PAGING DR. BURKE: YOU WERE FIRED LAST YEAR, SHUT UP "Former Grey's Anatomy star Isaiah Washington — who was axed from the show in 2007 after spewing a homophobic slur at T.R. Knight — is slamming the show for firing Brooke Smith. 'I looked at a brilliant actress, whom I have adored since I first saw her in Silence of the Lambs,' he says in the Nov. 17 issue of TV Guide. 'For her to be treated this way, I find very interesting. … Now that I see what they're doing to a show that I love and I care about, I think it's disgusting.'"

• Say hello to the Real Housewives of Atlanta. Yes, they're still doing this nonsense. [DListed]

• Angelina Jolie's back on the heroin? [INO]

• TR Knight is still friends with the insufferable Katherine Heigl. Why, TR?! [PS]

• Tyra Banks says she's got a Miley Cyrus talk show in the works. Why the hell is Tyra still allowed to produce television shows? [ICYDK]

• Trouble in Mariah and Nick's eternal 12-year-old paradise? [SH]

Notoriously vinegary fake doctor Katherine Heigl apparently doesn't like it when her gay boyfriend, TR Knight, takes breaks from their 'tini benders to graciously sign autographs for appreciative fans. Watch here as the Knocked Up battle-ax verbally asks Knight to stop talking to a throng of supporters before physically yanking him away. Someone get Izzie a chill pill, stat.

• HA! Why are losers who take their jewelry seriously always the ones who want the most respect? [SH]

• Best rumor of the day. [DListed]

• Remember when the black guy called the gay guy the f-word and everyone was all, "Fire him!"? Barely, right? Well, that was this year. [PS]

• This moron! [HT]

• Not fat, pregnant. [ICYDK]

• Another purse that looks like many purses before it. Wow! [INO]

• Madonna raises her children to be healthy and not materialistic. Let her have it with your contempt! [Yeeeah]

• Santa is scary. [CityRag]

Last evening marked the 59th Annual Emmy Awards (which I've heard were unyieldingly boring). Although they remain one of the least merit-based awards in history, the Emmys are one of the sharpest, and that should count for something.

After the jump, the gowns! Oh, the gowns!

CONTINUED »

Katherine Heigl, of My Father the Hero fame, tells Entertainment Weekly that Isaiah Washington thanked her for helping him see the error of his ways following an incident in which Washington called Grey's Anatomy costar, TR Knight, a "faggot" (that's even getting boring to type).

Isaiah thanked me, which I didn’t understand. He was almost grateful. I don’t know Isaiah well, but he takes his work seriously and he loves his character.

He made a big mistake, and it was thoughtless and boneheaded, and I think he’s very sorry and embarrassed. This is something that will have changed the scope of his life.

Not "will have," Katherine, has. There are plenty of reports that Washington's already been fired, which Heigl ostensibly supported. Where was she with all this information of penitence when it could have helped salvage a man's career? She said he approached her on set. That must have been weeks ago—possibly months. She waits until now? Wonderful. And just in time to get her name in the papers and the blogs on the opening weekend of her new film.

[Source]

Months after calling Grey's Anatomy costar TR Knight a "faggot" and subsequently attending therapy to work on his anger management skills, Isaiah Washington is not submitting himself for consideration in this year's Emmys.

It wasn't the best TV season for Washington, who allegedly slurred castmate T.R. Knight on the set last October and got into a fight with Patrick Dempsey over the incident. In January, Washington exacerbated the situation, which had largely blown over, when he told the worldwide media attending the Golden Globes that the slur never occurred but used offensive language to make his point.

Washington probably figured he wouldn't receive much love from Emmy voters anyway, and it's smart to stay away from high-profile events where the media might be looking for additional, and controversial, soundbites.

It is also being said that Washington will not be asked back to the hit show next season.

In light of these developments, as well as the Imus scandal, we must ask ourselves if what we now expect out of our celebrities is not only good work, but also beliefs that jibe with our own.

Consider this: Marlon Brando, without a doubt one of the greatest actors in the history of film, said this, "You've seen every single race besmirched, but you never saw an unfavorable image of the Kike because the Jews were ever so watchful for that. They never allowed it to be shown on screen." Absolutely abhorrent and misguided words, but should we have crucified him? Should we have booted him from Hollywood? Keep in mind that if we did, we wouldn't have had Vito Corleone, Stanley Kowalski or Colonel Walter E Kurtz.

