2008 Year in Review: Television

When the Hahn-Callie affair finally got its start in October, the portrayal of their sexual discovery (neither initially identified as lesbian) was lauded for being tender, funny, and realistic. Even Hahn learning that she was, perhaps, more fulfilled by lesbian sex than Callie struck a chord of truth for women who have found themselves on either end of a similar situation.

Which is why the sudden dismissal of Smith and the subsequent end of her relationship with Callie was so jarring to devoted lesbian and bisexual viewers, many of whom had watched the show since its inception and had long been hoping for a quality lesbian storyline.

Rumors about the reason behind the firing were rampant and fans blamed everyone from conservative families willing to boycott Disney over the matter (ABC is owned by Disney) to ABC executives who reportedly "had issues” with the explicit nature of the relationship between Hahn and Torres and the Hahn character in general.

Series creator Shonda Rimes attempted to dismiss the rumors by issuing this statement:

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.

Unfortunately, since Callie had clearly identified herself as a bisexual woman, not a lesbian, in the previous episode, this statement just made Rhimes and ABC appear even more out of step with their own show, and the intelligence of its viewers.

The firing incited a swift bit of online activism from scores of LGBT (and LGBT-friendly) viewers, who were no doubt already feeling the sting of homophobia that week due to the passage of anti-gay measures in several states that same week as part of the November elections.

Following on the heels of the firing was more de-gaying Grey gossip, this time that Melissa George’s new intern character, Sadie, initially described as bisexual, would now be heterosexual (or technically bisexual, but in name only).

Cue another round of groans (and angry emails) from lesbians and bisexual women everywhere.

Earlier this month, ABC announced that Jessica Capshaw (Bette Porter’s hot-to-trot teaching assistant on season four of The L Word) would join the Grey’s cast as Callie’s new love interest for at least three episodes beginning in January 2009. Capshaw will play pediatrician Dr. Arizona Robbins, who has come to Seattle Grace to assist with a case.

We hope that all of the lesbian/bisexual drama this season on Grey’s will play out in a positive manner in 2009, but it’s not likely given the events so far this season, which inspire me to quote a line from Tootsie: That is one nutty hospital!

One of the other big stories about a queer female character played out at yet another nutty hospital in 2008, that of Dr. Remy Hadley, aka "Thirteen" (played by Olivia Wilde) on House, M.D.. 

Thirteen (Olivia Wilde)

Wilde joined the cast in 2007 as one of 40 interns hired by cantankerous medical guru Gregory House, M.D. House whittled down his group of medical “contestants” in a reality television-style competition until only three were left to join his staff. Number Thirteen a.k.a. Hadley was among them, and her character’s bisexuality was confounding to the man in charge, making her the target of his considerable snark.

This season, her character was diagnosed with fatal Huntington’s Disease and her response was to live each day as if it were her last (opportunity to have sex with a woman).