Shonda Rhimes Eats Her Own Words
"I found [rumors that Isaiah Washington would be replaced by Eriq La Salle] not only ridiculous but offensive," Shonda Rhimes told People Magazine in October 2006. "The [idea] that one black [actor] was interchangeable with another seemed disturbing to me." Fast forward to summer 2007 when the new "Private Practice" cast photo may stand proof to "Grey's Anatomy" creator's disturbing hypocrisy.
After Isaiah Washington's on-set tantrum (October 9, 2006) erupted into full-blown tension over the actor's use of a homophobic slur, ABC and Shonda Rhimes initially failed to address the incident, opting instead to send actors on a number of talk shows (including an Oprah Winfrey's "Grey's Anatomy" special in November) trying to persuade the viewing public there was no problem on the set.
Furthermore, Shonda Rhimes pulled out the race card, technically a non-issue at the time, and made the aforementioned statement, possibly designed to take focus away from the homophobic aspect of the incident and rather attack those who dared suggest Isaiah Washington should be let go. Almost a year later, not only is Washington off the show, but that very statement may come back to haunt Mrs. Rhimes.
The scribe and the producers of her new series "Private Practice," a spin-off to "Grey's Anatomy," made a decision during the summer to replace Merrin Dungey ("Alias") who had already appeared in the much-touted May double episode of "Grey's" - which served as a pilot to "Practice" - in the role of Kate Walsh' BFF Dr. Naomi Bennet with another African American actress, Audra McDonald.
As someone who failed to see anything offensive or disturbing about suggestions that Eriq La Salle replace Isaiah Washington (if a role the viewers are familiar with for over 2 seasons is being recast, isn't the new actor supposed to resemble the original actor as much as possible?), I really don't see a problem with the casting of Audra McDonald.
But, if Mrs. Rhimes was being serious about her aforementioned statement, shouldn't she have reinforced her opinion by hiring, for instance, an Asian or Caucasian actress, Mrs. McDonald's exceptional talent notwithstanding? After all, the viewers are barely familiar with the character - she has only appeared in one episode of "Grey's Anatomy."
I am afraid Shonda Rhimes expressed those absurd concerns only as part of the overall damage control strategy at the time. And I find it disappointing and unfortunate that such a sensitive issue was brought into play for the sake of covering up problems that subsequent developments confirmed to be genuine.
Labels: ABC, Grey's Anatomy
posted by Justin Van De Kamp at
11:00 AM
4 Comments:
You make a really good point, Justin. I have a distaste for the way Shonda Rhimes runs things on Grey's and PP so I might be a tad biased... I reckon that all the stuff they did when Washington made his Mistake, like making him issue apologies etc, was just to save Grey's. I mean, I don't know what goes on in the showbiz world but I feel like it wasn't one bit for the benefit of T.R Knight, but just a stunt on Rhimes' part to save her show. So, I'm not really surprised that she's managed to kick herself with her own foot with this re-casting thing.
I'd really like PP to succeed, though. If done right, it could be the new Frasier. Unlikely, seeing as Rhimes will always maintain a monopoly on her babies, but hope springs eternal haha.
Whatever. There's a difference between recasting a popular character after a couple seasons, and recasting someone after a pilot.
I read on TV Guide.com that the original cast of Private Practice wasn't Shonda's first choice. Instead, ABC went with actors already under contract (just about all of them where on other ABC shows that were ultimately cancelled). Each member of Grey's cast was hand picked by Shonda.
The decision to replace people just sounds like ABC took its nose out of the casting and finally let her regain full control of her show.
It's a completely different situation from Burkegate.
oh pah'leeze!
"eats her own words?" for your sake, i wish you were kidding.
you're seriously trying to compare replacing a leading actor of the highest rated show on television, not after the first, not the second... but the THIRD season.... to an actor who appeared on a pilot months before the actual show aired?
seriously?
whatever kids.
and... "it could be the new Frasier?"
i love you people. you're hilarious.
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