Fired from Grey's Anatomy... [Text View]

cmontyburns

06-08-2007, 01:06 AM

Tried to keep the title vague enough for those who don't want to know, but specific enough for those who already know and are looking for a discussion thread.

Ausiello is reporting (http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Ausiello-Report/Exclusive-Greys-Fires/800016659) that Grey's Anatomy/ABC have decided not to renew Isaiah Washington's contract and he won't be returning to the show. According to Ausiello's sources, the decision was based on factors additional to the "slur incidents" involving Washington this year. Sounds like he was a pain to work with generally.

This is bad news for the show creatively, in my opinion. Washington and the Burke character brought some needed gravity to the show and gave it heft it doesn't really have otherwise. Plus Burke is apparently one of the only two surgical attendings in the hospital! Setting aside issues of whether Washington "should" have been fired for any particular transgression, I'll miss him on the show. (That is, assuming that I stay with the show to begin with. I was no fan with the back half of this past season.)

bicker

06-08-2007, 06:17 AM

No great loss at all IMHO. The Burke character was unnecessary. The Washington actor was a disruptive force in the cast.

The loss of the Montgomery character is far far more significant.

cwoody222

06-08-2007, 07:54 AM

The character was boring and the actor was a jerk. Good riddance.

Fahtrim

06-08-2007, 09:53 AM

The whole show has gone to crap, so it doesn't matter who is there or not.

LoadStar

06-08-2007, 09:58 AM

I stopped watching the show mid first season, after I realized the medical parts of the show were sillier than on House, and I didn't care for the soap elements. My sister continues to watch, so I end up seeing parts of episodes here and there. From what I've seen, I don't think it's a major loss for the show.

I think they ruined the character when they put him together with Sandra Oh's character; the actors had no chemistry together whatsoever, and the characters had absolutely nothing in common (and not in the 'opposites attract' way either). And other than the relationship, there was nothing particularly interesting about his character.

Jesda

06-08-2007, 10:00 AM

They need to fire the annoying lady who plays Meredith. If they did, I might try watching it again.

PJO1966

06-08-2007, 10:07 AM

This part:

"I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore," Washington said in a statement released through his publicist, Howard Bragman, without elaboration. was a little puzzling (yes I get the movie reference).

katbug

06-08-2007, 10:23 AM

I don't feel so bad now about my comment in the regular show thread when I posted a link to an article where they said that he may or may not return (which some considered a spoiler).

Nope, I don't think the show will miss him at all. The character was boring, though the concept of the character seemed a little necessary for dynamics (the "egotistical beyond belief surgeon"). That's an easy characteristic to hand off to another character where needed. Burke brought nothing else to the show.

TIVO_GUY_HERE

06-08-2007, 10:30 AM

As others.... no big loss. But I can't see Burke leaving over a lovers spat. He was too good of a Dr. at a good hospital for that.

Again no biggie,,,

Door---->Butt---->out

PJO1966

06-08-2007, 10:40 AM

As others.... no big loss. But I can't see Burke leaving over a lovers spat. He was too good of a Dr. at a good hospital for that.

Again no biggie,,,

Door---->Butt---->out

It was more than that. He was also passed up for being Chief.

varybarry

06-08-2007, 10:53 AM

Yeah I agree I was really angry. No make that furious!

jlb

06-08-2007, 12:20 PM

The whole show has gone to crap, do it doesn't matter who is there or not.

....well...as long as Kat Heigl is there!

ScottE22

06-08-2007, 02:03 PM

I agree that the show did seem to lose some focus over the last half of the season in the PMD era (Post Meredith Drowning). ;)

I will miss Dr. Montgomery a whole lot more. Maybe Private Practice will tank and she'll return from "finding herself" in California for the second half of this upcoming season...

LoadStar

06-08-2007, 02:26 PM

I agree that the show did seem to lose some focus over the last half of the season in the PMD era (Post Meredith Drowning). ;)

Interesting that this is roughly when Marti Noxon mostly took over... hmm....

stalemate

06-08-2007, 02:32 PM

I stopped watching the show mid first season, after I realized the medical parts of the show were sillier than on House, and I didn't care for the soap elements.This is funny to me. I stopped watching because the medical parts (of any medical show) make me feel like I'm going to die and the soap elements weren't enough to keep me tuned in. :p

whitson77

06-08-2007, 04:17 PM

They need to fire the annoying lady who plays Meredith. If they did, I might try watching it again.

