'Bionic' actor: Washington lands new TV series

The Baltimore Sun

LOS ANGELES -- Isaiah Washington, who was written out as a major character on ABC's Grey's Anatomy after publicly using a homophobic slur, has been written into NBC's promising new fall show Bionic Woman, network executives said yesterday at the annual summer television press tour.

The controversial actor, who has been attacking his former network as racist for firing him, will appear in five of the new show's first six episodes. In spite of Washington's obvious baggage, Ben Silverman, co-chairman of NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios, said he was elated to land the actor, who became the butt of national jokes this year when he entered a Malibu, Calif., rehabilitation center for anger issues.

"He's a wonderful actor," said Silverman, who kept repeating that phrase when asked about Washington and claimed not to understand all the furor. "He's really talented."

Washington said his dismissal from ABC's hit medical show after his repeated use of an anti-gay slur was "an unfortunate misunderstanding for everyone" that he was eager to move past.

"I'm humbled by this opportunity," he said, adding that he and the network are also developing an action series.

"What I always wanted to put at the forefront is my creativity, that thing I want to do, which is act," Washington said.

On Bionic Woman, based on the 1970s show, Washington will play "a mysterious person who is brought into the enigmatic scientific organization" responsible for creating bionic Jamie Sommers (Michelle Ryan), according to NBC.

Silverman and Marc Graboff were brought aboard after former NBC Entertainment President Kevin Reilly was ousted in late May. They are out to chart a new course in the fast-changing world of television, where they reside in fourth place in the Nielsen ratings.

Despite NBC's assurances to advertisers during the executive upheaval in late May that the fall schedule was stable, Silverman and Graboff nevertheless shuffled around several programs. To capitalize on its summer success, the precision karaoke reality show The Singing Bee will join the fall lineup on Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m. That show will be preceded on the same night by the reality-based weight-loss show The Biggest Loser, which will pack on an extra half-hour.

Other tweaks included switching the Friday schedule. Friday Night Lights has been moved from 10 p.m. to 9 p.m., Deal or No Deal will be at 8 p.m. and Las Vegas will take the 10 p.m. slot. And on Mondays, to capitalize on its similar themes with the hit Heroes, the new dramedy Chuck will kick off the network's fantasy night at 8 p.m.

Silverman also revealed a new mind-over-matter program called Phenomenon featuring Uri Geller and "mystifier" Criss Angel. The show, based on the successful Israeli version, will pit 10 "mentalists" against each other; viewers will select the winner.

"We had goose bumps watching the show," said Silverman.

Despite declining ratings, NBC also renewed a celebrity version of The Apprentice for midseason. The celebrities, who would be competing for charity, have yet to be announced, but Silverman and Donald Trump are especially interested in a high-profile talk-show host who recently came on the market.

"I think it'd be great to get Rosie [O'Donnell] on The Apprentice," Silverman said jokingly. "Donald told me to extend an invite" to her. Trump and O'Donnell had an infamous battle of words this past year.

Contacted later, O'Donnell's spokeswoman, Cindi Berger, nixed that notion: "It will never happen in this lifetime or beyond."

Silverman also reiterated his commitment to the comedy 30 Rock and the family drama Friday Night Lights, two shows that were critically acclaimed last year yet languished in the ratings and were nevertheless renewed.

The 36-year-old wunderkind executive said he hopes Friday Nights Lights, centered on a small-town high school football program, will receive its share of Emmy nominations, which will be announced Thursday. Meanwhile, in a boost for the Tina Fey comedy about a late-night sketch show, Jerry Seinfeld will guest star as himself in 30 Rock's second-season premiere, slated for Oct. 4.

"We're hoping that what happened with The Office will happen with 30 Rock," Silverman said.

Silverman signed a deal with producer Norman Lear, whose All in the Family changed prime-time sitcoms, to produce an hourlong "battle of the sexes" dramedy about a single mother who re-enters the work force on Wall Street.

NBC is also launching a weeklong green initiative in the fall with programming to highlight environmental themes. Prime-time shows, even late night and daytime, will weave in eco-friendly content.

Martin Miller writes for the Los Angeles Times. The Associated Press contributed to this article.

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