On The Road To Awards Season? Kerouac Book Finally Makes It … 
Michael Bay’s Name Pushed Paramount To Settle Injured … 
Several More New Series In Recasting Mode; Returning Ones … 
‘G.I. Joe: Retaliation’ Moving To March 2013 To … 
Directors Fortnight Says It Must “Police … 
‘Chronicle’ Helmer Josh Trank Takes On … 
Big Media Chiefs Tell Cable Operators To Speed Up ‘TV … 
Will ‘Pan Am’ Take Flight With Amazon? 
EMMYS: Showtime Launches Free Weekend Promotion Targeting … 
TOLDJA! ICM Management Buyout Complete 
RATINGS RAT RACE: ‘Dancing With The Stars’, … 
An Olympian Effort: NBCUni Plans 5,535 Hours Of Coverage … 
Netflix Exec Denies It’s Responsible For Nickelodeon … 
DESPERATE: HuffPo & Oprah Team Up Now 
Hot Trailer: ‘The Great Gatsby’ 
How Did Women Pilot Writers Fare For 2012? 
Disney Quits Snow White Film ‘Order Of The … 
Cannes Planning Surprise Screening Of Non-Fest Films; … 
Investors Unfriend Facebook As SEC Investigates IPO … 
Cash Windfalls For WME Agents, Assistants 
A&E IndieFilms Sets ‘Happy Valley,’ … 
Neal McDonough is a marvelous actor who elevates every role he plays, whether it’s in Band of Brothers or Desperate Housewives. So when he was suddenly replaced with David James Elliott 3 days into the filming on ABC’s new series Scoundrels earlier this week, there had to be a story behind the story. The move was officially explained as a casting change. But, in fact, McDonough was sacked because of his refusal to do some heated love scenes with babelicious star (and Botox pitchwoman) Virginia Madsen. The reason? He’s a family man and a Catholic, and he’s always made it clear that he won’t do sex scenes. And ABC knew that. Because he also didn’t get into action with Nicolette Sheridan on the network’s Desperate Housewives when he played her psycho husband during Season 5. And he also didn’t do love scenes with his on-air girlfriend in his previous series, NBC’s Boomtown, or that network’s Medical Investigation. ”It has cost him jobs, but the man is sticking to his principles,” a source explained to me. You can’t help but admire McDonough for sticking to his beliefs, even if he’s poised to lose as much as $1 million in paydays for Scoundrels, which is based on the New Zealand series Outrageous Fortune centering on the matriarch (Madsen) of a family of criminals who decides it’s time for her brood to go straight after her husband (McDonough, now Elliott) is sentenced to a long prison term. (“I thought these things only happened to women in LA!,” a source mused.)
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
Loading ...
Perhaps his elevated roles were from his elevated character….there’s far too many actors out there selling their souls…
Losing a mil? You can’t pay your way to heaven anyway…
But McDonough will GLADLY participate in some awfully violent movies that hold little redeeming social value.
What a hypocrite.
Typical Catholic it seems: fear of the penis, love of the fist.
Again more Catholic bashing. I bet Ryan would never use the phrase, “Typical Muslim” would you, Ryan…
And it seems your Catholic hate is so strong you cant even see the common sense of this. If he is “killing” someone on screen its fake, not real. Get it? If he is kissing someone or rolling around in bed, he is really doing it. This is a personal stand for him, he doesnt want to kiss another woman. Get it?
What a bigoted statement.
Allow me to remind those of you who somehow believe that Catholics have guilt or fear regarding their sexuality – the average number of children in a Catholic internationally, is 4 to 7.
Mind your own business, bigot.
I don’t know if it is typical Catholic, but it is typical American. It is interesting to watch people rationalize their cultural beliefs through how they choose to follow their. Acting as a murderer is okay because there is no kissing. But, then what if you strangle someone, is that okay? One has to wonder how far people here are willing to go with this strange break down of belief of what is allowed in the faith when it is all acting and what is not. Of course, none of this even gets at the unprofessionalism of knowingly taking on a part like this.
