I smell fresh Emmy material for Brothers & Sisters matriarch Sally Field.
According to sources, Balthazar Getty, who plays the Oscar winner’s eldest son, was informed last week that producers were not planning on picking up his option as a full-time series regular next season. However, that doesn’t mean that Tommy’s place setting at the Walker dinner table is being permanently removed. Not yet, anyway. Per a B&S source, Getty is currently in talks with the show to stay on in a reduced capacity, perhaps as a recurring guest star.
While a rep for the show declined to comment, Getty’s spokesperson denies that the actor is leaving.
Rumors about Getty’s possible exit have been grist for the gossip mill for months. The actor’s real-life drama — the collapse of his marriage and ensuing tabloid-ready romance with Sienna Miller — has allegedly alienated him from his co-stars, many of who had grown close to his wife, Rosetta, and their four young children. What’s more, according to E! Online‘s Marc Malkin, Getty has been showing up late for work and proving increasingly “difficult” to work with.
But per multiple sources, Getty’s sorta-departure is not the result of any one issue but a combination of factors that also includes budgetary and storyline considerations. Tommy has long been considered the most disposable of B&S‘s siblings. Removing him, at least as a regular presence, frees up the show to introduce some new blood.
In any case, don’t expect Tommy to exit by way of a casket. Although an ABC insider says the idea of killing off a Walker has been discussed, the network would likely view such a twist as “too morbid.” As a result, Tommy is likely to either relocate with his wife and baby, or just drift into the background and reappear for the occasional disastrous dinner party.
What do you think? Is Tommy an integral part of B&S? Or will you not even notice if he’s missing? Also, could Getty be the subject of a certain blind item (tee-hee)? Sound off below!
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i knew he was the blind item. I don’t hate or love Tommy. He is definetly not my fav character, but the Walkers work best together
NOOO even though tommy has the smallest part of any of the Walkers the whole name of the show is brothers and sisters and they (the producers etc) can’t intentionally get rid of one
He was on top of my List for the blind item.
As it is, he’s not really an integral part of the cast nor is his wife. When did he last have a major storyline before his baby’s sickness?
As much as i’ll miss his hotness, he could be sent away and just appear rarely.
Tommy and his wife only have one baby. The other twin died at birth.
I won’t miss Tommy at all. He and his wife have always been kind of disposable, and once I heard about his despicable off-screen conduct, I couldn’t stop thinking about that whenever he appeared.
I think the whole is together so much that his absence would be awkward from the family dinner. He should relocate with the family, could work out as a good story. The pressure of the family business is proving to be too much of a strain on him professionally as personally, makes since to get away.
I am not sure why everyone is always so down on Tommy. I like the character because at least he is a balance to all the wackiness of the other characters which I guess makes him literally the “straight” man and in this case more boring than the others.
Thank you for finally revealing the blind item! I think Tommy should go but they should kill him off. I don’t see it as too morbid. I think it’d make the show more dramatic and I could see amazing Emmy performances…especially from Sally Field. (Anyone who’s seen the graveyard performance in Steel Magnolias knows that I’m talking about!)
But.. but… he’s a walker! they all have to stay together… plus he’s cute! lol.. not cuter than dave though…
it will be weird not having tommy around… i hope it dosen’t happen!
i guessed getty awhile ago…totally not surprised.
He will not be missed. He brings down the show whenever he is on screen, and his plot-lines have “missed” their mark everytime.
Yey! Ausiello finally reveals a Blind Item!
Well, since they just revealed Kevin to be the father of Tommy’s daughter, I guessed that Tommy might not be long for this world (thus setting up some sort of custody battle if Tommy’s wife bought the farm with him). But I agree that killing him would be too much death on this show. They are constantly referring to William’s death and I’d rather him just go away for a bit and that way they have the option down the line of having him return. Always keep the options open I think for these types of shows.
does that mean we can stop mentioning that stupid blind item!?!
I like Tommy and would prefer all the siblings stay on the show. If its budgetary then they should skip bringing on the new half sibling and use the existing Walkers instead.
I hope that sk@nk Sienna Miller was worth losing your TV role, Balthazar. You’re such a loser.