Katherine Fugate, the creator of Lifetime's groundbreaking hit series
Army Wives, has just been discharged, according to
Entertainment Weekly. Although the reason for her departure has not been disclosed, rumors of behind-the-scenes tension between Fugate and the show's corporate spouses, Lifetime and ABC Studios, have been buzzing since the beginning. In fact, the military drama has endured three show-runner changes in its two years on the air. The most recent adjustment came when Dee Johnson was let go and replaced by Nick Thiel.
"
Army Wives is a fantastic tribute to the real life heroes serving in our armed forces and I'm so happy to have been a part of it," Fugate said in a statement. "With the show such an established hit, now seems like a logical time for me to step away and focus on developing new projects."
In its own statement, ABC Studios said, "Katherine is incredibly talented and we're grateful for her work in creating
Army Wives. We are very happy to have had the opportunity to work with her."
Meanwhile,
Army Wives has already been renewed for a third season, thanks to record-setting ratings and constant raves about the casting and its actors. The show centers of domestic life in the army base and focuses on a diverse group of women living with their spouses and families on an active army post and the pressures on those who are left behind while their partners serve their country. The show stars
Brian McNamara as Michael Holden,
Brigid Brannagh as Pamela Moran,
Catherine Bell as Denise Sherwood,
Drew Fuller as Trevor LeBlanc,
Kim Delaney as Claudia Joy Holden,
Sally Pressman as Roxy LeBlanc, and
Sterling K. Brown as Roland Burton.
The series premiered on Lifetime Television on June 3, 2007 and had the largest series premiere in the network's 23 year history.
-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source:
EW
(Image courtesy of creationent.com)