The difference in the murderous psycho and the sex scene is in your description. In one you portray the action as wrong, hence murderous psycho. In the other it is an action viewed as a part of our normal lives But, both are part of a story. This has nothing to do with the story, or his view of what it portrays, it is about the respect the man has for the vows he took at marriage. In this age of double digit divorce, of divorce for trivial reasons I guess it comes as no surprise many do not understand this respect, til death do up part has been replaced with when I feel different. I say good for you, don’t let the intolerance of the value haters get you down.
He’s not opposed to sex, he was actually in a tv show (Desperate Housewives) that has sex, homosexuality, etc. So he’s promoting sex by being in the show. He just didn’t want to be the actual one to kiss or be naked under sheets with someone other than his wife. Not sure why people can’t see this??? Idiots I suppose?
I know! It’s like they’re all stupid!! I don’t get why the people who are making these comments don’t see that he just doesn’t feel comfortable doing a scene like that with someone other than his wife!! It has nothing to do with him supporting or not supporting sex. It is just something he probably knows wouldn’t be good for his marriage. It could be possibly too tempting for him, or maybe too hard for his wife to deal with, but whatever the reason it is for the sake of his marriage, not a stand against sex. If it was a stand he definitely wouldn’t be participating in a show like Desperate Housewives… I don’t even watch the show & I know it’s all about sex!
There you go bashing the Catholics. What about the other religions out there that do the same thing. You sound like a typical right winger, do as I say, not as I do. So if a Catholic doesn’t believe the way you do they are the crazy one. Man may the Good Lord be watching over you! Judge not!
Typical Catholic basher: ignorant and arrogant.
So YOU, Ryan S, decide for us all what has “social value?”
Ryan S., you are a bigot. A small-minded, gutless bigot. Gutless because you are so quick to jump on the anti-Catholic bandwagon and small-minded because you resort to what you must think are witty observations (“anti-Penis!” huh huh! brilliant!), which are decidedly not.
I would suggest that a “typical” Catholic’s propensity to avoid adultery, strive toward sexual modesty, and embrace the life-creating purpose of sex (over the morally bankrupt Hollywood version of sex) is not “anti-Penis,” but is both “pro-man” and “pro-woman.”
It’s so easy to criticize another person’s moral stance – especially when that person’s stance makes your own life choices seem lacking. Perhaps you and others with a similar opinion of Mr. McDonough’s morality just feel uncomforable when confronted with such an admirable view.
ryan – wow – very over the top. Have you considered that maybe his faith has a deeper understanding of sexuality than you do? And if you’ve ever even tried to understand his faith, you would know that it doesn’t condone violence in such a gratuitous fashion, if ever.
You are indeed a bigot.
Are you saying that all actors should be immoral? Or non-religious? An actor takes a stand on their beliefs and you attack him. Nice!
Yeah, maybe, but you don’t have to get naked to play a really bad character. But, lest we confuse things, God has sanctioned violence in some case, as did he sanction sex. The difference is one is supposed to be done in private and with a lawful spouse.
RE: Ryan S.
Give me a break. Stop comparing the two. We see actors marriages fall apart when they take up with co-stars all the time. Over and over. (ex: Brad Pitt)
Perhaps you could point out the instances where taking a role as a army guy or murder has lead to an actor committing murder.
If you’re reffering to his role in the Band of Brothers as “holding no redeeming value” then your more of a moron than your post suggests.
We are dumber for having read your post.
You are such an unblemished, unadulterated idiot that you are very nearly beneath comment, but here it is; It is apparent to anyone that read your cruddy little remark that your depth of knowledge(LOL) of Catholicism in particular and Christian principles in general is as weak as your own moral fibre, or your intestinal fortitude, or your bone-dry well of intellectual honesty. You simply sound like the biggest boob in the western hemisphere.
People gotta let it out somehow…They say Americans go crazy with violence and restrain sexuality (considering the Puritan influence) while Europeans go crazy with sexuality and restrain violence (considering their history of war).
The last time I checked, very few actors/directors/producers in Hollywood restrain themselves in any way. Kudos to Neal for taking a principled stand.
