Which Television Lead Might Be Fired Before His Program's Fall Premiere?

Early this afternoon, EW's Michael Ausiello posted a blind item about an actor whose diva-like behavior might cost him the lead of his fall drama on one of the big five networks. Help Movieline identify the primary suspects after the jump.

First, the star's demanding behavior:

Case in point: The star in question recently called an emergency meeting with the show's writers -- via speakerphone -- to pitch the stories he wants the series to tell. "Few of them fit with the show that anybody else is interested in doing," my on-set spy tattles. "Most of them focus on his character's sex life."

As the "discussion" went on (and on and on), "writers started getting up and leaving the room," my mole adds. "There were long periods when only one person was present, and only so there'd be a voice if said troublesome actor asked for a response. Which he didn't. He just talked and talked and talked."

A big clue for you: The legend-in-his-own-mind has a long history of being high-maintenance--so long a history, in fact, that it's more than a little shocking that he continues to get hired. Oh, and another clue: Johnny Difficult's leading lady has been, I'm told, his polar opposite, a dream to work with.

Now, for the suspects. Feel free to add your own secondhand nightmare stories or suggestions in the comments below.

· Michael Chiklis (No Ordinary Family)

Why It Might Be Him: This Emmy winner jumps to network television this fall on ABC's sci-fi drama about a family who gains superpowers after crash-landing in the Amazon River. Chiklis stars opposite Julie Benz (Dexter), who plays his character's wife, and this is kind of a stretch, but The Shield star just finished production on The Legend of Secret Pass. Could that be a clue to Ausiello's "legend-in-his-own-mind?"

Why it Might Not: Chiklis seems like an enthusiastic cast member from his Twitter feed, where he posts appreciative messages about his costars ("Romany Malco is my secret weapon!") and updates fans on the show's production ("Jumping off a bridge today...You?")

· Jon Voight (Lonestar)

Why It Might Be Him: He is appearing in a Big Five drama premiering this fall on Fox. The Western-set series centers on a Texas con man (James Walk) leading two very different lives. Jon Voight, Johnny Difficult?

Why it Might Not: The Academy Award winner is a legend in his own right but isn't actually the lead of this series. Also, I can't think of any way that his character would find his way into the bedroom of the show's female lead, Adrianne Palicki... who plays his character's daughter. Eek.

· Rob Morrow (The Whole Truth)

Why It Might Be Him: The actor was rumored to be a problem on the set of his first big series, Northern Exposure, and now stars in Jerry Bruckheimer's drama this fall opposite Maura Tierney (who replaced the show's original female lead, Joely Richardson, after she dropped out to spend more time with her family).

Why it Might Not: Despite his reputation, Morrow has paved a consistent TV career for himself with leading roles on the series Street Time and Numb3rs.

· Jimmy Smits (Outlaws)

Why It Might Be Him: The actor responsible for bringing Bobby Simone to life returns to network television for NBC's latest legal drama, where Smits stars as a Supreme Court Justice who quits his job to start his own law firm. Perhaps Smits is frustrated that his big comeback has been exiled to Friday nights, and he's taking it out on the writers.

Why it Might Not: It is unlikely that NBC would actually consider dropping Smits, who was one of the most heavily-courted actors this past pilot season. Also, Outlaws has no female lead.

Other less likely suspects: Jerry O'Connell and Jim Belushi (The Defenders), Tom Selleck (Blue Bloods), Alex O'Loughlin (Hawaii Five-O) and Michael Imperioli (Detroit 1-8-7).

· Blind Item: Which Legendary Diva is on the Verge of Getting Sacked [Ausiello Files]