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RSSSeriously, you have got to be kidding me . . .
It's not that I'm jaded. But when you follow the TV industry for as long as I have, it takes a lot to shock me.
And I have to say I was positively flabbergasted when news broke yesterday that Brooke Smith and her character Dr. Erica Hahn were being written out of Grey's Anatomy.
Her last episode is tomorrow night (Thursday, ABC, 9 p.m.). I honestly can't believe she's being let go from the show. While I was appalled by the way the show was handling the burgeoning romance between Callie and Erica --- I never quite got over Callie going to McSteamy for advice --- I liked the character of Erica. I liked her tension with Cristina. I liked Bailey telling her off last week. And I liked seeing the dichotomy between her professional and personal life. The show is claiming that Erica is being written off is because the romance with Callie wasn't working. Here's the direct quote -- "We did not find that the magic and chemistry with Brooke's character would sustain in the long run."
So just to review: everyone else on the show can bed hop and find a new romantic partner in every on-call room, but Erica can't? It makes no sense and it's difficult not to view it as homophobic since her last episode comes a week after Erica declared "I am so gay." And that it was Brooke Smith -- not the network or the show -- that broke the news.
The way they wrote the Callie/Erica romance only served to make Callie (Sara Ramirez) a lot less likable. It's going to take the show awhile to redeem her in my eyes. But that isn't the fault of the actresses. That's the fault of writing that seriously let them down and clearly didn't know how to handle a same sex romance.
You know I have my issues with Grey's Anatomy but this move has stunned and saddened me. What do you think of Erica being written off the show? Talk about it below.
Life on Mars
You can click here to listen to the podcast I did with Andre Nemec, the executive producer of Life on Mars. After the podcast was over I was able to ask Nemec your No.1 question: Was the picture Sam (Jason O'Mara) found in the house of a young black girl a picture of Maya, his girlfriend and partner in 2008? Nemec gave a cryptic response. He said sometimes viewers' theories are totally on point and sometimes the theories are a big swing and a miss. Alas, he wouldn't tell me which one this theory was.
Various TV Thoughts
I just finished watching 24: Redemption (which airs Sunday, November 23) and I'm totally stressed out. That's the 24 I know and love! The movie was excellent and really sets the stage for an exciting season seven. I can't wait to tell you more about it when we are closer to air date. But I wanted to get the early word out that 24 appears to be back. baby.
I've watched the next three episodes of Ghost Whisperer. And while I don't want to ruin any plot reveals I will say that the rumors that have been circulating about the show are true, sort of. The next three episodes take the show in a very bizarre direction, one that requires more willing suspension of disbelief than usual. I'm not so sure this plot twist is sustainable or even if it is sustainable if it is advisable. I'll say more once you've all had the chance to see what I'm talking about.
Where Have I Seen Them Before?
Todd Grinnell was the lawyer opposing Eli in the lead paint case on Eli Stone. He was Jason on Four Kings and we saw him last season on Samantha Who? Remember he's the one who got a restraining order against Sam.
Emily Rose is the new intern on ER -- she was the one who came to work dressed like a mermaid. Rose was the trouble-making Lena on Brothers & Sisters and Trish on Jericho.
Andrea Bendewald was the mother of the missing girl on Without a Trace. She was Maddy on Suddenly Susan. Edward Kerr was the father. He was Rick on What I Like About You.
Jayne Brook had a busy week. She reprised her role as Scotty's mother on Brothers & Sisters and then played Pete's old flame on Private Practice. Among her many roles, she was also Paul's daughter Rachel on Boston Legal.
Jana recognized that the Life on Mars/October Road connection continues. Odette Yustman, Aubrey on October Road, was the doomed Adrienne on Life on Mars.
Diane was thrilled to see Ralph Macchio, the Karate Kid himself, as the councilman who came into Hilda's beauty salon on Ugly Betty. He'll be back next week. If you're wondering why Betty's new neighbor Jesse looks so familiar it's because Val Emmich was both Adam, the love interest for Lucy Liu's character on Cashmere Mafia and Jamie the young guy Liz went on a date with on 30 Rock. I'm totally enjoying him as Betty's new and thus far drama free love interest. Are you?
Alice Greczyn is Charlie's new love interest Mandy on Privileged. She was Frankie on Windfall, a show that many of you still tease me for ever watching. John Allen Nelson is Megan's father. He was Senator Collins on Vanished and Walt Cummings during the fifth season of 24.
