What the Hell Happened to Katherine Heigl?

Katherine Heigl first came onto the scene with the cult TV series Roswell. She would go on to greater TV success with Grey’s Anatomy, which would win her an Emmy Award. From there, Heigl capitalized on that success with success in a trilogy of romantic comedies. In recent years, though, she became known as a cautionary tale about the dangers of biting the hand that feeds you. As a result, her most recent appearance was a commercial for NyQuil.

What the hell happened?

heigl child model


Katherine’s career started at age 9 when Heigl’s aunt sent pictures of her to modeling agencies. This led to contracts as a child model for such companies as Sears and TV spots for Cherrios.

hiegl - that night


Not surprisingly, appearances in movies soon followed. The first of these for Heigl was the 1992 drama That Night,

Future vampire slayer, Eliza Dushku starred in her film debut.  She played a young girl who idolized a neighboring teen played by Juliette Lewis.  The two girls become friends when Lewis’ character begins dating a hoodlum played by C. Thomas Howell.  Heigl played one of Dushku’s friends.

Reviews leaned towards positive.  But the modest movie didn’t make an impact with audiences.

heigl - king of the hill

In 1993, Heigl appeared in Steven Soderbergh’s  Depression-era drama King of the Hill.

Jesse Bradford starred as a boy struggling to survive on his own in a St. Louis apartment.  His mother has been committed to a sanitarium and his father is a traveling salesman.  Heigl played a pretty blonde girl who asks the down-on-his luck boy if he would like to dance.  Karen Allen, Spalding Grey, Elizabeth McGovern and Adrien Brody also appear in supporting roles.

At the time, Soderbergh wasn’t yet one of America’s most cherished directors.  He had turned heads with his directorial debut, Sex, Lies and Videotape.  But his follow-up film, Kafka, had a lot of people thinking Soderbergh was a one-hit wonder.  King of the Hill represented a come-back for Soderbergh.  It didn’t have the same impact as Sex, Lies and Videotape.  But it was nominated for the prestigious Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

heigle - my father the hero

In 1994, Heigl landed her first leading role in the cringe-inducing comedy, My Father the Hero.

Gérard Depardieu starred as a single dad who takes his daughter to the Bahamas on vacation.  Heigl played the daughter who tries to impress a boy with a series of bizarre stories.  Depardieu is so desperate to make his daughter happy that he plays along with her lies even when she claims that he is her lover.  Wait!  What?  Who would be impressed by that?

My Father the Hero was an American remake of the French farce, Mon père, ce héros which also starred Depardieu.  In the 90’s Disney had a strange fascination with remaking French farces.  I’m chalking that up to the success of Three Men and a Baby.  They also had an inexplicable devotion to the notion that Depardieu could somehow be made into an American movie star.  I don’t know what they thought Americans would find more appealing; the broken English, the big nose or the middle-aged paunch.

Reviews were dreadful and the movie flopped at the box office.  It opened at #4 behind Philapelphia which was in its seventh week of release and Mrs. Doubtfire which had been in theaters for 11 weeks.

On the upside, Heigl was nominated for a Young Artist Award for Best Performance by a Youth Actress Starring in a Motion Picture.  Unfortunately, she lost to Anna Chlumsky for My Girl 2.

Heigl has expressed one lingering regret about having starred in the Disney comedy about a teenage girl who lies about bedding her overweight French papa.  It’s this:

heigl - my father the hero swimsuit

Heigl had claimed to be “mortified” about the white thong swimsuit.   She has said that if she knew then what she knows now, she would have refused to wear it.  Heigl beat out a young Alicia Silverstone for the part.  But after seeing the movie, Silverstone said she was glad she wasn’t cast:

On My Father, The Hero, I didn’t get it because I was a little bit heavy compared with the girl who did get it, but that was a blessing because the girl runs around in a bathing suit throughout the whole thing. It was the worst movie I’ve ever seen. And the girl was really bad.

heigl - under siege 2

In 1995, Heigl appeared in the action sequel, Under Siege 2: Dark Territory.

Steven Seagal played the same character he played in every movie, a martial artist who is physically incapable of being harmed or showing emotion.  The first Under Siege was a Die Hard rip-off on a boat.  The sequel was Die Hard on a Train.  Heigl played Seagal’s niece whom he is accompanying to her father’s funeral.

Reviews were mostly negative.  However, film critic Roger Ebert gave the movie a thumbs up.  It opened at #2 at the box office and grossed $50 million domestically.  Unfortunately, that total fell short of the film’s $60 million dollar price tag.  Under Siege 2 went on to gross over $100 million dollars worldwide.  So it turned a profit.  But it was still a disappointment in relation to the first film.

heigl - wish upon a star

In 1996, Heigl turned to the Disney Channel for the TV movie, Wish Upon a Star.

There is nothing the Walt Disney Company loves more than a body-switching movie.  This one was basically Freaky Friday for sisters.  Heigl played the bitchy older sister to Danielle Harris’ awkward younger sister.  The younger sister makes a wish on a star, and just like Jiminy Cricket said they would, her dreams came true.  In this case, her dreams were to inhabit the body of her more developed older sister which is kind of disturbing.

heigl - prince valiant

In 1997, Heigl starred opposite future vampire, Stephen Moyer in the sword and sorcery movie, Prince Valiant.

The movie was based on a comic strip which dates back to 1937.  Moyer played Valiant, a squire pretending to be a knight in the time of King Arthur’s Camelot.  He is tasked to accompany a Welsh princess (played by Heigl) home.  But the evil Morgan le Fay has made a deal with the ruler of the Vikings to steal the magic sword Excalibur.

Director Anthony Hickox was barred from editing the movie by the film’s German producers.  While Hickox was away on Christmas break, they recut the movie to their liking.

heigl - the stand-ins

Later that year, Heigl appeared as part of the ensemble in the Hollywood tale, Stand-Ins.

The cast included Heigl and Daphne Zuniga as aspiring actresses who end up working as stand-ins for legendary actresses in the old Hollywood studio system.

Heigl’s character was originally intended to be a stand-in for Katherine Hepburn.  But when Hepburn refused to give permission, the dialogue was redubbed to make the character a stand-in for Rita Hayworth.

heigl - bug busters

In 1998, Heigl tried the scream queen career path.  First she starred in the B-movie, Bug Buster.

Randy Quaid starred as a buster of bugs.  The movie also features cameos by Scotty (James Doohan) and Sulu (George Takei) from Star Trek.

I think I might need to find a copy of that one.

heigl - bride of chucky

Later that year, Heigl was terrorized by a demonic doll in the horror sequel, Bride of Chucky.

Bride of Chucky was the fourth film in the Child’s Play series.  Unlike the previous films, Bride of Chucky embraced the campy aspects of a killer doll.  Jennifer Tilly played the ex-girlfriend of the serial killer who possessed the Chucky doll.  She attempts to resurrect her late lover, but instead gets turned into a doll herself.  The evil dolls hitch a ride with a young couple killing people along the way.

The comedy elements of Bride of Chucky breathed new life into the franchise.  Reviews were not a negative as usual and the film was a surprise hit at the box office.

heigl - the tempest

Heigl ended the year with another TV movie.  The 1998 version of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest was set in the bayou during the Civil War.  Heigl played the daughter of a sorcerer played by Peter Fonda.

heigl - roswell


In 1999, Heigl became a regular on the WB sci-fi series, Roswell.

The series, based on the book series Roswell High and was executive produced by Star Trek’s Will Riker himself Jonathan Frakes. It focused on the friendship between three aliens, one of whom was played by Heigl, and their friendship with a group of high schoolers.  The series gained a cult following and lasted three years.

After two seasons on the WB, the show jumped to the UPN network.

heigl - 100 girls

In 2000, while Roswell was still airing on the WB, Heigl appeared in the teen sex comedy, 100 Girls.

100 Girls was about a nerdy boy who loses his virginity in an elevator during a blackout.  Because the lights are off, he has no idea who the girl of his dreams really is.  It could be any one of the 100 girls living in the dorm.  So he tries to get to know each of the 100 girls in hopes of finding his true love.  Heigl played one of the hundred.

Believe it or not, the movie got pretty decent reviews.  As one critic said, “You could certainly do worse.”

heigl - valentine

In 2001, Heigl appeared in the slasher flick, Valentine.

Valentine was about five girls who were mean to an awkward boy at a dance.  Years later, the boy has donned a mask and returned to exact his revenge on the girls who rejected him.

Heigl filmed her part in only three days which probably tells you something about how long her character lasts.  She accepted the part without having read the script fully, a decision she later regretted.  David Boreanaz filmed his part in two weeks because he also had obligations to a TV show.

