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Getbig Misc Discussion Boards => E-Board - Movies, Music, TV, Videogames, Comics => Topic started by: BayGBM on June 19, 2007, 06:20:19 PM
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Isaiah Washington's firing a business decision
‘Pattern of behavior’ was too big a risk for Disney, ABC to take
LOS ANGELES - Starring on one of TV’s hottest series is an actor’s dream, and Isaiah Washington fought hard to keep his role as Dr. Preston Burke on “Grey’s Anatomy.”
But after twice using an anti-gay slur, Washington was doomed to lose the biggest role of his career because of timing, a track record of volatile behavior and pressure within the industry.
While series creator and executive producer Shonda Rhimes wept when she got on the phone last Thursday to tell Washington he was out, the decision was a coolly calculated move by Rhimes’ bosses at the network and ABC Television Studios.
His “pattern of behavior” represented a potential liability that was too much risk for the Walt Disney Co.-owned companies, a source close to the production said. The source was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The operation to remove Washington, 43, was quick and neat. The studio declined to exercise his contract option for another season — Washington would have earned about $2.7 million in salary — and he was dumped shortly after the May finale.
With Dr. Burke conveniently written out of the show in the last episode, the move had to have been planned for some time.
The decision was made by executives including ABC Studios President Mark Pedowitz, ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson and Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. ABC and the studio declined comment this week, but Washington said he was “saddened” by the outcome.
“I can only apologize so many times. I can only accept so much responsibility,” he told EW.com in an interview published Wednesday. “... Isaiah will go on and do what I love to do. And I have to go about the business of letting people know what’s written about me is not the truth.”
Gay rights leader Neil G. Giuliano said Washington was caught up in changing attitudes toward anti-gay vitriol — the same backlash felt by Ann Coulter after she derided John Edwards with the same f-word Washington employed.
“All of this is crescendoing, with people saying, ‘Enough is enough,”’ said Giuliano, president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.
One activist blames ‘gay Mafia’ ;D
Hollywood’s image as an unbiased haven for gays is overstated, Giuliano said. But he did field outraged calls from producers, writers and actors — both gay and straight — after Washington’s remarks. Giuliano said he told the callers to make waves at the networks, and “I have good reason to believe most of those folks, who are not shy, made their feelings known.”
One black gay activist sees the lobbying far differently. Jasmyne Cannick, a friend of Washington’s, said the case reflected a division between Hollywood’s powerful white gays and lesbians and those who are minorities.
“The ones calling for (Washington’s) head are what I refer to as the gay Mafia,” Cannick said.
There may have been more behind the decision than intolerant language. Bryan Birge, who was working as a costumer in 1997 on the police drama “High Incident,” said Washington erupted in anger on the set and then grabbed him after Birge asked him to remove a magazine from his pocket for an upcoming scene.
“It was bizarre,” Birge told The Associated Press. “The guy is less than easy to be around.” Washington, a Houston native who served in the Air Force, had campaigned vigorously to redeem his image. He apologized publicly, to his colleagues and to GLAAD. He filmed a public service announcement for GLAAD and the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network. He made a publicly announced donation to a favorite cause, help for the African nation of Sierra Leone.
“We did everything that was asked of us” by ABC, said his publicist, Howard Bragman.
Denied slur, then used it again
Washington was undone by a spat last October with co-star Patrick Dempsey in which he used the epithet to refer to fellow cast member T.R. Knight. Washington issued a public apology for his behavior and “unfortunate” use of words, and media attention waned.
But in January, Washington reignited the furor during a backstage interview at the Golden Globes in which he denied having used the slur, then uttered it again.
Gay rights groups that had demanded Washington apologize say they didn’t seek his firing and gained nothing by it. Those who might have jumped to his defense, whether co-stars or those taking interest in the plight of a black actor, were silent or measured in their remarks.
“If he’s being let go because of that incident, I’m not sure the punishment fits the crime,” said Vic Bullock, executive director of the Hollywood bureau of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The NAACP has asked ABC for “further clarity,” Bullock said.