If what we expect out of those that we celebrate is kindness and tolerance, how many great pieces of art would we miss out on?

[Source]

Queerty reminded us that GLAAD held their 18th Annual GLAAD Media Awards last evening. As you might expect, slurred poster boy of gays in media, TR Knight, served as the initial master of ceremonies and also represented Grey's Anatomy when the show won outstanding individual episode for "Where the Boys Are."

As you might not expect, Jennifer Aniston was given this year's "Vanguard Award," and here's why:

Jennifer Aniston is, without a doubt, one of the most charismatic, talented, and celebrated actresses in the world today. It is all the more refreshing then, that she hasn't shied away from roles that playfully or dramatically explore the boundaries of human sexuality and relationships. For ten seasons, Jennifer Aniston played Rachel Green on Friends, a show that included, from its very first season, a portrayal of a lesbian family.

So, she was on a show that had a fair and accurate depiction of a lesbian family? That makes her a vanguard for the gay community? Well then, in keeping with that logic, Isaiah Washington should expect his GLAAD Vanguard Award next year.

PS Wilson Cruz—Ricky from My So-Called Life—was there. Remember when he got kicked out on Christmas and Angela looked everywhere for him? Jesus. That guy's a vanguard.

[Source]

Diddy and TR Knight got huffy at a a pre-Grammy party in Los Angles Friday night. Surprise, suprise: Diddy struts around with an irritating sense of entitlement.

Members of the "Grey's Anatomy" cast got their noses out of joint when they had to move tables for Sean Combs. T.R. Knight was sitting in the VIP area of the club at a table with fellow castmates, Kate Walsh and Sara Ramirez, catching performances by Timberlake, Nelly Furtado, and Fergie and will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas, when the three were told to leave by a security person believed to be working for Combs' entourage as "he wasn't working for the club," our spy said.

A spy said, "Puffy was supposed to sit in the same VIP area that had four tables - two were for him and two were for the 'Grey's Anatomy' cast. But he was very, very late, and there are a lot of 'Grey's' castmembers, so T.R., Kate and Sara were at a table set up for Puffy."

Combs' bodyguard was a little heavy-handed.

"This guy goes up to T.R., Kate and Sara and started demanding - 'Get out! Get out now! Move it!' - T.R. was furious," our spy who was in the same VIP section said.

The spy added that Combs and Knight exchanged words before the "Grey's" cast were led away to another table.

As much as people like to assume that I'm a homophobe, I'm actually far from it. Which is why I find it pretty sad that two groups as traditionally marginalized as black men and gay men are finding it difficult to achieve some equal ground. It's even worse when it's as public as this.

[Source]

Rumor has it that TR Knight, the Grey's Anatomy cast member outed when Isaiah Washington called him a "faggot," may be leaving the show. However, his publicist swears he's staying:

The actor was the subject of a widely-publicized homophobic slur by a cast mate and he “is so upset about the situation and so disgusted by how it was all handled,” that he’s planning to leave the show, says a source.

“He was told not to say anything about the whole incident,” says the insider, referring to an on-set dust up in October when fellow cast member Isaiah Washington referred to Knight, who plays Dr. George O’Malley, with a derogatory word used to describe gay men…

…“He feels that the atmosphere there is so toxic and unhealthy. I suppose things could change and we would stay, but for now, he’s planning to leave the show.”

When asked if Knight planned to leave the show, his spokeswoman told The Scoop: “We’re not commenting on that.” She later called back and said that the story was “Completely, one thousand percent false.”

Maybe the rumors are false, but these photos from last night's SAG Awards depict a pouting Knight who sure as hell doesn't look "one thousand percent" happy, despite the fact that Isaiah Washington wasn't even there. Frankly, Knight looks downright morose, especially when juxtaposed with his ecstatic colleagues, all of whom won awards for Best Ensemble Cast in a Drama Series.

Listen, I know he's going through tough times and all, but being the noticeably depressed wet blanket while everyone's heaping approval on you is selfish and bitchy, both of which are really bad gay stereotypes. Dude, Isaiah's in rehab, you're winning all kinds of awards and soccer moms nationwide love you after your humble appearance on Ellen. Cheer up, guy!

[Source]