Ashlee Simpson was fired from her gig on Melrose Place. Also let go was her co-star Colin Egglesfield, Entertainement Weekly sat down to chat with producer, Todd Slavkin, who was instrumental in the decision who claims (now) that Ashlee’s character was always meant to leave after episode 12. Hmmm.

more Ashlee after the hop…

Slavkin told EW’s Michael Ausiello:

“Well, we always knew that this murder mystery would end in episode 12. And we always knew that [Ashlee's] character of Violet would be instrumental in that as a suspect, and [Colin's character of] Augie as well. And once that murder mystery was solved, she would go on her way. That was the original plan going into the development of the show…once the murder mystery was resolved, the tone of the show was going to shift into a much more fun, romantic, sexy upbeat kind of show, and [her] character would move on.Same thing with Colin?
SLAVKIN: Colin was always meant to be the ultimate suspect. And his brooding alcoholic [character] tonally didn’t fit the paradigm moving into post-murder mystery Melrose Place.

Oh, snap! This must be showbiz speak for “we just don’t think this is a good fit.” Just when we were beginning to think Ashlee had figured out this whole “working” thing.

Photos: Bauer Griffin