“I Did Not Have Spin-Off on My Bingo Card”: Jay Harrington Breaks Silence on S.W.A.T. ‘Exiles’

The comment comes from actor Jay Harrington, who played David “Deacon” Kay in S.W.A.T., after the surprise announcement of the franchise spin-off S.W.A.T.: Exiles. His reaction quickly gained attention because it reflects how unexpected the decision was—even for the main cast.

What Harrington actually said

In interviews, Harrington made it clear that he had no idea a spin-off was being developed while filming the final season. He summed up his shock with the now-viral phrase:

“I did not have a spin-off on my bingo card.”

He explained that the announcement came suddenly, and even his representatives were unaware of the plan until very close to the public reveal.

How he found out

According to Harrington, he learned about the spin-off through his longtime co-star Shemar Moore, who plays Hondo. Moore personally reached out to inform the cast before the official announcement went public.

Harrington appreciated the heads-up, but still admitted the rollout felt abrupt and emotionally complicated for the team who had just finished eight seasons together.

His honest reaction: not bitterness, but surprise

Harrington’s full comments make one thing clear—he’s not attacking the spin-off itself. Instead, he reflects a mix of:

• Surprise at the sudden direction change
• Disappointment about how the announcement excluded most of the original cast
• Acceptance that Hollywood decisions are business-driven

He emphasized that no actor is “owed” a continuation just because they worked on a long-running show.

What S.W.A.T.: Exiles is doing differently

The spin-off shifts focus to Hondo leading a new, younger SWAT unit, rather than continuing the original 20-Squad lineup. That structural change explains why many original cast members—including Harrington—were not automatically included.

However, reports suggest some original actors may still appear in guest roles or early episodes depending on production decisions.

Why fans reacted strongly

The emotional reaction from both fans and cast comes from three things:

• The original series ended after multiple cancellations and revivals
• The spin-off was announced very quickly after the finale
• Most of the original team was not initially included

This made many feel like the original era ended abruptly rather than naturally.

The bigger picture

Harrington’s “bingo card” comment is less about drama and more about how unpredictable TV franchises have become. Even long-running ensemble shows can shift into new formats centered on a single character.

In this case, Hondo remains the anchor, while the rest of the world is being rebuilt around him.

Bottom line

Jay Harrington’s reaction captures the mood perfectly: even the cast didn’t see the spin-off coming. But despite the surprise, there’s no hostility—just a recognition that the S.W.A.T. universe is entering a new phase where not everyone from the original team will automatically carry over.