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News reports and sources cite conflicting reasons why Israeli-born Rod Lurie was booted or departed as show-runner of the successful new ABC drama, "Commander in Chief," about the first female president of the United States. Lurie, the show's creator, was replaced by TV veteran Steven Bochco ("NYPD Blue," "L.A. Law") last week -- a highly unusual move on a show that is doing so well in the ratings.
Back when Rod Lurie was the meanest film critic in L.A., he used to gush about actress Joan Allen on his KABC radio show. The guy who once called Danny DeVito a "testicle with legs" lauded Allen as "the greatest working actor in the world." "I'd manage to slip that in every other week," admits the Israeli-born critic-turned-director, whose debut film, "Deterrence," revolved around a Jewish U.S. president in crisis. Allen had heard all about the fawning critic, so she was receptive when he offered to write a screenplay for her in 1998.