· Smelling Oscar, Jamie Foxx will star in DreamWorks' adaptation of the book The Zebra Murders: A Season of Killing, Racial Madness and Civil Rights, playing one of "trailblazing black detectives who set out to solve a series of racially motivated serial killings that rocked San Francisco in the fall and winter of 1973-74." It's a serial killer flick! It's a socially conscious civil rights tale! Academy voters are already fantasizing about checking off Foxx's name on their ballots. [Variety]
· The Red Sox's World Series-opening rout of the Rockies gives Fox nearly as big a Nieslen win over its network rivals. Also: Bionic Woman (see above for fun behind-the-scenes news!) dropped off 23 percent from its previous averages. [THR]
· Demonstrating that Hollywood Cares About The Wildfires, Disney kicks in $2 million in relief. [Variety]
· Michael Mann is making plans to butch up a gone-too-soft Robert De Niro. [Variety]

Extra: Did you ever worry about any negative feeling that might affect the ratings of this show? [...]

Washington: I was just recently at the Congressional Black Caucus, this past weekend. And there was a gentleman there who was a member of those 43 members by the name of Sen. Barack Obama. And there was also two young women there—or, women there—one named Nancy Pelosi, and another named Hillary Rodham Clinton.

And when the lights dimmed, I had a line [outstretches his arms] from left to right of people coming to congratulate me for being on Bionic Woman, and supporting me, and wanting, like, to have an autograph signed for almost the entire—I could not eat my dinner. So if that is any indication—sitting in a room with those three political elites, and people are trying to get to my table more than they are trying to get to their table, then that says a lot about two things: one, where our political system is today, and the confidence people have in our political system, and two, the power of television, and what people feel is genuine and what people feel is right and what people feel about a particular individual. So no, to answer your question, I couldn't have any time of day to worry about what people are thinking, because I'm too busy trying to learn this dialogue on this show.

Washington's riveting anecdote about the night his own popularity eclipsed not one, but two presidential frontrunners and the first female Speaker of the House is indeed a powerful statement about Americans' confidence in government, and their inspiring ability to look past a few misplaced slurs to see the faggot-tolerating man within. Whoever winds up the next Democratic nominee would do well to take a page from Washington's unceasingly modest and politically astute playbook.

• Isaiah Washington: 'I Thought My Career Was Over' [extratv.warnerbros.com]

There had been word around town that "Bionic" was also shutting down production, but an NBC rep said that isn't the case. However, industry insiders believe it's possible the show—which is now in production on its fifth episode — still might take a break for a while in order to give the writers a chance to focus on refining the show's directions.

Shutting down production doesn't always have a negative impact on a new show's future. ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" and "Brothers & Sisters" both took brief hiatuses early in their run — and went on to become hits.

If the show is indeed headed for a shutdown, Grey's Anatomy hiatus survivor and controversial late Bionic cast addition Isaiah Washington could prove an invaluable asset during the downtime. While the writers and producers tend to the business of solidifying the show's creative direction, the veteran Washington can teach his co-stars how to develop the kind of volatile off-screen chemistry that produced multiple Emmy-nominated performances in the Grey's ensemble once the cameras finally rolled.

• Glen Morgan exits 'Bionic Woman' [Variety]
• Previously: 'Bionic' Producers Believe In Second Chances, Whatever Ben Silverman Tells Them To Say About Hiring Isaiah Washington [Defamer]

"Patrick is... Patrick is Patrick Dempsey. And he protects himself well," Isaiah said. "He did what he felt he needed to do and remained silent." [...]

"And maybe that's the kind of good ol' boy mentality. Maybe it's like 'Well, he'll be alright.' I don't know. I can't speak for Patrick," Isaiah said. "Good luck on getting anything out of Patrick or anyone in terms of how he feels about it. He chose to make the decision he's made, but as it seems, it worked out in my favor at the end of the day."

Beyond the distinct sounds of popped champagne corks and muted cheers that first greeted the news, we doubt we'll be hearing much more on l'affair d'Isaiah from the Grey's Anatomy set, from Dempsey, Knight, or any of the other cast members who the actor maintains worked in concert to oust him from the series. Still, as he smugly reminded longtime ally Billy Bush, nowhere does Karma mete out its irony-tinged justice more than in Hollywood, where the wrongly persecuted ultimately triumph with publicity-generating, five-episode guest star stints on unproven new shows, while their tormentors are left to pick up the shattered pieces, sifted from the wreckage of multiple Emmy nominations and hefty salary increases.

• Isaiah Washington On Patrick Demspey's 'Grey's' Silence [accesshollywood.com]

"We believe in second chances," said executive producer Jason Smilovic. "The way to change a problem ... rather than excommunicate somebody, is to allow them to make amends."

