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ABC Exec Calls NBC "Clueless or Stupid" About Isaiah
Isaiah Washington by Jesse Grant/Wireimage.com
ABC entertainment president Stephen McPherson says his counterpart at NBC, Ben Silverman, was either "clueless or stupid" in his remarks about hiring Isaiah Washington for a role on Bionic Woman.
Silverman, in one of his first acts as the new cochairman of NBC's entertainment division, swooped up Washington for a six-episode stint on his network's new series after ABC decided not to keep the actor on Grey's Anatomy. ABC's decision was largely based on Washington's on-set use of a homophobic slur towards cast member T.R. Knight last October, which he repeated in front of the press at the Golden Globe Awards.
Silverman told reporters at his July 16 session with the Television Critics Association that he had begun talking with Washington "before he became available" and said he was shocked when ABC decided to let him go. "When he told me he was available I was like, 'You are? Wait, I don't understand. What do you mean? You're a huge star on a star television show.'" he said. "I don't quite understand what had gone on there."
McPherson told reporters Thursday after his TCA session that "if (Silverman) was in fact talking to him before he was available, that's inducement to breach. So I don't know, he's either clueless or stupid."
As to Silverman saying he didn't understand the circumstances surrounding the firing of Washington, McPherson said: "Was he living in a cave?" — Reporting by Stephen Battaglio
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Jul 25, 2007 2:56 PM
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I have no problem with Isaiah Washington getting hired. Just because of what he said, he deserves to be jobless forever? I think the truth in the whole incident is somewhere between ABC's stance and what Isaiah said on Larry King. He duly apologized, went through sensitivity training, did the PSA, what else? A pint of blood? Of course he was stupid to say the word again at the Golden Globes, but ABC should just take the stance, "he's NBC'S headache now."
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Jul 25, 2007 3:27 PM
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Speaking of living in a cave, is that where the TV guide reporter who posted this item was.
Let's not continue the misreporting of this whole overblown saga.
He did not call TR that, TR wasn't even around. He said that to Patrick Dempsey about the way he was treating Isaiah.
I am sick of hearing about TR, I hate his character on the show, stud..I don't think so..yuck. What a mess GA had become.
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Jul 25, 2007 3:39 PM
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IW said to PD, "I'm not your little f****t like TR."
TR was on set, within earshot of the whole encounter.
IW has rationalized it by saying it wasn't directed at TR; it was about him saying that he's not a weak person who won't stand up to PD.
But let's face it: that's a crock.
IW was also let go because he made a lot of people uncomfortable on set with his behavior, not just that one incident. And he has a history on other projects of being verbally abusive/threatening.
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Jul 25, 2007 3:45 PM
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Why did McPherson even go this route? Obviously Silverman knew why IW was fired. He's trying to draw attention away from the Grey's incident and let's face it, it didn't work out to well since lots of people are saying they won't watch Bionic Woman now.
I'm not sure what the question was that drew this comment but McPherson handled it in a really tacky and stupid way.
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Jul 25, 2007 4:10 PM
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silverman can spin this idiotic decision til the cows come home---or should i say til he finds anyone interested in watching the stupid bionic woman show.
the only saving grace in the fact that washington got hired by someone is the fact that the show is a total loser. i doubt it will run long enough to even show the 6 episodes he's in!
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Jul 25, 2007 4:22 PM
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i don't understand people. IW makes homophobic remarks and everyone's so willing to give him another chance. but Don Imus gets fired, and everyone cheers. in my book, both of them are equally despicable. so no, IW should never work again.
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Jul 25, 2007 4:37 PM
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I've got one word for all this Isaiah Washington stuff: McNumbnuts. Go away, pleeeeeeeeeeeeze.
