SPOILERS for this season of The Good Wife
Here are some photos of Archie Panjabi at last night’s premiere of San Andreas. Apparently, she’s in that disaster movie (also starring The Rock). And no, I have no idea who that kid is. To my knowledge, Archie is not a mom, so maybe he’s her nephew? Something like that.
A few weeks ago, we discussed Archie Panjabi’s last episode with The Good Wife. I recapped the whole Archie/Kalinda situation here, complete with theories that Archie was basically pushed out of the show by a vindictive Julianna Margulies. In Archie’s last episode, Kalinda and Alicia (Margulies) were finally in a scene together, their first in years. Only the scene was extremely awkward, and many people thought that the scene had been achieved with stand-ins, greenscreens and CGI. A producer later confirmed those fan theories and said yes, Archie and Julianna weren’t even in the same room at the same time. So when E! caught up with Archie at her premiere last night, of course they asked her about it:
When E!’s own Marc Malkin caught up with Archie at the premiere of her new movie, the summer-blockbuster-to-be, San Andreas, he asked if the actress could clear up rumors that the Good Wife scene was computer generated. Unfortunately for Kalicia lovers everywhere, she couldn’t deny the claims.
“All I can say is this: the decision making process is not something I’m privy to,” she said.
She did admit “it was hard to say goodbye,” but said she knew she was leaving for the last two years.
Archie also shot down any chance of Kalinda returning in the future. “I don’t think so,” she said, adding, “She came in as a mystery and left as a mystery.”
Just for the record, while Archie may not currently plan on returning to the show, creators Robert and Michelle King would be totally thrilled to have her back.
“[The door] is always open,” Robert told us earlier this year. “Are you kidding? Archie Panjabi is one of the most talented actresses we’ve worked with. She’s so good. We would love to have her back.”
Funny enough, Archie revealed that she is in talks with show execs to get to keep some of Kalinda’s signature leather jackets and boots. She smiled, “It would be nice to have some of the pieces.”
Ugh. I feel sorry for Archie. I feel like she was stuck in her contract, trying to make it work on The Good Wife and Julianna was actively trying to destroy her. The show was always going to be about Alicia, especially when Julianna came on as producer, but I really don’t understand why Julianna threw around her weight so much about limiting the Kalinda character? Star Magazine had a story last week about the root of all these bad feelings: sources claimed Julianna was pissed at Archie because Archie won an Emmy before Julianna won for TGW (Julianna won an Emmy before for ER). Ugh, this makes me think less of Julianna. And it makes me feel sorry for Archie.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
It seems more like a ‘I can neither confirm or deny’ answer.
And we all know what that means. *wink*
But good on her for trying to be honest about it.
I hate when my coworkers get Emmys before me. And by Emmys I mean: ahead of me in line on grilled cheese day in the cafeteria. Same thing, right?
Now I want a grilled cheese sandwich. I’m throwing you off my show, Abot.
Feel free to hologram me in when needed.
You’re on fire, Abot.
For me it’s the last piece of cake but I take your point.
I don’t really buy the Emmy theory, she already had one for ER. The real story will probably come out in some Vanity Fair tell-all when the show ends.
Was the Emmy for ER for lead or support? That might be the difference.
Agreed. It’s not about the Emmy.
I think it’s just that most of JM’s acting has been wooden. She has gotten a little better, but there are so many extraordinary actors on the show who eclipse her. I realize she is the ‘star’ of the show, but you often saw compelling story lines that led nowhere, just disappeared, and circled back to Alicia, with same ol’ same ol’. Archie was a great actress and her character had more mystery, intrigue and sexiness, and she was able to emote through minute expressions in a very subtle way. The show works best when they capitalize on the talented ensemble cast and less on Alicia’s navel-gazing, which has gotten old. It’s okay that her character is in the title of the show, but that they move outward to others. Somehow, someone discourages this direction.
Damn, now I want grilled cheese AND cake. It’s not too early right?? right!! 😂 😉 I Can’t handle delicious dirty talk first thing in the morning. Darn power of suggestion. Now what were we talking about? Lol
@ M.A.F. The Emmy for ER was for supporting actress in the show’s first season. She was the only main cast member of that show to win an Emmy.
I don’t know if it is about the Emmy specifically, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it was simply a matter of being shown up. I could totally see an actress getting upset that she was the title character, yet she wasn’t being given material that was award winning (it’s never about the talent from their perspective). JM is The Good Wife, after all. No doubt she sees it as her show.
I’m a doughnut person myself. I don’t like it when all the good doughnut are taken, ruins the day.
I now NEED a grilled cheese sandwich.
I love you 😀
Egowood. What a shame. Archie is amazing, and one of my girl crushes. As for JM, I am so disapointed.
I’m disappointed in JM too. Really makes me think less of her.
I cannot believe that a person can be so jealous and vindictive.
No clue about the backstage drama, but that Bedazzlered dress is doing her no favors.
that is Petty as F*ck, to be willing to sink and sacrifice your (and Other People’s) jobs and the quality of what is being put out there Behind some catty Mean Girl nonsense
If this whole story is really true, it shows they don’t know what teamwork means.