Kelly Hu is Frank's new love interest on Army Wives. She was Kelly on the short-lived sitcom In Case of Emergency. Ivan Sergei was Betty's nephew. He was Peter on Crossing Jordan and Jill on Jack & Jill. Like many of you, I found the season finale of Army Wives a bit of a let down. First of all, I can't believe I believed the hype that the show would have a character die. And second of all, who didn't see Emilyn running off with her boyfriend?
Eric Christian Olsen and Will McCormack are Sarah's new bosses on Brothers & Sisters. McCormack was Leo on Dirt and we just saw him on CSI as the blogger talking about art. Olsen was Sully on The Loop and Cameron in Get Real.
James Tupper, Jack on Men in Trees, was Owen on Samantha Who? Stephen Rannazzisi was Seth. I remember him as Skobo on Big Day. We also saw him on many episodes of Punk'd.
Jen was thrilled to see Eric Braeden, Victor on The Young and the Restless, as Robin's father on How I Met Your Mother. Heather also correctly remembered that Braeden played John Jacob Astor on Titanic.
All this week's bonus points go to Kim who recognized a grown up Scotty Leavenworth, Ruthie's boyfriend Peter on 7th Heaven, was Kirby on Desperate Housewives.
That's all for today. Don't forget to watch 30 Rock tomorrow night. I'm back on Friday with quotes of the week and more? Seen a familiar face? Want to nominate a quote of the week? Write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com.
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If they were going to write off one of the characters on Grey's, I would have rather seen Callie go than Erica. Although there's lots of bedhopping around Seattle Grace, Callie is the only one who bedhopped her way into a marriage. I never liked how that relationship tarnished George's character. Then, her relationship with McSteamy was more explicity sexual than any other coupling on the show. Finally, her relationship with Erica consisted entirely of her freaking out. Erica was a much more believable character--it makes sense that top surgeons would be somewhat arrogant and lacking in the people skills department. If anything Hahn was a much needed dose of reality to the show. Callie should be the one to go, not Erica Hahn.
Erica Hahn had absolutely no chemistry with anybody at Seattle Grace; Callie has chemistry with everybody except Hahn. I am disappointed in the way the whole storyline was handled but not sorry to see Hahn go.
I completely agree. I love Hahn's character, it's much more believable. but Callie has been such a disappointment this season that I would have rather seen her go instead. This season has finally seen the show get back on track after having lost its way last year, but the whole gay romance was mishandled right from the start. It could have been interesting, instead it's not, costing a perfectly fine actress & character her job. Maybe they should send her down to LA to work with Addison on Private Practice? It's one of the few ways they could redeem that mistake too. :-)
I for one will not miss Erica Hahn. I am one of those that actually thought she & callie had NO chemistry at all, even as friends let alone lovers.
I admit i was a windfall fan too...yipes!
And I thought I recognized that councilman on UB, but had NO idea it was the Karate Kid!
They should have written off Grey. She (and her stupid voice overs) make that show nearly unwatchable.
I'm not at all a fan of Gray's, but the idea that a character is being written off of the show simply because of their inability or lack of comfort with regards to same sex relationships is a disturbing one. It's past time to feature some realistic ****sexual relationships on network television instead of only stereotypical ones. Six Feet Under is still the best television has had to offer.
On a completely different note may I just say, I love Life On Mars!
I also have to agree that Callie and Erica had no chemistry. I always liked the chemistry between Callie and Mark and was disappointed that was never explored more.
I am shocked at the way ABC has handled this event. It feels like something so much more is going on than anyone is letting on--I mean, storylines change all the time on all sorts of shows, so why couldn't this storyline simply change with both actresses continuing in their roles. And gay characters have existed on other dramatic shows--Kerry Weaver on ER comes to mind--albeit not quite as high-profile as this. And even when audiences struggle with characters--for example, Ana Lucia on Lost--or when actors get in trouble behind the scenes--for example, Michelle Rodriguez on Lost--studios/networks/producers can often find a way to integrate a departure into a storyline. To dismiss an actor of Brooke Smith's caliber with just one week's notice and--if reports are true--without tying up the storyline at all ... well, I just don't understand it. And--again, if reports are true--it sounds like Shonda Rhimes was *not* the driver of the decision or even on board with it. I, like Amy, am flabbergasted, and I want an explanation. Not that I'm going to get one.
Apparently over-the-top liberal ABC couldn't handle a gay romance? Not that I even wanted to watch the two women together, mind you. But isn't it a little ironic if it's ABC doing the plug-pulling? Could be there's more to the story that we'll never even know.
I'm not feeling the music guy as Betty's love interest. Frankly he's not that cute! (to me anyway). Bring back Gio-I thought he was the perfect match for Betty.