Isaiah Washington: The Firing Fallout Comments (Page 3)
49 Comments
Burke Backer
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
Burke Backer
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 marr
Burke Backer
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 hi
purplemerder
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.
DixieGirl
June 13th, 2007 5:43 PM
oops - forgot the link
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19213045/
DixieGirl
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
OMG
June 13th, 2007 5:30 PM
Exactly, stop being whiney and pathetic Vicky, its not anyone's fault.
curious
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?
vicky
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!
hot4dempsey
June 13th, 2007 3:23 PM
kim is right on.....
Dixiegirl
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?
Kim
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.
coops_girls
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?
Bright&Shiny
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.
Meredith: People change, but they don't change.
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
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 marr
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 hi
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 5:43 PM
oops - forgot the link
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19213045/
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
June 13th, 2007 5:30 PM
Exactly, stop being whiney and pathetic Vicky, its not anyone's fault.
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 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 3:23 PM
kim is right on.....
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 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 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 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.