Jane Krakowski reflected on Robert Downey Jr.’s momentary affiliation to David 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.
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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 the Oppenheimer star’s unfortunate exit from the show. She was left wondering the what-ifs of the incident.
Robert Downey Jr. Was “Tailor-Made” For Ally 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 of Ally McBeal, “It felt like he was tailor-made for the show.”
In THR’s report, Jane Krakowski revealed how it felt to learn of RDJ’s inclusion in the much-celebrated series. Following is how the Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt alum 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 the Iron Man alum 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.
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Jane Krakowski Regretted Robert Downey Jr.’s Departure From Ally 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 in Ally McBeal appeared bleak following a drug-related arrest. Subsequently, the Sherlock Holmes alum 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.”
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-helmed Iron 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 McBeal is available for streaming on Hulu and Prime Video.
Source: THR