How truly sad. I am a Good Wife fan but I have to say Will and now Kalinda gone is going to make it a bit soulless for me. I really haven’t loved this season aside from Archie’s scenes and the occasional good guest/case, but they are getting more and more rare. I really could care less if I ever see Alicia and Peter tear each other to shreds again. I like Matthew Goode in everything but he’s been wasted too and it does feel like Alicia has become such a hard character when once I really rooted for her. Carey has been relegated and Diane too, I hated her stupid hunting episode, really p*ssed me off they would have a staunch liberal suddenly develop blood lust – felt cheap and gimmicky.
We’re still a few eps behind in U.K. but the all Alicia all the time election storyline has really sucked the life out of the show for me. Really a shame the balance has gone so far out of whack, have to say I’ve lost a bit of respect for Julianna if this stuff is true, regardless if Archie was hard to work with or even if they simply didn’t get on, as the lead and producer it’s her job to value the overall quality of the show and respect why it has its fans above her own vanities. Shame on the producers really, they know Kalinda was a fan favourite and they’ve really given Archie short shrift before giving her the boot. Really disappointing, but I guess I shouldn’t be surprised when they justified killing off Will as all part of the greater circle of life/Alicia’s story being the be all end all, blah blah blah… Oh well, we’ll always have the first few years.
I have zero motivation to watch the next season. You’re right that they have been actively killing the show.
Matthew Goode is leaving the show, too.
Well, that settles it, I’m not watching it anymore. I’ll just follow Alan Cumming on twitter.
FFS! What is wrong with this stupid show? Ah well hope he returns for the last season of Downton Abbey! I follow Cumming on Twitter too – and he also used to be one of my favourites but again, so underused this season. Good Wife you are making me sad with your suckage.
No Kalinda and now no Finn? Count me out as a fan now too! I love Alan Cumming and will follow him elsewhere and if I’m lucky see him on broadway.
OT…if u haven’t read Alan’s memoir, please do it’s riveting!
Smh, Jessica Lange’s comments come to mind. If you run your job as only one pretty talented woman must survive then you’re just being the surrogate male POV.
How tacky and immature of her.
I also bet if this was ‘done’ to her she’d be talking about it in every interview.
I always wondered if Archie’s early Emmy win started the problems. I think JM expected it to be her grand return to TV after the success of ER, and someone else got the attention.
People sometimes clash, it happens, but this whole situation sounds petty, especially when they weren’t even in the final scene together and created a lot more work for the crew.
Hasn’t Julianna Marguiles won a bunch of SAG awards? The only reason I know who her Harvard educated husband is because she seemed to win a couple of times in a row and the camera would pan to him when he doled out her thanks to everyone, including him, and the next day everyone would be asking who JM’s hot husband is. I don’t get why she’d be upset about the Emmy win by Archie Panjabi. JM got her fair share of the spotlight and accolades too. (Not that I doubt that jealousy can still exist, but if you win all those SAGs and you’re still upset about a co-star’s success, then something is seriously wrong with JM).
She has won a number of awards, and eventually an Emmy for this show (and her husband is hot!) but I just wonder if she was expecting this to be her big star vehicle, and instead saw Archie and the supporting cast get a lot, if not more, attention for the show right off the bat.
I may be totally wrong, who knows, but just a theory.
Julianna was still hugely successful right off the bat with the show, though. Archie winning an Emmy seems like such a random reason.
Btw for any Archie fans she is in the BBC show The Fall with Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan in both series, with her small part being expanded on a bit more in the second series…
She is EXCELLENT in The Fall. I binge-watched seasons 1 and 2, and it is the best crime drama that I have ever seen on television. I enjoyed it even better than True Detective. Sadly, American television, with the exception of possibly HBO, doesn’t allow for a slow, building narrative to take hold. Everyone wants the hook front-and-center from the get-go as if an entire book or story could be distilled into a mere tweet.
I don’t think it’s so much American TV as it is a problem with the big 4 networks (CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX). There are some networks/channels out there like AMC, FX, Sundance, etc, that definitely have shows with a slower pace and building narrative. AMC did that well with Mad Men and Breaking Bad, and FX with Justified and the Americans. But mainstream network stuff, absolutely. They dump so much story right away that after a season, or sometimes just a few episodes, a show runs out of steam.
Archie was great in the Fall, as was Gillian, but I had a hard time actually enjoying the show, especially at first with all the killings.
There are usually two (reasonably) legitimate sides to every story but, yeah, I’m inclined to think less of JM in this case too. To refuse to even do one final scene together, pretty craptastic.
To not want to film with the person, even their last scene, you would think that some serious shit had gone down between the two actors. If this is all because of simple jealousy over a situation that neither actress could control then that is just beyond petty and unprofessional.
You would think that if it wasn’t JM would come out and say something, I’m all for ignoring rumours but when they make you look as vindictive and petty as this and not painting you in a good light at all, I think it might be time to acknowledge it.
