A pair of entertainment related articles caught my eye between yesterday today.

First up is the news that, among a few others from different series, actress Stana Katic is leaving the show Castle:

Stana Katic and four other TV exits that stunned fans worldwide

For those who don’t know about the show Castle or Ms. Katic, it is a reasonably breezy murder/mystery type affair which started with a womanizing bachelor best-selling author, as they are wont to do, getting himself embedded in the NY Police Department for reasons (and they let him for stay on for… reasons).

At first the author, Richard Castle (played by cult/fan favorite Nathan Fillion) is viewed as an impediment to investigations but over time he becomes more and more a part of the “team.”  He is overseen/partnered with no-nonsense Detective Kate Beckett (Ms. Katic, natch) and over the course of the show we go through romantic tension between the characters followed by actual romance and, according to the article, the two characters are now married.

Anyway, here’s the show’s two leads.  Ms. Katic is (obviously) on the right:

According to the above article, after nine seasons, ABC last week announced the next season of Castle would not feature Ms. Katic.  The reasons for her departure were not made clear which, to my mind, may well indicate the parting was less than amicable.

I mention while admitting I’m not a fan of the show.  My full exposure to it was during a summer a few years ago where I caught several episodes worth of reruns on TNT or TBS and found the show fun and the two leads had plenty of charisma but it was not something I felt worth following beyond that.

Having said this and admitting my limited exposure, I nonetheless cannot see how Castle continues without Ms. Katic’s Detective Beckett.  Unlike other shows which feature larger ensemble casts, this show had other characters running around but the focus was clearly on these two and their interactions.  Further, part of the bigger storyline in the admittedly few episodes I saw was the fact that Richard Castle’s big literary creation was based on Detective Beckett.  Not only did he romance her but her character was the inspiration for the books he wrote.

Now, having her character suddenly gone has to radically change the show.  One wonders, did the show’s producers know she was leaving when they finished the previous season?  If they did, had they filmed something hinting at her departure?  Or will the new season simply start off with her character’s departure being a fait accompli?

Despite not following this show, I am intrigued to see if they can somehow overcome this very big change.  I hope they don’t just substitute another no-nonsense female detective in Ms. Katic’s place and try to start all over again.

The second bit of entertainment news involves former baseball pitcher Curt Schilling, an outspoken very conservative individual who finally said more than his employers, ESPN, could handle.  Thus his comments regarding transgender individuals cost him his analyst job:

ESPN fires analyst Curt Schilling over anti-transgender post

Mr. Schilling has made his sometimes controversial right wing opinions known for a while now.

What I find so fascinating is that he’s another of those people who make sometimes outrageous comments and then proudly proclaim their right to make their opinions known yet are baffled with the concept that when you make such statements, others have the very same right to make their opinions known regarding your opinions.

Freedom of speech allows for all people to say whatever is on their mind but while you’re certainly free to state your opinions, you have to understand that doing so does not somehow make you “immune” to having others react to those statements you make.

Especially when they’re inflammatory and controversial.

Worse for Mr. Schilling is the fact that the “others” who may react to your controversial statements can well be your bosses.  If they feel your opinions hurt the company’s image and having you remain employed by them is detrimental to their bottom line, then guess what: They have a right to fire you.

I’d say live and learn but considering the history of Mr. Schilling making statements like these I don’t suppose he has or will.