For Grey’s Anatomy fans who began the season wondering whether Dr. Erica Hahn (Brooke Smith) was gay, the May 22 season finale finally offered an answer — she might just be, now that Callie (Sara Ramirez) made her move. The two-hour episode — which culminated with Callie planting a big ol’ buss on Erica outside of Seattle Grace — had us asking: For the love of The L Word, could Eri-Cal eclipse Meredith and Derek as Grey’s It Couple? Creator Shonda Rhimes hints that we may not have seen the last of this budding romance. “Callie and Erica have an undeniable chemistry,” says Rhimes. “And watching the story unfold is something the writers are looking forward to. I wanted to illuminate their relationship in the same way we do all relationships on the show — it will be funny, sweet, honest, and a little bit dirty.”
As for Smith, she doesn’t think Dr. Hahn was coming out of the closet in the last few weeks leading up to the finale. In fact, she and Rhimes specifically talked about Hahn not being gay when Smith first joined the show last fall. “Earlier this season, we felt it was too obvious that a strong, powerful woman would be a lesbian,” says Smith. “In fact, Dr. Hahn decided she wasn’t going to have a relationship at work, though clearly she came to the wrong hospital.”
Like the fans, Smith said she and Ramirez were kept guessing about their relationship until days before taping of the final episode. Even costars like Patrick Dempsey were caught off guard by the surprise kiss; Smith remembers him gasping at the table read and saying, “Are you two getting together?”
“Sara Ramirez is not a bad choice. She’s pretty hot!” says Smith. “Why not? I’m game.”
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Indeed I find it obvious that a strong, powerful woman has to be a lesbian. I am all for having some diversity on the show but I think it was not a surprise at all.
I’m a happily married woman, but if I was going to go gay, Sara Ramirez would definitely be my choice of woman!! Yowza, she’s hot!!
Love. Love. LOVE Callie and Erica! Way to go, Grey’s.
I couldn’t agree more, Kathy. Sara is amazingly sexy!! Now if they’d just find some reason for Callie to sing on the show…holy moly!
i think Cal-Eri works better.
Why make a sterotypical choice of a stong woman having to be gay? And finally a great looking man like McSteamy having a relationship with a “normal” looking, non stick thin person and they make her gay. Really.
I’m a little disappointed with the direction the character of Callie has taken. She is the most beautiful woman on the show. And, the kiss was hot. But, I would watch Sara Ramirez kiss a lamp post! She’s a strong woman with curves and it seems the writers never really knew what to do with her to flesh her character out. My preference would have been to see her in an interracial relationship that actually worked. ER tried and chickened out with Eriq LaSalle and Alex Kingston. C’mon, Grey’s Writers! Give us a little swirl!
no surprise. lame attempt to garner better ratings.
I’m very disappointed with the direction the show is taking with Callie and Dr. Hahn. I guess I won’t be watching the show next fall and others I’ve discussed this with won’t either.
I think it’s wonderful that everyone thinks of a lesbian woman being “strong and powerful” that’s a great stereotype!! Finally we have a gay character on Grey’s!!
Why would having gay characters necessarily be considered a grasp at ratings? Grey’s has always had one of the most diversified casts on tv, racially speaking. To me, having gay “regulars” seems like a natural. Having said that, please PLEASE, Shonda…don’t let this be a “phase” for Callie.
I’m personally disappointed in the Callie/Hahn relationship. It is entirely too stereotypical for those characters and it’s really not a surprise. I’m all for the shock value of the unexpected relationships but this one was seen coming for a while. I wish the writers could drop this relationship and become more creative with those characters. I love the show and I LOVE that Meredith and Derek are back together and the whole Izzie and Alex thing is awesome! I always loved them together and knew he was secretly still in love with her. But if they focus on Callie/Hahn too much or drag that relationship on, I’m going to loose interest pretty quickly. I want to see those characters do something more…something completely unexpected. But who knows, maybe Hahn isn’t gay and totally rejects Callie. I guess we will just have to see next season.
Why do TV shows have to bring in gayness to get ratings? This show has now sucked b/c it has to stoop that low to get ratings. Pathetic!
I saw this coming weeks ago. blah blah blah. The direction seemed sort of obvious to me.
Not entirely a surprise as they’ve been building towards it the last 5 episodes or so but it is a surprise when you look at Callie’s character since she’s been on the show. She was married to George for pete’s sake. I seriously doubt that anyone saw this coming prior to this season. Anyhow, I love it! I think that if the writers stay with this (an not make it a “phase” like Rach said) it could be a wonderful love story. The characters are such great friends and seem to get along great so hopefully this will be a long term, normal, healthy, happy relationship!
