'Grey’s Anatomy': Hahn's gone

After a flurry of headlines, Brooke Smith departed “Grey’s Anatomy” last night in a twist that -- no kind of about it -- was not worthy of her formidable talents or the unapologetically steely character she played.

To recap, the Dr. Erica Hahn exit went down like this: After learning that her patient was the man who should have gotten the heart Izzie stole for true love Denny eons ago, Erica lost it -- first with the Chief, who had failed to report or fire the little organ thief, then with girlfriend Callie, who sided, inexplicably, with Izzie. The same woman who, not so long ago, carried on an affair with hubby George, an indiscretion that ultimately led to the painful demise of her marriage. But hey, bygones, right? After all, there’s a character to abruptly shove out the door.

Before Erica cruised out of the Seattle Grace parking lot one final time, though, she delivered a parting shot, telling Callie that she couldn’t “kind of” be a lesbian. Callie’s response? “Yes, I can.” How the issue of Callie’s sexuality will be dealt with now that the only known gay character on “Grey’s” is gone remains to be seen.

From perusing your comments, I know not everyone was a Callica fan. But I thought the two women, who seemed to have it together professionally but were still trying to figure it out romantically, had a zingy chemistry that was worth developing. At least when Callie wasn’t freaking out to the point of hitting up Mark Sloan for sexual pointers. (Ick factor: 10.) But it seemed like the writing was on the wall last week for “Grey’s” first significant same-sex couple. There was Callie, still sleeping with Mark. And there was Erica -- who just a few weeks before had been upset to find out that Callie had been filling Mark in on the intimate details of their relationship -- having practically nothing to say when she learned that her girl was actually having sex with him. If, as has been reported, the decision to fire Brooke Smith was, in fact, ABC’s and not executive producer Shonda Rhimes’, I’d like to think the writers were directing some of Erica’s final lines at the suits: “There’s right and there’s wrong. And this was wrong.”

Tension ran thick throughout the rest of the episode as well. Izzie got ghostly -– again -- with Denny. (I’ve said my bit about wishing the guy, dimple-cute though he may be, could RIP already. But now I’m wondering if perhaps his enduring presence is leading to something more significant like, say, an Izzie descent into madness and/or a possible Katherine Heigl departure?) Lexie showed off a previously unseen rebellious side, joining a secret society of interns who -- shades of “Flatliners” -- use each other as guinea pigs. Derek, frustrated with Cristina’s constant presence in his relationship with Meredith, guilted Mark into trying to distract her (“You slept with my wife”). But Cristina had no interest in hooking up with “Grey’s” resident stud and instead, took a step closer to new doc Hunt (Kevin McKidd). Gotta say, he's looking more and more like a single malt Scotch himself.

Now it's your turn. What did you think of Erica’s exit? What’s going on with Izzie and “it ain’t over till it’s over” Denny? And which resident should get to perform the Chief’s solo surgery?

--Shawna Malcom

(Photo courtesy ABC)

Comments

[Jan C]

I was getting ready to quit watching the show until this update.

[Melissa Silverstein]

Still so pissed off at ABC. Lame exit for Erica. Shameful

[Monique]

I use to be such a big fan of Grey's when it first came out. Second season was the best, but somehow the writers managed to completely destroy a good thing. They had a top rated show, with good characters and I thought at the time good character development. Then they got to the place of being a soapie. Everyone sleeping with someone, seeing Meredith struggle for 3 seasons. Not to mention what happened with Callie and Dr. Hahn. I officially stopped watching the show this season along with a lot of my other friends. I doubt the writing staff can resurect this show.

[Jenna]

I thought that the sudden exit of Dr. Hahn was handled well, given the unexpectedness. For devout Grey's watchers like myself, it was easy to forget that Dr. Hahn never knew about Izzie's deceit in stealing the heart from Hahn's patient. Remember, that was the day Dr. Burke got shot and Hahn had to perform the surgery on Denny, then returning to her own hospital and for the trembly Burke drama to unfold.

So, her exit had as much to do with her moral obligations as a doctor as it did with her curious relationship with Callie (who, in my mind, is the wrong character for a lesbian plot line, BTW).

