"Brothers & Sisters" Creator Baitz Leaves Show, Insults TV Guide's Ausiello

Playwright Jon Robin Baitz says he was ousted from ABC's "Brothers & Sisters," the show he created, revealing backstage turmoil and branding TV Guide's scooper-pooper Michael Ausiello "marginally literate" and one of "low-rent journalistic toadies penning breathless wooze" in a 2-part article titled "Leaving Los Angeles" published in "The Huffington Post."

Baitz, who says being on "Brothers & Sisters" had taught him how to fight, explains former show runner Marti Noxon who originally worked with him on the show in the summer of 2006 (now executive producer of "Private Practice") believed his writing style was a reflection of a drug habit and chose to share knowledge of his use of "doctor-approved Ritalin" with other people on the show "in a remarkable display of discretion."



Baitz says Greg Berlanti ("Everwood," "Dirty Sexy Money"), who joined "Brothers & Sisters" after Noxon left in the summer of 2006 and initiated reshoots of reshoots of the first 3 episodes, is a "genius" who not only "saved the show" but is "efficient and indefatigable in his ability to repair and streamline, and force change. At any cost. What. So. Ever."



As for the show's third show runner, Marc B. Perry ("The Wonder Years"), who replaced Berlanti at the beginning of the show's 2nd season in the summer of 2007, Baitz says working on the show became "an exercise in diplomacy, politeness and tact for the new team and for" himself. In August, Baitz was however told to step back after a storyline he didn't even write threw one of the stars into despair.



Baitz explains his own version of "Brothers & Sisters," possibly on a cable network like Showtime or FX, would have been an entirely different show, reflecting "sorrow and rage in the aging face of Sally Field," "cold and funny sexuality of Patty Wettig," "wisdom, joyous childishness and the melancholy of Ron Rifkin," "follow the prodigal son Justin to Iraq and show his friends die," "allow Calista Flockhart to be truly political," "explore low-income lives of Ojai workers" and further explore "Kevin Walker's internalized homophobia and his fear of contact with others."

In his departing piece openly gay Baitz also criticizes America's obsession with youth, the Botoxed and hyper-sexed gay scene of West Hollywood and Hollywood's disgust with aging women, and reveals how his own heart got crushed after he fell in love with a writer last summer.

Full Article:
"Leaving Los Angeles, Part One: Work"
"Leaving Los Angeles, Part Two: Love"

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