Tavis Smiley, the national TV and radio talk-show host and author, said Washington’s words cut too deep.
“As a society we are still grappling with the notion of forgiveness and redemption,” Smiley said in an e-mailed comment. “What this incident shows us, not unlike the Don Imus matter, is there is some pain so deep, that an apology, no matter how sincere, just doesn’t suffice.”
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His character sucked anyway. Plus, he is a fkn idiot in real life, how long has he been acting? And he still doesn't know that there are many gays in Hollywood and who also watch his show and the Emmys? Fuck em.
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He has been a professional actor since 1991 and has a respectable list of credits http://imdb.com/name/nm0913460/ but he was a fool not to realize the ripple effect his slur would generate and as a black man, he certainly should have known better.
For an up and coming actor, insulting gays in Hollywood is like insulting Jews; it’s a career killer. He would have made $2.7 million in salary had he stayed on the show. I hoped he saved his earnings to date. There are a lot of people whom will never work with him now. He’ll be lucky to get work in the years ahead.
Blatant homophobia is simply not going to be tolerated in Hollywood anymore and this episode proves it.
Bye bye Washington. ;D
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He has been a professional actor since 1991 and has a respectable list of credits http://imdb.com/name/nm0913460/ but he was a fool not to realize the ripple effect his slur would generate and as a black man, he certainly should have known better.
For an up and coming actor, insulting gays in Hollywood is like insulting Jews; it’s a career killer. He would have made $2.7 million in salary had he stayed on the show. I hoped he saved his earnings to date. There are a lot of people whom will never work with him now. He’ll be lucky to get work in the years ahead.
Blatant homophobia is simply not going to be tolerated in Hollywood anymore and this episode proves it.
Bye bye Washington. ;D
I agree with what you are saying, but if it was Mcdreamy, they would have kept him imo. His character was really boring.
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I think there is much more to this than meets the eye.
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Seems to me this was an overreaction. Weren't his comments made in private?
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You can't say anything slightly Politically incorrect anymore, period.
See Kramer, Imus ("nappy-headed hoes"), the Mel Gibson-incident.
At least there's some consistency.
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Seems to me this was an overreaction. Weren't his comments made in private?
No. Get a clue.
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No. Get a clue.
"Washington was fired from the show after he used an anti-gay slur at a Golden Globes press conference in January as the cast was accepting the award for best drama. Prior to that there were reports that Washington called Knight the anti-gay slur during an argument with costar Patrick Dempsey."
http://keyetv.com/entertainment/entertainment_story_172151113.html
So he called Knight an anti-gay slur in private, then repeated this anti-gay slur in public--only in the context of denying he made the anti-gay slur.
Looks like I was right. Comments were made in private. Again, sounds like an overreaction.
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He should have kept fat lipped mouth shut.
I think there is much more to this than meets the eye
Oh no.. Here comes the race card. ::)
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He should have kept fat lipped mouth shut.
Oh no.. Here comes the race card. ::)
I agree with you, I think it had nothing to do with Race. The cast of the show is very diverse and the creator, Shonda Rhimes is black I believe.
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I think there is much more to this than meets the eye.
Newspaper and TV reports (if they are good) give you 70%, 80% or 90% of the story; there is more to every news story than meets the eye. What exactly is your point?
Oh no.. Here comes the race card. ::)
What are you talking about? No one has made an effective argument that this had anything to do with race.
A really big star might be able to ride out this kind of controversy (by going into rehab), but Washington is an up an coming actor who offended the wrong people. Hence he got booted. It’s not as if there aren’t a hundred actors waiting in the wings to take his place. ::)
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Jag was headed in that direction until I stopped her. You should be thanking me.
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Isaiah Washington: 'They fired the wrong guy'
POSTED: 11:41 a.m. EDT, June 22, 2007
Story Highlights• Isaiah Washington was fired after a using an anti-gay epithet
• He says cast mate T.R. Knight should have been fired
• Washington accused Knight of exploiting the controversy
NEW YORK (AP) -- 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.
