"All American" fans everywhere were shocked when the hit CW series officially retired Taye Diggs's Billy Baker in February. In a shocking turn of events during a Feb. 13 episode, the actor's character was killed off, ending his impressive five-season run.
At the time, showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll addressed Diggs's departure in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, saying, "It has been an honor to work with Taye over these last five seasons and to watch him bring such incredible life to the role of Billy Baker. It has truly been a gift for me and my fellow writers to write a character that was equally flawed and heroic. Billy was all of us and what a joy it was to watch this character grow as he raised his kids and his football players as one big family."
Carroll added, "We wish Taye the very best in this next chapter...
At the time, showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll addressed Diggs's departure in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, saying, "It has been an honor to work with Taye over these last five seasons and to watch him bring such incredible life to the role of Billy Baker. It has truly been a gift for me and my fellow writers to write a character that was equally flawed and heroic. Billy was all of us and what a joy it was to watch this character grow as he raised his kids and his football players as one big family."
Carroll added, "We wish Taye the very best in this next chapter...
- 10/11/2023
- by Njera Perkins
- Popsugar.com
Daniel Ezra says Monday’s episode of The CW’s “All American” should have come with a “warning” for fans, as viewers saw characters continue to grieve the loss of Coach Billy Baker as well as witnessed Spencer make a shocking decision.
While portraying Spencer onscreen, Ezra was also working behind the camera as director for episode 13. This was Ezra’s second go at directing, with his directorial debut being Season 4’s twelfth episode. The actor says he felt “more confident this time around.”
“It’s a whole other kind of pressure,” Ezra told TheWrap ahead of the episode’s premiere. “I prepped any time I wasn’t acting in the coming weeks before I was directing — whether that be scripts, my knowledge of camera shots, angles and sizes. I went overboard on prep, so when it came to quote-unquote ‘game day,’ I was ready for anything.”
That “anything” included...
While portraying Spencer onscreen, Ezra was also working behind the camera as director for episode 13. This was Ezra’s second go at directing, with his directorial debut being Season 4’s twelfth episode. The actor says he felt “more confident this time around.”
“It’s a whole other kind of pressure,” Ezra told TheWrap ahead of the episode’s premiere. “I prepped any time I wasn’t acting in the coming weeks before I was directing — whether that be scripts, my knowledge of camera shots, angles and sizes. I went overboard on prep, so when it came to quote-unquote ‘game day,’ I was ready for anything.”
That “anything” included...
- 3/14/2023
- by Raquel "Rocky" Harris
- The Wrap
When it comes to Taye Diggs and his All American character Coach Billy Baker, death doesn’t necessarily have to mean the end, at least according to showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll. Diggs’ character was killed off in the latest episode of the CW series, which saw him sacrifice himself to save Jabari (Simeon Daise) after the team bus crashed over the edge of a cliff. However, despite this heroic yet tragic ending, it doesn’t mean viewers won’t ever see Coach Baker again. “I have ongoing conversations with all of my cast every season, so there’s nothing that ever comes out of the blue,” Carroll told The Wrap regarding Diggs’ exit. “We never had any delusions that we’d be able to hold onto Taye for 12 seasons or anything like that.” “I was just like, ‘Whenever the time comes where it feels like the character has served his purpose,...
- 2/21/2023
- TV Insider
Even though Taye Diggs’ character Coach Billy Baker died in the latest episode of CW series “All American,” creator, executive producer and showrunner, Nkechi Okoro Carroll says the actor could reprise his role in some form in the future.
At the end of Season 4, Carroll and Diggs mutually decided what Billy’s fate would be. “I have ongoing conversations with all of my cast every season, so there’s nothing that ever comes out of the blue,” said Carroll, who added that she knew she wouldn’t be able to hold onto Diggs for several more seasons. They both agreed that the character and Diggs’ time on the show was fulfilled.
“We never had any delusions that we’d be able to hold onto Taye for 12 seasons or anything like that,” Carroll told TheWrap. “I was just like, ‘Whenever the time comes where it feels like the character has served his purpose,...
At the end of Season 4, Carroll and Diggs mutually decided what Billy’s fate would be. “I have ongoing conversations with all of my cast every season, so there’s nothing that ever comes out of the blue,” said Carroll, who added that she knew she wouldn’t be able to hold onto Diggs for several more seasons. They both agreed that the character and Diggs’ time on the show was fulfilled.
“We never had any delusions that we’d be able to hold onto Taye for 12 seasons or anything like that,” Carroll told TheWrap. “I was just like, ‘Whenever the time comes where it feels like the character has served his purpose,...
