Cast Changes in Season 5

Brooke Smith Axed From Grey’s Anatomy

The romance is over for Brooke Smith’s character on Grey’s Anatomy: the actress has abruptly been written out of the hit medical drama.

Smith, whose character Dr. Erica Hahn had just begun a lesbian affair with Sara Ramirez’s Dr. Callie Torres on the ABC show, told EW.com that Grey’s creator Shonda Rhimes “just suddenly told me that they couldn’t write for my character anymore.” Adds Smith, “it was the last thing I expected.”

Smith’s last Grey’s appearance will be Thursday’s episode, but don’t expect any closure for her character. “My final scene is just me heading to my car,” says Smith. “I honestly don’t know what happens in the next episode.”

So what caused Smith’s sudden exit? “I don’t think I’m ever really going to know,” says Smith, who received praise from producers after her scene in last week’s episode where Hahn realizes she is gay. But soon after, she got the bad news. “I was really, really shocked. I was floored when they told me.”

Rhimes denied that the decision had anything to do with Smith’s gay storyline. In a statement to EW.com, she said: “Brooke Smith was obviously not fired for playing a lesbian,” adding “Unfortunately, we did not find that the magic and chemistry with Brooke’s character would sustain in the long run.”

Craig Sjodin/ABC

Source: People TV Watch November 4, 2008

Kevin McKidd Joins the Cast of Grey’s Anatomy

This week the Grey’s Anatomy cast has happier news to announce: Kevin McKidd is joining the show as a series regular, ABC reveals to PEOPLE exclusively.

The Scottish actor, 35, who starred in Made of Honor with Patrick Dempsey earlier this year, is thrilled to have the new gig after his starring role on NBC’s Journeyman came to an end after 13 episodes this year. “It’s a great show, and I’m lucky to be on it,” he tells PEOPLE. His character, Dr. Owen Hunt, is a veteran from the war in Iraq and a love interest for Dr. Cristina Yang.

McKidd, who lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Jane, and children Joseph, 8, and Iona, 6, says he is happy to be working with Dempsey again, though their previous screen pairing was mere coincidence. “I got a knock on my door [from Patrick],” he says of his first day on set. “I said, ‘did you have anything to do with this?’ He said, ‘no, they don’t tell us anything.” –Lisa Ingrassia

RON TOM/ABC

Source: People TV Watch November 11, 2008

Melissa George Hasn’t ‘Stopped Laughing’ Since Joining Grey’s Anatomy

There will be more social shake-ups at Seattle Grace on Grey’s Anatomy.

Australian actress Melissa George guest stars starting with Thursday’s episode as Sadie, Meredith’s friend from the past. “I show up at her doorstep,” George tells PEOPLE. “[Sadie] gets a job at Seattle Grace due to her father, which is yet to be explored. She’s taking a leadership role at the intern society, which is hysterically funny. I haven’t stopped laughing for six weeks.”

Apart from inciting jealousy in Meredith’s current best friend Cristina Yang, Sadie’s character, who is bisexual, will be full of surprises–including possible romances, says George, 32. “I don’t know whether it’s male or female. It could be either; it could be both. We’re all dying to find out.”

George, whose other TV credits include Alias and HBO’s In Treatment, adds that her appearance on the show is not related to Brooke Smith’s departure. “I wasn’t brought on to replace anybody. What happened with Brooke was done weeks before I started.”

What’s more, the recent Internet chatter about the casting upheaval hasn’t fazed the actors on the show, says George, “It’s such a family.”

So, if she were asked to stay on as a series regular, would she consider it? “Of course,” she says. “I’m having a great time.” –Lisa Ingrassia

Craig Sjodin/ABC

Source: People TV Watch November 13, 2008