DID ABC DROP AN ALLEGEDLY BITCHY ACTRESS- BECAUSE THE CHEMISTRY OF THE LESBIAN RELATIONSHIP- WASN'T WORKING OUT?
Brooke Smith was dropped on Grey's Anatomy, because allegedly her chemistry with Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez) was seemingly strianed and passionless. The network saw the ratings freefall to the point, CBS powerhouse CSI- regained the lead over the feminist medical drama.
"I really hoped we were going to show what happens when two women
fall in love and that they were going to treat it like any heterosexual couple
on TV. And so I was surprised and disappointed when they just suddenly told me
that they couldn't write for my character anymore," stated Smith.
Creator/Show runner Shonra Rimes:"Brooke Smith was obviously not fired for playing a lesbian. Clearly it's not an
issue as we have a lesbian character on the show – Calliope Torres. Sara Ramirez
is an incredible comedic and dramatic actress and we wanted to be able to play
up her magic. Unfortunately, we did not find that the magic and chemistry with
Brooke's character would sustain in the long run. The impact of the Callie/Erica
relationship will be felt and played out in a story for Callie. I believe it
belittles the relationship to simply replace Erica with 'another lesbian.' If
you'll remember, Cristina mourned the loss of Burke for a full season."
Critics are disturbed, that the decision was reached while in CA,the controversial pro-straight, marriage proposition was being decided. Also, L.A. Times reporter Mary McNamara offered this theory:
"I suspect what irked whoever made the call… [was] not that they were both women
— good heavens, how dull — but that they were, how shall we say, average size.
With hips, you know, and actual breasts. Not two girly waifs exchanging a stolen
kiss or a grope in the women's room stall over a line of coke, not an
androgynous club kid putting her best moves on some sitcom heroine. But two
women of substance, physically and psychologically, falling in love and talking
about it way too much, the way women tend to do."