- 2/20/2023
- by Raquel "Rocky" Harris
- The Wrap
[Warning: The following contains Major spoilers for All American Season 5 Episode 11, “Time”] The February 13 episode of All American featured a heartbreaking and shocking end. Taye Diggs‘ Billy Baker died at the end of the episode, marking the actor’s exit from The CW series. In the episode, Coach Billy was commuting back home with his team when their bus blew a tire. The accident led to the bus careening to the edge of a cliff, but he and the players escaped the vehicle safely. At least, that’s what Billy thought. He went back onto the bus to look for Jamari (Simeon Daise), and then viewers learned of his death at the same time as his family later in the episode. It was a heroic end for an honorable character. But why did Diggs want to leave the series? Showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll said it was a strictly narrative decision. “I had a pretty good idea at...
- 2/14/2023
- TV Insider
Spoiler Alert: This story contains spoilers for “Time,” Season 5, Episode 11 of “All American.”
Taye Diggs is saying goodbye to The CW’s “All American.” The actor has portrayed Billy Baker on the drama since its 2018 debut. During Monday’s episode, Billy tells his team that while the rumors of him leaving them to coach Bau were true, he’s since changed his mind and will remain their coach. On the way home from the Crenshaw combine, the tire on the team’s bus blew out, causing an accident. Billy got out of the bus with the rest of the team — or so he thought. After calling his wife and daughter to tell them he was okay, he realized Jabari (Simeon Daise) was stuck in the bus, which was half hanging off of a cliff. Despite Grace (Karimah Westbrook) and Jordan (Michael Evans Behling) begging, he went back in to try and rescue Jabari.
Taye Diggs is saying goodbye to The CW’s “All American.” The actor has portrayed Billy Baker on the drama since its 2018 debut. During Monday’s episode, Billy tells his team that while the rumors of him leaving them to coach Bau were true, he’s since changed his mind and will remain their coach. On the way home from the Crenshaw combine, the tire on the team’s bus blew out, causing an accident. Billy got out of the bus with the rest of the team — or so he thought. After calling his wife and daughter to tell them he was okay, he realized Jabari (Simeon Daise) was stuck in the bus, which was half hanging off of a cliff. Despite Grace (Karimah Westbrook) and Jordan (Michael Evans Behling) begging, he went back in to try and rescue Jabari.
- 2/14/2023
- by Emily Longeretta
- Variety Film + TV
Taye Diggs has left the All American building.
The actor, who has starred on The CW drama as Billy Baker since its late 2018 launch, was shockingly killed off of the series during the Feb. 13 episode.
“It has been an honor to work with Taye over these last five seasons and to watch him bring such incredible life to the role of Billy Baker,” showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “It has truly been a gift for me and my fellow writers to write a character that was equally flawed and heroic. Billy was all of us and what a joy it was to watch this character grow as he raised his kids and his football players as one big family. We wish Taye the very best in this next chapter of his life and he remains a beloved member of the All American family,...
The actor, who has starred on The CW drama as Billy Baker since its late 2018 launch, was shockingly killed off of the series during the Feb. 13 episode.
“It has been an honor to work with Taye over these last five seasons and to watch him bring such incredible life to the role of Billy Baker,” showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “It has truly been a gift for me and my fellow writers to write a character that was equally flawed and heroic. Billy was all of us and what a joy it was to watch this character grow as he raised his kids and his football players as one big family. We wish Taye the very best in this next chapter of his life and he remains a beloved member of the All American family,...
- 2/14/2023
- by Lesley Goldberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Skully’s survival skills on FX’s Snowfall are unmatched. There have been a number of attempts on his life, and he tragically lost his daughter and her mother to senseless, drug-related violence.
After cutting a deal with Louie and Jerome at the start of Season 5, Skully is still in business and continues to run his Inglewood-based cocaine empire with brute force and bizarre superstitions. It’s a method that cost him his latest lieutenant, Mello (played by Simeon Othello Daise), whom he had to kill for trying to usurp him.
More from TVLineSnowfall Recap: Liars and Tigers and Oso,...
After cutting a deal with Louie and Jerome at the start of Season 5, Skully is still in business and continues to run his Inglewood-based cocaine empire with brute force and bizarre superstitions. It’s a method that cost him his latest lieutenant, Mello (played by Simeon Othello Daise), whom he had to kill for trying to usurp him.
More from TVLineSnowfall Recap: Liars and Tigers and Oso,...
- 3/30/2022
- by Mekeisha Madden Toby
- TVLine.com
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