How Bull Wrote Out Benny in Season 6 Premiere After Freddy Rodriguez’s Exit
The TAC team has lost another member.
Three years after Bull wrote out hacker Cable McCrory (as a fatality in a bridge collapse), the CBS drama’s Season 6 premiere revealed that Benny Colón (played by original cast member Freddy Rodriguez) had also bid the team adieu, though on less tragic terms.
“Benny is blissfully happy in Rome, singing ‘Mi Amore’ to his Italian bride,” Marrisa (Geneva Carr) reminded the gang at a karaoke bar, when some called for Benny’s channeling of Kenny Loggins. “True love won’t be denied,” Bull (Michael Weatherly) affirmed after Danny (Jaime Lee Kirchner) marveled that Benny had moved to Europe after knowing the gal for just one month.
Since the legal drama’s debut, Rodriguez had played Benny, a former prosecutor and a part of the jury consulting firm run by Dr. Jason Bull. Early in Season 5, it was revealed that Benny was being courted to run for DA, and in success, Chunk would take over his role at TAC. In fact, in the season finale, Benny resigned — only to return to Bull’s team in the end.
But Benny’s heart, and not any political ambitions, would take him from TAC in the end.
The on-screen explanation comes four months after it was reported that Rodriguez would not be continuing with the series. Following an investigation into the departure of several staff writers after Season 5, showrunner Glenn Gordon Caron (who had served as showrunner since Season 2) and the show parted ways, and the TV vet’s overall deal with CBS Studios ended.
Concurrent with that, CBS confirmed that Rodriguez also was exiting the show, following a workplace investigation (though the network declined to comment on the circumstances surrounding the actor’s departure).
When Bull was renewed for Season 6 back in May, Rodriguez reportedly had written on Instagram, “Thrilled to announce that we will be returning for a Season 6.” A little over a week later, word of his departure broke — and that celebratory post now appears to be gone.
What did you think of Benny’s exit, and will you miss the character?
Very disappointed to learn that Benny will not be back. He is such a major part of the show, and the flippant comment that he moved with a bride out of the country wasn’t much of an explanation.
It’s not uncommon for such flippant write-outs… I remember back in the ’90s when an actress (Amanda Donahoe?) playing one of the attorneys left LA Law they had a throwaway line at the water cooler that she left to join the LPGA tour.
I will miss him. He was always in the important court scenes.
Even as much as I like bull – Benny made the show – he had a grip on me from the beginning – I consider myself a writer & he along with bull were the perfect partners – so many avenues to draw from these two characters & like life it ends to soon
I’ll miss Benny!!! I looked forward to seeing him in every episode. He made the show! I’m sad he left the show!
watched the show because of the Benny character. why not a new show about Benny trying to learn the Italian court system.
could be humorous the show,
I smell a sequel
Good on you!
I agree with you
Cannot bare to watch it without Benny…:((((
I always bare to watch Bull. It’s my fun for the week!
I really miss Benny & Cable.
Actually it is. Benny is happy instead of what actually happened.
Very upset. Loved Benny. His part was very much part of the popularity of the show Bull. I, for one, will miss Benny !
I will miss Benny. I could not watch the show last night. I may be gone with Benny.
Agree with you knowing he is gone have lost interest as it goes to show you the poor way of writing him out. I didn’t realize Benny was written out
The show is certainly not the same now that Benny is not there. I think I will be looking for a different show to watch. Too bad that one Actor can carry so much weight, but Benny sure did that on Bull.
If you stop watching Bull because Benny left, you’re not much of a fan anyway. The rest of the cast is great. I LOVE Marissa & Danny’s jobs they do. Great role models for young girls. Taylor and Chunk are great actors as well.
And, if you’re not watching for Michael Weatherly, what’s WRONG with you???? 😂😂😂😂😂😂
This comment is 💯
Appsplutely agree. As much as I enjoyed Benny’s character, I’m sure the rest of the cast and the excellent story lines will still hold My attention.
I will miss Benny but I love the show and would never stop watching. By the way, the opening show this season was amazing!
Benny was an integral part of the show. Chunk. Doesn’t come close.
I agree with you 100%.
However, there are rumors flying around that Marissa is. If that happens, then the show WILL close down! The entire cast plus Benny has made that show excellent over the years,
I miss Benny soooo much. I once told my husband that if Benny ever left the show it wouldn’t be near as good. Well, the unfortunate has happened, and I was right. The show is not as good. I really like Weatherly, BUT, In my opinion, Benny made the show. Bull WAS so good, why must they change things. WHAT HAPPENED????😩
Heard the show is cancelled after this season because someone got greedy for more money. I hope this proves untrue it’s one of my favorite shows. Like others I think Rodriquez was a perfect Benny. Great choice!
