ABC Suffers From Promophobia

Posted May 8th 2008 3:05PM by TMZ Staff

ABC had no problem throwing Isaiah Washington under the bus when "Grey's Anatomy" was doing big ratings -- and they have no problem using him in promos now that the show is in a ratings freefall.


Promos for this week's episode feature Isaiah's mug -- and his character is even part of the storyline this week. One problem -- he ain't in it! Isaiah is actually down in New Orleans shooting a new movie with Forest Whitaker.

We're told Isaiah is pissed at the show for using his pic, after they 86'd him from the show because of that whole despicable "faggot" thing.

Isaiah's rep, Howard Bragman, tells TMZ, "Isaiah has no plans to go back to 'Grey's Anatomy' ... That being said, we were more than a little surprised that ABC used his likeness in a promo for the show, and indeed advanced his character's storyline. Mr. Washington's attorney has contacted the Screen Actors Guild and ABC as to the appropriateness of that action."

A rep for ABC could not be reached for comment.

Filed under: TV

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(Page 3 of 4)Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

31. Grey's has sucked since the departure of Isaiah and Kate Walsh and I think using Isaiah's charachter to boost their lagging ratings is LOW. Isaiah should get paid; Derek and Mer should GO AWAY and ABC should bring Isaiah and Kate back.

Posted at 7:31PM on May 8th 2008 by tsmith

32. I loved Isiah on Grey's. He has every right to be mad as hell about what ABC did to him. I like Patrick Dempsey and Ellen Pompeo. I wish Isiah all the luck with his movie roles.

Posted at 7:55PM on May 8th 2008 by Tab

33. Yo u people who say they cannot use his likeness are most likely wrong. It was probably in his contract that they could use it for a certain amount of time. The fact that he was fired for insubordination was his own fault thus that stipulation still holds.

Posted at 7:56PM on May 8th 2008 by Chaz

34. never watched the show but it sure is phony that they fire Isaiah.

ABC will be the first to welcome Michael Vick to do any program they have.- they dont want little mistakes
they are waiting for the big boy. Just like Oprah - its ratings.

Posted at 9:37PM on May 8th 2008 by lee

35. Oh please! ABC owns the character of Burke so have every right to use that. And if the ratings are down, it is because of the writers' strike, people have to get used to it being on again. I saw it tonight and it was a Great episode!

Posted at 10:12PM on May 8th 2008 by DEANNE

36. Count me in as another who LOVED the show! When they fired Isaiah the show went quickly to boring and uninteresting. Burke and Christina were the strongest most believable characters on the show. The show is now crap! I can't stand George and Izzy and hated the storyline of them and the breakup of his marriage. I wish Isaiah the best of luck. He apologized over and over and should NEVER have been fired. I'm sure we've all said something in the heat of the moment we really wish we could take back.

Posted at 10:23PM on May 8th 2008 by just me

37. yay for isaiah! that's KARMA people, ABC screwed him and now it's all coming back to them... i agree that he shouldn't have called his fellow actor a f***ot, but why fire him? he was great in the show, maybe they could have made his part smaller or let him dissappear for a season as punishment, i don't know! but it's outrageous that after they dragged him through mud abc stamps his face just to get people thinking that the actor playing dr.burke might return... pathetic!

Posted at 10:28PM on May 8th 2008 by melanie

38. "They might own the character, but no way to they own Isaiah's likeness."

Actually, they do. They can use pictures of him that were taken during his tenure on "GA" any way they would like as they own those pictures as well. The photo is of him in character, and they own the character. Arguing that would be tantamount to saying that they can't show re-runs of any episode with him in it because those re-runs would contain his likeness. Isaiah is well aware of this as well as well aware of the releases he has signed.

Posted at 11:35PM on May 8th 2008 by nonnie

39. Just a bunch of promosexuals!

Posted at 12:22AM on May 9th 2008 by Isaiah.

40. I know one thig that georgie tj knight character is the most pathetic on tv. He seems so wimpyand poor acting at that. I'm not saying that because he's homosexual. I'm saying it because its fact. Washington acted better than knight on the show. To me its not believable that hes with many of the female charaters with that david archleta mannerisms. They got rid of the wrong acter and thats why the show sucks.

Posted at 1:39AM on May 9th 2008 by frank farrell

41. I FIND IT IRONIC TO READ PEOPLES VIEWS ON THIS SUBJECT AND THE TOTAL IGNORANCE FOR HIS ACTIONS, FUNNY THOUGH IF THE N WORD GOT USED WOULD ALL THESE COMMENTATORS NOT BE UPSET, ITS THE OLD TWO STANCE, RIGHT, WHATEVER ITS ONLY A F, REGARDLESS HE SAID IT AND SAID AGAIN AND SAID IT AGAIN, SO WHY SHOULD HE NOT BE PENALIZED LIKE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD USE ANY WORD THAT IS SAID WITH HATE DEGREGATION TO OTHERS, WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE WHEN THEY DO NOT REALISE THE WORLD IS FULL OF HATE AND IGNORANCE AND YOU ARE ADDING MORE TO IT.

Posted at 3:31AM on May 9th 2008 by rugguer

42. HAVING WATCHED THIS SHOW(GREY'S ANATOMY) FROM THE BEGINNING AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF DR. BURKE'S CHARACTER, I FIND THE THE SHOW NOW IS LACKING IN STRONG CHARACTERS. CHRISTINA DID NOT EVEN GREIVE A LITTLE, FOR THE MAN SHE SUPPOSEDLY LOVED. MERIDITH CANNOT MAKE UP HER MIND ON ANYTHING, AND I FIND THE STORYLINE NOT COMPELLING AT ALL. WHILE I AGREE THAT A STATEMENT HAD TO BE MADE BY THE SHOW'S PRODUCER, HOWEVER,WHEN A CHARACTER HAS BECOME SO ENTRENCHED IN THE SHOW, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO MOVE ON SUCCESSFULLY. MAYBE THE MOVE IS TO GRACIOUOSLY AND GRADUALLY MOVE DR. BURKE CHARACTER BACK INTO THE STORYLINE BY HAVING HIM CONVERSE OVER THE PHONE PERIODICALLY WITH DR. HAHN, REGARDING SURGERY ISSUES. THUS, GIVING THE SHOW A LIFT

Posted at 9:49AM on May 9th 2008 by EAGLE

43. Isaiah should sue ABC!

Posted at 11:41AM on May 9th 2008 by Brandy S

44. I am not for anything that has to do with hate. Be it color or lifestyle. My understanding was he would make a public
commerical about hating other groups. He did that. I saw that. He was really sorry about what he said. But, to go and
fire him after he made that clear is just wrong! There is no excuse for name calling but if a person is sincere in their
apology then why fire them? Look at Imus in the morning he got his job back bigger and better. Why? Because he
atoned for what he said! So did Washington. Now GA has to suck! I thought Burke and Christine were the stronger couple.
Her acting last night was the best! It was a great show. Because of Burke! They should not have used his likeness just
his character's name in the paper. Remember he was fired. I bet that will be the highest rating they have this season.

That show was once the best cast on TV. Just sayin,...

Posted at 12:27PM on May 9th 2008 by vs

45. I hope their ratings keep falling, even though I never missed a show before, I refuse to watch it this year. I am so sick of hearing about people being sued or punished for speaking their mind. What he said in a moment of anger should not have left the building anyway. And besides that, last time I checked he was accurate. I use to love the show, but they lost a viewer in me. I do wathc private practive though.

Posted at 12:53PM on May 9th 2008 by MSKINS1

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