This is just unprofessional on JM’s part. I think if Archie had been the source of the problem then JM would’ve gotten her fired years ago. Instead there was no cause to fire Archie and she did well on the show (despite her part being increasingly marginalized). So Archie stayed on TGW while JM tried to cut her out of the picture. I put the blame on JM.
That young man… is so cute!
Yea… Julianna is a pill. Now everyone knows.
She underused the big breakout character, from Good Wife, over jealously. How unoriginal.
And probably kept Archie tied up in a contract, for the show. So Archie could not use that new visibility & Emmy to land another show. Where the producer/lead actress would not have hated her.
That is just awful!
OMG, Kalinda inspired me to get the most awesome vegan faux leather boots. They’re so awesome and comfortable. I hope the producers rethink going leather with the Kalinda branding.
This remind me when Cybil Shepard had a show. One of the ladies from “The Good Wife” played her best friend. She received accolades for her acting and won an emmy on top of it.
This is when all hell broke loose with rumors of Cybil turning into a megabitch because she was the star of the show.
Christine Baranski is way better than Julianna in the show.
She’s awesome in everything. 🙂
Christine Baranski is a goddess.
Christine is usually better than everyone else in everything she does! Diane is definitely my favorite character on TGW, and it pains me how they’ve sidelined her like all the other supporting characters.
And yes to the comment below, Cybil has always had a terrible reputation, she’s one of the few who I’ve actually see people name names about.
Cybil was a mega bitch on everything she’s ever done. Pretty sure the cast and crew of Moonlighting is still telling stories about her.
The first two seasons of moonlighting were wonderful..it was the change of the characters’ relationship (not Shepard/Willis) that ruined it..it’s a case study.. when successful shows start messing with the formula, they’re ‘moonlighting’ it..that’s what the good wife has been doing..The great initial chemistry has been lost, as has the compelling plotline. Too bad..for me, it’s gone from a must see to it’s on the dvr if I have time..
@lucy2 I love Diane and I agree, she was sidelined, like Eli, another great character. If Shonda was in charge, Alicia would die.
“If Shonda was in charge, Alicia would die….”
LMAO! You got that right! Shonda has been killing off lead/main characters for years. Without hesitation.
So much so….. I stopped watching Grey’s years ago because of it. 🙂
This really makes JM seem petty. But I don’t feel sorry for AP, she’s in a movie with the Rock. I’m jealous of her. Also, she was awesome on The Fall.
I only watched the first two years of the show, but Archie became like the breakout star with much acclaim, someone who it probably wasn’t even planned on happening to as far as cast. Then she won the Emmy. It sounds like JM was overtaken by the green-eyed monster. But this is years later and I’m shocked it deteriorated to this. I can’t comment on what’s happened past the first two seasons because I just kept missing the show so lost interest.
If JM was a smart business women she could have helped her get her own show and become executive producer of that show. JM could have put it on after the Good Wife. As a matter of fact she could have done the same with Michael J Fox. Kind of a Boston Legal kind of show. JM could have been the next Shonda Rimes of law shows.
This is way women are under represented in the business and its a crime.
To be honest, Alicia is turning out to be the least interesting character on the show. And to do that to some other actress, is a severe case of lack self-steem.
TGW used to utilize the whole cast and it was a great show. Now it’s all Alicia, all the time.
I have no problem believing JM was jealous of AP.
And that fake final scene with the two of them was insulting.
She should fire the rest of the cast and make a one woman show. Her ego is going to be her undoing.
Yep.
I like Cary, but the show doesn’t seem to give him much to do.
Narcissistic Queen Bee woman, their ego,envy and fragile self esteem always trumps finances, family harmony and workplace harmony. They’re the reason women struggle w/glass ceiling. It’s called the ‘Dead Even Power Rule’.
Sure, because male egos never trump harmony.
Not being a regular viewer of the show, can someone explain: how on earth did the cast and crew reconcile having to film the final scene in this way, without the actresses in the same room together? In other words, have they offered an excuse/alibi (ex: one was abroad, filming a movie, etc). One would think that *actors* would be able to put their baggage aside for a final shoot. Something awful must’ve come down between them. Oh, and also: I love her dress!
I didn’t see any discussion when Josh Charles left, but I was pissed and quit watching the show. At the time I wondered if it had something to do with JM’s producer title. Now I’m thinking maybe I seriously misjudged Charles.
Kalinda didn’t always have the best storylines (I could have lived without her abusive ex), but she was always an interesting character. The show’s satellite characters–Wallace Shawn, Michael J. Fox, Nathan Lane–always kept my interest, too. I think they could get rid of JM and Mr. Big and just keep Diane and the rest, and it would be a better show.
Now it looks like they’re bringing in Michael J Fox
Yep, I stopped watching as soon as Josh Charles left the show. By that point, even Kalinda wasn’t keeping me interested any more. Mr. Big has always just been just a plot device and JM’s story is told already. I’d totally watch a spin off involving the other amazing characters though.