(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?
will not be watching season 3, clayne crawford made the show.
Time Warner Inc.
One Time Warner Center
New York, NY 10019-8016
212-484-8000 If you want to get to who is responsible for firing Mr. Crawford and let’s get serious it was because of Mr. Wayans ego more so than anything else. Call and let them know if they were gona replace someone it should have been Mr. Wayans. Mr. Crawford was the show he made the show.
Mr. Crawford made the whole show! Huge mistake letting him go! I will not be watching the new show. It will not be be the same. Mr. Scott is not a good fit here, he is a ok actor, but Mr. Crawford made the show, I love Mr. Wayans, but I think this was more ab egos than anything else, whoever decided this, thanks for ******** up one of the better shows.
This show was a favorite of ours! Replacing Clayne is a huge mistake and I think FOX will see their ratings crash on this show. I, for one, will only watch the first episode to see what happens but that is it. And if Clayne no longer being there is due to Damon then I am no longer a Damon fan. I wish Clayne the best!
Crawford made the show. Writers MUST let him live and move to Texas…his character deserves that!!! This is the ONLY way Crawford fans will accept Seann Scott as the new “Riggs.” From what is written on the internet, Crawford apologized, and it seems Wayans is a prima donna who got his feelings hurt, acting like a child when he didn’t want to work with Crawford. Word to Wayans– you are an actor so ACT like it and work with someone even if you don’t like him.
I HATE that you replaced a main show character like you did and expect the storyline to work. For me, this goes back to the Riggs character when Mel Gibson played originally in the movies. Clayne Crawford brought the crazy intenseness of Riggs to tv and made the character work. There IS no Lethal Weapon without Clayne Crawford’s Riggs…
His energy and portrayed street smarts ability to read the crooks made him the best part of the show but also showed the everyday person with their family issues and abuse. He was the best part of the show and the focal point. I will not be watching without Clayne.
I loved him big mistake will NOT watch the show
You work on ratings , right? Big mistake, Huge! Well, gotta go find a new show . Have a nice day.
Yes I WAS a Lethal Weapon fan, but no more. You have replaced the best actor in the show. He was why I watch the show , but no more. I can’t believe you would ruin such a great show. Clayne Crawford was the show. BIG MISTAKE He is a great actor and seems to care about the show and how it is made
Why would you replace Crawford. Crawford and Wayan’s were great together. You built up the story drawing us in and now you are letting us down.
No way! Riggs was the best part of the show!
I won’t be tuning in next season because Crawford was my favorite character. You should have tried to fix the problem with the actor because I think the storyline is going to be ludicrous. It reminds me of a bad soap opera.
Lethal Weapon is not Lethal Weapon without Riggs! They got lucky in finding Clayne Crawford – he makes the show. Won’t be watching if there’s no Clayne! Seriously, who fires the star of the show!? Just ruined a great new series!
He was the reason we watched. BIG mistake. He made the show, don’t think I’ll continue watching