T.R. Knight: Why I quit 'Grey's Anatomy'
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T.R. Knight says he left "Grey's Anatomy" because he could no longer trust what his bosses him were telling him about his character.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Knight says a "breakdown of communication" between him and series creator Shonda Rhimes eventually became so bad that he stopped asking her about his character, George O'Malley. "My five-year experience proved to me that I could not trust any answer that was given [about George]," he says. "And with respect, I'm going to leave it at that."
George had gone through a roller-coaster character arc in the fourth season of "Grey's," cheating on his wife, Callie (Sara Ramirez), with his best friend, Izzie (Katherine Heigl), while suffering the ignominy of having to repeat the intern program at Seattle Grace. Knight's character was then marginalized for a good portion of season five -- so much so that Knight says he figured George had "expired."
That, in fact, is what happened in May's season finale, when an anonymous patient who was gravely injured while trying to save a woman from being hit by a bus turns out to be George. That all happened after Knight asked to leave, and he tells EW now that even though his friend Heigl tried to talk him out of it, he's come to terms with leaving "Grey's."
"From an outsider's perspective, I get the [impression that] 'He's just a spoiled actor... he doesn't know how good he has it,'" Knight says. "There are a lot of people who would like to be in my position. But in the end, I need to be fulfilled in my work."
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Related:
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Hmmm... I wouldn't think this would come as a surprise to anyone. Shonda is notorious for saying one thing and doing another. T.R. is absolutely right to stick by what he believes in. He'll be better off.
Hmmm..... I don't think he's spoiled and wonder where he got that impression. But with a cast as big as 'Grey's' it's a wonder that other actors from the show, i.e. James R. Pickens haven't gotten frustrated at being made a background prop.
Either way, I support T.R. in whatever he does. George was my all-time favorite character. T.R.'s departure as well as that of Brooke Smith and the bizarre avenues the show has taken are my reasons for changing the channel this coming season.
I support T.R. in this one. He needs to stand by his convictions. Acting is a job like anything else and it's not fair for him to get tossed around like he did. No one wants to work like that.
T.R. Knight has made his decision, right, wrong or indifferent, regarding Grey's Anatomy. That's fine, however, he will never, ever get the opportunity in my opinion to have that type of role again in his acting career so I hope he chose wisely.
I've felt the writing on Grey's has been below par since the strike. Disappointingly so. Good for Knight for having the self respect to leave.
honestly, that Rimes 'messed' with Knight's character actually gave him far more breadth than the rest. Knight has actually been the only one to experience the reality of medical school/internship, failed marriage, cheating, messing up a friendship, feeling lost after losing a parent. no other character on Greys had that enormity of experiences. i understand how knight might feel but there is always a saving grace in other people's moronic behavior. Good luck, sorry to see you go, I really liked you - a lot.
I find it difficult to believe there wasn't something deeply personal going on with Shondra regarding T.R. If any character had attention-getting potential it was George. Imagine if this 'loser' triumphed over all his adversity and began to surp*** his other cl***mates showing instinctive brilliance that had been previously suppressed because of the character's difficulties. T.R. needing to be fulfilled as an actor coupled with untruthful responses from Shondra was good reason to leave. I really liked him a lot. I give up on this Grey's mess.
people still watch this show?
What's Grey's Anatomy?