Will Benny Be Back? Cologne's Return To Bull

Fans of the CBS show Bull were shocked when they tuned into the season 6 premiere and found that Benny Colón (Freddy Rodriguez), one of the staple characters of the show, was missing from the storyline. It was revealed that Benny was blissfully happy in Rome, singing 'Mi Amore' to his Italian bride. Apparently, the writers sped up a relationship Benny had with an Italian woman, and the two got married and moved to Italy in the time between the season 5 finale and the season 6 premiere. So, is there a chance that Benny could return from Italy and come back to Bull?

Benny's future on the show was uncertain after a fight with Jason Bull

Benny's future on the show "Bull" was uncertain after a fight with Jason Bull. In Season 3, Benny learned about his sister Izzy's divorce and was upset that their father would be devastated by the news. He blamed Izzy's husband for the split until he found out that Izzy had cheated with Jason Bull. This led to a major fight between Benny and Jason, causing Benny to quit the TAC team. Although Jason begged him to come back, Benny's position remained precarious in Season 4 when he collapsed and it appeared that he might not survive. However, a flash-forward revealed that he was fine 27 years later.

In Season 5, Benny's bid for District Attorney once again raised questions about his potential departure from the show. Despite initially signing on for Season 6, actor Freddy Rodriguez, who portrayed Benny, later departed following a workplace investigation. The investigation focused on allegations of toxicity and a negative work environment created by showrunner Glenn Gordon Caron, who was also dismissed. While the specific reasons for Rodriguez's exit were not disclosed, it sparked fan speculation and disappointment.

The show's producers addressed Benny's off-screen departure by explaining that his absence was due to a whirlwind romance during a European vacation, leading to his marriage to an Italian woman and subsequent move overseas. This creative decision allowed the character to exit the show while providing a resolution for the audience.

Benny's life was not in danger, despite collapsing in Season 4

In Season 4, Episode 15 of the CBS drama series "Bull", Benny (played by Freddy Rodriguez) collapses in court. This occurs as a result of his appendix bursting, which the doctor states "would've been better to catch early". However, despite the seriousness of his condition, Benny's life is not in danger. This is assured by a flash-forward in the Season 4 premiere to 27 years in the future, where Benny is still alive and well.

The flash-forward serves two purposes: it assures fans that Benny and Jason (Michael Weatherly) will move past their conflict and it reveals that their friendship remains strong, as they spend New Year's Eve together as a family. Additionally, it eliminates any suspense or worry that viewers might have felt about Benny's collapse, as we know he ultimately survives and recovers.

Benny's collapse does, however, put his position with the TAC team in jeopardy. It is revealed that he needs to be monitored and could be battling potential infections for weeks. This creates uncertainty about his ability to continue working on cases with the team. Despite this, Benny eventually returns to the team, and his collapse does not have any long-term impact on his health or involvement in the series.

While Benny's life is not in danger after his collapse, his future with the TAC team is left uncertain. This event adds to the growing list of instances where it seems like Benny might leave the team. However, despite these hints and his brief departure after a fight with Jason, Benny remains a part of the team for several more seasons.

Benny's off-screen departure was explained by his marriage to an Italian woman

Fans of the CBS show Bull were shocked when they tuned into the Season 6 premiere in October 2021 to find that the character Benny Colón (Freddy Rodriguez) was missing from the storyline. The reason for his absence was quickly explained on the show: Benny was said to be happily married and living in Rome with his Italian wife.

In the time between the Season 5 finale and the Season 6 premiere, the writers had apparently sped up a relationship that Benny's character had with an Italian woman. The two got married, and Benny moved to Rome, but this storyline was not followed in the show. Instead, the off-screen departure was simply explained by his marriage to an Italian woman.

While it is not uncommon for writers to use a character's absence as a plot device to worry fans, only to bring them back later, this did not seem to be the case with Benny. In May 2021, it was announced that Freddy Rodriguez was officially leaving the show due to a workplace investigation. CBS declined to comment on the circumstances surrounding Rodriguez's departure but confirmed that he would no longer be on the show. Given this context, it seems unlikely that Benny will be returning to the series.

Freddy Rodriguez's departure was a surprise to fans

Freddy Rodriguez's departure from the CBS series "Bull" came as a surprise to fans, who had been speculating about the future of his character, Benny Colón, for some time.

Benny had been a mainstay of the show since its pilot episode, appearing in over 100 episodes across five seasons. However, his future was thrown into doubt on several occasions. In Season 3, he learned about his sister's divorce, and in Season 4, he collapsed, leading fans to worry that he might be dying.

In Season 5, Benny was asked to run for district attorney, prompting further speculation that he might be leaving the show. In the finale, he did indeed resign from the TAC team, but then returned. This seemed to confirm that he would be staying on the show, especially as Rodriguez himself announced on Instagram that the show would be returning for Season 6.

However, less than a week after the finale aired, it was announced that Rodriguez would not be returning for Season 6, following a workplace investigation. The news came as a shock to fans, who took to Twitter to express their disappointment and say that they would no longer be watching the show.

The investigation was carried out by CBS Studios after several writers quit the show, citing a toxic and disrespectful work environment created by showrunner Glenn Gordon Caron, who was also dismissed as a result. While CBS did not reveal the reasons for Rodriguez's departure, reports indicate that his exit was connected to the investigation.

The show will address Benny's absence in Season 6

The CBS drama series "Bull" has confirmed that actor Freddy Rodriguez, who played Benjamin "Benny" Colon, will not be returning for its sixth season. The news comes after an internal investigation by CBS into the workplace environment on the show.

Showrunners Kathryn Price and Nichole Millard have revealed that Benny's absence will be addressed in the new season. "When we begin our new season, Bull and the TAC team are raising a glass to celebrate Benny's newfound love," they said. "After a whirlwind romance during a European vacation, he married an Italian woman and moved overseas."

This explanation for Benny's departure seems to align with the character's story arc in previous seasons. In Season 5, Benny was asked to run for district attorney, which prompted speculation that he would leave the TAC team. Although he initially resigned, he returned to the team in the season finale. However, his brief departure could have been a test run for his eventual exit from the show.

Benny's departure also follows the exit of showrunner Glenn Gordon Caron, who was dismissed following the workplace investigation. Caron had served as showrunner since Season 2 and was involved in a previous controversy on the show. In 2018, actress Eliza Dushku received a $9.5 million settlement after alleging that she faced sexual harassment from co-star Michael Weatherly and that her character was written off the show as a result. Caron was involved in the decision to write off Dushku's character.

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