Site Meter Brothers & Sisters » Blog Archive » Tommy who?

Tommy who?

by Terri

If they threw a Brothers & Sisters story arc and Tommy was hardly in it, would anyone even notice?

Aside from the spectacularly ill-advised affair storyline from last season, and a blip of activity with the birth of a winery and a baby at the end of Season 1, Balthazar Getty’s character hasn’t exactly been what you’d call high profile.

Of course, now the actor is high profile in a bad way, his affair with Sienna Miller splashed across the tabloids, and that’s led some to call for his firing. Or, in the case of a questioner in Entertainment Weekly’s “Ask Ausiello” column, Tommy’s death:

Question: Brothers & Sisters has dealt with a lot of tragedy over the last two seasons, but the one place they have yet to go is the death of one of the Walker children. Given that Balthazar Getty is getting his fair share of bad press lately, and the character of Tommy is already underused in an increasingly overcrowded cast, I can’t help but wonder: Are Getty’s, and thus Tommy’s, days numbered? It actually could be a decent story line and would give every actor material that they would knock out of the park. — Katelyn

Ausiello: While I’m sure there are a few people at ABC who would love to see Tommy go belly-up in the Walker pool, I don’t think it’s happening anytime soon. “It’s really important to separate ourselves from [Getty's troubles] in every way,” says exec producer and sometime guest star Ken Olin. “As long as he continues to do his work and be committed to his work, then his personal business is his own. Frankly, I don’t have any judgment about it… It’s got to be really hard when your life blows up that way. I feel for him. But as much as possible, all of us have tried to divorce ourselves from that part of his life.” So, is it just a coinky-dink that the next batch of B&S episodes to be shot are decidedly Tommy-light? Olin insists it is. “There’s a period where he’s lighter in the show, but that follows a period of him being very present in the show,” he maintains. “It’s more of a situation where you need some characters to drop back so you can bring other characters forward. You’ll see that Holly is very present for a number of episodes, and then for a couple she is much lighter. That’s the ebb and flow of having a big ensemble drama.”

If this means less of Tommy hanging around the Ojai Foods offices twisting the knife in Sarah’s back, I’m all for it. Perhaps when they do bring the guy more heavily into the action, he can actually have something worthwhile to do? I’ve always liked Tommy better as a stand-up guy than as a weasel. The one thing that stinks about Tommy being lightly used for a block of episodes is that it probably means Julia will be lightly used or typically nonexistent.

Maybe they can ship Tommy off for a wine research trip to France, and his family can make sure Julia and Lizzie are included in family gatherings and TV nights and road trips. Maybe she can fit in some spa time with her sisters-in-law. Maybe she can do some bonding with her fellow Walker spouses. Julia’s suffered plenty from the stupid way Tommy’s been written of late. She shouldn’t have to suffer from the actor’s stupidity, too.

, ,


8 Responses to “Tommy who?”

  1. Sarah Says:

    I’ve stopped watching Brothers & Sisters.

  2. Sylviane Says:

    Why?

    I read the same sort of comment on IMDB calling for a boycott, so the show will tank and they (the producers) will fire Getty… Oh and also the rest of the cast, but THAT fact is obviously less important and, for some odd reason, seeing Sally Field, Matthew Rhys, Rachel Griffiths etc get fired, will make Getty’s wife Rosetta feel better…(?)

    It is a great series, with wonderful actors and just ONE of them is acting like an *** and people are going to stop watching the show punishing ALL the actors, even those who outraged by Getty’s behaviour.

    Gosh, with ‘fans’ like that the series doesn’t need enemies. :-(

  3. Colleen Says:

    Romanticalgirl writes great fanfic on lj, and she’s done several rich and interesting Kevin-Julia stories. They’re great friends; they kid around and tell each other things they don’t tell anyone else. I’d love to see scenes like that on my TV.

  4. Sarah Says:

    Sylviane as a consumer I have the right to choose which shows or products I support or don’t support. I’m sure the fact that I have stopped watching the show will be neither here nor there in the greater scheme of things.

  5. Scott Says:

    I’ve been hugely turned off by Balty’s recent behavior, and frankly I wouldn’t be opposed to Tommy going away permanently…but like Sylviane, I do not understand the “petition” to cancel the show.

    Huh? So all the other wonderful actors on the show (not to mention the writers and the crew) should be punished too for one co-star’s conduct? That’s just absurd to me.

  6. Sylviane Says:

    Sorry, Sarah, it was not meant as an attack on you personally. I was just still flabbergasted over the message on IMDB. Of course everyone has the right to chose what they watch or don’t watch.

    I just think it’s too bad that you stop watching the show, with a wonderful group of different characters, over one bad apple. But, you are right, it is your choice and none of my business.

    And I have to admit that re-watching certain episodes with Getty’s behaviour in the back of my mind makes Tommy seem even more hypocritical to me…

    But that is not the fault of Nora, Kevin, Scotty, Sarah, Kitty etc.

