T.R. Knight's 'Grey's Anatomy' contract reportedly terminated today
(Updated with new details on June 19 at 8:25 a.m.)
It's official: George O'Malley is saying goodbye to "Grey's Anatomy."
EW.com is reporting that T.R. Knight's contract -- which, based on a slew of behind-the-scenes reports, he campaigned to be released from for months -- was terminated Wednesday. So, see ya, George!
Oh, wait, that sounds a little too flippant, doesn't it? I mean, I'm not exactly excited to see T.R. leave "Grey's" for good. But it's not like it's a huge surprise.
His desire to leave the show -- along with that of co-star Katherine Heigl, whose fate is still undecided -- has been out in the open for months, and the season finale of "Grey's" had his character's life hanging in the balance after being hit by a bus.
"I think I speak for the entire 'Grey's Anatomy' family when I say we wish T.R. Knight the best in his future endeavors," says the show's creator/executive producer Shonda Rhimes. "He is an incredibly talented actor and a person whose strength of character is admired by all of us."
While Knight is on his way out the door, though, EW also reports that "Grey's" has bumped Jessica Capshaw up to full-time status for next season, which means that Arizona Robbins and Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez) will get to pursue their budding relationship a little more.
Knight's departure ends months (months? I swear it felt like years sometimes) of chatter about his supposed unhappiness with the show and his reduced role this season. He did get the short end of things more than once this season, but got more screen time before the season finale storyline that (literally) threw him under the bus.
So, yeah, though the network is not commenting at this time, word is T.R. got his wish today with ABC letting him out of his binding contract and bidding him farewell.
I guess this means O'Malley dies after the bus incident? Or maybe he survives but says peace out to Seattle Grace post-recovery.
I'm betting on the former. You?
UPDATE: T.R. Knight's former "Grey's Anatomy" co-star Melissa George confirmed to Us Weekly that Knight is indeed leaving "Grey's" at the Whitney Contemporaries Art Party and Auction in New York City last night.
George, who called Knight one of her best friends, said she feels great for him. When asked what is next for Knight, she was a bit coy: "Oh, everything. He's had a good week. I'm not saying anything... We just went to see two Broadway shows in the last two days. That's something great, you know? For him."
Was George confirming EW.com's report that T.R. is in talks to star in "Lend Me a Tenor" on Broadway next year?
Perhaps. But as far as Katherine Heigl's future plans go, George seemed to be in the dark, admitting that she doesn't know whether "Grey's" will let Heigl -- whose character is suffering from brain cancer -- walk away as well.
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People still watch that show? If so, why?
or, they recast him since his face is all deformed anyways and he gets a new face trasplant!!!!...which can put seattle grace on top of the list again...idk just my thoughts lol!
Please, Denny died three seasons ago and he's STILL on the damned show.
He was one of the best characters on the show and one reason I watched it. I am sorry to see him go - maybe I won't bother watching the show next year esp. if Katherine Heigl is leaving as well.
What Don said.
Here we go again with the writers not being able to make a quality decision.
Tossing him under the bus was just as bad as when Henry Blake's character (M*A*S*H) was killed when over the sea of Japan on the way home from war.
George's character has been trashed for two seasons now and for NO good reason.
The previous season he and Izzy were madly in love and it had possibilities. Then when that didn't work out there was "little gray" and that too didn't go over.
SO ... what do the writers want out of him?
Face transplant? Maybe. Getting with Izzy / Little Gray? Not a chance.
The "white knight" dream girl? I don't think so.
While Denny's character was okay, it sucked to see him back time and time again. So, let's let the dead bury the dead and move on.
To T. R. ... I'll miss you as I have enjoyed George on the show. I wish you a WONDERFUL acting career and look forward to seeing you in your next show or movie.
jim
Sad. His character had the most potential. Imagine if this guy who failed his exam, came back and turned out to have insight, instinct and administrative ability. He was a wonderful actor to which some people blinded themselves. Shandra is a revenge Queen getting back at him (THE VICTIM) of a fellow African-American's bigotry. ABC should get rid of her as the show runner. Put that beyawtch in her place - especially given so much really bad writing coming from her
I was hoping for something out of the storyline with the girl he saved, but I am not surprised he is gone. I do hope he is at least on the Season Premiere at least to have a good send off.
MORE GAY STORYLINES----------------------YUCK! GOOD LUCK WITH GETTING GOOD RATINGS FROM NOW ON----PITYFULL!
Regarding news of T.R. leaving, it's about time. He had been marginalized for a long time and he needed to get out if he ever hoped to have any semblance of an acting career again.
He was probably initially hoping things would improve but let's face it, the writing was on the wall and he was probably already a goner, at least in Shonda's mind, back in 2007/2006 during the whole Isiah fiasco.
More than likely T.R. wanted to make it to the 100th episode to ensure that he gets a cut of Grey's Anatomy syndication fees.
Anyway, good luck to him. Maybe ABC plans to cast Dominic Monaghan as George version 2.0. (post-plastic surgery).