Oh Shonda. Thank you for saying you are going to write them like any other couple. And for everyone who says that Erica maybe being gay because she’s strong, powerful woman is stereotypical, that’s pretty ridiculous. Otherwise Bailey would be shooting rainbows out of her pores.
Ex Grey’s Fan: Why do you see this as a ratings grab? And why do you consider adding a gay relationship to the show stooping low? Why can’t it just be a new storyline for the two characters? Would you consider a new unexpected pairing of any kind stooping low and a ratings grab? Or are your negative attitudes on homosexuality colouring your perception of what is a perfectly normal new development on a show about personal relationships?
I loved the kiss last night! I think Erica and Callie have great chemistry. I also love that Grey’s is helping to bring relationships of ALL kinds (mixed race, heterosexual, homosexual, the whole thing) into prime time. Way to go, Greys! Can’t wait ’til next season
!
To the boycotters. Are you truly saying that Grey’s Anatomy, the obvious bastion of puritanical values, has pushed the envelope?
There is nothing amiss with bisexuality from either of the characters. One is hypersexual (she is a doc at Seattle Grace), the other lonely (and is a doc at Seattle Grace). It doesn’t even seem like late-onset lesbianism, only bisexuality or bicuriosity. Thanks GA for bringing in even more diversity. I truly appreciate it.
I’m not one of the boycotters, but let me say that what tends to happen with gay characters on shows is that they are the most perfect people. Most of the conflict is generated from outside the relationship rather than from within. So, the course of the storyline is predictable. This is what used to happen with black characters on TV in the early days. Remember “Julia” with Diahann Carroll in the late ’60s? In any case, I will be interested to see what happens on Grey’s, but I still want to see Callie “go black”!
Lame attempt to be ‘controversial’ & gain some press coverage in a season that has been widely slated & ratings down 25% on last year.
Alex is not in love with Izzie again, he was turning to her in a moment he needed support!!
for every homophobe who hates this pairing (and judging from the comments both here and at TV Guide’s board, it’s blatant homophobia, *not* just disliking the duo based on other factors) I guarantee that there will be an equal if not greater number of new viewers drawn by the added diversity of such a much-needed storyline. As someone else said, GREY’S has always been about diversity and having a lesbian storyline between main cast characters is just another bit of diversity. Frankly, it’s surprising that it’s taken 4 seasons before introducing a gay/lesbian character or SL to the forefront but I’m glad they’ve finally done so. Callie and Erica have a bounty of potential and I *very* much look forward to seeing them develop next season. I just hope that neither Shonda or the ABC execs give into the hate mail and abandon this storyline prematurely as a result or relegate it to having Callie and Erica be rarely seen or treated like platonic friends instead of lovers.
To Andrew: I hardly think anyone would call Erica Hahn “perfect”, particularly after her harsh treatment of Christine, so your concern regarding this development seems unwarranted. That said, Callie’s pretty damn awesome but she’s been that way since day one.
I think no one turns gay overnight, that’s the problem. Isn’t this the same Callie that moped over George for over a season? (counting previous year as well). If they wanted gay characters, that would be great, but bring realistic gay characters and not a random pairing because it would look hot or daring. They will soon get over their “romance” and Callie will return to men – which I find humiliating for how gay people are portrayed on TV
Leigh,
You almost make my point for me. Do you recall another medical show where another character was abrasive to her staff, but became almost saintly once she came out? I know I do. ER, anyone? I don’t think calling people homophobes is constructive dialogue. Some people just do not agree with the direction of the characters.
I’m still over this storyline already. It’s a bit predictable and overdone.
Continued…not because they’re gay, but because it’s a creative dead end. Especially, if the possibility of changing their direction exists if the storyline is not well-received. Remember, the character of Dr. Weaver on ER eventually withered away from lack of interest. Because it didn’t seem real. Sure, the writers explored issues that face gay couples, but soon they killed off her partner and her part in the show diminished.
Your comment pretty much said it all.
This show is all about diversity and this new storyline , should make the show – even mORE diverse. My concern is that this will go the way of the gay neighbor couple on Desperate housewives last season – where they were introduced , in just a couple of episodes – and then whoosh ! they disappeared until the season finale , and viewers said WTF ! Callie deserves a great storyline , and I hope that ABC is not pressured to shy away from the lesbian couple thing. I would also like to see Christina Yang – be involved in a NEW relationship next season – it’s been a year since Doctor Burke left her – time to move on…Dr. Yang is my favorite character on the show – btw
I am a former viewer of ER..the show’s writing “quality” really went downhill a few years ago -and some new characters were introduced who were just boring. That is why I stopped watching ER ….In my opinion , Grey’s is a far superior show …that makes me laugh and cry – each and every week.