Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
Jane Krakowski reflected on Robert Downey Jr.’s momentary affiliation toDavid E. Kelley’s legal comedy-drama TV show,Ally McBeal.The critically acclaimed Emmy-winning series starred the MCU alum in its fourth season as a love interest to the titular role portrayed by Calista Flockhart.
However, the actor’s departure from the show, owing to his struggles with drug addiction, marked a time when his on-screen character had to be written out of the premise with his absence subsequently mourned.
Read also:Oppenheimer Dethrones The Wolf of Wall Street for Rare Box Office Record
Around the time of the series’ 20th anniversary, The Hollywood Reporter interviewed the creators alongside the cast, urging them to shed light on the renowned show’s history. Here, Jane Krakowski, who played Elaine Vassal in the show, expressed her regrets over theOppenheimerstar’s unfortunate exit from the show. She was left wondering the what-ifs of the incident.
Robert Downey Jr. Was “Tailor-Made” ForAlly McBeal
Fans adored the character portrayed by the star. Larry Paul’s introduction to the legal comedy-drama brought forth a reinvigorated flair to the series, leaving the audience craving for more. His on-screen dynamic and chemistry with the titular character reaped wide appreciation. Additionally,Robert Downey Jr.‘s pre-existing talents made him a perfect match for the TV program. He had expertise in comedy and drama and he could also sing.
As perfectly stated by David E. Kelley, the creator ofAlly McBeal,“It felt like he was tailor-made for the show.”
In THR’s report,Jane Krakowskirevealed how it felt to learn of RDJ’s inclusion in the much-celebrated series. Following is how theUnbreakable Kimmy Schmidtalum recalled it:
“I’d worked with Robert on an off-Broadway musical when we were teens so I was excited to have him on the show. However, I also felt a little trepidatious about him coming just because of where he was in his life at the time. He was so happy to be there and have this opportunity. Then, a lot of other stuff happened.”
Having worked alongside theIron Manalum in her teenage years made Krakowski look forward to him joining the cast. The star was, however, deeply embroiled in several scandals and controversies around that time in his life. His reputation was tainted. Hence, she felt rather anxious about Downey Jr.’s involvement. Soon enough, matters spiraled out of control.
Read also:Robert Downey Jr’s Iron Man Co-Star Lists $4.9M Mansion on Airbnb – Has Her $200M Fortune Run Out?
Jane Krakowski Regretted Robert Downey Jr.’s Departure FromAlly McBeal
Sandy Grushow,then-president of 20th Century Fox Television, stated that getting RDJ on the David E. Kelley-created show“had been a stroke of genius.”That was until the fateful incident which changed the trajectory of Downey Jr.’s life. In 2001, the star’s future inAlly McBealappeared bleak following a drug-related arrest. Subsequently, theSherlock Holmesalum was fired from the Fox sitcom.
It was intended for the fourth season’s finale to feature Ally and Larry’s wedding. But such plans had to be abandoned. Season 5, which was supposed to be about the couple’s married life, had to be completely rewritten and revised, as well. If Downey Jr.’s involvement in the show signaled its resurrection, his abrupt departure marked its eventual downfall.
Expressing her regrets over the incident, Jane Krakowski wished something could’ve been done to prevent it:
“Robert was arrested over the Thanksgiving hiatus and I remember thinking, “Why didn’t any of us invite him to Thanksgiving dinner?” Maybe if we had, he would have had other plans and nothing would have happened.”
Related:Robert Downey Jr. Walked Away Scot Free After Causing the Demise of Iconic TV Series That Won Him His First Golden Globe
Affirming a similar sentiment to that of Jane Krakowski, creator David E. Kelley stated,
“He’d [RDJ] been so good; he left a huge void, and there was a concern that we’d never rise to the same level again.”
After the MCU alum’s exit from the notable sitcom, his personal and legal battles persisted until his efforts to sustain his career snowballed into a grand Hollywood comeback through 2008’s Jon Favreau-helmedIron Man. This time around, he intended to make his stay longer. Despite the difficulties he faced, the actor ultimately persevered and established himself as one of the industry’s finest talents. Robert Downey Jr. has maintained sobriety since July 2003 and his recovery journey remains an awe-inspiring testament to human willpower.
Ally McBealis available for streaming on Hulu and Prime Video.
Source:THR
Debdipta Bhattacharya
Articles Published :659
Debdipta Bhattacharya is a content writer at FandomWire, where she has written more than 500 articles on various topics of interest. She possesses a sincere passion for popular culture, anime, film production, and the evolving world of YouTube and streaming culture which has allowed her to be a devoted and well-informed writer. Debdipta holds a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication. She has honed her skills and expertise in content writing with over two years of experience and strives to learn and grow daily.
