If you remember, Isaiah Washingon’s infamous swan song and exit from Grey’s Anatomy was less than stellar after making homophobic remarks about his co-star T.R Knight.
Well, obviously there’s no bad-blood between the HBIC and show’s creator Shonda Rhimes and Thomas because according to reports, in May, Washington will be coming back to reprise his role as Dr. Preston Burke for an episode which too, will be Sandra Oh’s final episode on the hit ABC medical drama.
Rhimes said that Washington’s character is essential in order to wrap up the story of Oh’s character: Cristina Yang.
“It’s important to me that Cristina’s journey unfolds exactly as it should” said Rhimes. “Burke vital to that journey — he gives her story that full-circle moment we need to properly say goodbye to our beloved Cristina Yang.”
Sure. I know you’re probably thinking about another less than stellar exit from the show: “Izzie” played by Katherine Heigl (whose final ep. aired on January 21, 2010) and departure remained a touchy subject to date.
In an interview with New York Post, Grey’s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo spoke about Katherine swan song and attributed it to “hurt feelings, combined with instant success and huge paychecks started things spinning out of control.”
She revealed: “The crazier things got, as I watched all the tumult with Isaiah and then the Katie thing, I started to focus on the work.”
And about former (now returning) co-star Isaiah Washington having been fired [for reportedly calling co-star T.R. Knight a homophobic slur]: “Maybe it is my Boston, blue-collar upbringing. I just tried to not pay attention to all the noise around me.”
Although Isaiah Washington is making a comeback to Grey’s, from the looks of how the jabs, digs, and swipes where taken at the show (via Heigl in the press while riding high on her ego?)-as the Tinseltown/Theatre saying goes: “You may never work in this town again!”
In September 2013 multiple film and TV insiders told The Hollywood Reporter that former co-workers of Heigl have found her “demanding and difficult to work with”-claiming that she earned $12 million for her role in “Life As We Know It” (2010), and since then, basically demanded the anty be upped going forward. After her abrupt leave from Grey’s, when she saw minimal box office success on the big screen, she asked to return. The request was denied, and now she’s reportedly trying to return to the small screen with a different project.
Former co-star Ellen Pompeo she expressed: “When Katie left, it was tough,” Ellen continues. “You could understand why she wanted to go — when you’re offered $12 million a movie and you’re only 26. But Katie’s problem is that she should not have renewed her contract. She re-upped, took a big raise and then tried to get off the show. And then her movie career did not take off.”
Don’t call it a karm-back, but here lately it is being reported that although Heigl, had been working steadily over the past few years-it has not been as much as her “Grey’s Anatomy” / “Knocked Up” days.
Although she was successful in turning to small-screen and is currently set to star in an independent film called “Jenny’s Wedding.” It’s supposed to be a movie about a woman named Jenny Farrell (played by Heigl) who tells her conservative family that she’s lesbian and plans on marrying the roommate “Kitty” (played by Alexis Bledel) who, all this time, the family thought was just a roommate.
Interesting premise, however, unfortunate conclusions have been drawn that pressed paused on filing. It is said the film is suffering from the financial backing to make it to the big screen. Because of that, it is in post-production. On February 11, its indie producer (Mary Agnes Donohue) started an Indiegogo campaign to raise the 150k needed to complete the film by its March 28 deadline. According to our sources, as of February 26, it raised 33k of that 150k needed thus far.
Heigl has already shot all of her scenes for the film and although assumed, it is not known (for sure) whether or not she was paid her entire salary upfront or if all or part of her pay is contingent upon the film doing well and turning over a profit.
Of course [you-know-who] non-other than TMZ, caught up with Heigl to ask about the funding venture (which she claimed to not know much about): “I don’t have that much to do with it, but I hope it’s going well.”
The reporter then asked Heigl-who explained she is really proud of the film: “If your movie doesn’t get the funding it needs on Indiegogo, would you be willing to fill in the extra amount?”
Heigl replied: “I haven’t made that much in the last few years, man.” I gotta support my family.”
(Heigl, 35, is married to singer: Josh Kelly and they have two children: Naleigh, 4, and Adalaidge, soon to be 2).
It seems as though the battle of luck v. money plagued Heigl’s life since leaving Grey’s.
For a short time, the anty was indeed upped from $12 million. In 2012, Katherine starred in a big screen adaptation of Janet Evanovich’s 1994 crime novel “One for the Money” for which she reportedly did make $15 million dollars— however (according to Box Office Mojo), the film lost big at the box office-only grossing $36 million worldwide but have a $40 million dollar production budget.
In 2013 her film “The Big Wedding” also did poorly at the box office-however, turned over a small profit however, luck wasn’t on her side next film around.
In April, Heigl starred in “The Big Wedding” which (despite its A-list cast which included: Robert DeNiro, Diane Keaton, Robin Williams, and Susan Sarandon) failed to earn big at the box office.
All is not completely lost for Heigl. Just this past September, she announced that she will make her return to television in an NBC upcoming CIA drama.
Rather than an abrupt leave, in the regular world of 9 to 5’ers, a two-week notice is typically preferred…you know, just in case you ever want your job back…
Hopefully this time, should that happen in Heigl’s world, perhaps this around; she will take notes from her former Grey’s co-star Sandra Oh who (like a two-week notice) did press and announced she will be leaving Grey’s Anatomy—giving her fans, the writers, and the show itself, the entire 52-week notice she gave, to brace and prepare for her absence, and too in the event you need to come back (and avoid “karm”–back).
Source: Tim Kenneally, April Sperry, Andy Swift/Hollywood Life, Nicole Eggenberger