+1 The way she talks drives me crazy.

jennifer

06-08-2007, 05:23 PM

+1 The way she talks drives me crazy.

Me

too.

I can't

stand to listen

to or watch

her talk.

ever.

:)

Gunnyman

06-08-2007, 05:26 PM

They should change it to the George and Bailey Show.
I hope this means that TR Knight will stay.

PJO1966

06-08-2007, 05:30 PM

They should change it to the George and Bailey Show.
I hope this means that TR Knight will stay.

His contract was extended and he got a raise.

5thcrewman

06-08-2007, 06:01 PM

I want more Addison in bra and panties, will they have that on her new show???

getbak

06-09-2007, 02:24 PM

Maybe Private Practice will tank and she'll return from "finding herself" in California for the second half of this upcoming season...
It does have Tim Daly on it, and he hasn't exactly had a good track record on ABC over the last couple of years (or anywhere for that matter, he hasn't starred in a series that's lasted more than a season since Wings).

stalemate

06-09-2007, 04:13 PM

I want more Addison in bra and panties, will they have that on her new show???More??? I think I must have stopped watching too soon. :(

sieglinde

06-10-2007, 08:26 PM

I enjoyed the show and then the last two episodes of this season happened. I will watch something else unless nothing else is on.

I am glad that actor got canned. The one who plays George sounded like he wanted to quit but he was not the offending one and his character on the show is better.

MassD

06-11-2007, 12:09 PM

Everytime I see the title "Grey's Actor fired" I get all excited, hoping to see Ellen Pompeo's name...

Alas...

I still say dump the talentless hack. I mean, they already have a new and improved 'Grey' lined up... Lexi (Chyler Leigh)...

jwjody

06-11-2007, 02:14 PM

No great loss at all IMHO. The Burke character was unnecessary. The Washington actor was a disruptive force in the cast.

The loss of the Montgomery character is far far more significant.
While I'm going to miss the eye candy Montgomery brought to the show as far as characters go I believe the opposite. I don't think she added too much to the show but I liked Burke. He was interesting to me because the first season his character came off like an ass. But in the second season when they spent more time with him he became more likeable.

I don't approve of his actions off the set and if he's hard to work with he should be let go. But I enjoyed his character.

J

Ruth

06-11-2007, 02:53 PM

No shock there based on all the rumors and whatnot. But actually I think the losing the Burke character will be a big loss to the show. Now there is not even one character who is calm in demeanor instead of being overly dramatic.

But since the show basically sucks rocks now anyway it's hard to think that it'll make much of a difference.

I really want to stop watching entirely given the suckage of the last season, but Chyler Leigh is really cute . . . . worth at least an ep and then I'm worried I'll get sucked in again. Can't decide about the spinoff either.

LoadStar

06-21-2007, 08:06 PM

Wow. What a charming individual.
Isaiah Washington, fired this month from "Grey's Anatomy" following the firestorm he started with a homophobic invective, hit back at the network Thursday. "They fired the wrong guy," the 43-year-old actor said in an interview with the Houston Chronicle.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/P/PEOPLE_ISAIAH_WASHINGTON?SITE=WIMIL&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

He continues by claiming that T.R. Knight should be fired instead, and that Knight was responsible for using the incident to advance his career.

FilmCritic3000

06-21-2007, 10:16 PM

I stopped watching the show mid first season, after I realized the medical parts of the show were sillier than on House, and I didn't care for the soap elements. My sister continues to watch, so I end up seeing parts of episodes here and there. From what I've seen, I don't think it's a major loss for the show.

I got caught up with the first season. Then I started watching the second season, when it debuted, and I liked the storyline involving Sara Ramirez. But then this thought dawned on me:

"Um, isn't this a hospital? Don't they have patients to attend to? Or do most hospitals have doctors making out in every stairwell in the building?"

And once I saw that the series is more interested in who's sleeping with who, I cancelled the season pass. It should be called Doctors Screwing.

avery

06-22-2007, 12:30 AM

In reference to Washington's comment that , "they fired the wrong guy"
Wow. What a charming individual.

... He continues by claiming that T.R. Knight should be fired instead, and that Knight was responsible for using the incident to advance his career.
My thoughts exactly.

After reading his comments in People, all I could think was - the man can't get out of his own way.

