EW's Michael Ausiello has the latest scoop: Melissa George (who plays bisexual, risk-taking intern Sadie) is leaving the show even before her entire episode deal and next-season option are exercised. The character was only introduced this season, but she was flirting with ladies and we all know where that got Brooke Smith! But then, let's let George explain the departure in her own weird, elusive way:

"I love the show so much," she gushes. "I've made some beautiful friends. I love T.R. Knight. I love Patrick Dempsey, Justin Chambers… I adore Ellen Pompeo. I think she's a strong, incredible woman. And Katherine Heigl is the most beautiful creature on Earth."

Then, um, why leave? George says she simply wants to "do something else." Already? Well, a Grey's insider does suggest that the parting of the ways was more mutual than simply the actress' choice. "Melissa's arc came to a natural end. Everyone at the show adores her. We're genuinely sad to see her go."

George's initial deal called for her to appear in roughly 8-11 episodes with an option to become a series regular, like Kevin McKidd. But her Sadie had a much more rocky introduction than the Iraq doc, what with the self-mutilation and ambiguous sexuality. The latter characteristic was especially ill-timed coming off of Hahn's controversial exit. "The character was cursed from Day One," sniffs an ABC source. "She was very difficult to root for."

Then, y'know, maybe don't introduce her? It's an interesting approach, this "throw a new character at the wall and see what sticks" strategy—it's just too bad that all the recent characters happen to be same-sex-leaning, and that instead of the wall, they get flung at the revolving door that opens out onto Seattle Grace's Parking Lot of No Return.

• 'Grey's Anatomy' exclusive: Melissa George checks out [EW]

Hahn and her on-screen love interest, Sara Ramirez's Callie, had only one scene where they discussed their same-sex leanings, and it came near the end of the show. The exchange started in classic Grey's "This hospital issue is really about our relationship!"-speak before devolving into...well, we don't know exactly. It appears that Hahn gets mad at the somewhat reluctant Callie and says, "You can't kind of be a lesbian," which is awfully tough talk for a character who just realized she was a lesbian in the last episode. "I don't know you at all," Hahn continues, before storming off into the parking lot (where she is presumably flown back to her home planet on a rocket ship booby-trapped by worried ABC executives).

• Grey's Anatomy [ABC]

Dempsey appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show today (incidentally, a program that Sara Ramirez's Callie will no longer be watching) and when DeGeneres brought up the firing, McDreamy pulled out a canned response ABC had sent to him and read from it sarcastically. Afterward, DeGeneres asked if the firing was OK. "It is for them," said Dempsey, providing enough passive-aggressive venom to make Isaiah Washington (busy waiting tables at the NBC commissary while he waits for that follow-up call from Ben Silverman) point to the screen and insist, "See? That's what I was talking about!"

• The Ellen DeGeneres Show

SMITH: I was very excited when they told me that Erica and Callie were going to have this relationship. And 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.... I was floored when they told me [I was being let go]. It was the last thing I expected. In fact, when they told me I asked, "When is this happening?" And they said, "The [next episode] is your last," which is the one that airs this Thursday. So it was very sudden. [...]
EW: Who broke the news to you?
[Creator] Shonda Rhimes.
I'm hearing that this wasn't her decision, but rather ABC's.
You know, I have to tell you, I got that feeling. I don't know for sure, but it definitely seemed like [Shonda's] hands were tied. That was just my gut.
Did she seem upset?
She did seem upset. I wasn't having a very good week that week. I was like, "Oh, God, what is it with this business?!" And she said, "No, no, no. You are such a great actress. We love you." It seemed like some decision came down from above. It didn't feel like it was her.

Rhimes has since issued the following 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."

E! Online, meanwhile, reports that "insiders connected to the ABC series [are saying] that some of the gay-themed storylines are being downplayed and even erased from upcoming scripts." That includes a new character, played by Melissa George, who was initially conceived as a potential Callie love interest, but who's now been downgraded to some lightly bisexual flirtation, with an inevitable embracing of her McPenis-loving side during a steamy encounter in a hospital broom closet.

And all this, on election day, of all days. Great timing, ABC! What are you waiting for, T.R. Knight and Katherine Heigl? We'd like some on-camera outrage, and we'd like it now.

• Exclusive: 'Grey's Anatomy' Discharges Dr. Hahn [EW.com]
• Grey's De-Gayed: Brooke Smith Axed; Melissa George's Role Rewritten [E! Online]