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"Grey's Anatomy" sends a lesbian packing
Another network TV queer character bites the dust: Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello reports that Brooke Smith, who's been playing newly-lesbian Dr. Erica Hahn, has been abruptly cut from the roster at Grey's Anatomy. Smith, also known for her work in such films as Silence of the Lambs and Vanya on 42nd St., told Ausiello that her firing was sudden and surprising: "I found out in mid-September soon after shooting the monologue that aired last week where Erica has the revelation that she's gay. They even came down and told me it was a great scene — one of the best they ever shot on the show. "So I was really, really shocked. I was floored when they told me [I was being let go]. It was the last thing I expected. In fact, when they told me I asked, "When is this happening?" And they said, "The [next episode] is your last," which is the one that airs this Thursday. So it was very sudden." Smith went on to tell Ausiello that the character of Erica wasn't even written off the show — she gets into a car at the end of the episode, and that's it. While Smith feels that ABC was nervous about the show's lesbian content, Grey's creator Shonda Rhimes sent Ausiello a statement saying that the show remains committed to Sara Ramirez's bisexual-lesbian-it-depends character, Dr. Callie Torres, and that Smith was let go so that the show could find another actress who could create more "magic and chemistry" with Ramirez. Grey's Anatomy is no stranger to queer content, from the GLAAD Award–winning episode about bartender Joe and his boyfriend to the scorching man-on-man kiss featured in the episode about the gay Iraq vet. Granted, Rhimes was seen as shilly-shallying over the whole Isaiah Washington "faggot" controversy, but she did finally comandeer and settle that situation. So we'll believe you when you say you're looking for another actress to create some sizzle with your remaining lesbian character, Ms. Rhimes. But now we're waiting. (For more details, check out our sister site's coverage of Smith's firing.) Submitted by on Tue, 2008-11-04 15:23. |
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EW article re: the firing of Brooke Smith
That's disappointing, I
That's disappointing, I really like Dr. Hahn, and I like her chemistry with Callie.
I do sort of rankle at Rhimes calling Callie a "lesbian." It's clear she's bisexual. She gets pleasure from and seeks out sexual encounters with both genders, not just women.
That said, Grey's did just hire Melissa George as an allegedly bi character who shares a past with Meredith, so maybe she's Callie's new love interest.
It's a shame we lost Brooke in the meantime. She was a truly interesting character with unexplored depth.
i hate abc
when I first read this news I was so disappointed, and so angry when Shonda started talking about why they "fired" Brooke, cause apparently she and Callie doesn't have good chemistry. Yeah, and who's fault is that? The writers. They have completley messed up this storyline. I remember in the end of last season when they first started hinting at the two of them as a couple, I really saw something between them. But in this new season everything is different, and each week things have just gotten worse (Callie sleeping with Sloane, so that he could "teach" her stuff - so stupid!). So this is absolutley not Brooke or Sarahs fault, they were a good couple but the writers wrote them bad, like they didn't want us to like them.
And also, there was suppose to be a female bisexual character coming to Grey's soon, but it sounds like they have made her straight too. Why did they even start this storyline if they didn't know where to take it? They hardly gave it a chance to grow or develop! I hate ABC. And Grey's Anatomy is like on of my favorite shows, but now I don't know anymore.
I really don't know what to say about the way she leaves the show, with not even a real goodbye or anything. They're just gonna drop it like that? Would it have been too much trouble för ABC to shoot a real scene with her, something that explains why Hahn's leaving?
WTF?
They pulled the plug on a storyline just when it was starting to get interesting?
Brooke seems like a bright woman-hope she at least lands another great part soon.
And I'm also kinda steamed that Sara's leaving too.
Shonda says herself that
Shonda says herself that there is no intention to bring in a lesbian for Callie any time soon and in the last episode that dealt explcitly with their orientations Dr. Hahn came out as gay and Dr. Torres seemingly identifies as bisexual. Even if the chemistry wasn't necessarily there between them the scenes that Brooke Smith has logged over the past six episodes have been strong - really strong - as she was told, some of the strongest she'd ever filmed for the show. Crappy chemistry is one thing but you can always move apart a couple that's not working in a miriad of ways. Or at least if it WAS about chemistry at least write the character out rather than blatantly stop filming her saying "We can't write for you anymore"
With the de-gaying of Melissa George's character to "minimalize the blow" and "allow Callie proper time to mourn the departure of Hahn" I highly doubt they're looking for another lesbian character. And now it appears Sara Ramirez is leaving too? I have serious doubts that this had nothing to do with homophobia.
And as for "no magic" check out the following clip of Erica Hahn coming out in one of the most honest and realistic portrayals of coming out when you didn't always know.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB3LK_Qh_dU
Lack of chemistry is no excuse
Lack of chemistry is one thing. (I actually agree with that) But Hahn wasn't just some one bit lesbian just brought on for Callie. She was a character in her own right and around long before they decided to have her turn gay.
If Callie and Erica don't spark, fine, have the split up because Callie isn't as into Erica as the other way around and let Erica ride into the sunset with the new "supposed to be bi" character. Instead she gets fired the episode AFTER Erica announces that she is truly a lesbian AND Callie says that Erica is the one she wants to be with? I really didn't know that that was still possible in 2008 that they would treat an actress like that.
My guess is that Callie and Erica got unfairly blamed for the huge rating dip that Grey's has been taking this season. Never mind that almost all non-procedural shows are also down between 1 and 2 million viewers. No, the networks take that as proof that viewers don't want to see lesbian romance and the poor actress ends up as the scapegoat.
I don't buy for a second that they intend to stay committed to the bisexual side of Callie. They'll put her with Mark (it's obviously been building for a while) and her "lesbian adventure" will be quickly forgotten. I agree with afterellen here, it will just be a second "OC" in that regard.
BTW: Thank you for covering this.
I've given up on network tv
I Cannot Believe this
Stupid........
Let ABC know you think they are wimps!!!!
If you agree that it is disgraceful that network TV in 2008 is so closeted and prejudiced---Leave your opinion for ABC here:
http://abc.go.com/site/contactus.html?lid=ABCCOMGlobalFooter&lpos=CONTACT
---Mari SanGiovanni
Author of: "Greetings From Jamaica, Wish You Were Queer..."
www.greetingsfromjamaica.com
Arrrgh! So upset with ABC...
totally unnecessary
bloody stupid!!!
I am *so* annoyed by this news! I spent the whole of the last season going "oooh look they're getting closer!!!!" and now suddenly its over?! They haven't started showing the new season in the Uk, so I'll have to wait, but ugh!! Stupid move.
I'm surprised that T.R Knight hasn't said anything, I read on afterellen that Patrick Dempsey was on the ellen show and he seemed very unimpressed by the whole thing!
James
xx