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Ex-Grey's Anatomy star hits purple patch

Actor Isaiah Washington (pictured), fired last month from the ABC hit medical drama Grey's Anatomy after reportedly making an anti-gay slur, has landed a new role, and a development deal, with rival network NBC.

Washington will guest star in five episodes of NBC's upcoming sci-fi action drama Bionic Woman, a 21st-century remake of the 1970s series that starred Lindsay Wagner and was itself a spinoff of The Six Million Dollar Man.

The updated version stars Michelle Ryan as a young automobile-accident victim, Jaime Sommers, who is surgically retrofitted with high-tech biological implants to give her extraordinary powers.

Washington will play a mysterious figure who is brought into the enigmatic scientific organization behind the "bionics" that transform Jamie, and whose own agenda is unclear as he instructs her on how to handle her new abilities.

NBC said the network also is developing a separate "action-series" project with Washington based on an idea from the actor.

Sicko slugfest sparks Moore drama

Sicko filmmaker Michael Moore (pictured) called a truce Monday in his weeklong fight with CNN that flared when the network accused him of fudging facts in his popular documentary about the health-care system.

Moore had promised the network over the weekend that "I'm about to become your worst nightmare," leading CNN to post on its Web site a remarkably lengthy response to his accusations.

He noted in an interview Monday that CNN had admitted to two mistakes in reporting on Sicko and that he's willing to move on.

Mandy moves on: TV star and network not like-minded

Mandy Patinkin (pictured) is leaving CBS' Criminal Minds, saying his departure is the result of creative differences.

Patinkin, 54, asked to be released from his role as FBI profiler Jason Gideon last week, CBS Paramount Network Television and series producer ABC Studios said Monday in a statement.

His exit will be explained in an early episode this fall and wasn't related to a contract renegotiation or salary issues, the statement said. A new character will be added to the show, which debuted in 2005.

Agencies

(China Daily 07/18/2007 page18)