He blames former cast mate T.R. Knight for stoking the scandal that led him to lose his role in the ABC hit. Knight is the one who should have been let go, he told the newspaper.
"I have to clear my name," said Washington. "I'll start from the beginning. I'm telling everything. So here's the truth."
Washington, who said he is considering a lawsuit, accused Knight of exploiting the controversy in order to get a salary increase and to enhance his role.
Washington drew fire after using the anti-gay epithet backstage at the Golden Globe Awards in January while denying he'd used it previously against Knight, 34, during an on-set dustup with co-star Patrick Dempsey.
Knight, who announced soon after the initial fracas that he was gay, told talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres in January that Washington used the slur against him and that "everyone (on the set) heard" him do so.
"That's a lie," Washington told the Chronicle. "I used the word during a disagreement with Patrick. I apologized for that. We shook hands and went back to work."
Washington was criticized for his comments by gay-rights groups, as well as by fellow cast member Katherine Heigl. Expressing contrition, he said he was seeking therapy and filmed a public-service announcement in which he said "words have power" to hurt or heal.
"I was not fired for making homophobic slurs," Washington said. "I did everything I said I would do. ... I wanted everyone to know I was remorseful."
A spokeswoman for ABC did not immediately return a phone call Thursday by The Associated Press seeking comment.
"I'm not angry," Washington told the Chronicle. "I'm disappointed."
http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/06/22/people.isaiah.washington.ap/index.html
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"I was not fired for making homophobic slurs"? "They fired the wrong guy"?
This man doesn’t know the meaning of contrition. I hope he has a plan B, acting is not in his future. :(
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"That's a lie," Washington told the Chronicle. "I used the word during a disagreement with Patrick. I apologized for that. We shook hands and went back to work."
Assuming his version is true, this is where it should have ended. These were coworkers, not supervisor/employee. This shouldn't have been a national story.
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Jag was headed in that direction until I stopped her. You should be thanking me.
You're the idiot that brought race into this. I was not about to say anything about Isaiah's race. All I said is that there is much more to it than meets the eye. I'm not about to tell tales out of school. It's bad enough he got fired, ...I'm not going to air his dirty laundry in public.
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I'm not going to air his dirty laundry in public.
Please do. What else has he done?
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Please do. What else has he done?
Yeah Kitty Kelly. Do tell. . . .
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Please do. What else has he done?
It's not so much about what he has done, but rather more so how Hollywood dictates he must be.
There are certain unwritten rules within Hollywood, and one breaks them at your own peril. That's all.
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It's not so much about what he has done, but rather more so how Hollywood dictates he must be.
There are certain unwritten rules within Hollywood, and one breaks them at your own peril. That's all.
What are these rules?
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Bah! His firing is no big loss.
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What are these rules?
If I wrote them, ...they wouldn't be unwritten, now would they? ;)
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If I wrote them, ...they wouldn't be unwritten, now would they? ;)
And what is keeping you from writing them down in this thread?
A hollywood omerta?
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And what is keeping you from writing them down in this thread?
A hollywood omerta?
More like they don't exist.
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More like they don't exist.
Bump.
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On Monday July 2nd, Washington will give his side of the story to Larry King on CNN.
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Washington: Racism Factor In 'Grey's' Firing
Actor Used Anti-Gay Slur, Was Dropped From Show At Season's End
LOS ANGELES -- "Grey's Anatomy" star Isaiah Washington said racism was a factor in his firing from the hit ABC series after he twice used an anti-gay slur.
Washington, who initially used the epithet during an onset clash with a co-star, told Newsweek magazine that "someone heard the booming voice of a black man and got really scared and that was the beginning of the end for me."
He tried to make amends by expressing remorse and volunteering to enter a counseling program to understand how the confrontation got out of hand, he told Newsweek.
"My mistake was believing that I would get the support from my network and all of my cast mates across the board. My mistake was believing I could correct a wrong with honesty and sincerity," he said in the interview posted online Thursday.
