington fans out there defending him and wishing him all of the best.
I am a true and dedicated fan of Isaiah Washington and extremely disturbed over his firing from Grey's Anatomy. The one and only character that shows true honor and dignity. The one and only character on t.v. that isn't sleeping around with everyone catching syphillis.(ha-ha, George catching the syph from the slutty nurse)
I cannot understand Shonda Rhimes and why she thought Isaiah wasn't worthy of keeping on the show. I do not like her very much at all. I think that she is in way over her head. Maybe this is the end of Grey's Anatomy because she listens to corporate too much and not enough to the loyal fans. After all, if it wasn't for us tuning in every week, Shonda would not have a job and the rest of the cast wouldn't have their mansions.
Grey's Anatomy has lost one loyal fan. No Isaiah Washington(Dr.Preston Burke) no Grey's Anatomy! That goes for Shonda's other show, Private Practice!
As for this website, please keep me informed about Isaiah Washington! You all are awesome!!
August 9th, 2007 8:53 PM
I agree S.I.A. Wallace. I enjoy hearing about what is going on with IW, too. He may be off the show, but he will always be Preston Burke, half of the duo (Burktina) that made the show so popular, and the true love of Cristina's life.
October 15th, 2007 11:27 AM
Greys Anatomy will never be the same without THE PRESTON BURKE. He is one of the reasons it was a top rated show. He is loved not just by Christina but by many. i'm not OPTIMISTIC and HOPEFUL, I'm sure and steady he will be back to GA.IW will be in our hearts
November 11th, 2007 4:39 PM
greys anatomy was my weekly treat untill i heard about burkes firing, i just dont want to continue tuning, its pointless. on the other hand,all others that were happy to see burke go{kathrine hiegl} especially, hold on to ur best shot at fame while it lasts cos i saw ur last movie knocked up,it was really full of shit. torture watching it
May 14th, 2008 5:41 PM
aha .....you are so right. Dr. Burke was too good to be true, which is why we adored him. Don't forget IW is too fit to really be a doctor. Doctors do not usually have his kind of well-worked out bod. He would been fantastic on any cop-show, or shows like JAG and Pensacola. Perfect fit. IW rocks man. ABC may've ejected him, but he is a big hit with his fans. Get him back if you know what's good for u, ABC.