Seriously? We constrain our sexuality? What freakin middle school did you go to?
“They say Americans go crazy with violence and restrain sexuality (considering the Puritan influence) while Europeans go crazy with sexuality and restrain violence (considering their history of war).”
Are you kidding?
Europe has had far more wars that America even considering our age difference. 1,500 years of unrestrained and continuous violence and wars.
Ever heard of the 100 year war? What is comparable in American history?
You might recall that they dragged us into two of their biggest war. If not, you might want to look up WWI and WWII on Wikipedia. That’s about your speed.
Uh…World War I and World War II started in Europe…but it’s the Americans making all the smutty porn movies. I think you need to review your history./
As a Kiwi TV writer I can tell you that the original Outrageous Fortune is a totally hilarious, adorably bawdy, boundary-pushing prime time drama. If Scoundrels is even a patch on the original, this tone and content would’ve been totally obvious in script.
as a kiwi who loves Outrageous Fortune,i know this remake will be crap only based on the fact US Network television could never do justice too the wests.Cable i would give em a shot but the limitations of the networks will give them a watered down version.
Thanks for doing your part to spread sewage in your own country.
“Boundary pushing”?!?
What on earth – in this depraved culture – could possibly be “boundary pushing”?
And they could have told him that they could shoot around the sex scenes. Nowhere in the article does it say he has any issues with being edgy. He simply does not want to do anything sexually (including kissing) outside of his marriage. I don’t see why this is so difficult to understand. The dude isn’t making some kind of messianic statement. He just doesn’t want to do anything sexual with another woman. It think that is incredibly respectful to his wife.
In light of all the Hollywood Hypocrites, what we have in Neal McDonough is a man that stays true to his family (on screen and off), isn’t a drug addict or alcoholic, and puts his principals above a paycheck. To top it all off he is a great actor.
If JT (comment above) states so matter of factly what Neal would do and wouldn’t do and what Neal knew and didn’t know then he probably must work for the producers… perhaps the producers gay lover/assistant. I’ll wait for an official response from the producers and Neal directly.
This story is only half true, and although this article make’s Neal a hero of sorts for morals and ethics- he should have been more honest and upfront about his “no sex” claim after reading the pilot concept and knowing there would be some sexual related content involved. And- its an ABC show- so you know a kiss will end up being a handshake after executives look at it. Its not like he’s on HBO having full nude scenes lol But I read online he just had his 3rd kid a few months ago so I can understand the awkwardness involved for his wife/family
ABC would have been fully aware of his past performances where he didn’t kiss or make a love scene. So in your eyes, it’s okay for producers to hire you, knowing your past stances, and then try to prostitute yourself for their enjoyment and ratings? Blame the victom but not the victomizer! You’re a retard.
Good for him!
Hey, a man who stands with his morals and principals, AND doesn’t sell out? We need a man like that in politics!!!
Good for him.
And good you guys. All the positive comments concerning his integrity is a pleasant surprise.
I sorry to say I was expecting durge.
This is what a real man should be. Willing to take a sacrifice for the sake of principle. I just finished watching Band of Brothers this past week with my boys. The part of Buck Compton played by Neal was one of their favorites. I’ll be proud to show this article to them. They will be proud that he stood up for his beliefs. I’m having difficulty understanding some of the postings here that ridicule his actions. I guess those opposed to him are simply on the opposite ends of life’s road, mine leads to safety, theirs leads to decay.
Everybody saying he’s a hypocrite for participating in violence but not sex: please don’t tell me you don’t see the distinction. Violence on TV doesn’t involve actual violence. Sex on TV, by contrast, involves kissing, groping, rolling around, half-nakedness, etc.
The distinction might not matter to you, personally, but it should be pretty easy to respect that it matters to someone else. People draw lines in different places, and McDonough drew his there.
Sex on tv and film does not involve real sex. I am starting to think the problem here is some of you don’t get what acting is. Do you really think people are having sex in movies? Please tell me you are joking.
What dont you understand about his own morals? He doesnt want to kiss another woman. That is his choice. Do you understand this or not?
