Saying Goodbye To Cristina Yang

Sandra Oh announcing her departure from Grey's Anatomy at the end of season 10 was rather big news in the world of pop culture last week. Sandra Oh and Grey's Anatomy were a trending topic on Twitter for hours after the news broke, and the news has inspired a slate of articles like these:

SLATE: How Cristina Yang Changed Television 

I want to take this occasion to celebrate Yang, one of TV’s most original and influential characters. Grey’s may be years removed from its buzzy, Emmy-winning start, but in Yang, the loveable, persnickety careerist, Rhimes and Oh have created a complex workaholic who has begat a whole generation of female protagonists, none quite as impressive as she is. - Read more

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The Daily Beast: Pull the Plug on 'Grey's Anatomy' 

A Grey’s Anatomy without Sandra Oh’s fan-favorite doc, Cristina Yang? Oh, my.

Without Cristina Yang, who’s going to call the bull? Who’s going to deliver witty one-liners? Who’s going to take a stand against the allure of the McMen? Most importantly, who’s going to inhale candy and hot dogs and do so elegantly? The answer is no one. - Read more

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Pajiba: Saying Goodbye to Cristina Yang, One of the Best B*tchfaces on Television

But I think that any complex, well-acted character deserves attention and Sandra Oh has done a fantastic job bringing Cristina Yang to life for ten years. I will miss the character, and will probably stop watching the show once she’s gone. The relationship between her and Meredith has been the backbone of the series since the first episode, and I don’t see how they can keep it going if she leaves. 

Goodbye, Dr.Yang, you were too good for the show you were in and I hope there are better things waiting for you in your future. That goes double for Sandra Oh. - Read more

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Sandra Oh in the latest digital edition of EW: 

 Scan credit: @lavender_indigo

Source: TV Guide: August 26 – Sept 8, 2013.
Scan credit: @lavender_indigo

Shonda Rhimes: "Writing For Sandra Is One Of The Best Things That's Ever Happened To Me"

Here is an en excerpt from an extended interview with Grey's Anatomy boss Shonda Rhimes regarding Sandra's decision to leave the show at the end of the season:

Shonda Rhimes and Sandra Oh at the NAACP Image Awards in 2006.

The Hollywood Reporter: What was your reaction when you heard Sandra Oh would not be returning? Were you surprised?

Shonda Rhimes: I know Sandra pretty well. It was one of those things where I so wished it wasn't true for many reasons. For me, as a human being, I love spending time with Sandra, and as a writer, writing for Sandra is one of the best things that's ever happened to me. I would hope that it wouldn't be happening -- but I also know Sandra, and I know that it's time for her to have new challenges. I get to have new challenges all the time because I get to create other shows, but she doesn't get to do that, so I fully understood it.

THR: How soon in the season will Cristina's exit be addressed? Will it be a season-long story?

Rhimes: It won't be until the end of the season. The minute Sandra and I started talking about this, we have a story that we want to tell and we want to tell it really well, and that story isn't about her leaving the show as much as it is Cristina Yang's growth as a person and as a surgeon. Cristina Yang is not going to magically decide she wants babies, no.

THR: Do you know how Cristina's story ends? Will it be a happy or sad one?

Rhimes: I know how it ends, but I'm not going to say anything else.

THR: Is there a way that Cristina and Owen can end up together despite Sandra leaving and Kevin McKidd continuing on with the show?

Rhimes: No comment.

Full interview at THR

The Casting Of Sandra Oh As Cristina Yang

Grey's Anatomy boss, Shonda Rhimes, posted this tweet today on why she cast Sandra Oh as Cristina Yang:

Source: @shondarhimes

Originally though, Sandra Oh auditioned for the part of Miranda Bailey aka "The Nazi", while the character of Cristina was written as a "a pert little blonde".

Here's a video from PaleyFest in 2006, where Sandra herself explains how she eventually got the role as Cristina Yang:

Kevin McKidd Tweets Stuff: About Sandra Oh, Cristina/Owen & Grey's New Dynamic Duo

The always lovely Kevin McKidd was live tweeting last night during the Grey's Anatomy episode and  he was asked a lot of questions about working with Sandra Oh. This is what he said about that, Cristina/Owen and Cristina's new bestie:

Kevin McKidd On Working With Sandra Oh

@MabeZarkana: who's your bf on set? 

