Report: Balthazar Getty's Brothers & Sisters Role Shrunk

Us Magazine - December 30, 2008 8:26 AM PST
Story photo: Report: Balthazar Getty's Brothers & Sisters Role ShrunkBalthazar Getty attends the Motherhood Begins Now event on May 1, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.Us Magazine
Balthazar Getty, who plays Tommy Walker on the ABC series Brothers & Sisters, was informed last week that producers were not planning on bringing him back as a full-time series regular next season, Entertainment Weekly columnist Michael Ausiello reported Tuesday.

Citing a Brothers & Sisters source, Ausiello reported that Getty is in talks with the show, "to stay on in a reduced capacity, perhaps as a recurring guest star."

A rep for the show declined to comment, while Getty's spokesperson denied that the actor is leaving the show.

E! recently reported that Getty was notoriously difficult to work with, forgetting his lines and even bringing one cast member to tears.

"No one on set is a fan," a source told E! "They often have to move shooting schedules around to accommodate him."

The source continued: "He is very impatient and once shouted, 'When are we going to shoot this?'"

See other scandals that rocked 2008!

But according to Ausiello, "Getty's sorta-departure is not the result of any one issue but a combination of factors that also includes budgetary and storyline considerations. Tommy has long been considered the most disposable of B&S's siblings. Removing him, at least as a regular presence, frees up the show to introduce some new blood."

Meanwhile, don't expect writers to have Getty's character killed off.

"Although an ABC insider says the idea of killing off a Walker has been discussed, the network would likely view such a twist as 'too morbid,' Ausiello reported. "As as result, Tommy is likely to either relocate with his wife and baby, or just drift into the background and reappear for the occasional disastrous dinner party."

In July, Getty announced that he had separated from his wife Rosetta, with whom he
has four children. The announcement came after photos surfaced of Getty kissing Sienna Miller on a boat in Italy.

(Adding to his problems on set: his split from Rosetta has allegedly alienated him from his co-stars, who are closer with her.)

See who else got cozy this year.


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  • C Pat
    Tommmy is not important enough to the story line to be that difficult to work with. The show needs to be a team effort that shares equally in the glory and the effort. Some new blood would be great....Just not too wired and too often.
    report abuseposted February 3, 2009 1:19 PM PST
  • pelon
    good. the character Tommy is a snooze-inducing bore. now.....if they would just let Justin and Rebecca go down the same path....the show would be perfect. awww....one can only dream.
    report abuseposted December 30, 2008 4:23 PM PST
  • pelon
    good. the character Tommy is a snooze-inducing bore. now.....if they would just let Justin and Rebecca go down the same path....the show would be perfect. awww....one can only dream.
    report abuseposted December 30, 2008 4:23 PM PST
  • pelon
    good. the character Tommy is a snooze-inducing bore. now.....if they would just let Justin and Rebecca go down the same path....the show would be perfect. awww....one can only dream.
    report abuseposted December 30, 2008 4:23 PM PST
  • pelon
    good. the character Tommy is a snooze-inducing bore. now.....if they would just let Justin and Rebecca go down the same path....the show would be perfect. awww....one can only dream.
    report abuseposted December 30, 2008 4:23 PM PST
  • erin s
    he's whack
    report abuseposted December 30, 2008 10:19 AM PST
  • R
    The show needs some new blood, it seem to take on the same circle of events over and over....it becomes boring.
    report abuseposted December 30, 2008 9:44 AM PST
  • Laura T
    As a regular watcher of the show, I think Tommy is definitely the least interesting member of the family. Although he is a good actor, he lacks charisma and charm that the others have. I think it is a good decision to use him less and bring in some new blood as some of the plot lines are getting stale.
    report abuseposted December 30, 2008 9:15 AM PST
  • OD
    he sounds like a complete ass
    report abuseposted December 30, 2008 9:07 AM PST

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