My sentiments exactly.
While the character of Benny will truly be missed, l believe the show has seen better days. Perhaps it’s time for everyone to go?
I totally agree. He was a big part of the show. I don’t watch anymore. Not as interesting without Benny. He was great.
Hasn’t CBS learned from kicking Cote de Pablo out (Ziva David, NCIS)?
Freddy Rodriguez/Benny Colon is a star player. Don’t know if the addition of BENNY’S SISTER can survive without her brother…
Please bring Freddy back. Please?
PLEASE!!!! BRING BENNY BACK!!!
Watched the 1st show of the season and it is my last. Not the same without the “Benny” character. Will not follow this show anymore. Benny was a key part of the show.
But this episode was a weird one to judge, it wasn’t about a regular case or client. Looks like next week they return to the courtroom and will be better idea of where the show is going.
Agree. This is not a basis for the legal premise of the show. The cases and courtroom drama usually carry an episode..so kick it up team!!
Neither was the ‘covid-19’ case opening show on season five.
This is my last show too. What a bunch of melodramatic schlock…and bad acting on top of it. Sorry about the show now. It’s a goner.
Oh bull!! Literally! 😂🤣😂🤣. Really, your response is BULL !!!!!
They should have just recast the role. One episode showed the future when Bull’s daughter married Benny’s son. A recast would have been an acceptable and maybe great adjustment.
Spot on Patricia! I suspect Freddy was the scapegoat and/or his following hurt Michael’s big ego! Remember, there were allegations of inappropriate behavior in the workplace against Michael Weatherly. Freddy could easily carry a leading role in another series.
You got that right! I loved his acting. Please give Freddy Rodriguez his own show. I’ll be waiting!
I’m generally OK with recasting. And while perhaps unrepresentative of the viewers in general, a lot of online commenting was against the recasting of Mandy on Last Man Standing (even after 3 years) and of the youngest daughter on American Housewife.
Are you crazy? That would be first cousins marrying. Where’d you ever get such a nonsense notion. I didn’t get that, at all. To even air such a notion would be certain death for the show. First cousins don’t marry. They have a very bad word for that! 🤮🤮🤮
If Bull’s daughter married Benny’s son it would be AGAINST THE LAW. First cousins can’t legally marry. And for good reason.
I doubt that’s what they said.
Really? Missed that. Thought Benny was Bull’s wife brother and that future marriage sounds like incest to me.
How would Bull daughter marry her cousin, Bull’s daughter is by Bennys sister.
WHAT?! any fan should know Bull’s daughter and Benny’s son would be 1st cousins! PatriciaLee, that’s illegal in most places in the USA.
Miss Benny like crazy. The show is NOT the same without him. Chunk is not the actor Freddy is. Courtroom scenes are fairly flat and uninteresting. This is what Blue Bloods did you Linda. I think they owe fans an explanation. They wouldn’t have a show without the fans.
I don’t understand that? Benny was great. We’ll miss him. But things change. The rest of the cast are great too. I’m sure they want to keep ALL their fans. But then again, they just might not miss you at all.
I totally agree he was the strongest character in the show Bull. I’ve watched a couple of the new series and it’s not the same. What’s with Michael that he keeps on treating actors so bad that they leave? I will no longer watch this show he’s done this to two actors in a short time..Michael has a problem
I HATE that Benny is gone. He was as important as Bull. It really sucks that he is gone. I don’t know who decides these things, but it isn’t anyone who cares about the people watching.
Yes, it’s true. Like a cold water shock. Benny WILL be missed.
Hard to believe that Benny is not coming back. He was the key player in the show.
Michael Weatherly has a tall order now ( let’s keep the writers in mind too) to keep the show up to par. We have to see how Chunk does. He has shoes to fill too…
Many will Miss you Benny!
Yes I will miss Benny they need to work out what every it is because the characters Benny to me were one of the best on the show I enjoy seeing him on bull with the other characters .
Very sad to see Rodriguez leave the show he was very a spunky lawyer.
No personality with the other lawyer like Rodriguez.
Hope they talk Rodriguez into coming back the arguing with him and Bull made it intense.
He didn’t leave on his own, he was forced out after an internal investigation. No details on what it was about, but it was enough for force him out.
Exactly. No word on the nature of the investigation but it couldn’t have been good given he was ousted.
So wasn’t Eliza Dushku paid the balance of her contract because of sexual remarks from Weatherly? So how is he still there and Rodriguez is gone? Very strange.
Because its Weatherly’s show. Its not Bull without Bull. Personally I think the show should have been done then.
This show is literally about Dr Phil’s life before his practice & the tv show. Dr Phil literally hand picked Michael Weatherly to play “his character”.