"My mistake was thinking black people get second chances. I was wrong on all fronts," he said.
His unwillingness to act like a submissive black at work was part of the problem, Washington said.
"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 said.
"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," he said.
ABC declined comment Thursday. In its one public statement regarding Washington, issued in January, the network said his actions were "unacceptable."
Washington, who used the slur against co-star T.R. Knight during a confrontation with Patrick Dempsey, repeated the word backstage at the Golden Globes in January in denying the first incident. A public apology to Knight and others followed.
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my hollywood connections tell me that tinseltown casting couches are judi's home away from home, so it doesn't surprise me that she gets all kinds of inside info via pillow talk.
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my hollywood connections tell me that tinseltown casting couches are judi's home away from home, so it doesn't surprise me that she gets all kinds of inside info via pillow talk.
No inside pillow talk, ...no casting couches, ...but i have seen Isaiah relaxed and just being Isaiah,
...and I had to marvel at how he had managed to stick around so far. Hopefully, this will not be the end for him.
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No inside pillow talk, ...no casting couches,
no need to be modest, jaguarenterprises. you're among friends here.
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Washington: Racism Factor In 'Grey's' Firing
Actor Used Anti-Gay Slur, Was Dropped From Show At Season's End
LOS ANGELES -- "Grey's Anatomy" star Isaiah Washington said racism was a factor in his firing from the hit ABC series after he twice used an anti-gay slur.
Washington, who initially used the epithet during an onset clash with a co-star, told Newsweek magazine that "someone heard the booming voice of a black man and got really scared and that was the beginning of the end for me."
He tried to make amends by expressing remorse and volunteering to enter a counseling program to understand how the confrontation got out of hand, he told Newsweek.
"My mistake was believing that I would get the support from my network and all of my cast mates across the board. My mistake was believing I could correct a wrong with honesty and sincerity," he said in the interview posted online Thursday.
"My mistake was thinking black people get second chances. I was wrong on all fronts," he said.
His unwillingness to act like a submissive black at work was part of the problem, Washington said.
"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 said.
"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," he said.
ABC declined comment Thursday. In its one public statement regarding Washington, issued in January, the network said his actions were "unacceptable."
Washington, who used the slur against co-star T.R. Knight during a confrontation with Patrick Dempsey, repeated the word backstage at the Golden Globes in January in denying the first incident. A public apology to Knight and others followed.
Alright, good to know that the whole show and crew is racist and that he is the sole victim in this case ...
After all, a black man should be allowed to call a co-worker a ****** a couple of times. We wouldn't want him to say `Sir, massa' to everyone.
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Alright, good to know that the whole show and crew is racist and that he is the sole victim in this case ...
After all, a black man should be allowed to call a co-worker a ****** a couple of times. We wouldn't want him to say `Sir, massa' to everyone.
;D ;D ;D
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Isaiah Washington Explains Why He Used Slur
MONDAY JULY 02, 2007 11:00 PM EDT
By Mike Fleeman
Photo by: CNN’s Larry King Live
Isaiah Washington blamed costar Patrick Dempsey's repeated tardiness to the Grey's Anatomy set for the blow-up that resulted in Washington using a homophobic slur.
Interviewed on Larry King Live on Monday (the interview was taped on Friday), Washington said he regretted not confronting Dempsey the first time he was late, so he challenged him the second time.
But Dempsey wanted to delay the scene more to wait for Grey's star Ellen Pompeo, who plays Dempsey's love interest, before shooting began.
"I said I don't need Ellen, I can act," Washington told King. "And that was the moment that sent it into a different zone."
According to Washington, Dempsey erupted. "He became unhinged, sprayed spittle in my face," said Washington, in his first television interview about the controversy. "I'm asking him why is he screaming at me. ... He just becomes irate."
That's when Washington said "a lot of things I'm not really proud of."
"I said several bad words," he recalled, quoting himself as telling Dempsey: "There's no way you're going to treat me like the B-word, the P-word or the F-word."