  7. Vin Says:

    I never felt much for Tommy. He was boring to me and Getty’s performance is less then stellar, irrespective of his extra-marital shenanigans in real life. It’s just another reason to go and refill my wine glass when his scenes come on (which won’t be that very many any way) ;)

  8. Sylviane Says:

    *** It’s just another reason to go and refill my wine glass when his scenes come on (which won’t be that very many any way) ****

    Lucky for you, Vin, or you’d turn into a Walker as well. :-)

    But I was listening to B&S 2.09 yesterday while cleaning and to hear Justin say to Tommy: “You are seriously an a**, You’re cheating on your wife and your baby is what? 6 months old?.”, it does cause a bit of a chill.

Leave a Reply


About Brothers & Sisters

ABC's Brothers & Sisters is all about the Walker family and their many, many secrets. Also, their complete inability to keep those secrets in any responsible fashion. Spilling secrets is what this site dedicated to the show is all about -- through episode recaps, character musings, spoilers, casting scoop, plot developments, news flashes, and all the good gossip about a beautiful bunch of actors. Don't keep it a secret -- stop by often, and spread the word!

Brothers & Sisters Author(s)
    » Terri

Blogging Flair



TV Channel Posts

  • More Good Ratings
    [caption id="attachment_619" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Photo from DaemonsTV.com"][/caption] Criminal Minds was the #2 show in Canada this week, according to the Canadian Press. [...]
  • Fitting into Stylista
    This week on Stylista, we start out with the contestants chatting about Kate, once again. Danielle is telling her mother that she is shocked to still be in the running and has made the Top 6. They [...]
  • Thanksgiving All-Stars!
    Got questions about the BIGGEST food day of the year? Rachael has ya covered, with all sorts of tips and tricks today! We start out in the kitchen with a Rach Family Classic - Mom's Nut and [...]
  • The Office: "Frame Toby"
    Probably their worst effort to date. And we're going to keep this pithy because it's late, we're tired and do not have much constructive to say. Basically, when it starts to feel like every episode [...]
  • I Know What You Did, I'm Just Not Sure Why
    One thing is true. Biblically, angels are warriors. The last two episodes of Supernatural ("I Know What You Did Last Summer" and "Heaven and Hell") were basically one long ep. They were all about [...]
  • No character is irredeemable, apparently (well, maybe Holly)
    A funny thing happened while I was watching last week's Brothers & Sisters episode, "Going Once ... Going Twice." I started liking Tommy again. No one is more surprised than me. I've found [...]
  • Cory in the House for Nintendo DS Review
    The other day I tried out Cory in the House for Nintendo DS as a rental game. The video game is based on the Disney Channel show of the same name. It includes many of the show's characters such [...]
  • “In the midnight hour” Recap
    A lot happened in this episode. So let’s get right to it. Boy, Callie is having a rough time isn’t she? First George cheats on her and divorces her, then she hooks up with Hahn only to have her [...]
  • Fun Friday Poll
    Criminal Minds is full of beautiful smart people - but who would you want to go on a date with? Let's see who you'd most want to spend a fun evening with...and we'll do a poll for which CM lady [...]
  • Time to face the fact and it is this: Bye Pushing Daisies
    So what did I say yesterday? That as beautiful as the episode was, it's not the type an average viewer would stick around for. Watching Pushing Daisies requires a lot of...thought processing, of [...]

Hot Off The Press

  • What's Up Austin: The Weekend Line-up for 11/22/08
    I am freezing today. I stepped out this evening to go bowling with friends and it actually smelled like winter outside. I put on socks and shoes today, leaving my sandals behind. I've got the urge to [...]
  • Next Up: NCAA Championships
    No. 24 Arkansas Razorback men's cross country will run at the NCAA Championships, Mon., Nov. 24. [...]
  • Albuquerque dances all night long? T or F?
    [caption id="attachment_47" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="OK OK, I'll go and listen to some music!"][/caption] Almost all night long. Here's some other event news from ABQarts.org [...]
  • Charlize Theron oh-lala glam in white
    If we are talking lethal sexiness with uber-classy fashion sense, then I guess one name comes to my mind first. – Charlize Theron. Oh yeah, talk about sex appeal and class, the actress will [...]

  • [caption id="attachment_1225" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Santa Fe Dreaming..."][/caption] Ok this is a funky site that you must go visit,please, if you want to catch the wave (in a [...]
  • Swimming And Dving In The Lead After First Day At Alabama
    The No. 7 Auburn swimming and diving teams are both in the lead heading into the final session of its two-day dual meet at in-state rival Alabama. After 24 events in the "Iron Bowl of Swimming," the [...]
  • Silver Giveaway
    Christmas has always been perceived as the season for giving and receiving. ‘Guess it’s no wonder why this is the time of the year when people all around the world is in unison when it [...]
  • More Good Ratings
    [caption id="attachment_619" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Photo from DaemonsTV.com"][/caption] Criminal Minds was the #2 show in Canada this week, according to the Canadian Press. [...]
  • Albuquerque NM Film office
    [caption id="attachment_796" align="alignnone" width="480" caption="Hey, just about anyone can work films in NM...."][/caption] Well not anybody, however the State of NM really keeps offering [...]
  • Know Your Noxious Weeds and Invasive Species: Giant Hogweed
    It is true that I am a nerd that enjoys the study of nature and all of its creatures, and part and parcel of living in Portland, Oregon is enjoying nature. So today, I will bring you the fruit of my [...]