Spacek Out, Fisher In on 'ER'

[d***@yahoo.com]

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Spacek Out, Fisher In on 'ER'


Due to scheduling conflicts, Oscar winner Sissy Spacek has bailed on
an upcoming episode of NBC's "ER." She'll be replaced by Frances
Fisher.

Fisher appears in the medical drama's Thursday, Feb. 10 episode,
titled "Shortness of Breath." The cryptic people in NBC's publicity
department will only say that she plays "an important person from
Weaver's past."

Scuttlebutt had Spacek playing the evangelical mother of Laura Innes'
Dr. Kerry Weaver. Spacek is 10 years older than Innes, while Fisher is
only seven years older than the three-time Emmy nominee. Sparks are
expected to fly between Weaver and her mother over the good doctor's
lesbian lifestyle.

Fisher's long list of television credits include regular roles on
"Titus," "Glory Days" and "The Lyon's Den," as well as guest starring
appearances on "Becker," "The X Files" and, most recently, "Boston
Legal." She's been seen on the big screen in films like "Unforgiven"
(with one-time paramour Clint Eastwood) and "Titanic."

[sharon 3]

Post by d***@yahoo.com
http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271|93231|1|,00.html
Spacek Out, Fisher In on 'ER'
Due to scheduling conflicts, Oscar winner Sissy Spacek has bailed on
an upcoming episode of NBC's "ER." She'll be replaced by Frances
Fisher.
Fisher appears in the medical drama's Thursday, Feb. 10 episode,
titled "Shortness of Breath." The cryptic people in NBC's publicity
department will only say that she plays "an important person from
Weaver's past."
Scuttlebutt had Spacek playing the evangelical mother of Laura Innes'
Dr. Kerry Weaver. Spacek is 10 years older than Innes, while Fisher is
only seven years older than the three-time Emmy nominee. Sparks are
expected to fly between Weaver and her mother over the good doctor's
lesbian lifestyle.
Fisher's long list of television credits include regular roles on
"Titus," "Glory Days" and "The Lyon's Den," as well as guest starring
appearances on "Becker," "The X Files" and, most recently, "Boston
Legal." She's been seen on the big screen in films like "Unforgiven"
(with one-time paramour Clint Eastwood) and "Titanic."

Anyone else find it kinda weird that Sissy Spacek was announced as a guest
and even gave interviews expressing her delight at working with John Wells
again (made a movie with him a couple years ago), only to drop out at the
last moment due to 'scheduling problems'? Wouldn't they be willing to
accomodate her? Wouldn't checking her schedule to be sure she was free be
part of the negotiations? How much time would she need to film an ER? I'm
sure they would do all her scenes at once and she'd work no more than a
couple days. Hmmm.. Wonder if there's more to the story?

Doc Sharon

[Ellen K Hursh]

http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271|93231|1|,00.html

Post by sharon 3

Post by d***@yahoo.com
Spacek Out, Fisher In on 'ER'

Anyone else find it kinda weird that Sissy Spacek was announced as a
guest and even gave interviews expressing her delight at working with
John Wells again (made a movie with him a couple years ago), only to
drop out at the last moment due to 'scheduling problems'? Wouldn't
they be willing to accomodate her?

Considering that they've had at least two guest stars who appeared on
the show concurrently with doing their own shows (Donal Logue and Lisa
Vidal), and the various main-cast folks have been doing their own
things in their assorted bits of free time, you'd think so.

Post by sharon 3
Wouldn't checking her schedule to be sure she was free be
part of the negotiations? How much time would she need to film an
ER? I'm sure they would do all her scenes at once and she'd work no
more than a couple days.

Well, hey... it only takes about an hour to do an hour-long show,
right? <j/k>

Post by sharon 3
Hmmm.. Wonder if there's more to the story?

Could be like the way that Lola Glaudini was originally announced as
Weaver's first squeeze-ette, but was then dropped in favor of Elizabeth
Mitchell. (Or at least I have a vague impression of reading somewhere
that there was *somebody* who was de-chosen because Innes didn't
like/click with/share shoe sizes/whatever with her.)

[sharon 3]

Post by d***@yahoo.com
http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271|93231|1|,00.html

Post by sharon 3

Post by d***@yahoo.com
Spacek Out, Fisher In on 'ER'

Anyone else find it kinda weird that Sissy Spacek was announced as a
guest and even gave interviews expressing her delight at working with
John Wells again (made a movie with him a couple years ago), only to
drop out at the last moment due to 'scheduling problems'? Wouldn't
they be willing to accomodate her?

Considering that they've had at least two guest stars who appeared on
the show concurrently with doing their own shows (Donal Logue and Lisa
Vidal), and the various main-cast folks have been doing their own
things in their assorted bits of free time, you'd think so.

Post by sharon 3
Wouldn't checking her schedule to be sure she was free be
part of the negotiations? How much time would she need to film an
ER? I'm sure they would do all her scenes at once and she'd work no
more than a couple days.

Well, hey... it only takes about an hour to do an hour-long show,
right? <j/k>

Post by sharon 3
Hmmm.. Wonder if there's more to the story?

Could be like the way that Lola Glaudini was originally announced as
Weaver's first squeeze-ette, but was then dropped in favor of Elizabeth
Mitchell. (Or at least I have a vague impression of reading somewhere
that there was *somebody* who was de-chosen because Innes didn't
like/click with/share shoe sizes/whatever with her.)

Yes, LI didn't like the chemistry with LG and pushed the producers to recast
the role. However, I'm not sure they had even filmed any of her scenes yet,
let alone a whole eppy. Also, LG is not a major Oscar winning actress whose
casting was announced in a special press release and who was interviewed
about the role in the press.

Interestingly enough, it's reported elsewhere that the entire episode,
including Sissy Spacek's scenes, was already filmed in December and early
January. Sissy had even given interviews about how interesting she found
the story. ER is apparently reshooting her scenes now with Frances Fisher,
I suppose TPTB might have decided to do major rewrites of the story after
filming and Sissy couldn't be available to do the scenes, but that is very
uncommon in TV. Considering that TPTB moved the entire production,
including the set for Abby's apartment, to NYC to accomodate Sally Field, it
seems odd that they weren't able to do something to allow Sissy to do the
show.

Doc Sharon

[Shawn H]

sharon 3 <***@cox.net> wrote:

: part of the negotiations? How much time would she need to film an ER? I'm
: sure they would do all her scenes at once and she'd work no more than a
: couple days. Hmmm.. Wonder if there's more to the story?

Maybe she got a movie offer she couldn't turn down. Lots of shooting
schedules seem to conflict with TV roles.

Shawn

[sharon 3]

Post by Shawn H
: part of the negotiations? How much time would she need to film an ER?
I'm
: sure they would do all her scenes at once and she'd work no more than a
: couple days. Hmmm.. Wonder if there's more to the story?
Maybe she got a movie offer she couldn't turn down. Lots of shooting
schedules seem to conflict with TV roles.
Shawn

Apparently, SS is involved in pre-production on another film now. However,
sources say she had already filmed her part on ER in December, so unless
there were major rewrites or TPTB decided at the last moment to make it a
multiple episode arc and couldn't wait a couple months or use her downtime
from the film, it seems strange that 'scheduling conflicts' would be a
problem. Especially in the case of on Oscar winning actress. Recall that
just a couple years ago, TPTB moved the entire production, including the set
for Abby's apartment to NYC to accomodate SF who was appearing in a play.
Sissy Spacek isn't just any TV guest star.
Doc Sharon