Pitiful.

bicker

06-22-2007, 05:47 AM

"Um, isn't this a hospital? Don't they have patients to attend to? Or do most hospitals have doctors making out in every stairwell in the building?"Did you also wonder about the talking dog in Underdog?

And once I saw that the series is more interested in who's sleeping with who, I cancelled the season pass. It should be called Doctors Screwing.It is called Grey's Anatomy. Grey is the main character, and her anatomy (or at least Dr. McDreamy's attention to it) is part of the focus of the show.

PJO1966

06-22-2007, 10:23 AM

Washington is not doing himself or his career any favors. He needs to learn when to quit while he's ahead.

Magnolia88

06-22-2007, 11:02 AM

Washington is not doing himself or his career any favors. He needs to learn when to quit while he's ahead.

If he knew how to do that, he wouldn't be in this mess in the first place. He couldn't leave well enough alone.

What a moron. He is committing career suicide by continuing to place the blame on everyone but himself.

PJO1966

06-22-2007, 11:07 AM

If he knew how to do that, he wouldn't be in this mess in the first place. He couldn't leave well enough alone.

What a moron. He is committing career suicide by continuing to place the blame on everyone but himself.

Agreed. Even if he was 100% justified, the best thing for his career would be to accept responsibility for his actions and move on. By trying to lay the blame elsewhere, he just makes himself look petty.

LoadStar

06-22-2007, 11:32 AM

Does he not have an agent or anything? One would think that this would be something his agency would be advising him on.

Well, if anything, he's setting himself up to be prime reality show material.

murgatroyd

06-22-2007, 01:07 PM

Wow. What a charming individual.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/P/PEOPLE_ISAIAH_WASHINGTON?SITE=WIMIL&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

He continues by claiming that T.R. Knight should be fired instead, and that Knight was responsible for using the incident to advance his career.

He doesn't sound very remorseful in that interview, does he?

Jan

bengalfreak

06-22-2007, 05:09 PM

They should change it to the George and Bailey Show.
I hope this means that TR Knight will stay.

For heaven's sake, I wish they would just go ahead and kill George off. Three seasons and he's been in love with three different women. and he's just such a sniveling little wimp.

Wheens

06-22-2007, 06:09 PM

I don'tunderstand why Washington was fired, afterall he was just calling a spade a .....nevermind!

IJustLikeTivo

06-23-2007, 12:51 PM

It is called Grey's Anatomy. Grey is the main character, and her anatomy (or at least Dr. McDreamy's attention to it) is part of the focus of the show.

Which would be fine if either she, her anatomy or the character she plays were remotely compelling. I care more about every single other person on that show than I do her. Weak, selfish, sniveling, aimless. How in the hell did she ever finish med school? They need to change to the name to "Seattle Grace", fire Ellen Pompeo and put us all out of our misery.

dswallow

06-23-2007, 01:00 PM

Which would be fine if either she, her anatomy or the character she plays were remotely compelling. I care more about every single other person on that show than I do her. Weak, selfish, sniveling, aimless. How in the hell did she ever finish med school? They need to change to the name to "Seattle Grace", fire Ellen Pompeo and put us all out of our misery.
Considering your feelings, you obviously care quite a bit. It's just that it's "care/dislike" rather than "care/like" which works just as well in attracting viewers. :)

bicker

06-23-2007, 03:19 PM

And I sometimes find her anatomy very attracting -- there's this one photo I've seen of her . . .

bengalfreak

06-24-2007, 10:01 AM

And I sometimes find her anatomy very attracting -- there's this one photo I've seen of her . . .

Bleh. that girl is the most unattractive young female lead I think I've ever seen in a TV show.

The fact that she's 38 yrs. old playing a mid to late 20's character is also woefully miscast. In fact, Izzy and George are the only two even close to what the actual age of surgical residents should be.

bicker

06-24-2007, 11:35 AM

You must not have seen the photo I'm referring to. :)

cmontyburns

06-25-2007, 07:07 PM

If he knew how to do that, he wouldn't be in this mess in the first place. He couldn't leave well enough alone.

What a moron. He is committing career suicide by continuing to place the blame on everyone but himself.