Originally, Valentine was set up at Artisan Entertainment.  The cast was to include Luke Wilson, Tara Reid and Jeremy Sisto and Jennifer Love Hewitt.  Then the project went into turnaround.  It landed at Warner Brothers where it was rewritten and recast.

At the time Valentine was released, the post-Scream slasher genre was winding down.  Critics singled out Valentine as a throw-back to the pre-Scream slasher movies of the 80s.  And not in a good way.  Despite the presence of up-and-coming stars like Heigl, Boreanz and Denise Richards, the movie flopped at the box office.

At this point in her career, Heigl was a genre actress.  She had made a bid for Scream Queen status, but the horror genre was cooling at the box office.  Her cult TV show was too low-rated for the WB and was exiled to UPN.  Roswell ran immediately following Buffy the Vampire Slayer which had also transitioned from the WB to UPN.  But despite the shows’ similarities, Roswell was not able to hold on to the Buffy audience.  So the show was cancelled.

In 2002, after Roswell ended its three-year run, Heigl starred in an episode of the syndicated Twilight Zone TV reboot.  She played a time traveler who goes back in time to the birth of Hitler in an attempt to prevent World War II.  The episode was called Cradle of Darkness.

heigl - descendant

In 2003, Heigl starred opposite Jeremy London and The Greatest American Hero (aka William Katt) in the horror movie, Descendant.

London played a writer who is descended from Edgar Allen Poe.  Facing a deadline for his next book, he moves to a small town to avoid distractions.  Instead, he is distracted by Heigl who plays another Poe descendant.  Since they are only distant relatives, the two start up a steamy affair.  London is haunted by the ghost of his famous ancestor and soons finds himself accused of murder.

heigl - wuthering heights

Additionally, Heigl appeared in a slew of TV movies in 2003.  They ranged from the Hallmark Channel’s Christian drama, Love Comes Softly, to the horror movie Evil Never Dies.  Pictured above is Heigl as part of the cast of MTV’s modern-day remake of Wuthering Heights.  Erika Christensen (best known for Traffic and Swimfan) starred.  Heigl was relegated to the background.

heigl - love's enduring promise

In 2004, Heigl returned to the Hallmark channel for a sequel to Love Comes Softly entitled, Love’s Enduring Promise.  The promise was indeed enduring.  Hallmark has aired nine TV movies in the “Love” series to date.  The first several movies were directed by Michael Landon Jr.  This particular entry starred future Betty Draper, January Jones.

SANDRA OH, ELLEN POMPEO, KATHERINE HEIGL

In 2005, Heigl was cast as a doctor in ABC’s medical drama, Grey’s Anatomy.

The show was a midseason replacement for Boston Legal.  It was intended to run for four weeks in Boston Legal‘s time slot following Desperate Housewives on Sunday night.  But Grey’s was such a ratings success, that it took over the time slot for the remainder of the season.  According to ABC Entertainment President, Steve McPherson: “Ultimately we decided that, without having adequate lead time or marketing dollars to devote to moving either show so late in the season, we’d continue to let Grey’s Anatomy build on its tremendous momentum through May.”

It wasn’t just a big hit.  Grey’s Anatomy was a cultural phenomenon.  According to Entertainment Weekly‘s executive editor, Lori Majewski: “Grey’s Anatomy isn’t just a show, it’s a phenomenon. When the final shows air, every place in New York City is empty. You could get a table at the best restaurants.”

After several years in the business, Grey’s Anatomy would make Heigl a household name.

heigl - romy an michelle in the beginning

While Grey’s Anatomy was establishing Heigl and the rest of its cast as TV stars, Hollywood burned through the projects Heigl had made before stardom.  First up was a TV movie prequel to the cult comedy, Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion.   Heigl took over Mira Sorvino’s role for Romy and Michelle: In the Beginning.  The high ratings of Grey’s Anatomy did not carry over to the Romy and Michelle prequel.

The movie was originally intended to serve as a pilot to a Romy and Michelle TV series on ABC.  But when the network passed, it was aired on ABC Family as a TV movie instead.

heigl - side effects

Heigl also starred in the low-budget pharmaceutical drama, Side Effects.  The movie was written and directed by ex-pharmaceutical sales rep Kathleen Slattery-Moschkau. It was loosely based on her experiences in the pharmaceutical industry.  Heigl served as executive producer.  It was released directly to video around the same time Grey’s Anatomy was finishing its first season.

heigl - the ringer

Later in 2005, Heigl starred opposite Johnny Knoxville in the controversial comedy, The Ringer.

Knoxville played a man who pretends to be mentally disabled in order to rig the Special Olympics.  Heigl played a volunteer who can’t help falling for the jackass.

The premise proved controversial.  However, the Special Olympics actually endorsed the film.  The Ringer was produced by the Farrelly brothers who have made a career out of this kind of subject matter.

While the movie didn’t live down to some expectations, it didn’t exactly win critics over either.  Reviews were mostly negative although Roger Ebert gave it a positive review.  It opened in seventh place at the box office just ahead of Steven Spielberg’s Munich.  Unfortunately, Munich was in limited release while The Ringer was playing in wide release at more than three times as many theaters.

heigl - Zyzzyx Road

In 2006, Heigl starred in the infamous independent film, Zyzzyx Road.

Leo Grillo starred as an accountant who travels to Vegas to meet with clients.  While there, the family man meets up with a seductive stranger played by Heigl.  They start having an affair which is interrupted by Heigl’s psycho boyfriend played by professional psycho, Tom Sizemore.  Soon, there is a dead body and a desert burial.  But things get even more complicated when the body goes missing before it can be buried.

Grillo had no intention of releasing Zyzzyx Road in the US.  His plan was to make his money back overseas.  But in order to meet SAG requirements for a low-budget movie, Grillo had to give the movie a limited release.  So Zyzzyx Road was released in one movie theater in Dallas, Texas.  It played once a day at noon for six days.  During its domestic run, it earned $30 making it the lowest-grossing movie of all times.  That $30 gross was actually reduced by $10 when Grillo issued a refund to a make-up woman who worked on the movie.

Sizemore and his personal assistant were arrested repeatedly during filming for failing drug tests while on probation.  The assistant had a warrant out for his arrest for the distribution of child pornography.  He was later jailed.  Sizemore avoided jail long enough to film his scenes.  Heigl’s role was originally offered to Thora Birch.  But when the Hollywood exile passed, Heigl stepped in.

heigl - caffeine

Later that year, Heigl appeared opposite Mena Suvari and Breckin Meyer in the coffee-shop comedy, Caffeine.

Suvari, who was as much an exile as her American Beauty co-star by this point, starred as a waitress in a London coffee shop called the Black Cat Cafe.  Heigl played a patron who was on a blind date.  Soon the staff and eavesdropping customers are exposing each others embarrassing sexual secrets.  Apparently coffee shops in London are a lot more interesting than your average Starbucks.

Despite being on a hit TV show, Heigl’s movie career was going nowhere fast.  She was taking Thora Birch’s left overs and bit parts in Mena Suvari movies.  But that was about to change.

Knocked Up movie image Seth Rogen Katherine Heigl

In 2007, Heigl starred opposite Seth Rogen in Judd Apatow’s comedy-drama Knocked Up.

Rogen and Heigl played a mismatched couple who  have a one-night stand in spite of the fact that Heigl is so far out of Rogen’s character’s league that even though alcohol is involved, it sort of feels like a plot hole.  Heigl’s well-planned life is turned on its ear when she discovers that she is pregnant.  When she tells Rogen, they decide to give a relationship a shot in spite of the fact they seem to have nothing in common.

Anne Hathaway was originally cast in Heigl’s role.  But Hathaway backed out due to “creative differences”.  Reportedly, the future Catwoman objected to Apatow’s decision to use actual footage of a child birth in the movie.  Ironically, Apatow was unable to use the footage because he lacked a worker’s permit for the yet-to-be-born “actor.  When Hathaway left, several actresses were considered as replacements.  Among the candidates were Jennifer Love Hewitt, Kate Bosworth, Juliette Lewis, Drew Barrymore, Rachael Leigh Cook, Cameron Diaz, Claire Danes, Uma Thurman, Renée Zellweger, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Connelly, Michelle Pfeiffer and Sarah Jessica Parker. 

