I get that there’s no easy way to lay someone off, but, come on, this is ridiculous: A male series regular on a one-hour drama — a onetime ratings powerhouse — learned that he was out of a job only after reading his character’s death scene in the script!
According to my mole, the popular and well-respected leading man — who tapes his final scenes this week — was blindsided not just by his ouster, but by the tacky way in which it was handled. “He was hurt that the producers didn’t tell him first,” says the source. “He deserved better.”
The real surprise is that, well, anyone was surprised at all. The actors on said show have long been frustrated by the lack of communication coming from the front office. Still, as the insider points out, “This was low even for them.”
So, who’ll be looking for work starting next week? And what show does he currently star on? Here’s the first of two hints: It’s not — I repeat not — Grey’s Anatomy. Look for that second hint in this week’s Ask Ausiello.
Adrian Pasdar on Heroes?
I would agree, but since Nathan died last year, it makes sense that it would be hard to keep both Nathan and Sylar around, although Sylar haunting Matt was good for one episode, either Nathan or Sylar had to go.
ITS DEFINATELY SOMEONE ON NBC…
Ausiello’s frienemy over at E! confirmed it’s someone on Heroes.
Kristin gives much better “hints”, Ausiello. It’s definitely Peter. Poor Milo.
Nathan dies every year.
LMAO @ shane!!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!!
and it’s totally either Parkman or Mohinder. I think Nathan is at some risk, but I doubt he’d die. AND PETER WILL NEVER DIE.
It’s Hiro
@ Megan: If it’s Peter then I really will quit this show. He’s the ONLY reason I watch anymore.
It can’t be “Heroes” That show was NEVER a ratings powerhouse, just a hyped wannabe that got decent ratings its first year.
Also, since he ‘died’ again last night, he would have taped those scenes already. He has died twice already, it would be crazy to ‘die’ again!
I think it’s between Parkman, Nathan, HRG, or maybe Ando! But I hope it’s Parkman!
It has to be Hiro.
oh no I hope not=’(
It is the actor who plays Victor Newman, on the Young and the Restless. I will quit watching, if they kill him off. The actor is Eric Braeden.He has been on the show,since the start. I can’t understand why they would this.
pretty sure this is referring to a prime time drama as Ausiello rarely gives spoilers on soaps ( actually I don’t think I’ve EVER seen him give soap spoilers)
Eric Braeden also chose to quit because they asked him to take a pay cut. Everyone knew he was leaving.
The show started in March 1973…. Eric Braeden started in 1980. Twenty-nine years is a pretty large chunk of time. I’m with you, he goes…… I go, and I’ve been watching it from 1973! I think the person in question is in a primetime series. Heros sounds right. Once a powerhouse, but, no more.
Ditto. I think it is Eric Braeden.
Eric Braeden has already taken a pay cut. Now in the middle of a three year contract they are trying to force him and others to take another pay cut. He doesn’t mind taking the cut…. just not in the middle of a contract. That’s what contracts are for.
The trouble with it being anyone from Heroes is that people die on that show all the time and it doesn’t mean they’re out of a job. They just keep coming back!
I think it’s Vincent D’Onofrio from Law and Order Criminal Intent
That was old news. That was reported a few weeks ago.
It’s not Vincent D’Onofrio. The latest news is that he’s not renewing his contract but it wasn’t a surprise from the network. And his character is not being killed.
i immediately thought it was Adrian Pasdar. He fits all the clues, and Heroes seems to be a total basket case behind the scenes. Add to that NBCU is itself a basket case and must be having cash flow probs nowadays… It SUCKS if it’s Pasdar!!! What a dick move by the producers, whoever it turns out to be.
How about Masi Oka on Heroes? He just came down with a brain tumor, perhaps the buildup to his death
except that one could see it coming if they pulled a trick like a tumor. this sounds more like in the middle of the script, someone pulls out a gun and bang, you are dead. good bye
I’m lost I haven’t beenable to keep-up w/this because i have’nt been watching because i thought thay changed time’s/tight’s? IDK?? I liked Sy; & hero,and ofcourse “the cheerleader”!!!
Everyone knows it’s Kenny from Southpark…he is the weekly victim remember “they killed Kenny, those ba$tards”
No, it can’t be Kenny, people still watch South Park…
I agree, that was my first thought as well, especially since Heroes was once a powerhouse, and now not so great. Also, with the last episode’s plot, im not sure how nathan would come back.
I bet it’s one of the Criminal Intent actors. Chris noth? Vincent D’nofrio?
Chris Noth is no longer on the show and we knew weeks ago that D’Nofrio was leaving.
We knew weeks ago he was leaving, but did he know he’d be killed off the show? maybe he thought his character would just leave
The issue in the article isn’t the death. It’s that the actor didn’t know he was being booted.
Neither of them are still on CI. Good try, though.
Criminal Intent was never a “ratings powerhouse.”
It’s Adrian Pasdar or Milo Ventimiglio or the guy that play Suresh in Heroes.
yeah i reckon its a heroes man as well, once a powerhouse ratings show and the producers have not been handling anything right recently, gota be heroes!