Lol, Dr. Phil has quite the ego. I was really turned off after hearing Weatherly had sexually harassed Eliza Dushku. I had quite liked the show before that so I didn’t stop watching it all together. I can only imagine what kind of things are going on behind the scenes in this case.
I just want the truth of what happened & yes Dushku was paid after sexual harassment from Weatherly.
😂😂😂I would like to know what really happened?? Was Jason a bad guy again??
I loved the balance that the character Benny gave I would say recast but the actor himself gave the illusion of that balance. So they would need to find the perfect person of similarities to the original actor….sorry he cant be replaced
Extremely disappointed. Without Benny the show is not the same. His personality, his character, his natural way to act is unique.
Call him back immediately for the joy of Bull’s fans.
I already Miss Benny, I loved him in this Show, I waited throughout tonights episode of Bull to see Benny, In my opinion he made this show Great & Interesting
Too bad he was the best one on the show. Won’t be the same without him
I’m glad its ending like this because down the road there may be a chance for him to come back. I feel like he and Bull are a team, a strong team. Chunk is ok but not up to par with Benny. I will miss Benny and will still watch the show but will keep my hopes up for him to return maybe the next season.
This is very sad! I will miss Benny terribly! It won’t be the same!
Absolutely Benny was an integral part of the team. His sister married to Bull. How are yall going to explain that.
What? His sister is married to Bull so he can’t leave the show? Have the TV god’s been consulted about this?
Love Benny! He needs to come back to the program. He keeps Bull on track .
Why u let him leave is beyond me. He is an integral part of this show. Benny and Bull r the rocks of this program . Maybe u should figure out why he left and get him back!!!!
He didn’t leave, he was forced out.
I watched all the seasons and I simply cannot figure out how Benny’s character just slid out from under us viewers. What in the world did Rodriguez do which was so terrible that he was forced out? He was the pivotal character of the show. The 6th season opening tonight was disappointing.
It’s almost like “playing an important character” should buy you a pass to mistreat your coworkers, and actors shouldn’t be treated like they’re above reproach b/c viewers like their *character*
But it is, so…probably pretty bad.
Once people, particularly feminists, accepted it from Bill Clinton, it was open season.
The only thing that’s known is that Glen Gordon Caron (Showrunner) was definitely fired from the show following an investigation and Rodriguez also would not be returning.Considering that neither the PTB or Rodriguez are talking about why that happened–and especially in light that just a week before he talked about being excited to return in Season 6–it’s clear there’s likely an NDA.
Will miss Benny. He was really crafty and articulate in court. Chunk, not so much.
Please get Benny back!
I will most definitely miss Benny. All the rest of the people work for Bull. Benny was more than an employee. He was a friend who had known Bull since we’ll before Tack and help to start it and make it profitable. He was and will be again Bull’s brother in law and was the one who could tell Bull off and set him straight without being afraid of losing his job because that was their way
Exactly!!!!!
Best comment so far. His absence will be felt, no doubt, but the show’s title is Bull. I wouldn’t be surprised if they bri g on new talent.
Oh and I’m glad they kept him alive. It keeps the door cracked open a bit for a return down the road.
Good point
I think it’s a shame they wrote Benny out of the show. I love it when the characters are intertwined and are much like a family. His character was smart, moral,
an excellent attorney, best friend and confidant to Bull, as well as his brother- in-law and uncle to his daughter. He’s an important character to the show and I’m disappointed he won’t be a part of it any longer.
Very sad Benny is gone. He really played a roll that made the show work. The opening season show was really just, so so. I hope the storyline will be more intriguing going forward.
I beg to differ. So so? That was the best acting ever from Weatherly.
I’m so sorry to see Benny go. I dont like Chunk’s character at all so probably wont watch anymore. I hate it when a really good show loses their best characters. Its never the same or better.
Loved the interaction between Benny and Bull. Show feels dull without it. Hope something changes that will bring Benny back.
NOT HAPPY that Freddy Rodriquez WILL NOT be returning this season!
BUT the episode was good! I did miss Freddy! He’s so much a part of the TAC Team!
NOT HAPPY CBS!!!
I’m sorry Freddie Rodriguez is no longer part of BULL. He is the one who made the show. Maybe he will leave his Italian bride and return to the States and resume his role.
Benny’s the reason that this series had been such a success. He had a light touch and was full of pulling rabits out of the hat moments. Plus he and Bull squabbling was reminiscent of an old married couple running as a well oiled machine despite their differences. Benny’s leaving for a lightening bolt marriage doesn’t hold water as he’s too practical for that to happen and last. When the lust is over, it’s dearly hoped he returns to the fold unladen by the female & any spawn or mafiosi to drag his story down. Raging hormones from Bull’s wife is more than enough, no need to add to it.