ER casting news
06-07-04, 11:05 AM
#1
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ER casting news
Alex Kingston(Dr. Corday) won't be back.
This isn't much of a shock since they haven't had much to do with her character since Dr. Greene died.
British actress Alex Kingston is being axed from US TV series ER because she is too old, she has claimed.
The 41-year-old launched a withering attack on the show's producers after they told her that her contract would not be renewed.
For the past seven years she has played British surgeon Dr Elizabeth Corday, raking in $150,000 per episode.
But she claims bosses are writing her out because they want to concentrate on younger cast members, who include 28-year-old Bend It Like Beckham star Parminder Nagra.
The show, now in its tenth year, has become preoccupied with youth, she said.
"I suddenly felt very old surrounded by these young 20-somethings," she complained in a Radio Times interview.
"Does it mean that I'm the geriatric that's being pushed out because she's too old? [The show] definitely seems to be taking a different tone. I understand it needs to keep reinventing itself in order to keep going and apparently I, according to the producers and the writers, am part of the old fogeys who are no longer interesting.
"In that respect it's a shame. It's fine to have young med students, but you need to have figures of authority, people of different ages, races, shapes and sizes. The classics are all on their way out. And what happens when they've gone, which will be very soon?"
For the past two years she has feared getting the axe but the news still came as a shock, she said.
Kingston, once married to Ralph Fiennes, lives in California with her German-born second husband Florian Haertel and their three-year-old daughter Salome.
The 41-year-old launched a withering attack on the show's producers after they told her that her contract would not be renewed.
For the past seven years she has played British surgeon Dr Elizabeth Corday, raking in $150,000 per episode.
But she claims bosses are writing her out because they want to concentrate on younger cast members, who include 28-year-old Bend It Like Beckham star Parminder Nagra.
The show, now in its tenth year, has become preoccupied with youth, she said.
"I suddenly felt very old surrounded by these young 20-somethings," she complained in a Radio Times interview.
"Does it mean that I'm the geriatric that's being pushed out because she's too old? [The show] definitely seems to be taking a different tone. I understand it needs to keep reinventing itself in order to keep going and apparently I, according to the producers and the writers, am part of the old fogeys who are no longer interesting.
"In that respect it's a shame. It's fine to have young med students, but you need to have figures of authority, people of different ages, races, shapes and sizes. The classics are all on their way out. And what happens when they've gone, which will be very soon?"
For the past two years she has feared getting the axe but the news still came as a shock, she said.
Kingston, once married to Ralph Fiennes, lives in California with her German-born second husband Florian Haertel and their three-year-old daughter Salome.
06-07-04, 11:09 AM
#2
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Agreed. I think she's probably right about the show's recent youth focus. But the writers have no clue what to do with her without Greene. The way she has been written lately, she won't be missed.
06-07-04, 12:50 PM
#4
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I'm with the consensus here. She needs to wake up and realize it isn't age. It is a stale character that has absolutely nothing to do on screen since everyone around her character is gone. What about Luka? Not exactly a 20 year old. How about Weaver? Nope not here either. Susan Lewis? Huh-uh. It isn't age. Move on with your life.
But 7 years! Has she been on that long? That would mean she joined the third season. That doesn't sound right.
But 7 years! Has she been on that long? That would mean she joined the third season. That doesn't sound right.
06-07-04, 04:53 PM
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Originally posted by Kal-El
Eh, no big loss. But what's the news on
joining?
Eh, no big loss. But what's the news on
Spoiler:
Spoiler:
Spoiler:
06-07-04, 05:57 PM
#10
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I can't say I'm surprised considering the writers haven't done much with her character the last 2 years. With her leaving, I think this might be the first time a main cast member isn't a surgeon. Maybe the writers will only use recurring characters such as Anspaugh whenever a plot involves an operation, or maybe they'll focus a little more on Psychiatric cases, considering the direction they seemed to be going with Abby last season.
06-07-04, 06:28 PM
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Originally posted by Kal-El
Eh, no big loss. But what's the news on
joining?
