Yesterday we reported that Brooke Smith, the actress who plays Dr. Erica Hahn, was let go (yes, actually fired, kids) from the cast of Grey’s Anatomy. Brooke was dismissed just as the burgeoning relationship between doctors Erica Hahn and Callie Torres was beginning to flourish. Erica and Callie’s love thang is the first and only gay relationship on the show. Apparently the higher-ups (possibly including Rhimes herself), didn’t like the direction their courtship was taking.
Jezebel’s Dodai echoes our sentiments asking: “doesn't it seem like Grey's Anatomy missed out on an opportunity to make some truly groundbreaking television?”
Why yes, Dodai, yes it does. Even more than missing an opportunity to break barriers, this sudden change in Grey’s lineup seems to speak to an overarching shift . . .
TV Guide suggests that Erica’s abrupt departure is part of a larger trend in the ABC universe:
If one looks at a pattern of recent story "twists" across ABC: Ugly Betty last season introduced with much fanfare Rebecca Romijn as a post-op transgender; now she's gone. Right out of the gate, Dirty Sexy Money lathered things up by pairing aspiring politician Patrick with a great transgender love; last week, she walked out of his life. So Grey's writing out a full-fledged lesbian such as Erica — versus the simply lez-curious Callie — would seem to fit this pattern. Meanwhile, gay males such as Brothers & Sisters' Kevin appear to go unpestered... at least for now.
Is heteronormativity rearing its ugly ugly head in ABC land? In the case of Grey's Anatomy, the answer from TV critics and bloggers is a resounding yes. Entertainment Weekly's Michael Slezak says:
Brooke Smith's Grey's Anatomy ouster is not right and not okay… Was it the lesbianism they objected to, or the fact that Dr. Hahn didn't bake muffins or decorate lockers or act generally flighty-flaky-cutesy or hook up with hot male colleagues to help her sort out her sexual orientation? Yeah, you could say I'm outraged.
Although outrage may seem a little strong, Dr. Hahn was one of the secondary characters keeping the Grey's Anatomy ship afloat. In addition to being ground-breaking, the storyline between Callie and Erica was interesting and engaging (moreso than most of the hetero-storylines the show has to offer this season). So, in addition to being unfair and arguably bigoted, Dr. Hahn's write-off was flat-out silly, and, we'll say it, outrageous.
Previously:
Dr. Erica Hahn Gets Booted From "Grey's Anatomy"