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Jul 25, 2007 5:21 PM
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ABC should be sued. Yes, Isaiah snapped on set. All actors do at one time or another. You think the women of Desperate Housewives haven't cussed each other out on set once or twice? That matter should have been handled internally like adults. And if I had to work with a bunch of spoiled unprofessional suckups who walk in late and hang out in cliques, I would be upset too. However, their so called handling, the fact that Heigl was allowed to slander Isaiah in pratically every single interview she did while he was on a gag order, and TR pretended the slur was pointed towards him while no one in the network attempted to clarify or gag them smacks of retaliation, character assasination and fostering a hostile workplace towards ISAIAH!!!. Rosie O'Donnell made a co-worker cry live on the air, and continues to slam poor Elizabeth, yet no one says a word. I applaud NBC for being able to see through ABC's BS and for hiring him. And all of you that continue to buy into ABC's nonsense should really step back and review the FACTS!!!
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Jul 25, 2007 6:42 PM
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Here's a different take on the matter: I don't understand why there's so much fuss about what Isaiah Washington said. People say things that they shouldn't say all the time, especially in the heat of anger. Besides, look at the crude content in many television shows, movies, and music. This is what modern culture has become.
Furthermore, no one seems to think it's wrong to say horrible things about President Bush and no one seems to think it's wrong to make heinous comments or jokes about Catholics or other Christians. Oh, right, one can only be a liberal secularist to be accepted in society today.
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Jul 25, 2007 6:49 PM
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Actually, what I have read about the others on the Grey's Anatomy set, has been an "oh well" it's unfortunate but nothing catastrophic, except for Heigl. She was and is the catalyst for getting IW fired. She was militant in keeping this incident in the forefront, even bringing it up, without provocation, during public outings. Even TR Knight wasn't that vocal about it. He seemed to just want to let it go. IW did apologize. So what if IW is homophobic. Once he apologized, and it sure seemed that the rest of the episodes didn't suffer because of the incident, so everyone was ready to forgive, IW was working well with all, except that Heigl kept the incident alive and I suppose it was her only chance to be militant because she sure can't act, unless you consider looking sad, crying, or acting horny acting.
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Jul 25, 2007 6:57 PM
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Oh, God. Give me a break on the "persecuted Christians" crap. If anyone gets screwed in this country, it's "liberals".....you know, the people who say "live and let live," and don't tell you how to live your life, as long as you aren't hurting anyone.
So let's see, jen71. You're okay with IW calling someone a f*****t, you're annoyed that people say horrible things about Bush (the most inept president we've ever had, the figurehead for the most corrupt administration we've ever had), and you're using the words "liberal secularist" as though they're bad things.
I see you're still drinking the Kool-Aid.
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Jul 25, 2007 7:09 PM
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"When he told me he was available I was like, 'You are? Wait, I don't understand. What do you mean? You're a huge star on a star television show.'" he said. "I don't quite understand what had gone on there."
Does this mean the rumors about Silverman's alleged drug use are true? At any rate, I'm boycotting Bionic Woman, too. Sorry, Ben!
And Earth to hate speech fans: IW broke multiple state and local laws as well as the terms of his own contract. If you and I were to do the same, we wouldn't get preferential treatment and be allowed to remain at our jobs for months, we'd be thrown out immediately. I don't care if you hate homos more than you want to take your next breath, laws are laws. Get over it.
Although I almost feel sorry for anyone who's a Bush supporter (talk about being in a minority!), he's a public figure (supposedly a public servant, actually) and we can say whatever we want about him personally. That's not against any law. Not yet, anyway. But I'm sure you're working on it!
As for the hysterical "liberal securalist" crack (who made that one up? It's the funniest thing I've read all day!), aren't there enough Christian martyrs without you adding yourself to the list?
But thanks for the news that progressives are now the dominant force in society. I'm so glad to know that the right-wing extremists have finally been overthrown. In fact, I'll go out and have my gay marriage this afternoon!
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Jul 25, 2007 7:11 PM
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McPherson needs to go fly a KITE!
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Jul 25, 2007 7:25 PM
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By the way, McPherson was referring to Silverman's talking to IW while he was still under contract to ABC (a breach of contract) as making him "clueless or stupid," not the act of hiring IW itself.
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Jul 25, 2007 7:31 PM
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