I agree. I thought of Heroes once that line was said. I hope no Milo. Peter and Sylar are the show. I also like Parkman too. I like the idea with no Suresh.
I know people will hate me for saying this but Syalr. Sylar is getting a little annoying, granted he did have a good scene with the social worker but still, he killed off Elle my favorite character and he is just so annoying. He died a billion time. The last time he died I was just like he’ll be back. I hope Sylar goes
LOL, my first thought was “Grey’s Anatomy”. I’d say one of the “CSI”s then.
CSI ratings are still really high – in the top ten every week
Kyle MacLachlan from “Desperate Housewives”….!?
Agreed!
I hope it’s Kyle MacLachlan! Orson’s gotta go.
I don’t think it’s Housewives…Housewives is still pretty big in ratings, if not what it once was. My guess is Heroes.
Housewives is not a powerhouse anymore. it lost to Family Guy in the ratings last week!
To Robin: Housewives scored 13 million…Family Guy…8 million. How exactly did Family Guy beat DH in ratings?
Kyle said he wanted to leave at the end of this season, so I don’t think it’s him.
Yeah I agree it’s probably Kyle MacLachlan. There’s been rumours his character has ran it’s course.
And wouldn’t that fit with the plane crash on Wisteria Lane during November sweeps?
I sure hope so. I am so over the whole Orson blackmailing Bree storyline.
Makes a lot of sense – Marc Cherry has been a fan of whacking people with no warning, and Kyle’s never really fit in tho he’s a good actor.
But Orson only joined the cast in the last ep of season 2
Ignore that, I got my spoilers muddled!
I actually thought it would be James Denton from Desperate Housewives.
Can’t be desparate housewives, because it’s not a drama.
we should be so lucky, he sucked on Sex and the City and he is even more pathetic on this show. Someone get that man a set of balls
Kyle/Trey was great on SATC because he was tall dark & handsome. A prince who came to Charlotte’s rescue. Charlotte always wanted the “perfect” man with the perfect family background on Park Ave and she got it (an uptight bore). Too bad Trey was not very sexual in the beginning. His Scooter could not “get it up” for Charlotte’s Rebecca. LOL!
Vincent D’nofrio
Nope.
Yeah, someone on Heroes
I was originally thinking Housewives, but Heroes and Suresh makes total sense considering the rumours around his death and the fact it was once a ratings powerhouse.
Feel bad for him now.
Rumors of Mohinder’s demise have been greatly exaggerated!
HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAhaha!!!!!!
yeah, i would totally go with someone from Heroes. Adrian or Milo are the only ones I’d consider “leads” and I can’t see them turfing Milo … Sendhil Ramamurthy, Jack Coleman, etc., are more supporting …
Now I understand why they call you a weasle.
If you’re going to call someone a weasel, at least learn how to spell it correctly.
HAHAHAHAHHAHHahahahaha!!!!!
you have this confused with Harry Potter, Weasle is one of the family names…oh wait, it’s a typo, never mind
CSI
Sam Waterston on L&O?
I like this guess. It is mean, but saves money. I would miss the character, but his role has already been reduced.
*gasp* I sure hope not!!! I love Jack McCoy!!! He’s been on the show WAY too long to be treated like that…
This is NBC we’re talking about — they have been absolute boors and cretins to everyone associated w/their scripted series.
McCoy is the only reason left to watch the show since Lenny’s been gone. It better not be him. He’s awesome and he doesn’t have all that much screen time as it is.
Agree 110% — Jack McCoy is biggest reason to stick with L&O these days. Glad they have given him more screen time than previous D.A.’s. I don’t care much for his replacement, that Mike character. Surely they wouldn’t do this to him after all these years!
Leslie, I would say that Jack McCoy is the ONLY reason to watch L&O now that Jesse Martin and Jerry Orbach are both gone. And as much as I like Waterston, that’s just not enough reason for me.
I hope not. Jack is great. I loved the story line that he finally got promoted
That was my guess. “male series regular” – check. “popular and well respected leading man” – check. “one-hour drama” – check. “Onetime ratings powerhouse” – check. If so, he did deserve better.
That’s who I thought of. Hate to see him go, and especially after all these years they would do it like that.
I would be very upset if it was Sam
That’s the first thought that comes to mind too. On the other hand, do we know if Lt. Van Buren is going to survive her cancer diagnosis? It would be risky to kill off two major characters.
That was my first thought, too. I hope not. That would really suck.
L&O is probably in its last season anyway so I doubt it’s Waterston.
This was going to be my guess…
It wouldn’t be Sam Waterston. The L&O producers are WAAAAAAY more professional than that. Especially with him and the fact L&O celebrated it’s 20th anniversary last month.
Must be someone on Heroes.
I would be hurt if it was Adrian pasder:(
Heard some nasty things about the D’Onofrio sitch. Could be it. Would be too much to hope that it’d mean David Caruso is FINALLY gone from CSI: Miami. With him gone, the show might actually be watchable.
Yeah….. I’m still ticked at Caruso for that NYPD Blue stunt!
Vince isn’t getting killed off on CI, so it’s not him.