ENTERTAINMENT / Movies
New role, network for Isaiah Washington
(AP)
Updated: 2007-07-17 13:37
LOS ANGELES - Isaiah Washington, bouncing back from his "Grey's Anatomy"
firing with a role on a new NBC drama and prospects for his own network
series, said Monday he's grateful for an unexpected second chance.
"I'm humbled by this opportunity," Washington told The Associated Press,
shortly before NBC announced he would be joining its new series "Bionic
Woman" for a five-episode arc. Washington and NBC Universal Studios also
are developing an action series.
He said his dismissal from ABC's hit medical show after his repeated use
of an anti-gay slur was "an unfortunate misunderstanding for everyone"
that he was eager to move past.
"What I always wanted to put at the forefront is my creativity, that
thing I want to do, which is act," Washington said.
He was brought to NBC by Ben Silverman, the recently appointed
co-chairman of NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios. It was a
comment to a mutual friend that led to a meeting with Silverman just
after Washington lost his ABC job, he said.
Silverman, recalling their June 7 get-together, said he was surprised to
learn Washington had just been fired.
"`Gosh, it would great to get him, get a great actor on our air,'"
Silverman recalled thinking. "It's like A-Rod leaving the Yankees in
midseason."
Asked if he was concerned that Washington was bringing baggage to NBC,
Silverman said he wasn't. The focus will be on the actor's work and his
contribution to "Bionic Woman," which Silverman described as "one of our
most important shows."
"I really thought about him as an actor. ... I feel like he's a wonderful
actor and everyone deserves a second chance," he told The AP.
Washington's hiring at General Electric Co.-owned NBC had an unlikely
genesis.
The day that Washington learned ABC was not picking up his option for
"Grey's Anatomy," he and the Ghanian-born fashion designer Oswald Boateng
were discussing an African aid event. When Boateng learned of his
situation, the designer called his pal Silverman, Washington said.
Silverman invited them to join him at a party at a Beverly Hills
restaurant. The two enjoyed a friendly evening, the actor said.
"`You're not just going to be golfing, reading books. You're coming to
NBC,'" Washington said the executive told him.
Washington assumed Silverman was just being kind. "I'm gonna go home and
cry in my bed," he recalled thinking. But the next day he got a call from
his agent saying that Silverman wanted him to be part of NBC.
On "Bionic Woman," based on the 1970s show, Washington will play "a
mysterious person who is brought into the enigmatic scientific
organization" responsible for creating bionic Jamie Sommers (Michelle
Ryan), according to NBC.
NBC and its studio also are developing what was described as an
"action-series project" with Washington that is based on an idea of his.
Washington was booted from his role as a surgeon on "Grey's Anatomy"
after he used an anti-gay epithet backstage at the Golden Globe Awards in
January while denying he'd used it previously on the set against cast
mate T.R. Knight.
He publicly apologized and tried to make amends by meeting with
gay-rights organizations and filming a public-service announcement
calling for tolerance.
In subsequent interviews, Washington has said he was trying to address
problems of cast tardiness when he got into a tiff with co-star Patrick
Dempsey.
He's learned from the experience, he said, including "how you deal with
certain stresses."
"If there are issues with other actors, it's not my problem. I'm not a
hero, baby sitter, big brother. I'm the employee, too," Washington said.
As for Walt Disney Co.-owned ABC and Knight, "That chapter is closed. I
wish them well," Washington said.
Related Stories
� Ex-`Grey's' star cites racism for firing
===========================================================================
� Isaiah Washington: ABC axed wrong guy
===========================================================================
� Katherine Heigl: Washington apologized for slur
===========================================================================
� Washington urges tolerance in TV spot
===========================================================================
� Rep:Isaiah Washington's staying 'Grey'
===========================================================================
� Washington making amends with pedophilia drama
===========================================================================
Top Entertaiment News
� New role, network for Isaiah Washington
� Lindsay Lohan checks out of rehab
� Hayek named Hollywood's sexiest celeb
� Malawian inspector to check on Madonna in adoption check-up
� Rapper Remy Ma arraigned in NYC shooting
Today's Top News
� Japan quake causes 9 deaths, nuke leak
� Party leaders to be more media savvy
� Climate change taking toll on glaciers
� Twin bombings in northern Iraq kill 80
� 95 officials punished for brickwork slavery
Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours
Learn Chinese, Chinese Mandarin, Learning Materials, Mandarin audio lessons, Chinese writing lessons, Chinese vocabulary lists, About chinese characters, News in Chinese, Go to China, Travel to China, Study in China, Teach in China, Dictionaries, Learn Chinese Painting, Your name in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese songs, Chinese proverbs, Chinese poetry, Chinese tattoo, Beijing 2008 Olympics, Mandarin Phrasebook, Chinese editor, Pinyin editor, China Travel, Travel to Beijing, Travel to Tibet
No comments:
Post a Comment