When asked if Washington would have been hired if he was a white actor who used the n-word, Smilovic didn't take the bait. "That's a theoretical question that I really can't answer," he said.

Asked if hiring Washington could be perceived as an affront to the gay community, Smilovic said, "absolutely not ... we embrace the gay community ... we hope they will embrace the show ... we are in no way making any judgments about what was said ... this is about making great entertainment."

One critic suggested, since producers are interested in allowing Washington to "make amends," scripting a gay kiss for his character. Smilovic rejected the idea as "breaking down the third, fourth and fifth wall of television."

Even with the kiss scenario momentarily tabled, the producer did allow for the possibility of introducing a more organic redemptive plotline if it didn't rip a hole in the TV-storytelling continuum; in fact, they're already trying to figure out how to integrate a story thread in which Washington's character comes to believe that a cadre of gay hackers has somehow seized control of Jamie Summer's bionic appendages and plans to use their cybernetic slave to destroy his career, a paranoid delusion that, once dispelled, just brings the team closer together.

• No Gay Kiss For 'Bionic' Isaiah [TV Week]
• Previously: A Forgiving NBC Takes Isaiah Washington Into Its Rainbow-Feathered Embrace [Defamer]

Washington will guest-star on the network's high-profile remake of 1970s drama Bionic Woman this fall, and has signed a development deal to star in a potential action drama he pitched to the network for the 2008-09 TV season. [...]

Katherine Pope, president of NBC's Universal Media Studios, says that despite the public baggage, Washington is "a brilliant actor," and she believes viewers will re-embrace him. "I think people watch characters on TV, not personalities" in the news, she says. [...]

The Washington deal marks the first stamp of new NBC co-chairman Ben Silverman, who also is an executive producer of The Office and Ugly Betty.

"He's a totally awesome actor," Silverman says. "He did a great job for Grey's and he's got a fan base." As for Washington's offscreen drama, "He's put that behind him. Let's give him a chance to do what he does."

While we have no doubt Silverman's decision comes from a true place—the party executive probably reasoned there's no workplace hostility that can't be smoothed over by a couple of rounds of Tequila Slammers at the Burbank Chevy's—we're still unconvinced that Washington is completely over his legendary rage issues after one brief stint in fake gayhab. The last thing Bionic Woman needs as it finds its early footing is for Washington to loudly confront Oscar Goldman for showing up to set 15 minutes late, to say nothing of having failed to equip the new Jaime Sommers with the latest in BlueTooth technology.

• Washington to return to network TV [USAToday.com]

In between super-sizing, over-ordering, and spinning off every decently rated property on its current programming roster, NBC managed to slip a couple of semi-original shows onto its Fall schedule. To whet your appetite for their upcoming September offerings, the network has posted a number of teasers to its YouTube page, including the above clip from its Bionic Woman update. Network president Kevin Reilly did proudly disclose his "choke on our classy hits" strategy yesterday, so we're not too surprised to discover that the show feels a little like Heroes in atmosphere (why not just go all the way and have the one with the pissed-off reflection turn up to bust Jamie out of the hospital?). If you're still feeling nostalgic for the original even after watching the rebuilt heroine nearly kill her physician because she's less than thrilled with her new legs, a clip of its classic opening credits follows after the jump:

• Bionic Woman — Coming to NBC [YouTube]
• Bionic Woman Tv Show Intro [YouTube]
• Previously: NBC Hoping Your Appetite For Its High-Quality Hits Is Insatiable [Defamer]

A reporter asks Reilly (paraphrased): "Since you're committed to renewing good shows even if they have low ratings, does that mean 'Studio 60' wasn't a good show?"

Nearly everybody — including NBC Universal President-CEO Jeff Zucker — finds this question funny. Reilly replies that "Studio 60" received "a mixed response," even within NBC. Showrunner Aaron Sorkin "was doing the show he wanted to do. ... It just kind of felt like that show had kind of run its course. ... I have no regrets."

To further demonstrate that the network is dedicated to the rising stars of its future and not to dwelling on the low-rated misfires of the past, with a sharp clap of his hands Reilly summoned his Bionic Woman (9 p.m. Wednesday nights) to the stage, who then delighted all ad sales personnel in attendance by ceremonially suffocating Studio 60 breakout character Lobster Boy with a pillow emblazoned with NBC's proud peacock logo, a display that drove Sorkin—who'd shown up on the crazy hope he'd get a surprise second season order—from the venue in tears.

• Reilly Deconstructs Schedule [TV Week Blog]
• Previously: NBC Hoping Your Appetite For Its High-Quality Hits Is Insatiable [Defamer]