LOS ANGELES, March 8 ― The actor will return to the role of Preston Burke for an episode airing this May, marking the departure of Cristina Yang, the surgeon played by Sandra Oh, ABC has announced.
For “Grey’s Anatomy” creator Shonda Rhimes, it was unthinkable that Cristina would leave the series without having another run-in with Dr. Preston Burke, the former Chief of Surgery in the cardiothoracic unit. Their love story was a major plot element during the show’s first three seasons (between 2004 and 2007), leading up to the episode in which Preston left Cristina at the altar.
In reality, Isaiah Washington was fired from the medical drama after being accused of making homophobic remarks to his former colleague T.R. Knight, who played George O'Malley, the character who died at the end of the fifth season in 2009.
Seven years after his precipitous departure, Isaiah Washington will once again walk the halls of the Seattle hospital, although Shonda Rhimes is keeping the circumstances under wraps. Slated to air in May, the episode in question is expected to coincide with the departure of Sandra Oh at the end of the show’s tenth season, which is currently airing on ABC. ― AFP-Relaxnews