If you’re like me, you might be suffering from Apatow fatigue.  But in 2007, Apatow was still conquering the world of comedic man-children and the hot women who inexplicably love them.   Knocked Up was originally conceived (get it?) as a follow-up to Apatow’s hit The 40-Year-Old Virgin.  Rogen and co-stars like Paul Rudd were intended to reprise their roles from the first film.  Instead, Apatow decided to reimagine Knocked Up as a stand-alone film.

heigl - knocked up 2

Knocked Up was a hit with critics and audiences.  It announced Heigl’s arrival as a film star.  So you might think she would be pleased with the movie’s success.  But you wouldn’t be entirely correct.

In 2009 in an interview with Vanity Fair, Heigl dissed the movie as “a little sexist”.  She explained her criticism:

“Knocked Up paints the women as shrews, as humorless and uptight, and it paints the men as lovable, goofy, fun-loving guys.  It exaggerated the characters, and I had a hard time with it, on some days. I’m playing such a bitch; why is she being such a killjoy? Why is this how you’re portraying women? Ninety-eight percent of the time it was an amazing experience, but it was hard for me to love the movie.”

Apatow responded to Heigl’s comments with a joke saying  “I’m just shocked she used the word ‘shrew’. I mean, what is this, the 1600s?”

Heigl’s comments resulted in a backlash.  Many saw Heigl as biting the hand that feeds her.  Eventually, Heigl responded to the criticism saying, “My motive was to encourage other women like myself to not take that element of the movie too seriously and to remember that it’s a broad comedy.  Although I stand behind my opinion, I’m disheartened that it has become the focus of my experience with the movie.”

heigl - vanity fair article

It should be noted that Heigl was not alone in criticizing Knocked Up for being sexist.  Apatow’s long-time friend and collaborator stated that he was  “disenchanted” by Apatow’s later films, “objecting to the treatment of women and gay men in Apatow’s recent movies.”  Of Knocked Up, White said,  “At some point it starts feeling like comedy of the bullies, rather than the bullied.”  

Several movie critics also noted the movie’s sexist tones.  But Heigl’s comments were the only ones picked up by the media.  Rather than discus the merits of her criticisms, most in the media labeled Heigl ungrateful.

Later that year, Rogen and Apatow were promoting their latest movie, Funny People, on the Howard Stern Show.  Rogen cited Heigl’s latest movie as an example of the actress’ hypocrisy saying, “I hear there’s a scene where she’s wearing underwear with a vibrator in it, so I’d have to see if that is uplifting for women.”   Apatow offered a defense of Heigl while also complaining that she never called him to apologize.  “You would think at some point I’d get a call saying she was sorry, that she was tired, and then the call never comes.”

heigl emmy

2007 was a banner year for Heigl.  In addition to starring in a hit movie, she won an Emmy for Best Supporting Actress for her role on Grey’s Anatomy.  Heiglbeat out two of her Grey’s co-stars.  She was also nominated for a Golden Globe.

When her name is announced, you can see a genuinely surprised Heigl utter “shit”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl2kAMeoA2c

She dedicated the award to her mother who had served as her manager since her modeling days.

heigl - 27 dresses

Heigl followed up Knocked Up with the rom com, 27 Dresses in 2008.

Heigl starred as a selfless woman who has been a bridesmaid 27 times without ever having gotten married herself.  She helps her friends plan their weddings while dreaming of marrying her boss.  When her younger sister steals her boss away, Heigl finds herself attracted to a young mutant from Xavier’s School for the Gifted.

Despite mixed reviews, 27 Dresses was a big hit with women.  Rom com fans pushed the modestly-budgeted movie to number two at the box office.  It earned $76 million in the US and over $160 million worldwide.  That was on a budget of $30 million dollars.  While many dismiss 27 Dresses as just another derivative rom com, it proved that Heigl could open a movie.  And opening a movie is what makes an actress a star.

Meanwhile, Heigl made headlines for her decision not to enter the 2008 Emmy race because of a claim that the writing wasn’t good enough for her character.  Heigl explained her decision:

“I did not feel that I was given the material this season to warrant an Emmy nomination and in an effort to maintain the integrity of the academy organization, I withdrew my name from contention,” she said in a statement. “In addition, I did not want to potentially take away an opportunity from an actress who was given such materials.”

Meanwhile, the show’s writers fumed.  A couple of year’s later, Heigl apologized for the way she handled things:

“At the time I thought I was doing the right thing. And I wanted to be clear that I wasn’t snubbing the Emmys. The night I won was the highlight of my career. I just was afraid that if I said, “No comment,” it was going to come off like I couldn’t be bothered to enter the race. But really, I could have more gracefully said that without going into a private work matter. It was between me and the writers. I ambushed them, and it wasn’t very nice or fair.”

heigl - ugly truth

In 2009, Heigl starred opposite Gerard Butler in another romantic comedy, The Ugly Truth.

Heigl played a TV producer who has troubles romantically despite the fact she looks like Katherine Heigl.  Butler played a chauvinist correspondent on Heigl’s show.  He agrees to teach her the ugly truth about men so she can land a handsome doctor.  Since it’s a rom com, you already know everything that is going to happen.

Critics panned The Ugly Truth.  But audiences didn’t care.  It was an even bigger hit at the box office than 27 Dresses.  It remains the second-biggest hit of Heigl’s career behind Knocked Up.  Heigl was establishing herself as the new queen of the rom com.

While promoting The Ugly Truth on The Late Show with David Letterman, Heigl didn’t hold back.  When asked about Grey’s Anatomy, she complained about the long hours stating that she worked 17-hour days.  She even went so far as to say she hoped the show would be embarrassed by her comments.  When Letterman asked about her future with the show, Heigl said she wanted to continue on with the show.  But she did it in such a way that suggested she would rather leave the show as soon as possible.

Later, there were reports that the reason for the 17-hour word day was to accommodate Heigl’s request to take the next three days off to promote The Ugly Truth.  When asked about these rumors, Heigl plead ignorance:

“If that is true, I really wish the producers had warned me. It wasn’t like, “Hey, if we let you do this, then this is what’s going to happen.” Had I known that, I would not have asked for those three days off. I would have forgone the talk shows. I asked the entire crew — without really understanding that I was asking this — to work a 17-hour day. And for them it’s much worse than just 17 hours. They get there an hour before us and they leave an hour after us. And they all have families they want to get home to.”

heigl - grey's exit

In 2010, Heigl announced her departure from Grey’s Anatomy.  This followed an extended three-month leave from the show.  Heigl did not return from her leave as expected which prompted some to report that she refused to show up for work.  Heigl refuted this story:

I went on my family leave and spent three months in Utah and just got to be a mom, and it changed my whole perspective…. That was really the turning point for me. So before I was due back, I spoke again to Shonda about wanting to leave. Then I waited at home until I was given the formal okay that I was off the show. The rumors that I refused to return were totally untrue. 

Heigl described the parting as “amicable” and expressed regrets about the way she left things unresolved for her character:

I had to try to find the courage to move on. And I am sad. And I’m scared. But I felt it was the right thing to do; we just didn’t quite know how to do it appropriately, gracefully, and respectfully to the audience. And I think we all felt that it wasn’t respectful to the audience to bring Izzie back again and then have her leave again. We did it twice this season. It starts to feel a little manipulative.

In a cover story about her departure, Entertainment Weekly specifically asked Heigl about her reputation as an ungrateful diva.  Heigl expressed regrets:

“The ungrateful thing bothers me the most. And that is my fault. I allowed myself to be perceived that way because I was being whiny and I was griping and because I made these snarky comments. So much about living life, to me, is about humility and gratitude. And I’ve tried very hard to have those qualities and be that person and I’m just so disappointed in myself that I allowed it to slip. Of course, of course I’m grateful. How can I not be grateful? I have been afforded such a wonderful life.”

A couple of years later, in an interview with Oprah, Rhimes suggested that the parting with Heigl was less than amicable:  “On some level it stung, and on some level I was not surprised.  When people show you who they are, believe them. I carry that with me a lot. It has served me well.”

Co-star Pompeo later gave her take on Heigl’s exit:

 “When Katie left, it was tough. You could understand why she wanted to go — when you’re offered $12 million a movie and you’re only 26. But Katie’s problem is that she should not have renewed her contract. She re-upped, took a big raise and then tried to get off the show. 

heigl - killers

Following her exit from Grey’s, Heigl starred in two romantic comedies in 2010.  The first was Killers with Ashton Kutcher.

Kutcher played a top-secret super spy who falls for Heigl and settles down.  Three years later, the couple realize that they are being targeted by assassins who could be anybody.