And he's got another bullet in the chamber! Coming to Larry King on Monday, it's Isaiah Washington! (http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Ausiello-Report/Exclusive-Isaiahs-Date/800017563)

Bierboy

06-25-2007, 07:59 PM

He's on LKL with Paris tonight?! :eek:

Fahtrim

06-26-2007, 08:42 AM

I actually like Ellen Pompeo, too bad the writing on this show has done what it did.

cwoody222

06-26-2007, 08:58 AM

Dammit, I read about the stuff here

http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-News-Blog/Todays-News/Isaiah-Washington-Says/800017561

yesterday but couldn't find anything about him being on Larry King... was he on last night? Or this upcoming Monday, July 2?

I wish TiVo had better data for this... the Paris interview tomorrow is not listed either.

brebeans

06-26-2007, 05:26 PM

I guess I still don't get what all the fuss about Paris Hilton is about....

She's not even that hot and has no talent....I recognize she's rich and the media has made her an icon, but yikes..enough already!

bicker

06-26-2007, 05:39 PM

Let's keep it real: She's thin. She has long, golden hair. Her facial features are symmetrical and without blemish. She has sex. There isn't much else necessary to make a woman "hot" for a significant number of men. We can each indicate whether we personally find her attractive or not, but it is ridiculous to categorically state that she's not "hot". :rolleyes:

brebeans

06-26-2007, 08:19 PM

OK. You got me. I guess I can see how some people find her attractive and even hot. I don't find her attractive since her whole demeanor, aura, whatever....just takes away from her attractiveness. I think there are lots of hotter women out there, who are better looking, smarter, have more talent, etc.

I guess I just don't get all the fuss though. Oh well......

bengalfreak

06-26-2007, 09:55 PM

bicker

06-27-2007, 06:23 AM

A family-friendly shot of Ellen Pompeo, demonstrating her attractiveness to many:

http://www.fashion.org.au/userimages/user1270_1164803985.jpg

Magnolia88

06-27-2007, 11:33 AM

A family-friendly shot of Ellen Pompeo, demonstrating her attractiveness to many:

As well as her unattractiveness to many.

bicker

06-27-2007, 11:43 AM

Yeah, beautiful hair, trim body, nice smile, etc. Major turn-offs, eh? :)

Magnolia88

06-27-2007, 12:20 PM

You call it "trim," I call it malnourished. I just don't think she's attractive at all. And after seeing her on Punk'd, she only reinforced that impression with her attitude and behavior. Ugh.

But I'm not sure what any of this has to do with Isaiah Washington and his issues.

bicker

06-27-2007, 12:48 PM

You call it "trim," I call it malnourished.To assert that Pompeo is malnourished shows a distinct lack of understanding about what a fit human body should look like. Perhaps it is a reflection of how complacent the US has become with regard to obesity, something which I have a very strong objection to (having spent 30 years of my life as an obese person, before finally becoming fit).

But I'm not sure what any of this has to do with Isaiah Washington and his issues.It is more interesting than Isaiah Washington and his issues.

Bierboy

06-27-2007, 01:07 PM

A family-friendly shot of Ellen Pompeo, demonstrating her attractiveness to many:

http://www.fashion.org.au/userimages/user1270_1164803985.jpg
Barf

cherry ghost

06-27-2007, 06:10 PM

A family-friendly shot of Ellen Pompeo, demonstrating her attractiveness to many:

http://www.fashion.org.au/userimages/user1270_1164803985.jpg

that's awful

whitson77

06-27-2007, 06:28 PM

She's gross. Raise your standards. PLEASE!!! :)

Bierboy

06-27-2007, 07:22 PM

She's gross. Raise your standards. PLEASE!!! :)Wow, that wouldn't take much :eek:

bicker

06-27-2007, 08:21 PM

Gosh. Maybe folks should post pictured of their wives so we can have fun ridiculing them?

Get real folks.

bengalfreak

06-27-2007, 08:43 PM

To assert that Pompeo is malnourished shows a distinct lack of understanding about what a fit human body should look like. Perhaps it is a reflection of how complacent the US has become with regard to obesity, something which I have a very strong objection to (having spent 30 years of my life as an obese person, before finally becoming fit).

It is more interesting than Isaiah Washington and his issues.

Fit? She's as skinny as a rail. And definately homely in that picture.

bicker

06-27-2007, 08:45 PM

You're just underscoring just how little Average Joe understands how much healthy people should weight. Pretty sad.

Ruth

06-27-2007, 08:48 PM

Actually, EP looks a lot less emaciated in that photo than she did in the last season of GA. In the photo she looks very thin, but not super unhealthy. On the show she was looking very unhealthily bony, IMO.

