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FeedGrey’s Anatomy’s Radical Lesbian-ectomy
Fans of Grey’s Anatomy will have to bid Sapphic elevator smooches and awkward motherland-south-of-the-border discussions adieu following a shocking and unexpected move by ABC execs to axe actor Brooke Smith from the popular show’s cast. Smith, aka Dr. Erica Hahn, along with Dr. Callie Torres (played by Sara Ramirez) made up the lezzie phenomenon known as “Callica.”
The two began a subtext-heavy friendship in season four, which culminated in the season finale, with Torres giving the boot to her occasional bed companion, Dr. Mark Sloan, in favor of a parking lot smooch-fest with Hahn. This move was met with a resounding cheer from lesbian and bisexual viewers, and spawned numerous YouTube tribute videos and fan fiction sites aplenty.
Season five picked up with the two tentatively beginning their relationship. They went on a date, processed at length—and then finally got their groove on. With a Sapphic session so earth-shattering it led to Hahn’s joyful realization that she was “So gay—so, so, so gay—extremely gay.”
So, despite some minor, but alarming, phallic backpedaling on Torres’ part, the pair had promise. That was, until suddenly and without warning it was over, with Hahn making her final exit following an abrupt break-up with Torres on the November 6th episode, “Rise Up.”
Officially, Smith was given her walking papers due to a lack of “chemistry” between the actors. "Unfortunately, we did not find that the magic and chemistry with [Smith’s] character would sustain in the long run,” said producer and show creator Shonda Rhimes.
However, the marked change in new cast member Melissa George’s character from sexually open minded to, well, not so open minded, leaves fans to speculate that Smith’s unceremonious exit had less to do with on screen sizzle-factor than a return to a more traditional couples-only attitude.
Out producer Nikki Weiss who (along with Trish Doolan) consulted when the lesbian storyline was introduced, had this to say of the network executive’s decision: “It’s disappointing but I have high hopes that ABC will continue developing Callie’s journey as a lesbian woman,” adding “I am a lesbian woman in the entertainment industry, so obviously I am fighting the cause for all of us…but unfortunately there is only so much I can do.”
So, for those of you who are counting, we are now down to a sad, four bisexual and three reoccurring lesbian (four, if you count Aunt Patty from the Simpsons) characters on network television. But on the bright side, at least Dr. Hahn was able to make her exit without descending into the pervasive stereotypes for lesbian characters on network TV—she was neither pregnant nor a sociopath bisexual killer.
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Reader Comments:
Thanks for this mention! (tho' I have to point out that the lovely Sara Ramirez is pictured above, not the equally lovely Ms. Smith).
This is such a transparent move by ABC to kill this storyline *because* of the frank lesbian content. This story was on the front burner and these characters were not "window dressing" token gay faces, buddy characters or comic relief. Things just got too real for ABC and they abruptly (despite their claims that this is an "organic ending") had a gay panic that far surpassed Callie Torres' and killed it the very next episode after Erica Hahn had her lesbian revelation.
Hahn was not brought on as Torres' love interest. She was the head of Cardio. Smith has been on the show (as a guest star originally) longer that Ms. Ramirez, in fact. There was no reason to *fire* Brooke Smith, other than rid themselves of a now unequivacably, unapologetic *lesbian* character.
Many of us are protesting this firing. If you want to help, please write and/or send Leaves (in reference to Hahn's coming out monologue) to:
(**Best not to identify on the OUTside that your mail is part of this campaign. Make them open it!)
Mr. Stephen McPherson
President, ABC Primetime Entertainment
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521
Grey's Anatomy
Attn: Shonda Rhimes, Executive Producer
4151 Prospect Ave.
2nd Floor, Producer's Bldg.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
This situation totally sucks!! I for one only recetnly tunes into Grey's BECAUSE of the storyline between Callie and Erica, because otherwise the heterosexual angst between the rest of the characters was WAY too much to stomach most times!!! I even like Kate Walsh's new show better than GA, but now that not only have they ended the relationship (which had so much chemistry you could light a match a blow sh*t up), but they fired Brooke Smith which means it was more about them not having the balls to continue to back this storyline than it was about chemistry between the two actors. Well I guess there also goes my continued viewership of this show, though Goddess knows it's almost worth it just to watch Sara Ramirez anyway...but I shall discontinue in protest of the lack of courage ABC has to do the right thing in the face of whatever negative publicity they may have gotten as a result of it!!!!!
