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Original Is Leaving

[TV Line] An original cast member on a long-running drama on one of the Big 5 networks (ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, The CW) is leaving his/her series at the end of the current season. And, by all accounts, the exit is an extremely amicable one.

The actor/actress in question — a fan favorite by any measure — is leaving of his/her own accord. And they’ve given the Powers That Be at said hour-long series plenty of notice so that they can craft an appropriate exit for the character. But to reveal the identity of the performer with one-and-a-half-feet out the door would risk spoiling the storyline, so for now we’re giving this piece of news the Blind Item treatment.

To recap:

• Drama series
• ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC or The CW
• Original cast member leaving at end of season

Similar: A Sudden Exit

Actor/Actress or Character:

TV Show:

[Optional] Do you think their leaving will help or hurt the show?

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. funkyhomosapien says

    It doesn’t specify that it’s the lead, and “one and a half foot out the door” makes me think it’s someone short so maybe Chandra Wilson who plays Dr Bailey on Grey’s Anatomy? I don’t feel that her role can evolve much more than it already has.

    Whoever it is, I read somewhere that Shonda Rhimes wanted to keep the show going on forever even without the original cast so she’ll try to keep us hooked with new characters.

  3. loverink says

    Scott Caan
    Hawaii Five-0
    CBS

    Caan is an original who has already negotiated to work less episodes per season; I think he’s “one and a half feet” out the door.

    I guess it could also be Alex O’Loughlin, but he’s hinted at renewing for another season and I think the show will end when he leaves.

  4. xphile101 says

    Everyone is saying it’s Mariska Hargitay (and it could be!) but I don’t think they’d try to continue the show without her. NBC execs are on record as saying the show goes on as long as she wants it to, so once she’s done, it’s done. I think it goes one more year (to break the record that they just tied) and then she moves on to something else. (She’s sold her NYC home before, so I don’t think that necessarily means anything.) It’s definitely time for it to end, though.

  6. CSLear says

    Seems a lot of people are guessing her, but it’s definitely not Ellen Pompeo
    on Grey’s Anatomy. She’s still under contract for the current season
    and the following season, although she has discussed leaving after that.

    Someone guessed Mariska Hargitay, and while I don’t watch SVU, that seems
    a good bet, as she’s been on the show for two decades.

  7. Bubbles says

    Scott Caan – Hawaii Five 0.

    He’s been doing less episodes for a few years. Part of me hopes it’s him.

  9. AtomicCity says

    Chandra Wilson (Miranda Bailey) on Grey’s?

    Only because I read an article where Ellen Pompeo said GA could possibly end after next season, and I can’t imagine her leaving before the show ended.

  10. Kellikopter says

    The only way they might salvage SVU without Mariska would be if they brought Christopher Meloni back as Stabler to take her place. And that would be more of a peace offering to fans than anything. I love Ice T, but I don’t think Kelly Giddish and company could carry the show on their own.

  12. SeijnSei says

    Actor/Actress or Character: Ellen Pompeo

    TV Show: Grey’s Anatomy

    [Optional] Do you think their leaving will help or hurt the show? The show is basically over without her.

  15. mylaboobarbie says

    Stephen Amell

    Green Arrow

    I’ve never watched the show. But he’s the first person I thought of

  16. Summerborn says

    I bet this is Mariska Hargitay. She and her husband just put their New York brownstone up for sale.

    The show will likely survive her leaving, at least for a few seasons, but it won’t ever be quite as good.

  17. twocentsgossip says

    Actor/Actress or Character: Conrad Ricamora/Oliver Hampton

    TV Show: how to get away with murder

  22. MikeInSanJose says

    Andrew Lincoln/Rick
    Walking Dead
    I never particularly cared for the character, but I’ve only ever binge watched on Netflix, so I’m not exactly the target audience for an opinion about the effects of his exit.

    I hope Negan kills him. Maybe they will duel to the death and both die? (Is Negan stil alive?) Glen was the only character I didn’t want to see killed off…

  24. Arcadiarose says

    Drama series: Grey’s Anatomy
    ABC
    Original cast member leaving at end of season: Ellen Pompeo

    She’s already discussed the possibility of leaving the show. It should have ended several seasons ago (and I love that show dearly, but it’s time to let it pass). Ellen Pompeo leaving the show will almost certainly expedite that process.

