(Brian Bowen Smith / FOX)
As previously reported, Clayne Crawford, who starred as Martin Riggs on the first two seasons of the Lethal Weapon TV show on FOX, was let go from the production. Subsequently, Lethal Weapon was renewed for season three, and a new actor, Seann William Scott, has been tapped to star in a new role opposite Damon Wayans’ Roger Murtaugh. During the Upfronts, a FOX exec addressed the recent firing of one of the show’s two leads.
A FOX TV series adaptation of the buddy-cop film franchise, Lethal Weapon also stars Keesha Sharp, Kevin Rahm, Jordana Brewster, Johnathan Fernandez, Dante Brown, Chandler Kinney, and Michelle Mitchenor. FOX Chair and CEO Dana Walden made it clear that firing Crawford wasn’t the network’s call.
On Crawford’s ouster and bringing back Lethal Weapon with a new co-star, Scott, playing a new character, Fox chairman Dana Walden said, “It wasn’t our choice. Our partners at Warner Bros. came to us and said that they could not deliver the show as it was.”
She noted that it was a difficult decision on both the part of the studio and the network. After the studio presented Fox with Scott as a replacement, the network signed off on a third season.
“I think we made the right choice,” she said, noting that Scott’s addition brings “good new dynamic to the show with a lot of its original dynamic intact.”
Newman added that “90 percent of the cast is coming back,” including the Murtaugh family, which is an important focal point of the show.
“We will be making sure to let the audience know there is something new” on the series this fall, he added regarding Fox’s marketing plans for Season 3 and noted that another cop drama, ABC’s NYPD Blue, had to replace one of its two leads after the first season after David Caruso’s exit, but went on to have a long and successful run.
What do you think? Are you a Clayne Crawford fan? Will you check out the third season of the Lethal Weapon TV series, to see how you like the new actor and character?
Clayne Crawford was the main reason I watched the show. Everybody likes a hero who takes chances always comes out alive. I am afraid no one will watch the show now.
I guess I’ll try it, but Clayne Crawford was the reason I watched in the first place. Really sad to see him go. I doubt I’ll continue watching.
Without Clayne Crawford you should go on and cancel the show no offense to the other actors but Clayne made the show.
NO Clayne Crawford????? I Am Done with Lethal Weapon if Clayne Crawford is gone,!!!!!! Apparently whoever fired him has no business sense whatsoever, he absolutely made the show! Thought Fox was better and smarter than that, Bad Decision people!!!! Will be spreading the word to family and friends to boycott the show without Crawford
I’m not a big fan of Clayne Crawford, but there’s no show without Riggs’s character
Why was Clayne Crawford fired? I really enjoyed his character! He was the majority of the show. What kind of “emotional abuse & hostility” caused his termination?? I do believe respect for all coworkers is mandatory! What a shame!!
How do we get Rigs back? There has to be a way! It has happened with other shows where business people think they know. However we all know they don’t know ****. So let’s do something to bring back Rigs.
There´s no Lethal Weapon without Riggs. Clayne Crawford IS Riggs, so, you let Clayne go, there´s no show. No one is gonna see this anymore… It´s a BIG SHAME !
Clayne Crawford is the show- without him I will not watch the show – he and Damon have a chemistry you can’t replace ! Please bring Riggs back!!!!
And what’s the bigger shame is that Damon is the one who wanted him canned & filed all the complaints.
Won’t be the same without Clayne Crawford. HE MAKES THE SHOW. Won’t be worth watching without him.
Lethal weapon is all about Murtaugh & Riggs. Without Riggs there is no lethal weapon. Clayne Crawford makes the show!!! Really not your choice? Come on. Do something to bring him back. Your gonna lose ratings for sure. Such a shame. FYI, Clayne Crawford was the reason the show was so good. If he’s not brought back I definitely won’t be watching. There’s not that many show’s I like but this one was exceptional & looked forward to it. Another good show killed off, why? Because of some personality conflict? People need to get over themselves. I feel bad for… Read more »
She is totally right. It is your choice. Do not play the blame game. You know what the fans want!
Another great show ruined by so called experts.
No Damon Wayans LETHAL WEAPON survives, because who brings life to LETHAL WEAPON is Clayne Crawford!!! Accepts that it hurts less, Clayne Crawford is much more talented than Damon Wayans! #wewantclaynecrawford #saveclaynecrawford
you said it and wayans doesn’t even want to do the show
Crash and burn. The show was only watchable because of Riggs.
#wewantclaynecrawford #saveclaynecrawford Clayne Crawford The best of actor serie