Killers was panned by critics.  It opened at #3 at the box office behind the Judd Apatow-produced comedy, Get Him to the Greek.  It grossed a disappointing $47 million dollars in the US on a budget of $75 million.  Killers went on to recoup its losses overseas, but Heigl’s long winning streak hit its first stumbling block.

heigl - life as we know it

Later that year, Heigl starred opposite Josh Duhamel in the domestic rom com, Life as We Know It.

Heigl and Duhamel played a couple who are set up on a blind date by their friends.  They don’t immediately hit it off.  But they are forced together when their mutual friends are killed in a car accident.  Wait!  What?  What kind of rom com is this?  Seriously?  The friends, who apparently have no regard for the well-being of their infant daughter, have named Heigl and Duhamel as joint guardians.  Because apparently hooking these two up from beyond the grave is more important than picking appropriate care-takers.

Ah, rom coms.  How you do contrive!

Life As We Know It was also panned by critics.  It fared a little better at the box office opening at #2 behind The Social Network.  It went on to gross $53 million in the US on a $38 million dollar budget.  Worldwide, it crossed the $100 million dollar mark.  The movie wasn’t a hit.  But it wasn’t a bomb either.

heigl - new years eve

In 2011, Heigl appeared as part of the star-studded ensemble in Gary Marshall’s holiday rom com, New Year’s Eve.

Heigl played Jon Bon Jovi’s ex-girlfriend.  Judging by the picture, I’m going to guess she played a chef.  Okay, I haven’t subjected myself to this one.  Like Marshall’s previous hit, Valentine’s Day, New Year’s Eve is the cinematic equivalent of an episode of The Love Boat.  A bunch of celebrities show up in barely connected plot lines and learn an important life lesson.  The cast included fellow What the Hell Happened alum Michelle Pfeiffer and Hilary Swank.

Heigl’s role was originally intended for Halle Berry.  But Berry dropped out to deal with a custody battle.  When the custody battle was resolved, Berry returned to the film.  But Heigl had already been cast in her old role.  So Berry was recast in a different role.

Reviews were negative and the movie failed to duplicate the success of Valentine’s Day at the box office.  Hopefully that will spare us Marshal’s star-studded, life-affirming take on Arbor Day.

heigl - one for the money

In 2013, Heigl starred in the big screen adaptation of  Janet Evanovich’s best-selling novel, One For the Money.

Heigl played bail-bondswoman, Stephanie Plum, the protagonist of Evanovich’s long-running series of books.  Plum is recently divorced and unemployed.  Desperate for cash, she starts chasing bond jumpers despite her lack of training or equipment.  Her big score is a former vice cop played by Jason O’Mara.  The cop is wanted for murder.  He also broke Plum’s heart in high school.  It just might be possible that he is innocent and that the two might rekindle their relationship.  Nahhhh.  No way it would be that predictable.

Tristar Pictures sat on the rights to Evanovich’s novel for 13 years.  Evanovich marveled that the project languished so long in development limbo.  “Hard to believe they’ve been sitting on this multi-million dollar franchise for all these years but go figure.”  Admittedly, the books are extremely popular among female readers.  Mrs. Lebeau has to have them as soon as they come out.  When I suggest getting on a waiting list for an Evanovich novel at the library, I receive icy death glares.  I eventually learned to stop making such suggestions.

Evanovich was thrilled with the casting of Heigl as Plum.  She called her “perfect” for the role and said she now imagines Heigl’s face when she writes the new books.  I asked my wife what she thought of the casting.  She gave me a silent thumbs down and the beginning of a death glare.  I pressed forward anyway as I have very little sense of self-preservation and informed her that Evanovich thought Heigl was perfect.  “Janet Evanovich is on crack,” she replied.  “Everyone in that movie was miscast.”  She then went on to name every character in the movie despite the fact I have neither read the book nor seen the movie and had no idea who these characters were.

Critics and audiences side with Mrs. Lebeau on this one.  Reviews were terrible.  The movie currently holds an impressively bad 2% on Rotten Tomatoes.  Owen Gilberman of Entertainment Weekly wrote, “Imagine an Elmore Leonard movie scripted by a bad Nora Ephron imitator, and you’ll have an idea of how dead-in-the-Jersey-water it is.”  A.O. Scott of the New York Times agreed, “There is action of a sort — a car blows up, shots are fired — and what might pass for witty, sexy banter to someone who once overheard a conversation about an episode of Moonlighting.”

Despite the popularity of the novels, One for the Money bombed at the box office.  It opened at #3 at the box office and only grossed $26 million in the US.  Even with international box office, it fell short of its $40 million dollar budget.  And thus, a potential franchise died in its infancy.

By this point, the Golden Raspberry folks had gotten her scent.  She was nominated for her first Razzie Award for Worst Actress.  She “lost” to the extremely deserving Kristen Stewart.

heigl - big wedding

In 2013, Heigl was part of the star-studded comedy, The Big Wedding.

Robert De Niro and Diane Keaton played a divorced couple with three kids.  Heigl and Topher Grace played two of their children.  Susan Sarandon played De Niro’s current girlfriend of with years and Keaton’s former best friend.  Robin Williams appeared as a “funny” priest.  Because it is a remake of a French film, De Niro and Keaton need to pretend to be married.

Despite the impressive cast, The Big Wedding received mostly negative reviews and flopped at the box office.  Heigl was nominated for another Golden Raspberry for Worst Supporting Actress.  This time she “lost” to the always-deserving Kim Kardashian who has apparently appeared in a movie that wasn’t a sex tape.  News to me.

heigl - the nut job

In 2014, Heigl lent her voice to the animated feature, The Nut Job.

Heigl + Nut Job = Instant Joke.

Will Arnett starred as a squirrel who is probably a lot like Gob on Arrested Development.  Heigl and Brendan Fraser played fellow squirrels who help him with his scheme to steal nuts.  Yep, it’s a low rent Ratatouille.  Why don’t they just go ahead and make that Mr. Banana Grabber movie?

Reviews were mostly negative.  The Nut Job made money because every animate movie makes money these days.  It opened at #3 at the box office and earned $63 million dollars in the US.  The movie had a $42 million dollar production budget, so it likely made a small profit in theaters.  It was neither a hit not a flop.  But really, it wasn’t going to impact Heigl’s career either way.  Voice work is usually just a paycheck for stars.

Currently, Heigl has a couple of movies in post production.  One of them, Jenny’s Wedding, has run out of money.  The filmmakers launched an Indiegogo campaign to try to raise $150,000 so the movie could be finished.  The fact that Heigl couldn’t front the money herself has led to speculation that she is “broke”.  Heigl admits the money is no longer rolling in, “I haven’t made that much in the last few years…I gotta support my family.”

How far has Heigl fallen?  She has frequently suggested the idea of a return to Grey’s Anatomy.  Despite a certain ratings bump, Rhimes has not taken her up on the offer.  Apparently that parting wasn’t so amicable after all.

Recently, Heigl resorted to commercials.

Lots of celebrities do commercials.  But usually it’s in the form of a voice over or a celeb endorsement.  Heigl appeared in a regular old Nyquil commercial.  Many took it as a sign that the once-in-demand actress was hard-up for work.  She had become Dustin Hoffman’s character in Tootsie. Or for that matter, Hoffman himself post-Tootsie.

So, what the hell happened?

First, she left Grey’s Anatomy the wrong way.  When a TV star makes the job to the big screen, it matters how they leave their show.  When you leave your fanbase hanging, they resent it.  Heigl’s movies started tanking as soon as she left Grey’s.  That can’t be a coincidence.  What’s more, if she had left the show on good terms, it would have served as a safety net.  She could be back on TV tomorrow if she hadn’t burned bridges with everyone associated with the long-running show.

Secondly, Heigl committed the cardinal sin of biting the hand that fed her.  It’s one thing to think that Knocked Up is “a little sexist”.  Frankly, the entire oeuvre of Apatow is a little sexist.  But it’s another thing for an actress whose movie career was made by an Apatow movie to make these kinds of criticisms in public.  Right or wrong, those comments along with her griping about Grey’s got Heigl labeled as ungrateful.

Thirdly, there is the matter of Heigl’s manager/mother.  According to unnamed sources, the woman is a nightmare to deal with.  An article in the Hollywood Reported quoted one such source:

“I have never experienced anything like Nancy Heigl.  It’s about the mouth. ‘F— you. You are a f—ing liar.’ … Whatever you’d say, you were an idiot. The call would be, ‘This is the worst craft service we’ve ever had! There’s nothing to eat! This is the worst wardrobe!’ You knew that every day, you were going to get slammed. The frustrating part is Heigl is incredibly talented and smart.”