LoadStar

06-27-2007, 09:39 PM

Phew. I'd grant that Pompeo could look fairly attractive, and has in other photos. That photo, however, is absolutely horrid. She is not even remotely attractive in that photo.

cmontyburns

06-27-2007, 10:45 PM

Yeah, so... I can't believe they fired Ellen Pompeo from the show for being so unattractive and skinny. I mean, it was awkward when she and Katherine Heigl got into that fight after Pompeo called Sara Ramirez a "load", and then when Pompeo grabbed the mic at the Globes and repeated it, maybe the network had a case. But she tried to show she was repentant: she ate doughnuts, she did a PSA on anorexia, she got counseling and picketed Jenny Craig. She did everything they asked, and they fired her anyway. Such a waste. At least the show still has upstanding people like Isaiah Washington for us to look up to.

cmontyburns

06-28-2007, 11:35 PM

Back on topic (if anyone still cares), Washington's appearance on Larry King next Monday is shaping up to be a fascinating train wreck. Have a look at his latest (extensive) comments, to Newsweek (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19466829/site/newsweek/). Washington is now blaming his firing on racism:

The actor, who is traveling to Ghana next week with Jamie Foxx, Chris Tucker and Forest Whitaker to recognize the end of slavery there 200 years ago, also feels that race played a part in his public flogging and eventual firing. "Well, it didn’t help me on the set that I was a black man who wasn’t a mush-mouth Negro walking around with his head in his hands all the time. I didn’t speak like I’d just left the plantation and that can be a problem for people sometime," he says.

LoadStar

06-28-2007, 11:49 PM

musika

06-29-2007, 03:20 AM

what the... no loss dude

PJO1966

06-29-2007, 10:56 AM

"Well, it didn’t help me on the set that I was a black man who wasn’t a mush-mouth Negro walking around with his head in his hands all the time. I didn’t speak like I’d just left the plantation and that can be a problem for people sometime," he says.

So I guess he's saying that the actor who plays the chief is a "mush mouth Negro". Some more gems from the article:

"someone heard the booming voice of a black man and got really scared and that was the beginning of the end for me."
My mistake was thinking black people get second chances.
I had a person in human resources tell me after this thing played out that 'some people' were afraid of me around the studio. I asked her why, because I'm a 6-foot-1, black man with dark skin and who doesn't go around saying 'Yessah, massa sir' and 'No sir, massa' to everyone? It's nuts when your presence alone can just scare people, and that made me a prime candidate to take the heat in a dysfunctional family,

Grey's has a reputation as being one of the most color blind shows on television. They had no set ethnicities for any of the characters. They went with who they thought were the right actors for the parts. The part of Bailey was originally envisioned as a short, petite blond. They obviously didn't stick to that during casting. I don't know how he can call racism when the people running the show are black. He just keeps digging himself in deeper and deeper. He's really not doing himself any favors by continuing to open his mouth.

dswallow

06-29-2007, 11:15 AM

He's really not doing himself any favors by continuing to open his mouth.
But he is doing us all a very big favor.

PJO1966

06-29-2007, 11:24 AM

True.

lew

06-29-2007, 12:01 PM

Sure looks like abc made the right decision in waiting so they could just "not pick up his option" as opposed to firing him for cause in the middle of the season.

jilter

06-30-2007, 08:49 AM

So I guess he's saying that the actor who plays the chief is a "mush mouth Negro". Some more gems from the article:

Grey's has a reputation as being one of the most color blind shows on television. They had no set ethnicities for any of the characters. They went with who they thought were the right actors for the parts. The part of Bailey was originally envisioned as a short, petite blond. They obviously didn't stick to that during casting. I don't know how he can call racism when the people running the show are black. He just keeps digging himself in deeper and deeper. He's really not doing himself any favors by continuing to open his mouth.

He is a disgusting human being.
And now he pulls the race card out. Big surprise on that one.
I would like to see the other people of color on the show answer to his charges of racism.

bicker

06-30-2007, 09:04 AM

Let's think of it strategically. At this point, what happened happened. This tactical mistakes he made he's already made. How to best move forward? Since he's pretty-much damaged himself for mainstream work, his best hope now is to appeal to a contingent that would respond well to him playing the race card, and perhaps he could parlay that into roles designed to appeal to that contingent.