It does make you wonder if there is drama to be made by her from afar (e.g. investigations from higher ups that Callie alluded to last night).

In any event, I never took to Dr. Hahn as a character. I refuse to watch Private Practice in protest, hoping for the return of Dr. Montgomery Shepherd (I miss the neonatal drama) and Dr. Burke, however impossible it may seem.

[Enrique]

This is so poorly written. It is amazing the level of writing and editing that the Los Angeles Times accepts. It is no wonder the medium itself is suffering.

[Stella Sweets]

That all of this happened on election day in a place where discrimminating against gays just became more acceptable is suspect. Are Mormom/Catholic/Evangelical dollars at stake in say, sponsorship of this network?

I'm voicing my opinion. I'll no longer watch. Pathetic.

[SH]

This whole situation smacks of a bad sweeps ratings ploy. The end of the show: "It's not over til it's over"? Is the departure of Dr. Hahn written in stone. If it is as all the gossipmongers say... why is everyone so silent? Why hasn't Brooke Smith made a puplic statement. I am a Brooke Snith fan. She shatters the stereotypes. Every one hates Erica? Well, that is just splendid acting on Brooke Smith's part. Newsflash: we are supposed to hate her. She is a the top of a very male-dominated profession. Women fight tooth and nail to shatter the glass ceiling of Cardiovascular surgery. Brooke Smith has done an outstanding job protraying a character that is real and believeable. Whether it be as a surgeon or a woman struggling with her sexuality, her acting has be top notch. She deserves a burdgeoning story-line not her walking papers. Tone down the storyline. Don't eliminate it. Even Isaish Washington was treated with more care and respect than ABC has treated Brooke Smith.

So, is this what it seems or are we missing something? Why haven't the cast spoken out about this seeming injustice. They were rightly quick to just to the defense of T.R. Knight, so where is the solidarity for Brooke Smith? I have been a fan of GA for day one. The writing is outstanding and the cast has delivered hilarious, obnoixous and heartwarming performances. Grey's is great entertainment that sucks it's viewers into the lives of it's characters. So, why are they treating this turn of events such a lack of respect? So, if it is as it seems, please speak out Brooke Smith....

[lindee]

Worst episode since the return of Bobby Ewing in Dallas. This show makes me scared of Doctors and hospitals. And I'm an OR Nurse! If they are going to keep showing the slovenly Denny, then clean him up and bring him back as a long lost twin brother. Soaps do it every day.

[Bonnie Lee]

Wow, as a very, very religious watcher of the show, I SO did not get that last night was Erica's departure. I figured it was just her being mad. I didn't know the actress got fired! I should read this blog more often I guess. In that case, that is in fact pretty weak. Erica is of incredibly strong moral character but she's also incredibly career-focused. I don't believe that she is THAT connected with her patient that leaving the hospital over something that could actually threaten her own career (reporting the situation to the authorities) makes sense. I would've preferred if Callie broke her heart or something like that occurred. Or if the patient died, THEN Erica could've really blamed Izzie and been all pissed. Since the patient lived, I don't see the problem. WEAK, writers, weak! I mean at least last time someone left the show he was shot. Or got their own show.

I like your theory about last night's episode leading to Izzie's breakdown. Why won't Denny just go away?! It's been like two years! AND Izzie's had like 2 relationships since then. Maybe that actor can't get work elsewhere. He was OK in P.S. I Love You, but he just can't stop showing up in people's imaginations.

I do hope that Christina and Hunt get together. There needs to be some fresh romance going on. The whole Alex-Izzie thing is getting old.

[SFCItyGirl]

I too was a fan of season 1 and 2. So badly addicted I wouldn't answer calls, not even between commercials. Then season 3 came along and it got all botched up. After watching last night,I've regained hope, there's a potential come back. I absolutely loved the story of the elderly couple, cried my eyes out. It was great acting on all fronts. I equally enjoyed how the writers addressed the issue of humanizing the patients and bedside manners. The topic is relevant. In fact, it's really about time the show exemplifies some reality to the story line. To get me back, please add more substance and I don't mean hot and steamy scenes. I'm having the same problem with Heroes. What captivates me most as a viewer is the intertwined story line and everyday issues that we may experience.