Recently, Heigl has been making waves about a comeback.  She has a pilot for a TV show which may or may not be picked up.  If Heigl plays her cards right, there is every reason to think she could be successful.  What remains to be seen is whether or not she has learned her lesson from her meteoric rise and fall.

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seandaniel1966
9 years ago

Great article, as usual. Good job.

seandaniel1966
9 years ago
Reply to  lebeau

Thanks. Please tell your wife that Heigl managed to completely ruin the Stephanie Plum character. I’m a fan of the books, too.

Joboots
Joboots
9 years ago

Seems Nancy is as cookoo as Jack Birch(Thora’s dadager),perhaps?????

daffystardust
Editor
9 years ago

Maybe it’s my imagination, but she also seemed to be starring opposite C-level male co-stars. Knocked Up helped make Seth Rogen big, but most of her other leading men never seemed to have that kind of success.
Also…exactly how great was David Letterman? That’s not easy what we see him do in that video.

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  daffystardust

20 Film Stars You Definitely Won’t Remember In 20 Years: http://whatculture.com/film/20-film-stars-you-definitely-wont-remember-in-20-years.php/9 Katherine Heigl Katherine Heigl can play one type of character. Only one. Unless you didn’t already know, it’s the neurotic, uptight woman who has a turbulent love life. And the sad thing is, she’s not even that funny. I’ll give you Knocked Up. That was pretty funny. But that’s largely down to Seth Rogen, who we will all remember for being a lovable stoner. Will we remember Katherine Heigl? No, no we won’t. What other films has she done? The Ugly Truth. 27 Dresses. Life As We Know It.… Read more »

Joboots
Joboots
9 years ago

Suing a pharmacy for $6 mil…………………………..is Chapter 11 next for her?????
http://thewrap.com/katherine-heigl-files-6-million-lawsuit-pharmacy-chain/

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  Joboots

Is Katherine Heigl’s reputation really worth $6 million? http://jrichardsingleton.blogspot.com/2014/04/is-katherine-heigls-reputation-really.html I’ve had a thing for Katherine Heigl since Roswell. She was several years older than me, and her breasts made her look like a genius of some kind–possibly a rocket scientist. Contradictory, when she made it big on Grey’s Anatomy, I began to lose interest in her, my teen infatuation abated by both the passage of time and the new hype that surrounded her. Recently the drugstore chain Duane Reade used Heigl’s image in an ad without her consent, and Heigl in turn sued–understandably. This begs the question: Is Katherine Heigl’s… Read more »

Shemp
9 years ago

At one time I really liked Heigl — I thought she might be this generation’s Audrey Hepburn…OY, was I wrong! She’s got the looks and she’s got some talent, but none of the class or maturity of AH. You maybe forgot to add reports of Kathy H’s diva behavior on-set and I’ve read (natch, this might not be “fact”) that none of her leading men want to work with her again. Her problem, aside from being in lots of lame and bomb movies, for a former C-list actress, she acted like a spoiled, entitled bitch for all (inside and outside… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  lebeau

8 Actors You Didn’t Know Hated Their Own Great Movies: http://whatculture.com/film/8-actors-you-didnt-know-hated-their-own-great-movies.php/3 Katherine Heigl Thinks That Knocked Up Is Sexist & Doesn’t Like The Character She Agreed To Play For All That Money Katherine Heigl is an actress, apparently, though you probably weren’t too sure about that because you’ve only seen one movie with her in it, and that movie was Knocked Up. The reason you haven’t seen anything else with Katherine Heigl in it? Because you saw the posters and you instinctively knew that they were terrible, because they were movies with Katherine Heigl in them. Anyway, Katherine Heigl doesn’t… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

Why Acclaimed Director Peter Bogdanovich Doesn’t Like Knocked Up: http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Why-Acclaimed-Director-Peter-Bogdanovich-Doesn-t-Like-Knocked-Up-78487.html Along with the likes of Martin Scorsese, William Friedkin, George Lucas, and others, Peter Bogdanovich is part of the American New Wave, directors in the late 1960s and early 1970s who came in and changed the cinema landscape. Also a film critic and historian, he’s no fan of modern comedies like Knocked Up and it’s ilk. Talking to Creative Screenwriting about his latest film, the throwback screwball comedy She’s Funny That Way, the interviewer asked about the differences between the kind of films that influenced his latest and the likes… Read more »

Shemp
9 years ago
Reply to  lebeau

Naming no names, but a friend of mine is a “crew-person” on movies and he said that he worked on a movie of Kath H’s and the crew COULDN’T STAND HER.
And BRAVO!!! for digging up that cheesecake pic of KH’s…she looks, uh, yummy. But yeah, it makes her stand against “sexist” movies seem pretty hollow (if not downright BS).
Too many actresses are against “objectification/exploitation of women” unless THEY are the ones being objectified.

M
M
8 years ago
Reply to  lebeau

Well to be fair.When have you not heard about a female actress,thats difficult to work with??
I’m not saying its a lie by all means.But you never hear the same thing about guys.closest thing I¨ve heard is Kevin smith bad mouthing bruce willis.But Wills has watered out his name so much that,he’s movies are hardly worth watching

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

Bad Movie Beatdown (w/ Ursa): Killers (2010):
http://blip.tv/film-brain/bad-movie-beatdown-w-ursa-killers-2010-7040819
Ashton Kutcher and Katherine Heigl make a deadly duo in this tedious action rom-com, but can Film Brain and Ursa from Stuff You Like take them out? Contains strong language and moderate violence and sex references. This work is protected by Fair Use.

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

Bad Movie Beatdown: New Year’s Eve:
http://blip.tv/film-brain/bad-movie-beatdown-new-year-s-eve-7134224
In a holiday special, Film Brain takes on a film with eight different stories and a cast packed full of stars, all joined together by love on the titular day, that’s the cinematic equivalent of a tacky greetings card. Contains sex references and references to bereavement. This work is protected by Fair Use.

Dorian
Dorian
9 years ago

If Val Kilmer is the king of WTHH, Katherine Heigl is certainly the queen.

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  Dorian

10 Actors Who Completely Wasted Their Careers: http://whatculture.com/film/10-actors-completely-wasted-careers.php/7 Katherine Heigl The beautiful Katherine Heigl became a star on the TV series Grey’s Anatomy, and while on the show she co-starred in the 2006 Judd Apatow comedy hit Knocked Up. Heigl seemed poised to follow in the romantic comedy footsteps of Julia Roberts and Sandra Bullock with 27 Dresses and The Ugly Truth, but she started burning her bridges by complaining about the writing on Grey’s Anatomy and insulting Apatow by saying Knocked Up was “a little sexist.” Somewhat unfortunately for her image, the comments gave Heigl a reputation for being… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

10 Ways Katherine Heigl Destroyed Her Own Career! http://www.fame10.com/entertainment/10-ways-katherine-heigl-destroyed-her-own-career/?utm_source=outbrain&utm_campaign=fame10_mobile&utm_medium=cpc 10. Heigl called her first big movie “Knocked Up” – which was lauded by critics and helped her make the transition from television to the big screen – sexist. “It paints the women as shrews, as humorless and uptight, and it paints the men as lovable, goofy, fun-loving guys. It exaggerated the characters, and I had a hard time with it,” she told Vanity Fair. 9. In 2008, the “Knocked Up” star turned down an opportunity to win an Emmy for her role in “Grey’s Anatomy” because the writing wasn’t good… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

10 Misguided Career Moves Made By Talented Actors: http://whatculture.com/film/10-misguided-career-moves-made-by-talented-actors.php Katherine Heigl Insulting Everyone Talented She Works With Katherine Heigl might’ve been known to many for her work on the TV show Grey’s Anatomy, but as a straight male with no interest in mawkish, poorly written hospital serials (meow!), it wasn’t until she showed up in Judd Apatow’s uproarious comedy Knocked Up that I began to take notice. Boasting a sure charismatic appeal and being, well, freaking gorgeous, the film made her a star, though it wasn’t long before she began to basically sabotage her own career by way of her… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

10 Famous Actors Who Decided To Turn On Their Own Movies: http://whatculture.com/film/10-famous-actors-who-decided-to-turn-on-their-own-movies.php/11 Knocked Up – Katherine Heigl Katherine Heigl awoke one morning and decided that she would turn on Judd Apatow’s movie Knocked Up, not because it was bad or anything (it’s actually the best movie in her filmography), but because she suddenly didn’t agree with the way it portrayed women. That’s fine, I guess, but why did she agree to be in the movie in the first place? She reads the script and she gets paid and only afterwards she decides that she should get all feminist and turn… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