When I was a child I was convinced that no one on television would ever do something as gross as actually kissing someone they didn’t like. My child-friends and I had elaborate theories about how all of those kisses were faked.
It’s nice to think like a child.
And adult realizes that “but there was no penetration” will not get you very far when explaining why you were in bed with a different woman.
“It’s was just tongue, Dear. I don’t see any reason for you to be in such a snit.”
So people kissing on-screen aren’t really kissing? Wow! I could swear I’ve seen lips and bodies touching. Special effects are magical, eh?
harlots — they should be stoned to death — it is just a kiss — and kissing people is FINE
Does it make him love his wife any less ?
NO
Please tell me YOU are joking. Of course coitus doesn’t occur, but intense physical contact and stimulation does. That’s the point. He won’t have close physical contact with anyone besides his wife.
This used to be rather common in Hollywood. Then the baby boomers started making movies…
Shorter response: We are trying to justify our political rather than spiritual beliefs through this actor. The spiritual beliefs have very little to do with kissing. We went from SEX to KISSING. That tells me you are not really serious about the faith when you also justify murder as okay because “well that’s just acting.” And how do you justify that, well they are not touching. And how far are you willing to take this Biblical parsing- is it okay to murder someone by gun versus strangling them.
Sounds like he can not act like a professional and is confusing acting with sex.
Right. So, I imagine, the next time your wife catches you entwined naked with another woman you’ll tell her, “But, honey, it wasn’t really sex!”
Until Now, I didn’t realize that this site was linked to conservative whack job sites. This explains the extremism and illogical posts such as yours.
“”You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” — Jesus in Matthew 5
It doesn’t have to be “real sex” to be “real sin”.
Tell you what: You go make out with another woman, and then go home and explain to your spouse how you weren’t REALLY having sex. Tell me how that works out for ya!
Acting and portraying illicit sex is the first and foremost problem. It send out a message that it is okay. Well we ought to have learned by now that it is not okay. That people develop emotional and jealousy issues, unwanted pregnancy’s, abortions, AIDS and all kinds of STDS.
Why give out a false projection by acting this immorality out?
akaison – the original post never said there was actual sex. Please don’t put words in their mouth, or post. But for some men, even having ‘pretend’ sex is too much of a temptation of their libido, and they don’t want to go there. I think the article was clear that he already had a ‘no sex scene’ clause in his contract. It was the studio/director who tried to push it.
Yes, I think the people who have commented here know what acting is, but you’re not going to tell me or anyone else that knows better that actors don’t have sexual feelings during sex scenes towards the person they are kissing, touching, rolling around with and pressing up against. If there’s any chemistry there at all they have to feel some arousal. If I were married to an actor, I would not want them getting aroused by anyone other than me. And you people who keep saying, “C’mon, it’s all acting!”, keep ignoring the good points being made about actors and actresses who have left their husbands or wives for actors they have acted with in sexual scenes in a movie.
If you can’t see the connection, you must be in denial.
Then you wouldn’t mind prostituting your wife (or yourself) for profitable acting gigs. Great morals you have!
Well done, Neal! We’re proud of you, your spine and your faith!
Facere Non Dicere!
” The reason? He’s a family man and a Catholic, and he’s always made it clear that he won’t do sex scenes. And ABC knew that.”
For all you smart people who didn’t read the entire story, the quotations above is in the story.
ABC knows what his stancs is, and they still CAST HIM.
Neal, thank you for having priciples! AT least you have some compared to most of Hollywood.
A man for all seasons! Stand tall Neal. Keep fighting the good fight.
This guy is a great actor, period.
But I will now go to, rent, and watch everything he is in just support a guy with brass.
Real manhood returns.
Welcome back Duke!
How is that integrity? The guy will play any kind of violent role but he won’t do a sex scene? Makes me wonder about anyone who would think that is a good idea. Violence, sure. Sex, no. ???
Foolish comparison. Nobody expects an actor to really kill somebody (if they did, it would be a snuff film).
You’re not real good with the topic of “moral equivalence”, are you? You wouldn’t make this kind of judgment mistake if you were.
