NBC’s revival of The Bionic Woman has some purist up in arms. In this incarnation, Jaime will be a bartender who sustained a car accident instead of a former tennis pro and childhood sweetheart of the Six Million Dollar Man.
To legions of gay fans, the most egregious add-on is noted homophobe Isaiah Washington. Washington, last seen getting kicked off of Grey’s Anatomy, will play a mysterious government handler.
The Washington Post talks to Queerty’s Andrew Belonsky about the new show, the appeal of velour and why Isaiah isn't sorry.
Choosing Isaiah Washington as her first guest isn't going to make or break Star Jones' new Court TV TruTV show, but it will set the tone. Already, the gays are lashing out — and once you lose the gays …
But as Star learned about her gastric bypass surgery, some talking points are just too choice to leave untouched, especially when you've got the little issue of "generating buzz" hanging over you. Isaiah knows it too: In just over a month, Bionic Woman premieres on NBC, and he's written into the script for just five episodes.
So perhaps today's live 3pm debut of Star Jones is the merger of two opportunistic equals. Or, as the race-baiters will undoubtedly conclude, they're just protecting their own. Either way, we're looking forward to hearing Isaiah apologize for the 451st time!
• Cartoonists around the country raise their pens, grab their sketchbooks and blast Barry Bonds in angry cerebral comic strip solidarity.
• Congratulations to steroid impresario Jose Canseco, who may have succeeded in effectively ruining professional sports.
• From Idolator: "The next issue of Rolling Stone has as its cover subject High School Musical cutie/frequent Bop subject Zac Efron, who is captured in an awkward pose that looks like he's sheepishly feeling himself up while showing off his Tegan and Sara-inspired haircut."
• O.J. Simpson still having trouble grasping the whole "I owe $38 million to the parents of that guy I murdered" concept.
• Isaiah Washington hates fags, but likes to be in TV shows that cater to them.
• Too bad this paparazzo only got his ass kicked by a B-list TV star, instead of hitting the Lindsay Lohan jackpot.
• If we have to hear one more conversation about Harry Potter, we're going to slap your grown up ass all the way back to where it belongs: elementary school.
• Defending yourself against child molestation is, like, totally expensive!
• Local Fox News reporter Andrea Robinson gets a live on-air proposal! Which is totally romantic, and we'd totally congratulate her, except we totally changed the channel back to Dawson's Creek before Robinson gave her answer.
• "Scientology is not homophobic in any way," scoffs John Travolta. "In fact, it's one of the more tolerant faiths. Anyone's accepted," says Travolta, who hastily added, "Well, as long as they've got money."
• The countdown until the Libby pardon continues! Have you entered your office pool, yet?
• Nicole Kidman takes shelter under her umbrella, Ella. Ella. Ey, ey—oh, nevermind.
• No longer content to make crappy music in only one genre, Kelly Clarkson signs with a new, country music manager.
• Sir Elton John exhibits the typical, understated British civility.
• Isaiah Washington's back in the news, and we don't care.
Should Isaiah Washington have been booted from Grey's after his private (albeit homophobic) remark about fellow castmate T.R. Knight become public?
It's hard to say definitively, but a couple of things are for certain. First, the decision, while negligibly controversial, was nonetheless justifiable under the circumstances. And second, in canning Washington, ABC definitely did themselves a huge favor by neatly detaching themselves from what can best be described as a loose cannon.
And not only does Washington seems to be suffering from an endless bout of sour grapes, but his latest graceless tirade is a shameful act of self promotion and the racial equivalent of the pot calling the kettle biased.
• Eddie Murphy is officially a deadbeat dad, and an ass. Except we already knew that.
• Isaiah Washington claims "they fired the wrong guy," prompting ABC executives to say, "Oh my God, he's right. We never realized until he just said that! (Pause.) We're kidding, of course."
• Are we the only ones who think Pamela Anderson's way too old to be parading around in a skintight silver bathing suit? We'll take that deafening silence as a "yes."
• Elisha Cuthbert continues to be inconsistently sexy.
• British people are pissed to discover that Bridget Jones is actually an emaciated Hollywood actress.
• Apparently, not everyone is digging that "Israelis are Whores" campaign.
• For some reason, Britney Spears is threatening to sue over a couple of innocent billboards that call her "'a total nut job' and 'certifiable.'"
• However, Brit seemingly has no problem repeatedly flashing her nipples at the camera, downing martinis "like water" or earning the reputation of "one hot mess" who needs to "stay home with her kids."
• Gays protest Isaiah Washington's firing. And by "gays" we mean "one angry lesbian who 'just wants whatever will make Dr. Yang happy.'"
• Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora has to be the only rock-star left who doesn't view a trip to rehab as a merit badge.
Isaiah Washington finally speaks out about getting booted from Grey's Anatomy, sitting down with Entertainment Weekly to discuss—as E! once put it—his "fall from (Seattle) Grace."
Says Washington:
I don’t know if it’s a question of ”fair.” I’m saddened by the outcome. I did everything that the producers and the network asked me to do. I came back under great duress and stress, and thought I was doing the job I was hired to do. I thought that was going to speak for my future at Grey’s, but apparently that wasn’t the same vision that the network and studio had for me.