10 Actors Who Are Box Office Poison: http://whatculture.com/film/10-actors-who-are-box-office-poison.php/4 Katherine Heigl Notable Flops: Killers ($98.1m against $75m), One for the Money (ironically titled, it pulled in just $36.8m against a $40m budget), and The Big Wedding ($35.7m against a $32m budget). This one’s actually pretty easy to work out; Heigl has unfortunately not done herself many favors by simply coming across as so unlikable in interviews, criticizing Judd Apatow despite him being the prime reason for her fame (by casting her in Knocked Up), and complaining about her work on Grey’s Anatomy. Unlike most actors on this list – and it… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

9 Actors You Can’t Believe Are Still Getting Work: http://whatculture.com/film/9-actors-you-cant-believe-are-still-getting-work.php/2 Katherine Heigl There’s really no reason why this woman is still being forced upon audiences. She’s shown Hollywood that she can’t headline a movie, and that her uptight screen persona isn’t the sort of thing you want to see in film after film. She got some seriously bad press from the cast and crew of Grey’s Anatomy, and has kind of a bad reputation stemming from her time working with the Judd Apatow crew. People in Hollywood have long memories. When you see an actor who has collaborated on several… Read more »

Craig Hansen
Craig Hansen
9 years ago

Excellent article as usual, Lebeau. I’m by no means a fan of hers but as soon as I saw her on here I thought “Great choice!” I first became aware of her through Knocked Up, like so many people (I never watched Grey’s Anatomy). I was only peripherally aware of her prior to 2007 because Grey’s Anatomy was a huge hit for a couple years already, and going over her career here I had no idea she had been around for such a long time before becoming famous. Good lord, did she do a ton of third-rate horror and genre… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  Craig Hansen

Shonda Rhimes: Katherine Heigl is never coming back to Grey’s Anatomy:
http://tvline.com/2015/08/05/greys-anatomy-izzie-season-12-katherine-heigl-returning/
Asked to give the Izzie storyline closure, Rhimes says: “I’m done with that story. I’ve turned that idea over in my mind a thousand times and thought about how it would go. And I don’t think so.”

Tracy
9 years ago

I always enjoy these articles so much. I am mildly curious though…have you ever been contacted by one of your subjects (or their “people”)?

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  lebeau

Peter Fonda actually responded when I sent the WTHHT article about his daughter Bridget on Twitter. I’ll admit, that was very nervous when I discovered that Mr. Fonda responded to me, because I immediately assumed that I had totally negative connotations regarding his daughter. Peter Fonda was actually pretty cool about the whole thing, saying that Bridget was busy being a great wife and mother.

Shemp
9 years ago

That was cool of Mr. Fonda! One of the things I like about this blog/forum is that it’s not excessively mean-spirited or excessively snark-filled…to use an old saw, youse/yez guys call a spade a spade. If a movie was/is a bomb, there it is; if someone acts like a jerk or goofy, it’s said plainly. OF COURSE the subject isn’t going to take too kindly to it — after all, in this world, it’s never “I” that’s acting like an a**hole, it’s always someone else, just like prisons are filled with innocent or misunderstood people. And if they want to… Read more »

Shemp
9 years ago
Reply to  lebeau

re: Truth is, she had some points. She just went about making them in entirely the wrong way.
It’s not necessarily what one says but how one says it. ALL OF US have varying axes to grind, but when one sounds like an entitled brat whilst grinding, well…

dwmcguff
dwmcguff
9 years ago
Reply to  lebeau

You should let Kilmer’s friend know that I’ve written a “more fair” article. Val and I have tweeted back and forth, which on the internet makes us BFFs. Obviously.

frug
frug
9 years ago

Yeah, Heigl really did sabotage her own career. Not only did she earn a reputation as a whiny ingrate (a problem since rom-coms require likable leads), she also burned bridges with everyone who could have helped her once her career started to cool. Had she been more diplomatic not only could she have returned to Grey’s Anatomy she could also have taken any of the roles that, say, Rose Byrne has played in the Apatow/Rogen films. I will credit her this though; to go from make $12 million a picture to being basically unhirable in less 4 years is pretty… Read more »

Craig Hansen
Craig Hansen
9 years ago
Reply to  frug

The Nyquil commercial is just shocking. The 15-second commerical doesn’t even make the slightest use of Heigl or her quote-unqoute “starpower” either, it’s the type of nothing bit a complete unknown actress will do to earn a couple bucks to pay the rent. Since she doesn’t even have a speaking part in the commercial, and it’s not coming off as a “celebrity endorsement”, what could she possibly have been paid for this? Could it be anything more than what an unknown actress would get for doing a day’s work pretending to be sleeping then waking up and stretching after a… Read more »

daffystardust
Editor
9 years ago
Reply to  Craig Hansen

My impression is that it’s the kind of payday that could support a single actor living a meager lifestyle in L.A. for most of a year. Still chump change for someone with her profile. Also, I doubt she’s maintained a modest budget.

Joboots
Joboots
9 years ago
Reply to  daffystardust

Wonder if Chapter 11 is next for her,’specially with the suit with that pharmacy for $6 mil
pending????

Mastro
Mastro
9 years ago
Reply to  daffystardust

She only had one or two movies at $12 million- that might be the worst psychologically- she could have thought she was A list and spent it all.
I know that one very famous actress was basically broke a few years back- when I asked her friend how that was possible- she said “she spent it!”
Of course Nick Cage wins for that special bit of insanity- although I read that he might be clear right about now- but he was making 4 movies a year for a while. Heigl wishes she got those opportunities.

frug
frug
9 years ago
Reply to  Mastro

She only had one or two movies at $12 million- that might be the worst psychologically- she could have thought she was A list and spent it all.
It wouldn’t shock me. She was was a 28 year old who was pulling in huge paychecks and was in a position (or at least believed she was) to walk away from a hit TV series.
Plus, her public statements indicate she may not have the best self control.

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  frug

10 Actors Who Clearly Didn’t Learn Anything From Past Mistakes: http://whatculture.com/film/10-actors-who-clearly-didnt-learn-anything-from-past-mistakes.php/5 Katherine Heigl Right around 2007 Katherine Heigl seemed poised to take over the world: not only was she one of the stars of Grey’s Anatomy, and became one of the leads in the Apatow opus Knocked Up. In that film the world was not only transfixed by this woman’s obvious beauty, but somehow bought into the idea that her character would not only sleep with a paunchy schlub like Seth Rogen, but would stay with him to boot. Of course, the years have come and gone since that auspicious… Read more »

RB
RB
9 years ago

Your writing style just makes my day, Leb. And for the record I’m not overly enthralled with Apatow (he’s OK…I just don’t think brilliant) and totally share Heigl’s opinion of knocked Up. Still, Apatow isn’t giving me a paycheck so it’s a bit different having her say it……

Craig Hansen
Craig Hansen
9 years ago
Reply to  lebeau

Since Heigl is reduced to doing Nyquil commercials, I doubt you’ll see any dimes from her anytime soon. ha ha

winky420
winky420
9 years ago

For me the problem was that she obtain a perception of being a bit of a b**ch through the Knocked Up fallout and how she ending things with Greys Anatomy etc.. Women don’t want to see romantic comedies when they think the lead is supposedly not very nice as they can’t relate. Same thing with Meg Ryan. Was Americas Sweetheart and the romantic comedy queen. Then Russel Crowe happened and the audience turned.

joboots
joboots
9 years ago

Kath’s new drama has been scooped up by NBC……
http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/05/06/katherine-heigl-nbc/

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  joboots

In defense of Katherine Heigl: http://popwatch.ew.com/2014/05/07/katherine-heigl-defense/ Katherine Heigl is coming back to our TV screens – which really means that tweets and articles complaining about Katherine Heigl are coming back to our computer screens. On Tuesday, NBC announced that it had ordered the political drama State of Affairs – starring Heigl as a top CIA analyst. This marks Heigl’s first return to TV after leaving Grey’s Anatomy in 2010. That era cemented Heigl’s bad reputation — one that isn’t totally merited. Let’s go over her offenses: In 2007, after headlining Judd Apatow’s Knocked Up and rocketing from TV actress to… Read more »

Shemp
9 years ago

re: We punish Heigl for calling a movie she was in “a little bit sexist” — which implies that sexism shouldn’t be pointed out. Essentially, we promote silence by wishing Heigl stayed silent. Uh, sorry, but I must disagree. It’s not that the Collective We (well, some of we) don’t want sexism to be pointed out — it’s the fair-weather feminism that it springs from. If this role was so darn “sexist,” WHY DID SHE TAKE IT IN THE FIRST PLACE?!? If she’s so against sexism (as well we should all be, really), why then take so many cute-gal roles… Read more »

Shemp
9 years ago

PS: While it is GOOD to be “outspoken” and be willing to say what one really feels, sometimes it’s HOW that opinion is expressed can be “contentious.” I don’t agree with everything Bill Maher, PJ O’Rourke, or Michael Moore say, but I respect their (informed) opinions and they are as “outspoken” as they come. (PJO’R is indeed a conservative but he’s far from the idiocy of Ann Coulter.) It also helps to have a POINT that’s beyond yourself.
Kath Heigl — and the outspoken Joan Rivers for that matter — come off as stereotypical spoiled, self-serving “celebrities.”

