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Blue Bloods’ Jennifer Esposito blasted CBS TV Studios for putting her on medical leave in an interview today with Fox News Channel. “What happened was ugliness,” the actress told FNC’s Arthel Neville in a segment scheduled to run on FOX Files tonight. CBS TV Studios made their decision after Esposito’s doctor advised the actress, who has been diagnosed with Celiac disease, to reduce her work load. Here’s more of what Esposito had to say about what happened:
Last week I believe I was told I was on suspension, which meant I am still in contract, not being paid, because that’s suspension and they illegally stopped paying. And I am not able to work on any other TV show, on network. I can do a film or a Broadway or something on cable that doesn’t go in the ten o’clock time slot. So they kept me in my contract without pay and yes it’s completely illegal but they also knew that I didn’t have the money or the means to sue them. I have been in the business for twenty years; there has been so many things of injustice that happens in this business. It’s what you sign up for; it is what it is. This, though, is something that is not about me, I feel. This is about a disease that people don’t understand. And what went on after, it makes me sick.
The Blue Bloods producer said it could not accommodate Esposito shifting from full-time to part-time due to the demands of her role as Detective Jackie Curatola on the police series. CBS has left the door open for Esposito to return but in the meantime, other actresses will be joining the show to play opposite Donnie Wahlberg’s Detective Danny Reagan character.
Related: Hurricane Sandy Delays Jennifer Esposito’s Leave From CBS’ ‘Blue Bloods’
Deadline's Dominic Patten - tip him here.
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Why doesn’t Tom Selleck solve this problem? It’s his show he can make everything right with one phone call. Let’s go Tom step up and do the right thing. You have been deliberately avoiding using your clout to fix this and that means you lack integrity. You have turned into a cliche’d company man afraid to use your star power to fix things. Disgraceful.
At the end of the Day, CBS signs the checks, and with the show’s raitings, they have perhaps another season after this.
She’s well enough to be out partying but she can’t manage to work. CBS has every right to replace her.
that’s just total bs
From what I understand, the cast and crew went to CBS and tried to get them to keep Jennifer on, but CBS went over their heads.
I do not believe this. At all.
All I know, is that the show has definetly gone downhill since she isn’t on.. The new girl sucks
Yeah, I am not a big fan of the new woman either. I can’t put my finger on it. But the replacement needs replacing…hey how about bringing Jennifer back!
I hope that Jennifer will be back on the show. There was such a good chemistry with Danny & Jackie that was believable as them being partners & friends. I do not think the new lady has that chemistry going for her & it is difficult to believe they are a team. I hope that a truce can be forged between Jennifer and the network for the good of a really good show that can actually be aired during the “family hour” because it has no raw sex, & the profanity common to the industry in many of the shows. Thank you for reading my comments and thank you for a very good program.
I AGREE WITH ALL OF THE ABOVE. YOU HAVE AN EXCELLENT SHOW AND THEN YOU GO AND RUIN IT. THE CHEMISTRY WITH JENNIFER AND DANNY ARE THE BEST EVER. WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE. GET HER BACK ANYWAY YOU CAN. THE OTHERS AREN’T GOOD ENOUGH. STOP BEING A##$%%^&’S ABOUT IT. THE DIALOG IS FANTASTIC, THE STARS ARE INCREDIBLE. IT’S THE PERFECT SHOW FOR EVERYONE EXCEPT FOR JENNIFER NOT BEING THERE.
I used to love Blue Bloods and still do but not to the degree I did when Jennifer Esposito was there. Its ashame that the producer didn’t use more common sense and good judgment. There are so many shows that have the character on vacation,business trip,etc. and the show goes on. This show goes on but they haven’t had one good replacement as “Danny’s” partner. I don’t know if they lost viewers but I know that the show lacks the good connection between Danny and his partner. I would expect this from NBC which has made some real pour choices. Wake up CBS and don’t go down the same road. By the way Celiacs can still have a life (partying included) its just that filming is a little more grueling and there was no excuse they couldn’t work with her instead of against her. I can’t wait to see what she does next I’ll be watching.