He said that the "F-word" was not meant as an anti-gay slur, but implied "somebody who is being weak." Washington also strongly denied he ever directed the word at gay costar T.R. Knight.
"I am not homophobic – in no way, shape or form," said Washington.
As for Knight claiming the slur was directed at him, Washington said, "That's a lie. He misrepresented himself." Washington suggested Knight did that to advance his career and get more money. "He has been very disappointed in playing the character he has been playing. He told me that," said Washington.
But Washington said he felt badly about repeating the slur backstage at the Golden Globe Awards. "I wish I could take that back," Washington said.
He became emotional at one point in the interview. When King asked if any cast members had written to him, Washington paused and appeared close to tears when he recalled that Sandra Oh had sent him an email.
Washington ultimately attended counseling, but was fired from the hit ABC series.
(King said on the air that Grey's producers, Dempsey and Knight all declined to comment.)
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20044381,00.html
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Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.
But I like posting in threads in which cougarenterprises posts. ;D
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He became emotional at one point in the interview. When King asked if any cast members had written to him, Washington paused and appeared close to tears when he recalled that Sandra Oh had sent him an email.
{sigh} why is it, ...it is the Canadians who are so adept at showing compassion to others.
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{sigh} why is it, ...it is the Canadians who are so adept at showing compassion to others.
::) I've never met a snobby, uncompassionate Canadian.
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::) I've never met a snobby, uncompassionate Canadian.
That's because there is no such thing as a snobby, uncompassionate Canadian. :)
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He became emotional at one point in the interview. When King asked if any cast members had written to him, Washington paused and appeared close to tears when he recalled that Sandra Oh had sent him an email.
{sigh} why is it, ...it is the Canadians who are so adept at showing compassion to others.
Maybe he started crying thinking about that nasty e-mail?
:)
Imo he shouldn't have been fired, but from the stuff i've read he doesn't seem like a nice guy to work with, and his "excuses" don't really sound convincing. So they probably fired him for the interest of the show.
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I called it first!
I FUCKING KNEW HE'D PLAY THE RACE CARD! I COULD SENSE IT!
Fuck that clown.. He's got a lot of fucking nerve playing the race card when he's the one who's homophobic.
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That's because there is no such thing as a snobby, uncompassionate Canadian. :)
Riiiight.
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Patrick Dempsey has finally weighed in, and admitted it didn't happen.
He could have cleared up the who brouhaha from the beginning by publicly stating the alledged incident didn't happen, because unlike Knight, Patrick was actually there, ...but it appears Patrick was under a gag order by the network, and not allowed to state the incident never happened.
Interesting how some issues are allowed to snowball and escalate out of control until they take on a life of their own, when the simple truth from the get-go would have nipped it in the bud. I can only assume an offer of truth from the outset would have thwarted any agenda(s) that might have been in play
It has all worked out in the end tho for Isaiah, because the same day he was fired, he got an offer from NBC.
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EDIT: I did not even look at the 2nd page, and responded to agree with Camel Jockey that RACE was going to be Isahs fuel for his lone fire.
You can bet on it he is finished in Hollywood with this stunt!!!
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EDIT: I did not even look at the 2nd page, and responded to agree with Camel Jockey that RACE was going to be Isahs fuel for his lone fire.
You can bet on it he is finished in Hollywood with this stunt!!!
It's pretty clear where your sentiments lay with regards to RACE.
If getting a job offer the day you're fired is your definition of finished,
...all Hollywood actors would only pray that they can be 'finished in Hollywood'
The fact of the matter is, ...everyone in Hollywood knows what's really going on with Isaiah's firing.
It is the general public, and those OUTSIDE of Hollywood that don't know what's happening.
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Pretty clear Isiah brought it upon himself.
Didn't he make not 1 BUT 2 homo statements?
You think that "job offer" is going to last?
Hahah yeah NBC Bionic Women....what hit!
NBC is running on this fuel...when that fuel is gone (hmm I guess from the 5 episodes of "Bionic Women" ) Isiah is toast, and will be tossed to thenext NBC event for TV movie, for a last spin.