Wow! Don’t you get it? Neal is not pushing his choices on anybody else. This is his choice to honor his family. He’s not saying anyone else has to make the same choice. And this has nothing to do with the choice any actor might make regarding roles that include violence. If an actor chooses not to take such roles, I can respect that too. Although I find it interesting that some actors who support “anti-war” sentiments take on roles in films that are extremely violent. Who’s the hypocrite?
Get a clue people!
Just looking at Mr. McDonough’s filmography in the imdb website, I noticed that he has indeed taken part in some films that include violence, but oddly most of these are WW2 recreations of actual history, and in these he played a small part of the big picture, unlike a sex scene in which he is one of only two people in the scene. For those who cannot tell, there is a great difference between a movie depicting a recreation of actual events, and a phony story that is being created merely for titillation value.
Well Done Neal!
Have you not read the rest of the posts or do you just not care to understand the difference?
I think we are seeing a huge failure of public education here among posters who cannot tell the difference between a fake war scene, a special effect portraying a bomb, a dummy portraying a dead soldier, and an actor wearing a military costume, from an actor stripped to his or her g-string, on a closed set because the scene is considered so “delicate,” and the physicality of the action between the actors as characters, and why someone who doesn’t want to kiss some actress can also play a soldier in a costume.
The choice is NOT violence in place of sex. Good grief.
Hurray. A Catholic, a real one, with principles. God bless the man. It’s pretty amazing how much hate the haters have. You think they’d have run out already this week what with all the Pope smearing. Where sin abounds grace abounds all the more so no worries and good on you Neal.
Good for him. Boo to ABC for trying corner him into doing the scene. I hope he gets more work soon.
Neal, stick to your guns against these leftist Hollywood mad dogs. I was offered a chance to be on the Sopranos in the 90s I refuse to say the f-word on film. I have made three films in my life and I won’t put the F-bomb in any of my films. I own all the negatives and the hell with this sick no class pop culture. I have the second film ever made on Vietnam with no F-bombs and guess what! I dared to show the Americans who fought in Vietnam as HEROES! Can you imaged that? Do you know what the hip and cool people of tolerate did to reward me for going against their agenda. Hollywood refuses to pick up FORGOTTEN HEROES over 21 years ago and I am still here after I was threaten by a few studio executives that they were going to take my film and run me out of the business.
You keep fighting these mad dogs they only win when you give up. http://www.forgottenheroesthemovie.com
Give up, now that is funny.
What I like, even more than having standards, is not caring what anybody else in the business thinks about that standard. Now, that’s manly!
If you can’t stand the Hollywood entertainment business and you have such a superior moral compass, what are you doing at this website? The name of the website is DeadlineHOLLYWOOD.
Some of us actually hope that the moral and behavior standards will improve in the entertainment industry.
Granted, people of the caliber of Neal McDonough are pretty rare, but showing support for him might encourage others who actually possess a soul and a half-way decently formed conscience. I know, I know, it doesn’t look like there are many, but there are some.
What makes his a “superior” moral compass, Mark? (“Superior” as in scarcastic, I’m sure.) The fact that it doesn’t jive with yours? Who’s the “superior” one there?
I got here by a link from another website bearing the tagline…
“TV ACTOR FIRED FOR REFUSING SEX SCENES… ”
…and I was curious as to who in Hollywood actually had morals.
Links to the story on other websites redirect here. It’s an interesting story even if you can’t stand Hollywood. Maybe especially if you can’t stand Hollywood!
Mark, I’m on this website hoping to get the sexy roles that Neal turns down.
Yup, you can’t be a movie buff without buying into the Hollywood cesspool. So, go clubbing with Lindsay Lohan or get out of our town.
Mark said: “If you can’t stand the Hollywood entertainment business and you have such a superior moral compass, what are you doing at this website? The name of the website is DeadlineHOLLYWOOD.”
I want to ask you, Mark, what are you doing on this site? If you’ve gotten this far in the comments you’ve had to notice the vast majority of comments here are praising him for his moral position. Perhaps Hollywood producers ought to notice that also.
