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So here’s a sentence I don’t get to type every day: The executive producer of a successful cable series is taking a temporary leave of absence from the show after pleading guilty to running an illegal gambling operation that was part of a money laundering operation for the Russian mob.
After pleading guilty to running an illegal gambling operation on Friday, Ray Donovan executive producer Bryan Zuriff is taking a voluntary leave of absence from the Showtime series. Zuriff faces up to five years in prison and has agreed to forfeit $500,000 as part of his plea deal, but insiders indicate that by pleading first from the 34 people charged in the operation, he is expected to get a more lenient sentence. […]
Zuriff has been a key driver behind Ray Donovan, which features themes and stories that resemble some of the things Zuriff was indicted for. He is credited with bringing the project to producer Mark Gordon and championing it. Zuriff has been a hands-on executive producer, a regular presence on the set. [Deadline]
You know, say what you will about all the drama surrounding Community over the last few years, but hardly any of those stories involved Dan Harmon laundering money for the Russian mob. Something to think about.