  32. bigjinla says

    Actor/Actress or Character: Stephen Amell

    TV Show: Arrow

    [Optional] Do you think their leaving will help or hurt the show? Probably a wash

  34. luvprue1 says

    Actress/actor/character: Sam, or Dean
    Tv show: Supernatural

    Or
    Actor/actress/Character: Bonnie, or Nate
    Tv Show: How to get away with Murder

  39. kristy.mariko says

    I don’t watch much on regular TV networks anymore, but I do watch How to Get Away with Murder. We still don’t know who dies out in the snow….. but it seemed like a man??? It would be game-changing if it were Viola Davis, though. Soooo I’m guessing Viola Davis is leaving HTGAWM. She probably wants to get back on stage or in films.

    • kristy.mariko says

      SPOILER….

      Whoops, they just showed Viola Davis’s character is still alive haha. Ellen Pompeo has already stated that she’s leaving, so I don’t see how she could be the answer. I agree with everyone else’s Mariska Hargitay answer – she hasn’t made an announcement as far as I can tell, so it would be a surprise.

  40. Midsomerfan says

    This is just a wild guess …
    Meredith Grey of Grey’s Anatomy
    I can’t imagine the show without her but so many characters have left and it has still prospered.

  43. Gerseychick says

    Bring Roseanne back…..People make mistakes…Time to forgive…The new show without her tanked…..

  44. jrizzo says

    My guess would be Mariska Hargitay from SVU, Mark Harmon from NCIS, or Ellen Pompeo from Grey’s Anatomy. Or maybe one of the guys from Hawaii Five-0?

    Then again, “original” and “craft” make me think of The Originals, which is on the CW. But that’s only been on for five seasons, so I’m not sure.

  45. aaaMPTP says

    Mariska Hargitay

    Law & Order SVU

    Yes, but modest ratings have the show on the bubble anyway. Her leaving will give them a reason to end the series without “cancelation.”

  46. xoxobritney says

    I’m going to say Ellen Pompeo from Grey’s.. she has to be over it by now. If she leaves, the show won’t last much longer, which isn’t a bad thing.

  48. Kellikopter says

    I saw that Mariska Hargitay listed her Upper Westside home on the market this week. I sincerely hope I’m wrong, because she IS Law & Order: SVU. But it does look like she and her family may be preparing to leave New York.

  51. jooolie says

    Actor/Actress or Character: Mariska Hargitay

    TV Show: Law and Order: SVU

    [Optional] Do you think their leaving will help or hurt the show? hard to say. I used to be a fan. I always liked “Olivia” but the past few seasons have been lacking.

    • KatarinaJ says

      Yes indeed! The show lost its heart which was Meloni and Hargitay getting too involved and hung up on cases… unlike the ORIGINAL L&O which boasted the procedure and case OVER the victims.Think of the ripped fro mteh headlines SENSATIONALIZED eps of the last several seasons vs say the whole ep where Olivia was on the phone with a trafficked captive girl from hours trying to to find out where she was. Latter was all heart. Now it is all about WOW moments or shock.

  52. BadBadJan says

    Mariska Hargitay from Law and Order SVU is selling her New York home, so I’ll guess this is about her.

  54. mquinn says

    Actor/Actress or Character: Katie Mcgrath/Lena Luthor, it was just announced that Lex Luthor will be appearing so maybe he will replace her

    TV Show: Supergirl

    [Optional] Do you think their leaving will help or hurt the show? I think it will hurt the show because Lena is one of the few interesting characters left, but Katie is an amazing actress so I’m sure she’ll find something better

    • jamielynn says

      Katie isn’t an original cast member, she didn’t join the show until the second season so this can’t be about her.

  58. Linda84 says

    Actress: Mariska Hargitay

    TV Show: Law & Order SVU

    She’s selling her NYC house now, too.

    I think it could hurt the show. The dynamic is good enough now. But it’s felt somewhat off even sense Meloni left. If this is svu I don’t think think it’ll be as good. It’ll still survive thought because it’s svu.