The more and more “talent” (writers, directors, actors) take a stand to some of the more deplorable tactics executives use to forward their agendas the better this town will be. Even if Esposito is not entirely in the right here, knowing that “talent” will be vocal about these types of tactics will put fear in some executives and will hopefully bring a little more honesty back into the business sides of things.
Where’s SAG stand on this ? File a grievance with your guild.
Can’t help but wonder why her legal counsel would allow her to vent in such a public manner. Back-door legal negotiations may be the better route. I’m not saying Esposito doesn’t have a case but it’s better to stay low-key and let your attorneys do the barking.
I watched “Blue Bloods” this Friday night only because it was a repeat with Jackie in it. Jackie is such a good match to Danny and I thoroughly enjoy watching her. I cannot believe what CBS has done – SHAME ON YOU CBS. This is so against the law in Canada!
You watch all the Kindness and Goodness going on in the show and know it is just a lie. How can you do this CBS?
Donna Hicks
What would Frank Reagan do?
Mr. FU sez . . .
More importantly, what would Freddie Flapsack do?
Seriously though, anyone being let go because of a medical condition is grounds for a lawsuit and a disgusting display by the employer doing so.
Ms. Esposito should be given whatever leave she needs and the writers (aren’t there creative people in Hollywood) can figure a way around the storyline.
Healthy recovery Ms. E.
I have been a big fan of Blue Bloods since day one. I am deeply saddened by this turn of events. Jennifer Esposito adds considerable flavor to the procedings in her limited role. Unless there is something else going on that we don’t know about, the producers need to accommodate her condition and bring her back. If her first sub was any indication, replacing her is going to hurt the show. CBS cares? I guess we’ll see.
everything is fixable…my guess is she pissed somebody off big time…that’s usually when bad behavior like this happens…
Selleck doesn’t solve it because Esposito is an unholy pain in the ass. No one wants to work with her. And her statement just shows how she is incapable of taking a hard look at herself. If she ever did she might realize it’s not everyone else, it’s her.
+1 from the set
Mt\y first thought was that she was a pain to work with and they just took advantage of her illness to finally get rid of her. Looks like i may have been right
Yeah, guess what? Celiac is totally manageable. I can’t imagine walking into my boss and saying that I had to cut to part time because I could no longer eat gluten which, really, is what she said.
I can’t believe you’ve posted such garbage. You may have Celiac disease, but you obviously don’t know a lot about it & your post is ignorant at best. People have different degrees of problems w/this disease and it takes time for their bodies to adjust and rejuvenate. I know several people with this disease & you, as well as CBS are being heartless and uncaring. I thought 9-11 taught people to be the best they can be & help out those in need. Guess it didn’t affect all of us. Disgusting!
How would you know that?
i am curious.do you work with ms.esposito? sounds like you have first hand knowledge of this controversy.
All of the press seems to be blaming CBS. Given the total silence from the rest of the cast, I have to imagine that JE is the problem, not the producers. And I understand that none of the casts can speak up for fear of their own jobs, but surely we would have heard of those nebulous “sources” on set that would have backed up JE.
I think she overplayed her hand, and got called on it. Now she is whining for a do over. She is way too hot and too talented not to be a big star by now, given that she has had “breaks” up till now.
She is the problem. The OP calls out Selleck to “fix” this. By his silence, I think he is.
BLUE BLOODS is off my schedule till they bring Jen back!!!!
BLUE BLOODS is ON my schedule until they bring Jen back!!!!
I’m still confused about what the issue is – she and her doctor agree she can’t carry a full time workload. Or maybe she can, sometimes. Her job requirements do not allow for part time status. She seems unwilling or unable to change from full time to something else even though she states she can’t work full time. In the real world as opposed to the reel world, she would be put on medical leave which turns into disability if she can’t return to her original job which is full time. She would get no severance and have to pay her own medical insurance. Just like the rest of us slobs. Hey just because you are an actor does not mean the world stops for you to put in your work day. That’s why you get the big bucks which hopefully you have saved a percentage of having realized that most people don’t earn $15,000 to &200,00 + a week. The most confusing part is that she is unable to understand that if you can’t work the job for which you are under contract you certainly can’t be free to work somewhere else. Yes you think you are special but not that special.
Jennifer is a nightmare to work with!
