Casting news: Isaiah Washington on A&E's The Cleaner - Today's News: Our Take

Isaiah Washington by Jean Baptiste Lacroix/ WireImage.com

Isaiah Washington has been booked for a guest-starring role on A&E's The Cleaner, which premieres this Tuesday at 10 pm/ET. Though details were few at first, I have since uncovered lots more on how the Grey's Anatomy alum will fit into the episode.

In "The 11th Hour," Washington will play a traditional, well-schooled interventionist who crosses swords with Benjamin Bratt's title character — a recovered addict who has his own "unconventional" ways of helping others — when they both attempt to treat the same girl.

Since parting ways with ABC's Grey's Anatomy, Washington's only TV appearance has come in the form of a mini-run on NBC's short-lived Bionic Woman. (Well, that and as a newspaper clipping on the Seattle Grace bulletin board. But let's not go there.) He also has done the occasional indie.

Other guest-stars on The Cleaner will include Tate Donovan (Damages), Annabeth Gish (Brotherhood), Kathy Baker and Eric Roberts. — Matt Mitovich

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Jul 11, 2008 8:36 AM

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Let the man work for Christ's sake! What does he need to do to make everyone forget what a boneheaded mistake he made? He's a fine actor and a gorgeous man. Let him redeem himself.
Posted by yolanda6 Jul 11, 2008 9:27 AM Report Abuse

Right on yolanda6. Totally agree with you.
Posted by marcilynnj Jul 11, 2008 10:07 AM Report Abuse

Is the man never supposed to work again? He made a mistake. Most people have. I am sure most people are not punished by never being able to work again.
Posted by CSLetree Jul 11, 2008 10:07 AM Report Abuse

Seriously! What's wrong with him working? It's not like Washington can't act. Knight on the other hand... Yeah, I went there.
Posted by Listless Agent Jul 11, 2008 10:27 AM Report Abuse

While the incidents themselves are indeed forgiveable, even before Grey's Anatomy - and since - Isaiah Washington has proven himself to be a difficult person to work with. Should he be allowed to work? Absolutely. Should people be allowed to be skeptical about how he's going to conduct himself on the set and in the press? Absolutely.

He apparently made it through Bionic Woman without being physically and verbally abusive on the set and disrupting filming, but he's going to need a few more gold stars for "plays well with others."

Posted by ctheslayer

Jul 11, 2008 10:30 AM

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It's sad a truly great actor will have this incident as a mark on his career forever.
Posted by togrrl Jul 11, 2008 10:40 AM Report Abuse

I am so glad to hear that. Issaiah is a very talented guy. I just hate that he is not on Greys anymore. There will never be another Dr. Burke.
Posted by princess07 Jul 11, 2008 10:59 AM Report Abuse

I am so glad to hear that. Issaiah is a very talented guy. I just hate that he is not on Greys anymore. There will never be another Dr. Burke.
Posted by princess07 Jul 11, 2008 11:00 AM Report Abuse

Why are people saying "he should be allowed to work" on an article that's about him working? So maybe the press grumbled when it was announced -- but we only know that "by some accounts." Maybe by other accounts, people were just trying to create some drama for their news stories.
Posted by Dianora Jul 11, 2008 11:08 AM Report Abuse

T.R. Knight can't act himself out of a box to save his life. Shame that someone like Washington gets a bad rep for doing one stupid thing in public. Shame that Rhone Shrime didn't stick up for him but instead caved in to her bosses (white and probably playing on the same team as Knight) and threw him to the wolves.
Posted by Scorned1 Jul 11, 2008 11:36 AM Report Abuse

I feel like I'm in the twilight zone. Is this the same tvguide website where the staff and most of the readers have routinely treated Washington like he was the reincarnation or Hilter or Sadam? I'm shocked to read all this support about letting him work again. I never thought I'd see the day.
Posted by wildbill Jul 11, 2008 12:30 PM Report Abuse

I definitely wasn't one of the ones trying to get him crucified. I think the guy can act his butt off, plain and simple. He was wrong for using the word, and he apologized. It's not like he's a pedophile.

Knight got what he wanted, Washington is gone. In addition to that, he's famous, has front and center story lines, nominations (still scratching my head about that), a gal pal opening her mouth every 5 minutes to praise/defend him and money. As twisted as it may sound, the fiasco worked out in Knight's favor.

Posted by Listless Agent

Jul 11, 2008 12:45 PM

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I always get confused when people point to his ugly language and act like that's all he did. Didn't he choke Patrick Dempsey? Isn't that just a little extreme? From all accounts, his dismissal from Grey's had a lot to do with a continuing pattern of disruptive behavior directed at more than just one person.

I don't really know why people act like TVGuide and other journalists have anything to do with "letting" the man work. Journalists don't making casting decisions. He's obviously still being hired by people who are willing to risk it, and will probably continue to be.

Posted by Dianora

Jul 11, 2008 12:58 PM

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I agree. Let him work. He is an actor, however awful I have always found him to be, even b4 the "scandal". I am just glad he is making money, and it is on a show I don't have to suffer through his wooden acting.
Posted by bantling14 Jul 11, 2008 1:07 PM Report Abuse

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