Rege Jean Page, the sex symbol phenom who made “Bridgerton” fans swoon, is leaving the show. He’s not returning for Season 2. Eight episodes and he’s outta there.

Wow. The announcement came on Instagram. Page hosted “Saturday Night Live” and picked up a couple of roles, and probably thinks he’s David Caruso. This should be interesting. ShondaLand, the producer, must be furious.

Page was unknown before “Bridgerton” but gained overnight fame like crazy with the show. But this is what happens when newcomers get overwhelmed.

Page just worked four days on  “The Gray Man” in Long Beach, California, a movie quickly becoming known for its ballooning budget over $220 million.

The Instagram post from the show’s fictional Lady Whistledown gossip columnist reads:

“Dear Readers, while all eyes turn to Lord Anthony Bridgerton’s quest to find a Viscountess, we bid adieu to Regé-Jean Page, who so triumphantly played the Duke of Hastings,” the message began.

“We’ll miss Simon’s presence onscreen, but he will always be a part of the Bridgerton family,” it continued. “Daphne will remain a devoted wife and sister, helping her brother navigate the upcoming social season and what it has to offer – more intrigue and romance than my readers may be able to bear.”

 

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UPDATED: Final numbers were a little higher, 4.5 million. Still the lowest ever, and a disaster.

FRIDAY MORNING: “Grey’s Anatomy” went from critical to near flatline last night in the ratings.

The 17 season drama dropped to just over 4 million viewers, losing 800,000 fans from last week. It’s their lowest rating ever, and is a serious catastrophe.

The episode brought back two characters to join Meredith playing Beach Blanket Bingo. Mark Sloan and Lexi Grey got out their pails and shovels.

But it wasn’t enough to combat the return of Elliot Stabler on “Law and Order SVU,” where 7.6 million people came to see his big reunion.

What a mess “Grey’s” is in. Are they going off the air? Maybe, at this rate. They don’t seem invested in keeping it on, although I will say the constant non-interviews with showrunner Krista Vernoff have been fascinating. There isn’t a day that goes by without this EP blabbing away about nothing in all the Hollywood trades. She seems to be feathering her nest for a non “Grey’s” future.

Next week, below 4 million? Seems so. And then the show will be deader than all those characters on the beach.

The “Law & Order SVU” reunion cross over CRUSHED everything last night. The Stabler-Benson pairing, the new “Organized Crime” took out “Grey’s Anatomy” and everything on TV.

A whopping 7.5 million — twice the “SVU” regular audience– tuned in for the two hour special.

“Grey’s” did around 4.0 million as Meredith finally got off the beach and started breathing on her own. Ellen Pompeo may have signed a new contract!

“Grey’s” almost fell below 4 million, hitting an all time low and about to sink into a situation that suggests they are wrapping up. It’s been a disaster of a season.

Meanwhile “SVU” in the first hour did 7.6 million, followed by “OG” with 7.55. NBC and Dick Wolf got their big bang. They spent some money on the second hour, too, with Chazz Palminteri as the bad guy, and Dylan McDermott as his son. Meloni is going to have a Renaissance now, and “SVU” could make it to season 25. Nicely done!

Also for the first time in a few years, New York has two “L&O” shows shooting in the city. It’s great for actors, production, everyone. (As long as they don’t shoot in my neighborhood!)

In all these years of mob films and TV shows, mobsters named in dramatic pieces and so on, there has never been one named Sinatra.*

Until tonight.

“Law & Order Organized Crime” featured a mob family named Sinatra. Father Manfredi, played by Chazz Palminteri, was killed off at the end of the first episode. His son, Richard, played by Dylan McDermott, takes the name Wheatley. He will be a regular character. But the name Sinatra remains.

Until tonight, the only Sinatras were the family of Frank, the most famous popular singer of all time. During Frank’s lifetime he battled the idea that he was mobbed up or had mob associates. Time was a factor in getting rid of that notion, right or wrong, leaving just Frank’s mellifluous voice and his occasional movie roles as his legacy.

But now it seems we’re going to get a weekly dose of the Sinatra crime family on “Organized Crime,” a show very unlike other “Law & Order” installments. So far, “Organized Crime” seems like it will be about Elliot Stabler seeking justice for the killing of his wife, Kathy. There’s very little law, or order. Or ensemble opportunities, unless the focus changes. This is Elliot Stabler’s show.

Getting rid of Kathy was essential. Elliot needed something to avenge, hence her murder. Also, the sexual chemistry between Chris Meloni and Marisa Hargitay is still there. Benson and Stabler are headed to something, probably during May sweeps. In the morning we’ll see how the ratings were. My guess is they were good.

As for Sinatra, there are other Sinatras out there in the world. But the name has the same resonance as Ketchup or Kleenex. This was an odd choice for the Dick Wolf crowd. We’ll see if Nancy or Tina, Frank’s daughters, have anything to say about it.

I don’t know how much fans already know about tonight’s Stabler-Benson reunion on “Law & Order SVU.”

But I did ask an insider with the show what they could tell me that wouldn’t be categorized as a spoiler.

For what it’s worth, here’s what I got:

Director Juan Campanella directed tonight’s show. He goes back to Season 1 in 2000 with Mariska Hargitay and Chris Meloni in the the first season, so they had a reunion, too. Campanella left the show in 2010 and didn’t return until this past fall.

The first time you’ll see Elliot Stabler in “SVU” tonight is a bar scene with Fin, aka Ice T.