Did Susan Dey quit the hit CBS sitcom "Love & War" or was she fired?
It doesn't really matter. Chances are, it's going to be a change for the better.That old Hollywood standby, "creative differences," was cited as the reason for her departure. Dey has complained publicly about how difficult her schedule was and how difficult doing comedy was for her.
Which comes as no surprise to viewers of the show. Watching Dey do comedy has been difficult enough.
Not that "Love & War" isn't a good show. It's well-written, and the other series lead, Jay Thomas, as well as the supporting cast are excellent.
But Dey has always been the weak link. She had no chemistry with Thomas and has delivered an extraordinarily stiff performance throughout the season.
Which is why creator/writer Diane English and her co-executive producer and husband Joel Shukovsky reportedly have not been happy with her. Nor has CBS.
The network had no comment on Dey's departure, and English and Shukovsky released a statement calling it an "amicable parting of the ways" and said, "All of us at the company have enjoyed working with Susan and we wish her the best in all her future endeavors."
Dey will appear in all 26 episodes this season. (Four remain to be aired.)
It's widely believed that the change was made in an effort to save the show. (And her release should help.) Although it's currently No. 15 for the season, it owes much of that to the fact that it follows the huge hit "Murphy Brown," which was, of course, also created by English.
There's no word on how the producers plan to write Dey out of the series and no official word on who Thomas' character, Jack Stein, will be going through "Love & War" with in the future.
The trade paper Variety is reporting as fact another widely circulated rumor - that Jack will become involved with the feisty, redheaded sports writer Meg, played by Suzie Plakson.
If that does turn out to be the case, and if the show returns next season - which is likely but by no means assured - that also looks like a big improvement.
NBC LACKS OUT: The news that Andrew Lack has been named the new head of NBC News is also a welcome development.
Unlike his predecessor, Michael Gartner, Lack actually has experience in broadcast journalism.
He comes to NBC from CBS, where he was executive producer of the news magazine "Street Stories."
He's been at CBS since 1976, overseeing a wide range of news magazine, documentaries and news specials. His projects have won a number of awards, including 16 Emmys and two Peabodys.
He's also a pleasant, upfront individual, unlike the arrogant, obnoxious Gartner.
Andy Lack has his work cut out for him as he tries to restore the image of NBC News - so badly damaged by the "Dateline NBC" fiasco as well as other indiscretions - but he just may be the man to do the job.
ANCHORS AWEIGH: One of Lack's top priorities will be the launch of NBC's second prime time news magazine, "NBC Prime Story," which is scheduled to debut on Wednesday, June 23.
The network completed its anchor lineup for that show this week, naming longtime reporter Fred Francis, who's currently covering the Pentagon, to join co-anchors Faith Daniels and Mike Schneider.
Of course, maybe the network could work on that title. Like leave "NBC" out of it.