Probably not the Christmas present you were expecting: Showtime has unceremoniously written off the character of Mohammed "Mo-M" De La Cruz from the hit series Nurse Jackie. The fan fave was played to perfection by Haaz Sleiman and the departure is not addressed in the second season, notes EW's Michael Ausiello, "as if he never existed."
I hate to be the bearer of rotten news just three days before Christmas, but I just learned that one of my (and no doubt your) favorite Nurse Jackie characters will not be returning for the show’s upcoming second season. I’m taking about Mohammed “Mo-Mo” De La Cruz, the sasstastic gay nurse played by Haaz Sleiman. A Showtime rep confirmed that Sleiman is no longer with the acclaimed dramedy, but provided no further details. A rep for Sleiman, meanwhile, says producers felt "the character’s storyline ran its course… We were surprised. It came out of left field." Adding insult to injury, I just screened the first two episodes of Season 2 and Mo-Mo’s departure isn’t even addressed. Not even his best bud Jackie acknowledges his absence. It’s as if he never existed! Not cool. Not cool at all.
The Lebanese-born actor shot to fame in The Visitor and as flirtatious muscle boy "Tyson" in Maurice Jamal's ;The Ski Trip. Sleiman's role on Nurse Jackie was described as "the only gay character of Middle Eastern descent currently on the air and one of the few ever portrayed on television." It wasn't a meaty role, but he was great to watch. Here's hoping to better luck in 2010.
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