[ekw]

I was so bloody tired of that clunky Lesbian hookup I was ready to blow my brains out (rather than change the channel...that is how bad it was). I hated the whole thing. It wasn't sexy it was clinical, it wasn't a good story line, it was mawkish and obvious, It felt obligatory, like a school lesson about someoneo having two mommies. It wasn't at all what the writers and producers apparently thought it was: progressive. You could see the tiny political wheels turning in their heads: this will make us look good. It made the whole show even more melodramatic and hair-raisingly cringeworthy than it already is. There is bad-funny and bad-bad, and that whole thing was bad-bad. Whenever the two women looked at each other and talked about what they were doing, I felt like I should turn away if only to spare the actors further enbarrassment. Good riddance to a bad storyline (almost as bad as the one in House where a policeman (David Morse) keeps trying to bust House for drugs. That nearly blew the franchise.

[Citizen]

I stopped watching when it got BOOOO-RING. When Burke proposed to Christina, I though it hit a whole new snooze factor. Yawn.

[Jasmine Marshall Armstrong]

I could not help seeing the irony and connections with Prop 8 here in CA. Like gay marriage, Hahn and Calllie are here one day, gone the next due to a stupid, facist popularity contest. Way to go, people. As a gay friend said, people around here care more about chickens being kept in cages than about the mental health of gay and lesbians.

[rita petko]

not watching anymore

[Art in Seattle]

I was bothered by the Hahn character in a different way. Can this, or any other movie or TV show possibly portray a chest cutter who doesn't have an insufferable case of "Doctor God" syndrome?

[VG]

Look!!! I am getting sick and tired of how people want to use their personal lives as a main stream of culture critisism...one of the main reason as to why we all are fans of this TV serious (gay, straight, lesbian, or of any ethinicity), is for the drama, unknowing, craziness!! This is not due to political outcomes, or sexual prefrences..nothing of that sort. IT IS WHAT IT IS!! This is not about your life, or your life, and neither your life. Enjoy it and look forward to more crazy adventures. JeeZZZ. FICTIONAL PEOPLE FICTIONAL!!!!. GET OVER IT. Thanks to the writers, directors and all. You are why I keep looking forward to the next neek.

vg

[SeaShark]

Stopped watching GREY'S ANATOMY when George and Izzy hit the sheets, which was the show's "Jump The Shark" point of no return.

[Alex]

I think this whole Brooke Smith fiasco is atrocious on the part of ABC/Grey's. They've lost a longtime fan here. And yes, that was a horrid, offensive, stupid ending not worthy of the character.

I hope Brooke goes on to better things because she rocks. ABC/Grey's should be ashamed of themselves. This whole thing reeks of network gay panic/homophobia.

[Linda Brumfield]

Thank you for this article. Brooke Smith is a fine actress who did a great job with the material the writing staff gave her. If they didn't like the gay story line, they could have axed it not Brooke. It seems to me that some suit at ABC didn't like two real sized women having a relationship and they planned to bring in Melissa George as a hottie to have girl sex, but then realized what a backlash that would create. ABC is morally bankrupt. You don't dismiss a great actress for doing her job well. Dismiss the suits. They're the idiots.

[Cathy]

I used to love Grey's but all the good plot lines are removed and the stupid ones repeated over and over. Dr. Hahn and Callie were in interesting pair with Sloan in the middle. It was one of the few interesting things about Grey's and as soon as it gets started, it's gone. How stupid! What's left now? Izzy screwing a ghost, maybe one of the other women will fall in love with gay George? The first mistake was removing Berk. He and Christina made the show. Replace with Hahn, another excellent character, now gone. These producers and writers are idiots. This show is over. It is been completely ruined with all these retarded plots and the loss of good characters and good actors. One more thing. Izzy and Alex have a lot of chemistry, yet they continue to keep him apart having Izzy love a ghost then a gay guy. Ridiculous.