Can anyone say awwwwk-ward? Fired Grey's star Isaiah Washington had a surprise run-in with former castmates James Pickens (Chief) and Chandra Wilson (Dr. Bailey) on Saturday. The three met up at Kiki Shepard's 5th Annual Celebrity Bowling Challenge to "Bowl a Strike for Sickle Cell Disease." I'd love to tell you they had a bowl-a-thon over Isaiah's old job or that there was some big throw-down, but unfortunately it was a buttoned-up kind of affair. According to People.com, "Washington, who seemed in good spirits, first casually greeted Pickens with a pat on the back before the two got to chatting, then gave Wilson a hearty hug and kiss hello."
Speacking of Isaiah, ABC may have cast him aside as a liability, but NBC is banking on his acting, er, skills to beef up ratings on some of their new fall shows. USA Today reported: "Washington will guest-star on the network's high-profile remake of 1970s drama Bionic Woman this fall, and has signed a development deal to star in a potential action drama he pitched to the network for the 2008-09 TV season."
NBC's leap of faith has everything to do with new NBC co-chairman Ben Silverman who said of Isaiah, "He's a totally awesome actor. He did a great job for Grey's and he's got a fan base." As for Washington's offscreen drama, "He's put that behind him. Let's give him a chance to do what he does."
