PBS fires Fred Willard on lewd act claim

Comedian Fred Willard was dropped as narrator of the new PBS series "Market Warriors" after being arrested on suspicion of committing a lewd act Wednesday night in Los Angeles.

"Given the unfortunate news reported today, effective immediately, Fred Willard no longer will be involved with the 'Market Warriors' series," Jeanne Hopkins, spokeswoman for the Boston TV station WGBH, which produces the show, said in a statement.

Willard had provided humorous commentary on the series, in which four antiques experts compete to buy and resell items at the most profit.

She said Mark L. Walberg, host of the PBS series "Antiques Roadshow," would re-dub the narration on shows already produced. The show premiered Monday.

ABC plans to continue broadcasting its series "Trust Us With Your Life," which is hosted by Willard and has four shows that have not yet aired, The Associated Press reported.

Sgt. Chuck Slater of the Los Angeles Police Department told The Los Angeles Times that Willard, who is in his 70s, was "engaged in a lewd act" at the adult-oriented Tiki Theater on Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood. He was arrested by vice officers who were part of a prostitution-enforcement detail.

Willard's publicist had no comment. His attorney, Paul Takakjian, said in a statement, "With all due respect to the individual officer, our belief is that Fred did nothing in any violation of any law," adding, "We will be working vigorously to clear his name in this matter."

Willard, who lives with his wife, Mary, in nearby Encino, has had a five-decade career that includes dozens of TV appearances and the films "This Is Spinal Tap," "A Mighty Wind" and other Christopher Guest satires, as well as "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" and Pixar's "WALL-E."