The theme of today’s blind item: “Hindsight is 20/20.”
When a certain series you’re likely enjoying was casting its lead, the studio suits knew exactly who they wanted. The network suits, on the other hand, knew exactly who they didn’t want. And — what a coincidence! — they were one and the same.
Since the performer in question was just coming off a failed show, the network brass felt that this individual was a star with no star power. But the studio stood behind its pick, to the point where there were threats of taking the hour-long drama to the competition.
Now, of course, the show is looking like a hit, and the network is singing a very different tune. (Which has gotta be hard when their bigwigs are also eating their words along with a steaming plate of crow.)
So, who was the small screen’s most unwanted lead? Guesses below. I can’t confirm when you get it right, but on the plus side, I also won’t mock you (much) when you get it wrong.
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Sounds like Simon Baker in The Mentalist. He was coming off the massive disappointment Smith. The studio probably stood behind him because I think The Guardian was a bit of a hit.
It seems like that Simon Baker guy. Smith was on CBS for at least a few weeks, apparently (I have no recollection of it, tho), and The Mentalist is now on CBS.
GAA! 1 minute too late!
My Name is Earl.
Totally agree. Simon Baker.
it has to be simon baker, right? …. right….?
The picture is definitely from My Name is Earl, but what show was Jason Lee coming from?
=0p
THANK YOU for finally getting rid of the My Name is Earl photo. I can’t believe how stupid people are that they guessed that every single time when the photo was clearly not meant to reflect the subject of the item.
Anyway, I agree with all the other guesses. Simon Baker was the first person who came to mind.
It’s the mentalist star Simon Baker…Too easy
Nathan Fillion if you ask me.
Failed in Driver now in Castle..
This one is easy and I agree with what most have said — Simon Baker in The Mentalist.
LOL, when I first read the title, I didn’t see the “by Network” part, so I thought it was “Blind Item: Which Star Was Nearly Shot Down?” 9as in like, guns and BANG BANG!) and I was like WHAT?!
Jason O’Mara?
Got to be Simon Barker. He was awful in that Ray Liota show last year. Of course, that show was awful so maybe it wasn’t just him.
I’m pretty sure CBS LOVES Simon Baker, so I don’t think it’d be him.
I would guess Simon Baker as well, but who on earth would underestimate his star power? Smith was a crappy show so that would hardly be his fault. If it’s him I’m glad he’s vindicated.
At first I thought Joshua Jackson,but he doesn’t have a failed show. Gotta be the dude from the Mentalist.
@ Leila: I thought the same thing! Well, first I thought, ‘what’s a science item doing on ew.com,’ THEN I thought ‘what star almost got cut down by an ak47′ d’oh!
I was thinking Joshua Jackson, because Dawson’s Creek wasn’t so hot in it’s final years, and he hasn’t done anything else recently to raise his stock. Also, it seemed like he was semi-hidden in the ads for it – so it might seem that Fox wasn’t too crazy about him, and thus his face isn’t on any posters (it’s that chick lying upside down).
The show does look like a hit, now.
That being said, I could also see it being Simon Baker – but my money’s on Joshua Jackson.
David Boreanaz
Well based on the article I read on here yesterday, that The Mentalist was just renewed for an additional 6 or 9 episodes, I forget, I’m going to guess it’s him.
However, Joshua Jackson I think is a close second…except for the fact that at this point anything that J.J. Abrahm’s touches is considered gold, so I really don’t think there was much hesitation with “Fringe.”
I think it’s interesting that no one has guessed any actresses. There’s nothing the blind item that indicates the gender of the performer….
I’m thinking Simon Baker too. Although I don’t agree that Smith was horrible, or that he was horrible in it, there’s no denying it didn’t work for CBS and it was canceled fast. Network execs seem terribly short sighted so I can see them forgetting just how successful The Guardian was for them and trying to veto Baker’s casting in The Mentalist. If it is him I’m glad the studio won that battle!!!!
As for it being Nathan Fillion/Castle, I don’t think so, if only because Castle has yet to air and I take the phrase ‘the show is looking like a hit,’ to mean that it has aired at least a couple of episodes to good ratings so far.
I am thinking Sally Field in Brothers & Sisters… she was coming off that show where she was a judge
I hate blind items with no answer. What’s the point?
I was thinking Mark-Paul Gosselaar on “Raising the Bar”.
I know Steven Bochco really wanted him, but I could see where a network doesn’t.
Wat about joanna GArcia? She was on that one show last year with jeffery tambor last year that got canceled…even though the cw doesnt have many good shows at all, id say she might be a candidate.
My guess is Simon Baker in the Mentalist.
Simon Baker
If we’re going to talk about the show Smith being such a disappointment,thus pointing to Simon Baker, what about applying that same logic to Jonny Lee Miller? He was on that show too. Now, Eli Stone is about to start its second season. It was a modest hit, but good enough for renewal.