Fred Willard Fired By PBS Show “Market Warriors” After Arrest

Comedic actor Fred Willard will no longer be the host/narrator of the new Public Broadcasting System show Market Warriors, a spin-off of Antiques Roadshow.

Willard of Anchorman and Best in Show fame (among his many other screen credits) was arrested at a Hollywood adult movie theater last night on suspicion of lewd behavior, and as a result, PBS decided to cut ties with the actor immediately.

According to the New York Times…

Jeanne Hopkins, a spokeswoman for WGBH, the Boston public broadcaster that produces the show, said via e-mail, “Given the unfortunate news reported today, effective immediately, Fred Willard no longer will be involved with the ‘Market Warriors’ series.”

Mark Walberg, the emcee of Antiques Roadshow, will step in for Willard as host and re-narrate the episodes that have already been taped. Willards bio has already been scrubbed from the Market Warriors website.

The Washington Post has some additional background on the new series:

“Market Warriors,” a series from the producers from “Antiques Roadshow,” follows people around the country as they search for antiques, which they will later try to sell for a large profit at an auction. The show debuted this past Monday right on local PBS affiliates WETA and MPT.

Fred Willard also hosts an ABC Network’s improv show called Trust Us With Your Life, and production work on all the episodes (four of which have been aired) has wrapped. ABC has yet to comment about Willard’s status for that gig.

Through his lawyer, Fred Willard insists that he “did nothing in any violation of any law” and will attempt to clear his name.