I agree that the firing was an obvious reaction to homophobic backlash. And I feel bad for the acctress who played Hahn, that she followed the script they gave her, and played her role so soulfully, and then she was effectively punished for it! I thought the monologue that likened her realization about being gay to getting glasses was so right on--exactly how I feel about being a lesbian--and not something we get to see on the small or big screen very often. Hopefully the honest but albeit brief television moment was enough to make at least some difference in viewers' understanding and acceptance.
Brooke Smith deserves an award for so passionately portraying her character as a dedicated (sometimes obsessively) cardio surgeon, a strong female role model (even though it's just TV Land) in a "still" male dominated field, and lastly (but by far the least) as portraying a "true performance" of a "rough around the edge" lesbian. As to the comment of the longevity of their "connection" and being able to work together .... such is LIFE! I have been a fan of Greys since the first episode and i'm a lesbian. The actors have always transcended their roles and made their characters believable ( even George ) and the writing is beautiful as it is relatable. Brooke made her character relatable to us passionate work- a- holics and when she shared her "personal" side (rough as it was - but true to her character as it always has been) it was the best portrayal in a long time (in my opinion, better than most of the L-Word "pageant beauties"). It is truly a sad day and I hope that the producers reconsider .... and to Brooke... you are truly talented and beautiful and you will be very successful in any "screen endeavors" you pursue.
just wanted to say that I was a big fan of Grey,s . I left csi to tune in to Grey,s but as an out lesbian i am very disappointed in this show. Y ou took great pains to handle Mr Wahington when he made remarks deemed inaproiate an now you seem to be back peddaling yourself. It really may not matter to you because i,m only one viewer but if i have to watch Mcdreamy an Mc steamy hop from woman to woman an bed to bed, why are we not allowed to see dr. hahn and dr torres see where their relationship might go. This is suppose to be giving us a slice of realistic life then ladies an gentlemen get real. Gay people are everywhere. we walk ,talk an have normal lives just like you. seeas up thursday i,ll be back to gil grissom an csi.
Can all these POSTS be forwarded to "the great President of ABC"- So that he can see our hand written feelings about this primetime show? I know that we can write to him individually as a protesting Grey's Gays- but if he saw that there were also more then the letters (hate/fan mail), he might think there was another world besides the black and white ABC. Every post I read, even the misspelled ones, I feel for. We are the people. We are the fans. We are the ratings. We all count. And Brooke Smith, who only did her job-WELL, also counts! I can't go back to watching the show revolve only around the poor china that never gets a break with the men, the bad-hair white girl that can't pull her head out, and the two horn-dog McDiseases.
SO- WAKE UP ABC! Give us something to REALLY relate to.
~J
I do not know which is worse, the popular assumption that they got rid of Hahn because she was a powerful woman as well as a lesbian and that freaked people out, or my and my mother's theory of removing Hahn in order to get a "hotter" lesbian love interest for Callie. Lets face it, sex and beauty sells and Hahn was very beautiful in my opinion, but by American mainstream television standards she was probably not sexy enough. That new intern / Grey's old friend that they introduced this week would probably fit the bill, which completely turns my stomach. I would like to see a real lesbian relationship on television instead of male fantasy fodder one of these days.
Brooke Smith's acting in the coming out monologue was amazing! *cough* Emmy! *cough* And I have to applaud Shonda Rhimes for the writing in that scene but it was Brooke that made it so, so special. I cried during that scene. We've all been there and it felt so very nice to relate to someone on TV for once.
I flipped past Grey's Anatomy when Erica was in a scene, sometime early in season 4, and I've watched the show religiously ever since. My crush began with the "She's beautiful" line. And I fell in love with her in ep. 4? this season when she was watching Callie by the elevator. Then I started worshipping her after her coming out scene. Now they've taken her away and I feel so mistreated. /K
I, too, am sorry that ABC chose to ignore a significant population in axing the lesbian relationship between Drs. Torres and Hahn. I also believe it was related to California's Prop 8. Suddenly ABC realized that if Prop 8 passed they would be "offending" a significant population that did not want to see an openly lesbian relationship portrayed on TV. Shame on ABC and Grey's Anatomy. I will not be back.
Here in germany we are much more free. I am not astonished about ABC when I remember how they acted in the past. Greetings from Berlin and do not give up the peaceful fight for equal rights