Joboots
Joboots
9 years ago
Reply to  lebeau

Here’s the trailer for this……
http://youtube.com/watch?v=nlPJVmeA3t8

jeffthewildman
9 years ago

http://www.thewrap.com/katherine-heigl-career-drama-romantic-comedies/
No comments on trashing former directors though.

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  jeffthewildman

Katherine Heigl feels betrayed by her acting career:
http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/katherine-heigl-my-acting-career-turned-on-me-i-felt-betrayed–201427
As she prepares to return to TV in “State of Affairs,” Heigl addresses the backlash against her, which included negative reaction to her stint on “Grey’s Anatomy.” “The thing that was my best friend for a long time (my career) suddenly turned on me. And I didn’t expect it,” she tells Marie Claire UK. “I was taken by surprise and angry at it for betraying me.”

Shemp
9 years ago

POOR KATH!!!! And all this time I thought the state of her career was because of her being an ungrateful, ungracious, entitled mega-bitch that talked s**t on the TV show and movie that saved her from the C-List, not to mention being so difficult to work with that FEW IN HOLLYWOOD WANT TO WORK WITH HER again. Not to mention starring in lots of lame movies, which tends to have a negative effect on ANY career.

RB
RB
9 years ago
Reply to  Shemp

These “difficult to work with” posts are as redundant as they are grating. How do you know anyone is difficult to work with, unless you worked with them? What’s your source for these continuing accusations? Gossip columns are not sources. Moreover, as a movie fan, I couldn’t care less about how difficult a performer might have been to work with. I only care about the level of artistry that is brought to the screen. If a great performance is the result of someone being difficult, I say GOOD on them. On the other hands, if they did something unethical behind… Read more »

Shemp
9 years ago
Reply to  lebeau

PS: Naming no names, I know a person that was among the crew on one of her films — this person said she was mos def NOT LIKED on-set.

RB
RB
9 years ago
Reply to  Shemp

well you guys have insider knowledge, that I don’t. I’m not trying to change anyone’s mind so much as offering a different take on things. You might be 100% correct. Or sometimes there is more to a situation than meets the eye.

RB
RB
9 years ago
Reply to  lebeau

And you may well be correct, and I still am not willing to reach judgment on actors and actresses in that sphere unless there is something concrete to go on. I remember turning 40, and being glad that everything I did and said when I was 30 wasn’t held up to the light. Ditto 50/40. ditto last week. The point being, most of us have the luxury of living past things we say and do, cause we are not celebrities in the public arena… granted, we don’t get the bucks for it either. I get that…. and I’m also not… Read more »

RB
RB
9 years ago
Reply to  lebeau

Thanks for bringing me back down to earth, Lebeau. Every once in a while I get carried away trying to correct injustice in the universe and go off on a tangent.

Shemp
9 years ago
Reply to  lebeau

re: And I think it is right to point out that Heigl made these choices when she was young and foolish. I don’t know that I would have handled being rich and famous any better than she did at that age.
I hear ya, but let’s not bend over backwards to excuse “bad” behavior. That gives some folks an “easy way out” to not take responsibility for their behavior/actions: “Aw, I wasn’t being a ‘jerk,’ I was just YOUNG!” We all do less-than-swell stuff when we’re under 30, but not all of ’em can be attributed to chronological age.

Isa
Isa
9 years ago
Reply to  RB

Well, IMO in Heigl’s case, whether she was difficult or not is not the main problem although a rep like that certainly doesn’t help. If she is still putting butts in cinema seats, they would find a way to accommodate her behaviour, if it was indeed difficult. But IMO, with her scathing remarks about the projects that brought her to the A-list, she actually alienated her audience and that is a bigger problem. I mean, when she trashed Knocked Up, to some extent, she also indirectly criticized everyone who might have enjoyed watching it. And also, it also creates a… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  Isa

9 Celebrities Who Committed Career Suicide! http://www.fame10.com/entertainment/9-celebrities-who-committed-career-suicide/8/ Katherine Heigl Things were going really well for Katherine Heigl several years ago. She had a role on the hit show “Grey’s Anatomy,” she was in the processing of becoming the next rom-com queen and was well respected in the industry. Sadly, her big mouth and lousy attitude seem to have totally derailed her career. After publicly insulting the writing on “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Knocked Up” – both of which helped launch her career – most of her movies have tanked at the box office and no one really wants to work with… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

12 Bitchiest Movie Stars In Hollywood: http://whatculture.com/film/12-bitchiest-movie-stars-in-hollywood.php/11 Katherine Heigl Katherine Heigl’s acting career reads something like a comical self-help book entitled, How to Ruin Your Acting Career in 10 Easy Steps. When Heigl co-stared beside Seth Rogen in Judd Apatow’s Knocked Up, many saw her as a rising actress in comedy. Instead, Heigl dissed the film after its release, calling it “sexist” and “not funny.” She didn’t stop there. Heigl went on to pull a stunt at the 2008 Emmy Awards, which should be called Marlon Brando’s Littlefeather 2.0. She withdrew herself from an Emmy nomination, stating the material Grey’s… Read more »

Craig Hansen
Craig Hansen
9 years ago
Reply to  lebeau

Her career betrayed her? What the hell does that even mean??? Isn’t she in charge of her own career? Did her career bully her into making bad decisions?

Shemp
9 years ago
Reply to  Craig Hansen

What she means by “career betrayed me” is: “Golly, the state of my career isn’t my fault at all!” Cripes, I’m SURE there are MANY actresses that could HONESTLY say that — as a music nerd, I know of MANY musicians/performers that have more talent in their toenails that Justin Bleebler has in his whole wretched body but these people can’t “catch a break” — they’ve released fine records on major labels that didn’t sell well and so were shown the door My point, if I have one: Kath H had breaks and opportunities that many performers would kill for… Read more »

Craig Hansen
Craig Hansen
9 years ago
Reply to  Shemp

That’s certainly how it comes off to my ear. In other words, Heigl feels betrayed that Hollywood-at-large suddenly turned its collective back on her, after she made so much money for them for several years. She became un-hirable in film, possibly (or probably) due to her reputation. According to industry insiders who spoke with The Hollywood Reporter in a 2013 article, she was deemed “not worth working with” due to her difficult reputation and demands. It sounds like she blames the Hollywood system for her career’s demise and not herself, despite the reputation she developed for being difficult to work… Read more »

Shemp
9 years ago
Reply to  Craig Hansen

re: I would have a whole lot more respect for her if she at least appeared to be humble and just say the fame game got the better of her but she’s on more solid ground now, or something to that effect. But, nah, “my career betrayed me” is her takeaway. I’ve heard/read it’s like with guys (and gals) in jail: Nearly everybody got a bad break or is a “victim” of society and/or a cold, uncaring system. It’s a very common human failing: “[bad thing that happened to me] is everyone’s fault but mine.” This “betrayal” she speaks of… Read more »

Happy 4th of July
Happy 4th of July
9 years ago
Reply to  Shemp

I’d rather be remembered for saying “My career betrayed me” than for many of the things people have said here. It’s a bit ironic really that some throwaway statement of an actress could get people so full of venom. She has the same freedom of speech to sound dumb that we all do. Why get so riled up over that? I would be more inclined to join in your collective judgment, if I knew she did something to hurt someone, for example. So she’s a diva. So you have friends who can’t get a job in the business. Do any… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  Craig Hansen

Thread: Actors Hollywood Tried to Make Happen: Indiewire’s List: http://awardswatch.com/forums/showthread.php?33497-Actors-Hollywood-Tried-to-Make-Happen-Indiewire-s-List&p=1662053&viewfull=1#post1662053 For a short period of time (roughly from 2007-2010), she was a legitimate star who has actually made it, who starred in films that were significant financial hits and that used her star power as a major factor in their marketing. You might credit Knocked Up to Apatow, which would be fair enough, but Heigl alone sold films like “27 Dresses” and “The Ugly Truth”, which were also major hits overseas (a rare feat for American romantic comedies). In fact, both films actually made more abroad than they did in… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  lebeau

I don’t know all of the details of the scripting process for Knocked Up. I’m willing to give Katherine Heigl the benefit of the doubt if the script that she had initially signed on for was changed for the worse or she was asked to due nude since that she hadn’t signed on for. I think that people have looked down on Katherine because it appears she actually read the script, agreed to play that role and be a part of that project, and then acted shocked when it finally came out. People just figured that she knew what she… Read more »

gluserty
3 years ago
Reply to  lebeau

Same here for me with Heigl; I don’t know, maybe some of the things she said and how she handled that portion of her career was misguided, but she’s already paid the price, and there’s really nothing more that can be done, positive or negative, with all that. In hindsight, maybe she should’ve saved her comments for a later life autobiography or something, but we live in an age where people instantly say what’s on their mind and that can be disastrous (ex. Rosanne Barr). Regardless, she’s had a long career and I think she’s had some highlights so far.

