Shonda Rhimes Discusses Isaiah Washington’s "Bionic" Talent
Kate Arthur of the L.A. Times caught up with Grey’s Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes and inquired about the firing of Isaiah Washington from her show after he publicly directed several gay slurs at a cast mate, T.J. Knight. I’ve talked about the mistake NBC has made by hiring him and this interview is interesting because of what she doesn’t say.
Why was Isaiah Washington fired?
Shonda Rhimes: Isaiah Washington was not fired, we chose not to renew his contract. I think there were a number of reasons. And I think that Isaiah knows what those reasons are, and I think we know what those reasons are. I still feel, I still feel strongly that whether or not other people feel like those should stay within the family, I still do. But I don’t think that those reasons are necessarily completely obvious to everybody on the outside.Well, that’s actually why I asked, because, you know, I feel like everyone imagines either one thing or another. And I don’t know.
Rhimes: Yeah. I mean, I, I really feel like what people know in the outside sort of has nothing to do with what’s really going on in the inside, in the case of any part of the story. So, for us, we’re keeping it in the family and we’re moving on.OK. Well, knowing why you “chose not to renew his contract,” were you surprised that he was hired so quickly to be on another set, on “Bionic Woman”?
Rhimes: Isaiah is a really fine actor. I mean, I have to say he’s incredibly talented. And as Preston Burke, I adore that character. I loved the way he performed it. I think that if somebody else picks him up to use his talents, they’ve got a really talented guy.
Read the whole interview. Rhimes would clearly like to say more, but it is obvious ABC legal has advised her otherwise.
Yeah, it was still a mistake to hire Washington, and interviews like this confirm it for me.
September 26th, 2007 at 8:52 am
I wish Shonda would spill it. I am a huge Grey’s Anatomy fan and I know there’s more to that story. I’m really looking forward to Bionic Woman, but I must admit when I heard Washington was hired, it turned me off a little bit.
October 27th, 2007 at 9:10 am
[...] The Bionic Woman has stumbled out of the gate, losing viewers week after week. This despite a great premiere audience. So many actors and staff have left the show, and we are only five episodes in, you have to wonder what is going on behind the scenes? Is Washington to blame? [...]