Eh, no big loss. But what's the news on
Spoiler:
I stopped watching when they killed Romano. Now I'm glad I did.
06-08-04, 02:01 PM
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I also believe it can finally close the door on any
reference to Dr Green's character if the writers choose.
No Ella (youngest daughter) or the other one now.
Its the right move IMO. I will still miss Kingston though.
Now when is Weaver leaving.....I am so sick of her
character for like years now.
reference to Dr Green's character if the writers choose.
No Ella (youngest daughter) or the other one now.
Its the right move IMO. I will still miss Kingston though.
Now when is Weaver leaving.....I am so sick of her
character for like years now.
06-08-04, 03:06 PM
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I stopped watching when Weaver's partner died. It's as if they only way the writer's can develop a character is by killing a close friend / family member (example: Pratt's brother, Chen's father, Carter's grandmother, Romano, Greene, Lucy, Benton's ex-wife, etc.)
I can handle it if they keep the non-patient deaths in check but they've danced this one-note samba to the point of absurdity.
I wouldn't be surprised if they kill Corday and spend then next few episodes having the rest of the cast adjust to the loss with one character in particular (the one that they can't think of anything else to do with) take it unusually hard.
Edit: I had confused the exit of Pratt's brother- he did not die but went to Maryland. Also, don't forget Abby's brother. Although he didn't actually die, it was *suspected* that he died in a plane crash.
I can handle it if they keep the non-patient deaths in check but they've danced this one-note samba to the point of absurdity.
I wouldn't be surprised if they kill Corday and spend then next few episodes having the rest of the cast adjust to the loss with one character in particular (the one that they can't think of anything else to do with) take it unusually hard.
Edit: I had confused the exit of Pratt's brother- he did not die but went to Maryland. Also, don't forget Abby's brother. Although he didn't actually die, it was *suspected* that he died in a plane crash.
Last edited by Booth; 06-10-04 at 06:27 PM.
06-08-04, 04:01 PM
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Although I've always thought Dr. Corday was hot, I have to agree with everyone that she really hasn't had much to do the last 2 or 3 seasons. She really doesn't have much reason to squawk though--let's do the math. $150,000 an episode, times 22 episodes per season, times 7 seasons, equals $23,100,000!!! Unless she's a complete moron when it comes to handling/investing her money, I think she ought to quit complaining and exit gracefully.
06-08-04, 04:37 PM
#18
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22 episodes per season?! I thought they were down to 4 episodes per season. 
06-08-04, 06:10 PM
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Too old? I would think most people find her quite attractive, including the producers. Besides, Laura Innes is older than she, and she's not being let go.
Parminder is 28? Wow, I thought she was about 20.
Parminder is 28? Wow, I thought she was about 20.
06-08-04, 10:06 PM
#20
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Originally posted by Booth
I stopped watching when Weaver's partner died. It's as if they only way the writer's can develop a character is by killing a close friend / family member (example: Pratt's brother,
I stopped watching when Weaver's partner died. It's as if they only way the writer's can develop a character is by killing a close friend / family member (example: Pratt's brother,
I won't miss Corday. But I will miss Gallant.
06-10-04, 10:03 AM
#22
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Originally posted by El Scorcho
Thank god. She was the most boring and irritating character ever.
Thank god. She was the most boring and irritating character ever.
06-10-04, 06:30 PM
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Originally posted by Michael Corvin
WOW! I missed a couple of episodes. He was on one week then I missed 1 maybe 2 and he was gone, w/o even a mention of what happened. I thought he was a great character, and definitely gave Pratt a human side. So how did it happen?
WOW! I missed a couple of episodes. He was on one week then I missed 1 maybe 2 and he was gone, w/o even a mention of what happened. I thought he was a great character, and definitely gave Pratt a human side. So how did it happen?
Originally posted by Patman
Leon, Pratt's "brother" got shipped off to Maryland, IIRC.
Leon, Pratt's "brother" got shipped off to Maryland, IIRC.
06-10-04, 07:53 PM
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what about that Indian chack from Bend it like Beckham? I don't watch ER so forgive me if this question is moot.