Calan
Calan
9 years ago

Why don’t anybody really say what Kate is
2000’s version of Sean Young some type diva Narasstic
behavior etc. Kate should never been a actress her personatily is more
fitting working at the DMV.

Shemp
9 years ago
Reply to  Calan

That’s not exactly fair, as:
KH = spoiled, entitled, full of s**t, diva
SY = not to be a meanie, but Young has…concerns.
If Kath H doesn’t clean up her act, the DMV or infomercials may really be next. She’s p*ssed off SO many people that no one want to work with her…and it’s her fault.

Isa
Isa
9 years ago
Reply to  lebeau

I don’t think she’s gotten off to a great start so far, with the “betrayed by my career” comment. It’s not the most terrible comment to make, but it kind of leaves me wondering if she’s learnt anything at all.
IMO, the best career advice anyone could give her at this point would be not to do any candid interviews. Questions should be submitted in advance, and she should go over them with a publicist/manager (a proper one, not just her mom) to decide how she should respond.

Calan
Calan
9 years ago

I agree you with Kate ,but it’s not all her fault. I believe she was forced into acting by Mommy Dearest . If Kate was smart she should dump her mother as her manager ASAP. She not doing her any real good. Or quit the business totally. She has attitude I don’t want be here all the time. With Sean Young she wanted act , at first the drive was their. Now it’s just a pay check. I don’t think she had any luck in years because of her antics. There were worse behaved women actresses in 20’s and 30’s… Read more »

Shemp
9 years ago
Reply to  Calan

re: “Hollywood” rarely foregives
THAT’s for sure….unless of course there’s money to be made. If KH’s films made money, Hollyweird would cut her slack on her BS…same as with Mike Myers.

Craig Hansen
Craig Hansen
9 years ago
Reply to  lebeau

Yes. Look at David Caruso for a prime example. He made a huge mistake leaving NYPD Blue for a potential film career (by the way, Kiss Of Death was a box office flop but I actually enjoyed it), but after a few years he came back to tv and enjoyed a long-lasting run on CSI: Miami for 10 good years. 99.9% of actors would kill to have even that level of success. If Heigl’s new tv show were to catch on and last for some years, she could yet still have a very successful career and make a fortune. Heigl’s… Read more »

Craig Hansen
Craig Hansen
9 years ago
Reply to  lebeau

You’re right: Kiss Of Death was enjoyable, but there was nothing at all that screamed out “This is going to be a huge hit!” David Caruso wasn’t much of a draw, and this was before Nicholas Cage or Samuel L. Jackson were any real box office draws either. That the film did modest business in 1995 sounds about right.
I never saw Jade, but that it also turned out to be a flop doesn’t surprise me either. Caruso was probably just full of himself back then. Ego is good…. up to a point.

Craig Hansen
Craig Hansen
9 years ago
Reply to  lebeau

We’ll never know for sure, unless Caruso outright admits it, but I think you’re probably right LeBeau. Caruso had been a bit-part actor from 1976 until 1993 in television and film when he finally hit big on NYPD Blue (he pops up in bit parts in two movies I own in that period, First Blood in ’82 and Twins in ’88), maybe after all that time and with NYPD Blue being a breakout hit in its first season, maybe after so many years of struggling and with sudden lead-role big-screen offers he really did get impatient and think “now is… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  lebeau

Heigl on exiting “Grey’s Anatomy”:
http://www.tvguide.com/News/Katherine-Heigl-Regret-Leaving-Greys-Anatomy-1084235.aspx
“I made a difficult decision, but it was the right decision for me at the time.”

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  lebeau

Shelley Longs and David Carusos: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17896127&postcount=57 George Clooney’s a good example of what an actor should do. Clooney was cast on ER in 1994 and it was a breakout role for him (keep in mind he’d already been working for fifteen years). So he got cast in From Dusk Til Dawn. That was a success and he was cast in One Fine Day. That was little more iffy but he bounced back with Batman & Robin. That didn’t work out but his career survived and he cast in Out of Sight. That did pretty well and he was cast in… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  lebeau
Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

Katherine Heigl: “I certainly don’t see myself as being difficult”:
http://tvline.com/2014/07/13/katherine-heigl-difficult-reputation-greys-anatomy/
“I would never intend to be difficult,” the “State of Affairs” star said while promoting her show at press tour. “I think it’s important for everyone to conduct themselves professionally and kindly. If I ever disappointed somebody, it was never intentional.”

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

8 Most Demanding Hollywood Stars: http://forums.superherohype.com/showpost.php?p=29612427&postcount=18 Heigel is a winner for me though. It’s one thing to be a diva. It’s a another to be a diva that is as fracking self-important and without self awareness as she is. Plus… Was she ever truly a huge star? Seriously… Was there ever a time when ANYONE mouthed the words, “Hey… I really want to see that Katherine Heigel movie this weekend. Wanna come with?” The throwing Apatow and Rogen under the bus was just dumb. Has she seen how Apatow rewards his friends with CONSTANT WORK? Then the whole, “I don’t… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

Grey’s Anatomy Cast: 8 Shocking Off-Screen Scandals http://www.fame10.com/entertainment/greys-anatomy-cast-8-shocking-off-screen-scandals/3/ Katherine Heigl Slams Writing Katherine Heigl’s saga on Grey’s Anatomy has now become infamous, yet still shocking every time it comes up. In 2007 Heigl won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Izzie Stevens in Grey’s but the very next years she caused waves when she refused to put her name in for the 2008 Emmys and did so by slamming the writers of the show which included Shonda Rhimes. Heigl said she didn’t deserve a nomination because the writers hadn’t given… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

Shonda Rhimes has a “no as*holes” policy: “There are no Heigls in this situation”
http://www.eonline.com/news/586714/shonda-rhimes-blasts-katherine-heigl-says-she-has-a-no-a-holes-policy-on-set?
In her Hollywood Reporter profile, Rhimes says she’s learned to avoid people like Katherine Heigl on set.” I don’t put up with bullsh*t or nasty people. I don’t have time for it,” she says.

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

Katherine Heigl: It “sucks” that Shonda Rhimes still views me negatively: http://extratv.com/2014/11/17/katherine-heigls-apology-in-feud-with-shonda-rhimes-im-sorry-that-she-feels-that-way/ “The last one with Shonda… it sucks,” she tells “Extra” of the “Grey’s Anatomy” creator’s recent comments on her “no as*holes policy,” referring to Heigl. I am sorry that she feels that way and I wish her nothing but greatness, and I have nothing negative to say about Shonda. I’m a big fan of her work. I watch ‘Scandal’ every week, and so I’m sorry she’s left with such a crappy impression of me. I wish I could do something to change that. Maybe I will be able… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

Katherine Heigl wants another chance with Shonda Rhimes:
http://www.lipstickalley.com/showthread.php?t=797255

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

Career Prospectus: Mandy Moore: http://www.laineygossip.com/Career-Prospectus-Mandy-Moore/31616?categoryId=1290 I’ve always been a huge fan of Mandy Moore—always. Music, movies (as truly awful as some of them are), everything. And for the last few years, she’s been teasing a new album and chasing TV pilots. Now that she’s scored a recurring role in Fox’s “Red Band Society” (which looks…decent if not promising), seems to be moving closer to actually recording a new album (working with Mike Viola again, plus she laid down some background vocals on Ryan Adams’s self-titled new release), and has a monthly beauty picks column on Byrdie.com, is it time for… Read more »

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