Buddy TV report on the somewhat old news of Glen Morgan’s departure from the Bionic fold - A news story that I posted a couple of weeks ago . But more interestingly they bring up an alternative reason as to why Mae Whitman was axed and the character of Becca Sommers changed from being deaf to being a computer hacker - apparently Mae wasn’t much good at sign language and NBC received complaints:

A subplot involving Jamie’s deaf sister was also scrapped after a number of advocacy groups complained the actress not only had hearing but also signed badly.

I assume that these complaints where received after the Pre-air Pilot got leaked back in July? Now according to my records this Pilot was leaked in late July/early August whereas Hale replaced Whitman before the ‘Pre-air’ Pilot hit the Internets..hmm. Basically I don’t think that this is the reason Mae got the chop - I don’t think NBC would change her character due to a few ’so-called’ complaints, like I said before, I don’t think she was up to the task - though my opinion on her performance did loosen ’slightly’ after a second viewing.

Also, if Mae was bad at sign language and was axed for this reason then why is Hale, her replacement, not hearing impaired in the show?  

Ah well..it’s not that important..let’s all just move slowly on..there’s a rather interesting show premiering in a week..

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