Do you like Auggie (Colin Egglesfield) and Violet (Ashlee Simpson-Wentz) on Melrose Place? Wait, do you watch Melrose Place? Judging from the ratings, not a lot of people do, so in an effort to "shake things up" network executives decided to axe Egglesfield and Simpson-Wentz from the CW remake.
Of course, the news comes as a shock to the fans, no matter how few they might be, but no one was apparently more shocked than Egglesfield himself, who'll make his final appearance on Melrose Place in January and will shoot his final episode next week.
The actor explained to E! Online that he was told it was a "network decision" since they thought Auggie's character was "too dark" with all the alcoholism. "They felt like in the landscape of Melrose Place, they wanted to change the tone of the show."
He had a multiyear contract with the show, although he was originally slated to be in 10 of the first 13 episodes.
He assured fans that the axing doesn't have anything to do with talent, on-screen brawls, or anything of the sort. Nevertheless, he already has several auditions lined up post-
Melrose Place. He's not closing his doors, though, since his character won't be killed off, so who knows. That doesn't mean, however, that he's "frustrated" with the development.
"It was such a great job and a fun place to go to work every day. I'm disappointed to be leaving because I became really good friends with not only the cast of
Melrose Place but many of the crew as well, so that's sad, to not be able to go see them at work"
In potentially related development, Heather Locklear, who starred as Amanda in the 1990s
Melrose Place, is set to join the revival starting with the November 17 episode. The CW has recently ordered five more episodes of the series, despite meager ratings.
Do you think Auggie's character is too dark for something as
Melrose Place? Wait, is there anything that's too dark for this
Melrose incarnate?
- Glenn Diaz, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source:
Associated press,
E! Online(Image courtesy of the CW)