This looks like a clear violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Allowing her to work part time would be a “reasonable accommodation” as required under the law that no jury is going to find to be an “undue hardship” for CBS.
She is not able to work the hours the producers need her to work in order to play Danny’s partner. So she has been placed on medical leave. This is not even remotely a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
YY:
have you ever run a show or been a writer/producer on a show? if a character is even in just, say, 8 out of 45 scenes in an episode, that might require them to work many days in an 8 day shoot. they might have to travel, get in the water, run, work all night, etc.
there is no “reasonable accommodation” where someone can only work part time/a little bit if their character is marginally important to a show. it is a job, that in it’s very nature, is sometimes physically demanding and time-consuming.
and as for your blanket statement that “no jury is going to find an undue hardship for CBS”, let me point out the actual statutory guidelines provided by the federal government: “Undue hardship refers not only to financial difficulty, but to reasonable accommodations that are unduly extensive, substantial, or disruptive, or those that would fundamentally alter the nature or operation of the business.”
the “nature and operation” of the business called BLUE BLOODS (not CBS because these cases are looked at the specific job being performed in a company, not the entire company as a whole) is to create a cohesive narrative around particular characters as sculpted and created by the creative vision of the writer/producers. reducing a character to “part time” status (if that were even possible) could interfere with the very creative direction/nature of the product (i.e., show). You cannot be required to change the nature of your business and/or product in order to provide an accommodation. That would make it, by definition, as “unreasonable” accommodation.
and before you snap back with an ill-informed comment, i’m not only a show-runner/writer/producer, i’m also a former employment attorney. (who is so tired of the constant spewing of inaccurate information on this site).
That was just brilliant, Actually…..no kidding, it was the most spot-on comment I have ever read on this site in all Deadline’s many years, and I thank you for upping the intellectual ante. The world needs more like you. Bravo!
Genius comment! SO many of commenters here and elsewhere are basing their opinions on Jennifers rants, and its obvious that none of these people know the half of what tv contracts are made of. So much bashing of CBS banning her from working anywhere else ( which is what Jennifer spewed all over twitter at first) but now her rant has changed to the fact that she can work in film, on broadway and on pay cable. Just not on primetime. Even she doesnt know the right terminology, she keeps saying networks,(which her followers keep taking to mean everywhere) when it really is primetime, meaning CBS,ABC,NBC. And that makes sense if you are considered on hold, which originally is what CBS stated. They said that her character was on leave because she couldnt handle the demands of the character she was hired to play, but that she was talented and they hoped she would come back. I’m sure all that is blown by now, especially since she has spoken for herself, no publicist and no lawyers or union, who would have jumped on this probono if there was a real case. Bravo to her (seriously) for using this as a platform for spreading Celiac awareness, but bashing CBS (instead of the actual BB creators/producers) for their behavior, will make her a pariah with other producers and creators. I don’t support that fact, its just a fact in hollywood, because Hollywood is based on fear and moneymaking and now she will be considered a liability who they fear will trash the PTB when given the opportunity. Bottom line though is that Its all too bad, because she was an asset to the show.
It has to be frustrating that so many worker protections do not apply to actors. Can we agree on that much? (Most of them could not be classified as professional athletes.) Laws were put in place to keep employers from working people — lo, your fellow Americans — into the ground. Yes, the profit margin would be less. As it IS less for businesses that actually have to follow these laws, and yet somehow, they make it work. Performer unions have no teeth at all. They can’t protect actors from anything. At best, they can get them more money when conditions get too bizarre, but that only helps so much when the problem is that their bodies are falling apart. Instead of insisting that the profession is unreasonable by nature, why not…be part of the solution and transform the profession? All these industry insiders here, no new ideas. Let’s start with “Actors are also people, with bodies, and it is not insubordinate to have a body” and work from there. And now, cue the indignant actors-get-what-they-deserve hoards…
If her job is a full time job and the producers think changing it to a part time job would “fundamentally alter” the show’s production, then no, it wouldn’t be a reasonable accommodation. A reasonable accommodation would be serving some gluten free alternatives with the catering.
Where are her agents? This doesn’t seem too smart on her part. Disability is no laughing matter, but if it’s as bad as you say, lawyer up and let them handle it.