Kevin McKidd: sandra  

@Thaisbely: Describe Sandra Oh in one word. 

Kevin McKidd: true 

‏@PrisKent: Sandra is very funny on set, calm, or how she is when you guys work together? 

Kevin McKidd: everyone smiles when she is there. she is brilliant fun and passionate 

@PrisKent: How cool it is to work with Sandra Oh??? 

Kevin McKidd: it is the best ! 

@TSC_PLLgirl: favorite part about working with someone as amazing as Sandra Oh?

Kevin McKidd: we collaborate and talk about our characters all the time

@auzzigrey how difficult was it to direct your screen wife with uhmmm someone else?

Kevin McKidd: it was definitely weird and slightly awkward :) 

@jasmine92670618: do u like christnia as a coworker 

Kevin McKidd: yes! love it

@KimKardashian6: is Christina in real life really like this or just a little bit? 

Kevin McKidd: sandra is nothing like cristina

On Cristina's New Bestie, Dr. Thomas

Sandra Oh and William Daniels.

@LovemesomeOwen: I'm hoping Owen will get to meet Dr. Thomas one day. Even better if he hires him...LOL! Love the Cristina/Thomas friendship. 

‏Kevin McKidd: they are great together - i cast bill in the boards episode last season 

@evibloom: William Daniels & the Dr. Thomas/Cristina dynamic is delightful. Was his role in S9 planned back in S8? 

Kevin McKidd: funny , i cast Bill for my last ep of season 8 - he was so good - the writers wrote him in for season 9 

On Cristina/Owen

@MichelleAlexa24: Know you can't spoil and you're probably sick of Cris/Owen questions but...anything positive you could give to CO fans?

‏Kevin McKidd: there is positive for them , but complicated 

‏@Crush_on_Crowen: Owen still in love with Cristina? In your opinion? ty  

Kevin McKidd: 100%  

@COGreysLover: Do you think all the drama and angst is done for CO now? Now maybe some healing?  

Kevin McKidd: of course not ! 

@Fliss98: HEYYY, CHRISTINA IS CHEEATING ON YOU BTW, INCASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW. 

Kevin McKidd: they are on a break ! 

Source: @TheRealKMcKidd

Sarah Drew On Working With Sandra

Co-star Sarah Drew was live-tweeting last night as well, and here are her nice words about Ms. Sandra Oh:

@ShelbySnow1: what is it like working with Sandra Oh? 

Sarah Drew: It's like acting class. She's a genius

@LucillaTurrini: How is working with Sandra Oh? She also is reserved in real life? 

Sarah Drew: No! She is super friendly and fun!!

Source: @SarahDrewGreys

Isaiah Washington: 'Sandra Oh Is A Fantastic Actress'

Once upon a time on Grey's Anatomy, Cristina Yang and Dr. Preston Burke were the show's main angsty couple, and last night Sandra Oh's former co-star Isaiah Washington, was a guest on a Brazilian talk show where he was full of praise for Sandra Oh. Listen to what he had to say in the interview in the video below, and as you can see, the talk show host himself (Jô Soares) seemed to be quite taken by Sandra as well:

Starts at the 7:30 min mark.

Video via Grey's Anatomy BR

Transcript:

Jô Soares: How many years have you been on that show banging that wonderful…

Isaiah Washington: Banging? Woah! Sandra Oh?

Jô: Yes, she's fantastic as a matter of fact.

Isaiah: Yes, she is. She's fantastic. If I miss anything about that show is the experience of working with her. She's a class act. A super power, a talent. I think she's won every award in Canada, cause she's Canadian.

Jô: She's Canadian?

Isaiah: Yeah, she grew up in Canada. So I think that she has won everything except the Oscar in Canada. She's got a Golden Globe and Emmy-noms, so she's a fantastic actress.

Jô: I like, because she almost climbs on you and you had a lot of nice chemistry together.

Isaiah: There's mutual respect there.

Jô: Fantastic.

And this must be the 'climbing' the host is referring to, no?

Sandra Oh Trends On The Tweety Bird Again

Sandra Oh made quite an impression in last night's episode of Grey's Anatomy and showed off those amazing acting skills once again as Cristina confronted Owen about his infidelity. The twitterverse took notice and Sandra became a trending topic on the Tweety Bird last night again:

Here are a couple of scenes from last night's episode:

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