Patrick Dempsey On "Grey's" Lesbian Firing: ABC Told Me What To Say (VIDEO)

Today "Grey's Anatomy" star Patrick Dempsey goes on Ellen and talks about the surprise firing of Brooke Smith, one half of the show's new lesbian relationship:

"ABC actually sends me over what I should [say] ...," he tells Ellen DeGeneres on her talk show Wednesday.

So what's the official spin?

"ABC's response ... is that [I] should say: 'We've had a great time working with her and that the conclusion of her [character] has been orgasmic' -- I'm sorry, I'm dyslexic! -- 'organic' ending to the story line.' "

Some have argued that Smith was axed because of her character's developing relationship with Dr. Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez).

Grey's Anatomy's creator, Shonda Rhimes, previously released a statement insisting that "Brooke Smith was obviously not fired for playing a lesbian."

"Thursday night is her last show, which is too bad she has been great character," McDreamy continues. "I don't know what happened with that story line. They decided not to continue it for some reason."

More about the firing.

WATCH DEMPSEY:

Comments

[harriettubman]

They told him what to say during the Isaiah Washington fracas too.

[elizlucinda]

Its too bad when someone gets fired but I don't think it is caused by her character being a lesbian. Poop happens!

[kuhler]

Some suggestions to get the ratings going: (1) Develop Christina's budding love affair with the hard-nosed new chief of trauma. Then when things get mc-steaming, bring Dr. Burke back to his post of as chief of cardio to replace Erica Haan and really complicate the new romance. (2) Give Izzy something to do besides stand around looking moony-eyed over the ghost of Denny. She's the most complex character on the show and SOOOO gorgeous. (3) Bring back Addison Shephard. I loved her sharp wit and surgical expertise. Tried to watch her spinoff but found it sappy and incredibly boring.

[obgynobgyn]

If gays and lesbians want to be treated normal, because they are, then we have to
stop making them a special group. Show change course all the time and it does
not mean anti-gay. Soon people will look upon gays as trouble and not even bother
then that will be a travesty. Everything is not anti

[jobecky20]

So far this season is the worst....this show is becoming a real clunker.

[08politicaljunkie]

Until this article, I didn't realize "Grey's" was still on the air. They lost me early in Season 3.

[bobsmith]

Worth the read just to learn that she was the actress who was kidnapped by Buffalo Bill in "Silence of the Lambs". I knew I'd seen her somewhere before.

[Vixter]

I haven't watched the show regularly since Burke left - & I didn't like her character the 1st time she was introduced on Grey's. Can't give any specifics, but I just didn't like her character...so sue me.

[blondecuban]

I didn't care for her storyline. Sorry, but women don't become lesbian overnight. It was okay that she had the epiphany, but Callie wasn't a Lesbian. That said, I don't buy that it was an organic ending to the story. How could she be gone when she threatened to contact the authorities about the wrongdoing in the hospital. She was fired. Why? I don't know, but she was fired.

[JohnKevari]

KEVARI SNOWFLAKES

WHAT!!!!

LESBIANS ON PRIME-TIME TV???!!!

AND NOBODY THOUGHT TO TELL ME ABOUT THIS?

[HelenBach]

the only obvious lesbian story line should have been Meredith and Yang. At least they have some chemistry and fun together.

[GHL]

Grey had no buzz.. guess what? this "firing" got the buzz going again.. please people.. realize that is all a ploy to get the name out there.

[owlsocks]

Plainly Disney has decided to embrace the "family values" people who feel let down by an Obama victory and to appease its shareholders by reigning in the liberal story-lines of its networks.

We can't have a show that showcases LOVE between two people of the same sex while people of the same sex are apparently so subhuman in their love of each other that they want it to be called "marriage."

This kind of acceptance and civil equality could undermine the formative minds of our children and their future thoughts about what it means to LOVE.

Arrrggghhh! GAYZILLA...run away!

Hate in our constitutions? What's next, satellite-tracked ID tags for non-Christians?

[manofwar]

So, people that are otherwise looked at as decent parts of a community now become trolls because of what they do in their bedrooms?

Do you have a right to judge what is going on in someones bedroom?

I am a mother of 9 and it is not my children's business or anyone else's what goes on in my bedroom. That I thought was a Private area of life!

Why would I expose my kids to my life sexually? They ugh & have irked when I even speak about sex, like most kids do!

[independent32955]

Ok seriously? It was a dumb story line...both of the characters looked uncomfortable playing at being gay and frankly, it was a superfluous aspect to their relationship.

They could have been just good drinking buddies and the story line would have been just as lame.

And this is coming from someone who voted for Obama and against the gay-marriage kaka here in Florida.

[TheyAllSuck]

No, I found aspects of it a TEENSY bit interesting.

Sometimes a lesbian relationship starts awkwardly among newbs.
Sometimes a les is actually bi, or just a tourist.

I'm not gay, but I've seen this sort of thing firsthand.

I don't get the drama. Why is a network "required" to have a lesbian couple portrayed in a TV show? Its not the first time gays got storylines on TV (Melrose Place, Dawson's Creek, The L Word, and I've probably forgot one...) The writing staff wanted to run this "experimental" story line; either they or "the suits" have decided not to continue it. Who cares?

It was a mediocre story line IMHO. They are mediocre characters/actors IMHO. I just don't care. I'm sick of drama queens whining about lack of gay portrayal just as much as I'm sick of right wing religious nuts whining that its there. Face it, if the story line was making money, ABC would have insisted Rhimes keep it.

TV is capitalism. How about caring more about good story lines and believable depictions of people/reality? Rather than what PC group is being underrepresented or badly represented? If you don't like it, don't watch it.

[stagebandman]

Did you notice that ABC was the only network that would not sell Obama time for the 30 minute show? Just sayin'.....

[sick of it all]

Just to clarify: Obama decided against selling the 30 minute ad to ABC, not the other way around.

[pillgirl]

they fired her for playing a character they wrote for her? i really dont understand that. i dont have strong feelings about the character or the storyline one way or the other, but this reasoning doesnt make sense to me.

[BlackJAC]

More like the character simply wasn't going anywhere storywise. For example, the show BABLYON 5 replaced its original leader Michael O'Hare with Bruce Boxleitner becase O'Hare's character's story arc never went to where the show's creator wanted the show to ultimately go.

[stagebandman]

Wait a minute! Grey's Anatomy is still on?