When Marc Cherry cast him in Desperate Housewives Neal told him upfront about his no sex scene policy and they told him they would work around it. Maybe promises like that were made to him on this, I mean his character was supposed to be in prison. Script changes happen all the time so I will give him the benefit of the doubt that he didn’t know the whole story.
With love and desire comes sex. All you need is a really good kiss. Leave the rest to the imagination. Much better anyway.
The director probably had more than that in mind. An actor with principles, how nice!
Buck Compton’s role in Band of Brothers was too short. Could have seen more of him.
I knew there was a reason “jane” was my favorite girl’s name.
I have no problem with his unwillingness to do sex scenes of any kind. That’s entirely his perogative. But when you accept a role in which the script clearly states that you’ll be required to do things you’re not comfortable with and you don’t speak up ahead of time, THAT I have a problem with. This is such an unusual requirement that his handlers should have made it clear during the negotiation process. If they did not, he needs new people!
Norah99: What are you talking about? The actors submit bios and the bio clearly states what he will not do. When he was hired, he had EVERY reason to believe the scripts would be altered to remove those [really unnecessary] scenes. For Pete’s sake, the overview we are given in the article states that his character is in prison! How much sex do prisoners have with their wives? Yes, I know there are conjugal visits; I had an employee whose husband was in prison and she “shared” what went on. BUT, the producer is clearly at fault; she is the one who failed to live up to the bargain! I would guess that she thought he was only saying that because he wanted to be able to “pick and choose” without understanding that HE MEANT IT!!!
Of course there’s no chance the script was changed after McDonough had already accepted the part with his morals clause included. It just had to be the actor who has a history of integrity and of living by his moral standards, he obviously was the one who reneged. It couldn’t have been the producers who pulled a fast one, no, never them. They would never demand something like that after saying they wouldn’t.
Gosh, what could we be thinking! ABC going back on an agreement! Gee whiz! Say it ain’t so!
norah – “But when you accept a role in which the script clearly states that you’ll be required to do things you’re not comfortable with and you don’t speak up ahead of time”
norah, you have it wrong, Neal CLEARLY stated he would not do sex scenes. “He’s a family man and a Catholic, and he’s always made it clear that he won’t do sex scenes. And ABC knew that. “
This is unprofessional on both sides of the equation. This should never have gotten to this point.
A producer has got to be up front about what their expectations are, and an actor has to be clear about what he or she will not do. They both read the scripts, there should have been no surprises.
Bad behaviour by all concerned.
I think the producer screwed up. ABC was fine with it with Marc Cherry and Desperate Housewives. The EP of this show was a former ABC exec so she knew the deal. Did she think no didn’t mean no? I think Calfo is in over her head at producing and working with actors. It’s not the same as being Mc Pherson’s go to girl.
“This is unprofessional on both sides of the equation. This should never have gotten to this point.
A producer has got to be up front about what their expectations are, and an actor has to be clear about what he or she will not do. They both read the scripts, there should have been no surprises.
Bad behaviour by all concerned.”
If you’ll read the article AGAIN, you’ll see that he did make it clear that he wouldn’t do those scenes. Read before commenting.
Not true. Neal made it clear up front that he would not do sex scenes.
what, you don’t think scripts change, or can even be completely rewritten? think again: they just recast an entire role. things change all the time. they would have sued him if they thought they could get away with it. he has the truth on his side. they either conned him into doing it and threatened to replace him when the time came for the scenes, or they decided to spice things up because they felt they needed the ratings… in any case, it’s entirely plausible that what he entered into was different from what eventually came to be. i wouldn’t be surprised if he were in a great legal position to sue abc and win, but that he chose not to because he has too much class, and a family that is his priority… he has enough money, but no more time than anyone else, and he knows what’s really important.
Uh yeah plus… in TV shows, actors usually do not see scripts until right before shooting… so probably not his fault that he didn’t know about the scenes ahead of time….
don’t fault the guy for having morals. He’s a nice family man. Refreshing in Hollywood, especially nowadays. He’s great, and I hope he gets a fitting role. Good luck Neal.