To sideline her AND keep her from working elsewhere seems malicious. Corporate bullying. Hollywood might endorse this, but viewers are repulsed by this stuff.
So far, nothing has been articulated about what she’s done wrong. Saying she’s a “nightmare” (whatever that means specifically) is not a legal basis and is illogical.
Maybe she is a nightmare (unremarkable in Hollywood,) but that’s the go-to slur for women who assert their rights. That, or “crazy.” It’s tedious and usually the sign of no valid defense. If she’s an unbearable nightmare, they should be happy to cut her loose. It seems like networks tend to beat up their actresses, figuratively or literally, i.e. Criminal Minds, Desperate Housewives, but give the men a lot of latitude. It’s not good for anyone in the end because shows and network image also take a beating.
squikids-
She’s not a “nightmare” because she’s woman but because she’s a poisonous, toxic presence everywhere she’s worked. To play the gender card here is ridiculous. It undermines people who have valid complaints for being discriminated against because of their gender. And I’m sure you’ve never worked with Jennifer or you wouldn’t have said something so completely moronic. I’ve been in this business for twenty years and she is hands down the most difficult, selfish, loathsome person I’ve worked with in all that time. And this from someone who’s dealt with Rob Schneider.
JK5000,
You have poor reading comprehension skills and are a histrionic.
Forgive me for presenting a rational perspective that conflicts with your personal vendetta.
I said calling her a nightmare is not a basis for CBS’s actions. Just because YOU don’t like her and have a vendetta doesn’t mean CBS’s actions are correct.
I also said she might legitimately be a nightmare, in which case CBS’s actions are irrational because if she’s such a monster they should cut her loose. They either still want to work with her, or are being malicious. We have yet to hear any FACTS about anything wrong she’s done. Facts are what matter, not your ranting character assassination.
I also said women who assert their rights are often called nightmares or crazy which might or might not be the case here, but IS very very often true.
Quite frankly, you seem like a poisonous, toxic presence.
Wow JK5000 – worst than Rob Schnider?! That is epically bad. I believe you.
If all of this is true, CBS should be ashamed of their behaviour.
Last year they sure accommodated the Australian guy from Hawaii 50, Alex O’Laughan ,when he had to go to Drug Rehab, they even reduced the series episode order . Poor woman, it is not her fault she got sick. And considering B Bloods is 100 better than that silly remake,, I think this is very wrong.
“There has been so many things of unjustice that happens in this business”? What language is this? Is she the only celebrity who doesn’t have a publicist?
Given the reps of all involved (JP, Selleck, Goldberg, etc.), the situation’s like fucking a porcupine – one prick against a thousand.
I have celiac disease and work in tv 12-16 hours a day. The only thing that makes it hard is I’m not above the line person so nobody gets me gluten free food specifically. Some shows I work on have gluten free options. But I don’t see how you can’t work full time with celiac. It only gets bad when you eat gluten. Stay away from that and life should be normal. Sounds like a bogus excuse to not work full time. Though nobody should be let go because they have celiac if that is the real reason. But I’ve never heard anyone say I can’t work full time I have celiac?
Such an idiotic comment. You do realize there are different levels of Celiac and that some people have deep long term complications that arise because of the time it took to get diagnosed. I’m glad you are fine but many other people who have Celiac are not.
Bring her back. The show is better with her on it. Her and Danny get it done.
As many people has stated, where’s the union in all this?
I totally understand where Jennifer is coming from because I’ve been suffering with this disease too in undiagnosed for many years and almost died. She was most likely a pain because of the disease. That’s what it does to a person and it also affects the brain. People need to become educated on this before making rude comments about people they don’t know. I’m behind her all the way too in bringing awareness about this disease that’s killing people and many of them don’t even know it.
I just watched Jennifer on the Fox News special….I think she adds so much to the show and it is not as good as it was for our family when Jennifer was there. She fits the part perfectly and should be allowed to be back on her job… I am sure many fans feel the same way because I have talked to some that faithfully watch Blue Bloods… It is not fair that they are not working with her! People with different disabilities are in all businesses and they should not be penalized for doing the best job they can and Jennifer does a
if she is on medical leave why is CBS not paying her? typically at my job, i get paid medical leave. WTF is with CBS & actors?