And we can certainly understand his frustration!
After all, not only did the actor apologize profusely for each anti-gay remark, but he also checked himself into anti-gay rehab and filmed an anti-gay PSA, not to mention went back to work—under great stress and duress—and proceeded to film several scenes with his homosexual castmate without contracting HIV.
Seriously, it's almost as though producers wanted him to actually start liking gay people or something!
Ever tried to come up with a clever headline? It's actually far more difficult than you might imagine. In fact, not many can master the delicate balance of clever wordplay, straightforward news and an informative synopsis in 10 words or less.
Which is why whenever there's "breaking" news (and we use the term loosely to incorporate ABC's recent announcement regarding Isaiah Washington's termination) we like to see what the veterans came up with.
After scanning the internet and filtering out all the boring "Washington Fired From Grey's Anatomy" fare, we've gathered the most impressive entrees for your convenience…after the jump.
Calling your co-star a faggot can, it turns out, get you fired. Or at least help get you fired. Such is the story for Grey's Anatomy star Isaiah Washington, who just found out he will not be welcomed back next season.
But the bigger story – you know, besides the good of mankind winning out – is that there are at least two parties fighting for the EXCLUSIVE!!! scoop: TV Guide's Michael Ausiello and ABCNews.com.
Which, of course, is so typical of ABCNews.com, a repeat offender when it comes to claiming exclusives that aren't its own. Checking the timestamps, we see TV Guide's item posted yesterday at 9:57pm, while ABC's story came at 11:14pm. Easy breezy!
(So much for Washington's rep Howard Bragman's previous statement about having "no reason to believe he won't be putting on the scrubs.")
Need something to call "absolutely ridiculous" today? Queerty brings the good news, via TMZ, that GLAAD has filmed Isaiah Washington doing a PSA about hate speech. Because he's an expert. And, also, he needs to make amends with the gays.
Quick suggestion: This absolutely ridiculous PSA is not the way to do it.
As we write this, we're looking out the window and salivating over the picture perfect weather outside, currently being wasted on lazy unemployed persons and pretentious NYU students. And so, for your sanity and ours, we've decided to kick off a glorious new feature called "Comment of the Day," to provide a transient glimmer of entertainment for all you working stiffs who would much rather be downing margaritas poolside on the Jersey Shore (while fending off advances from married, guidos named Tony) than slaving away in your cubicles.
Today's "Comment of the Day" comes to us from Us Weekly's website, and it pertains to the shaky future of Isaiah Washington and T.R. Knight's characters on Grey's Anatomy, and the impact their absence would have on the show overall.
I LOVE ISAIAH!!!!!!! I think T.R. just needs to stop CRYING and acting like a little girl and move on. I'd MUCH RATHER have ISAIAH than T.R. on the show! He RUINED the storyline by "COMING OUT". No chance with Meredith…Then they try to cover it up by getting married! Thats a joke. They should marry him to a male! –Anonymous
Thanks for playing, Anonymous!
One thing, though. Even though you're totally right that George did, as you say, "ruin the storyline by coming out," there's no way the show's writers could marry him to a male because, well, same sex marriages aren't actually legal in this country.
Otherwise, great idea.
It's a good day for Queerty and Stereohyped! Our gay and black hangers-on are dancing in the street (seriously, we just saw Lauren and Andrew stopping traffic on W. 24th) over the news that Isaiah Washington may have been kicked to the Grey's curbed for good. In the season finale (spoiler alert!), Isaiah's character Dr. Burke moves out of his apartment and skips out on his wedding day. Could this be a sign of things to come, as in, Dr. Burke is booted? CONTINUED »
First Isaiah Washington gets labeled a hate-monger for calling some dude a "fag" and then lying about it, so to appease his public, Washington checks himself into a rehab center to treat his "anti-gayness" gene.
Then last week, Paris Hilton offends everyone (and surprises/disappoints approximately no one) when it turns out that she hates black people and "little jappy jews" almost as much as we all hate her.
And now, Snickers is in trouble for that hate-mongering commercial that aired during the Super Bowl.
You know, that one where two mechanics share a Snickers bar ("Lady and the Tramp" style), and are so horrified by the ensuing almost-kiss that they start pulling out fistfuls of chest hair in a deluded attempt to prove their manliness?
Yeah, that one.
Anyways, suddenly, GLADD is chastising Snickers, Mars and the NFL for endorsing prejudice, the Colts and Bears spokesmen (who were contacted why, exactly?) are mumbling incoherent outdated phrases like "we are aware of the brouhaha" and "no comment," and the NFL is implausibly claiming they were "too focused on the Big Game" to pre-screen any of the offensive ad campaigns.
Meanwhile the Super Bowl ad controversy doesn't end there, as viewers (apparently unfamiliar with television and the whole "suspended reality" concept) are still reeling from a GM spot in which a depressed robot (i.e. you, the viewer!) momentarily daydreams about jumping off a bridge.
Could it be that the New York Times was right all along when they argued that the cartoonish violence of the Super Bowl commercials was likely a reflection of the toll of the United States' war in Iraq?
We think not. So we've decided to weigh in and say, once and for all, what we think is—and isn't—offensive.
CONTINUED »
• J. Lo contemplates following in her father's Scientology footsteps, possibly in hopes of attributing Gigli and Jersey Girl to evil Xenu.
• Eva Longoria apparently mistook the SAG awards for a Statue of Liberty inspired toga party.
• Friends rally behind Isaiah Washington, claiming he's an equal-opportunity asshole.
• Carmen Electra and Joan Jett possibly having crazy lesbian boinkfests?
• Us Weekly bravely proclaims Ugly Betty to be "beautiful," before returning to their regularly scheduled superficial program.
• And in sad news today, Angelina Jolie just announced that her mother, Merchaline Bertrand, has finally lost her battle with cancer.
"Grey's Anatomy" star Isaiah Washington has announced that he will check into a treatment center for psychological evaluation, following the controversy over his anti-gay slur against co-star T.R. Knight.
"I have begun counseling," Washington said. "I regard this as a necessary step toward understanding why I did what I did and making sure it never happens again."
Also, Isaiah is exhausted.
• Model/actress Bridget Moynahan is getting rexy over rumors that naturally-thin supermodel Gisele Bundchen is dating her ex. Related: normal women everywhere try, fail, to relate.
• Introducing President Barack Obama, from the same people who brought you Shrek and Shrek 2.
• Grey's Anatomy star Isaiah Washington fires his publicist for permitting him to attend the Golden Globes without wearing a muzzle.
• But that may not be enough to stop Washington from joining 289 former Time Inc. staffers over at the unemployment line.
• Mandy Moore is evidently still punishing herself for "Candy" by continuing to date DJ A.M.
• Today's blind item is more of a "who cares?" than a "whodunit?" but we leave you to ponder over which Spitzer appointee has a threesome fetish.
• And today, in Z-list celebrity feuds…Dustin "Screech" Diamond takes on Gary Coleman.
Think you've heard the last of the Isaiah Washington gay-bashing incident? Think again. Despite the fact that the incident is already three months old (and we've completely lost interest), Jessica Simpson's shaggy-haired musician/boyfriend has decided to toss his hat into the ring.
That's right, John Mayer, evidently inspired by supermodel Gisele's earlier crazy, unsolicited musings about fashion, and has decided to weigh in with his own completely original solution to ABC's PR nightmare.
Because, according to Mayer, the only way to combat the homophobic Isaiah Washington is with a homo-friendly Dr. Burke:
Now, far be it from me to chime in on other people's business, but just like the man standing in line for a movie overhears a stranger behind him whom he knows has confused the finer points of the film "Throw Mama From The Train" with those of "Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot!", sometimes you have to turn around and butt into a situation that doesn't concern you in order to offer a little bit of assistance.
ABC may fire Mr. Washington, and it seems as if the pressure to do so is mounting by the day. They may also choose to placate all parties involved with some well-constructed press releases and the soothing touch of time, but in my mind, neither outcome succeeds in making any strides in promoting the tenets of tolerance and understanding.
I would like to offer my suggestion for a solution; produce an episode of Grey's Anatomy in which Mr. Washington's character, Dr. Burke comes out to his friends and colleagues as a gay man!!! What better way for an actor to get to the roots of his discrimination than by portraying the very the subject of his own ire for the remainder of his contract? That'll learn ya!
Lest you think that we're joking, please allow us reassure you that Mayer then goes on to script out a few "hypothetical" Grey's Anatomy scenes, as per his aforementioned Dr. Burke-is-a-homosexual storyline. And not surprisingly, the end result is so campy/awful/unfunny that we're actually rendered speechless and virtually incapable of mockery. Suffice it to say that highlights include Dr. Burke baking tea cookies for Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters, a gay club in Seattle called "The RamRod," a mime with a scalpel in his chest, and, most improbably of all, the self-involved, narcissistic Meredith Grey relegated to a single, solitary line of dialogue??
We assure you the whole thing reads like an unfunny joke that's gone on for way too long, but should you have any interest in seeing how the creative genius behind "Your Body Is A Wonderland" envisions a very gay episode of Grey's, the full "script" is available after the jump.
CONTINUED »
While the New York Post gets its Grey's Anatomy "faggot" scandal rocks off with the screaming headline "GAY'S ANATOMY," we, for some stupid reason we've yet to understand, thought the blogs might have more creative answers to how to brutally exploit the opportunity for a pun. Or print much more clever headlines. Whichever.
Indeed, they didn't disappoint.
• Hecklerspray: "Isaiah Washington: ‘Sorry For Being A Dirty Great Gay Hater’"
• Queerty: "Isaiah Washington Apologizes for Being Total Fucking Idiot"
• Monsters & Critics: "'McChokey' Isaiah apologizes for slur"
• jsboehm79: "A McApology from McHomophobe"
• MollyGood: "Isaiah Washington GLAAD To Put All This Behind Him"
Editorial Director
