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Grey’s Anatomy‘s new intern class is losing a doctor.
Midori Francis, who plays surgical intern Dr. Mika Yasuda, will exit the ABC drama as a series regular after two seasons, our sister site Deadline reports.
Just two days ago, it was reported that Jake Borelli (aka Dr. Levi Schmitt) will be scrubbing out after seven years. Like Borelli, Francis is in talks to return for some episodes next season to wrap up her character’s story arc, per Deadline.
The departures come amid reported budget cuts at Grey’s, which was renewed for a 21st season last month. The contracts of almost all of the ABC drama’s vets expire at the end of this season, so new deals will have to be hammered out for not only OGs Chandra Wilson (Bailey) and James Pickens Jr. (Richard) but Kevin McKidd (Owen), Kim Raver (Teddy), Caterina Scorsone (Amelia) and Camilla Luddington (Jo).
Francis joined the series in the Season 19 premiere in 2022 along with new cast members Niko Terho, Adelaide Kane, Alexis Floyd and Harry Shum Jr. as a fresh group of interns no doubt meant to refresh the long-running medical drama as star Ellen Pompeo took on a diminished on-screen role. Following her introduction, Francis’ Mika formed a friendship with her fellow newbies and entered into a relationship with co-chief resident Taryn Helm (Jaicy Elliot).
Prior to Grey’s, Francis recurred on the Max comedy The Sex Lives of College Girls as the love interest of Reneé Rapp’s character, a part which she reprised while juggling Grey’s in 2022. She also headlined the Netflix holiday series Dash & Lily in 2020.
Grey’s Anatomy wraps up its current 20th season on Thursday, May 30 at 9/8c on ABC.
Grey’s fans, how are you feeling about this latest exit? Hit the comments!
ughhhh she’s one of the best of the new interns!
Easily one of the best interns
Damn! Firing all the gays! XD Jokes aside, this is actually a bummer. Her character was the best of the new crop and I really liked her doctor’s journey.
So much for a well developed Helm romance…
They might let Helm go to. She’s finishing off ther internship and without her friend and girlfriend, she has no relationship with anyone else. I guess they think Amelia and the new doctor are gay people enough.
Possibly, but I’m sure Jacy Elliot is cheaper to keep recurring vs the two starring characters Levi and Yasuda.
Mika is my favorite of the new interns, but Grey’s clearly has way more characters than it can effectively serve, and in terms of streamlining, it kind of makes sense for her to be among the cuts, because she’s a bit less interwoven with the rest of the cast and the fabric of the show
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And Midori Francis will find a new job pretty much immediately, I’m sure. She brings a great energy to anything she’s in.
Problem is the attendings like Meredith, Owen, Teddy, Joe, Linc, Amelia, Winston snd I am sorry but Bailey and Webber who have no real storylines. I know we need them for continuity, but their presrnce and lack of storylines prevent Grey’s from investing in and developing its new characters.
If they fired her, it was a mistake. Amelia’s nephew is the real dud in that group.
Agreed. I can’t stand his character. I also don’t like Simone. And I’m lukewarm on Kwan.
I like Uasuda and am disappointed she is getting the boot but at least Jules isn’t going because she’s my favorite of the interns.
I came here to say what most others are saying. She’s easily the most likable intern
Yasuda is my favorite intern so I absolutely hate this!!!
One of my favorite new interns, so this sucks, but I wish her the best and considering it was a mutual decision (deadline mentions that) it wasn’t just a financial decision.
For god’s sake! If budgeting is really the reason, get rid of Owen, Teddy, Jo & Link and focus on the new interns
Well, they said budget cuts. I liked Yasuda. As long as Simone and Lucas stay–I’ll be a happy camper. I am confident the three OG actors will re-sign.
I couldn’t disagree more lol. I despise Lucas. There doesn’t seem to be anything special about him at all. He makes terrible decisions and it always feels like he’s trying too hard to be broody. And I find Simone so boring. I liked her a lot at first but now she’s just run-of-the-mill. I ADORE Yasuda though and am heartbroken about her leaving.
Given Lucas is a Shepherd, doubt he would be cut since he is more integrated with other characters and even old Greys characters who might visit. Unless the actor wants to leave i would think he is the most secure.
Hey. To each his/her own 🤷🏾♂️ I like how they switched it up. Lucas has two medical savants in his family and he keeps screwing up. If he were perfect, it would be boring. He’s an intern. This is when they are ALL supposed to mess up because they are learning. I imagine this came down to future story aspects and popularity. But who knows? Maybe the actress was pulling a bigger paycheck and would net them more ready cash.
I agree 100%. Lucas is annoying. Too flaky. And I liked Simone for the first third of episodes she was in but now she annoys me.
This crop of interns is (very likely) an OG set 2.0. Lucas is clearly the new Alex. (Blue is clearly the male Christina and the other 3 are interchangeable for George, Mer, and Izzy depending on their story lines.) My point is this: Lucas is the underdog. He’s supposed to be borderline unlikeable. But you still silently root for an underdog.
Yes I agree, Lucas and Simone are my favs.
Please get rid of Owen and Teddy as well.
fire lucas, if anyone! he’s such a simpering, entitled white boy who refuses to take accountability for his actions or to play nice with the other doctors. if he weren’t a shepherd, he would’ve been fired already.
did— did you just call him a WHITE boy? you know the actor is caribbean, right? you can’t really miss it.
i mean i agree with everything else but holy hannah…
LOL right. I initially thought he might have some African ancestry in him and a quick google search provided the answer. Plus seeing photos of his sister and yeah he’s not just a White guy. LOL
I also keep wondering if they are going to bring his mom in for an episode and who they will cast to play her.
Wdym. His Mom is a sheppard. His Mom has already been on the show. All sheppard sisters have been casted and made at least one appearance. Meaning his Mom has already been casted.
*cast
The popular theory is that he’s the son of Nancy, who’s already appeared on the show.
I may be the minority voice on this one. But, when you start cutting actors out of a show. And most of the veterans have left the shoe. Even the main character that it’s names after is only there part time……I mean it’s time to end the show! Grey’s Anatomy has been on for 20 years! Time to end the show.
I mean I like it. And I am a loyal fan until the end, but it has run its course. I say the same thing for SVU.
I actually think it’s time to cancel a show when people stop watching. Yeah I think that’s the better time and from what I can tell people are still watching.
Yeah…..one would think but no. Networks have canceled many shows that were popular and people were watching. But Grey’s is cutting actors because they have budget problems! Nix the show!
Maybe it’s also time if the show has to make budget cuts. This season has been pretty boring imo.
I would rather see Teddy and Owen go- Keep the newbies they are fun to watch. I fast forward all Teddy/Owen storylines.
The way the brunette girl and guy from glee should have been cut long before Mika. They keep getting rid of people who have potential for storylines that aren’t relationship based. Or relationship storylines that are actually different and interesting.
Who is the guy from Glee?
Harry Shum
While Mika is my favorite. I do like the “brunette and the Guy from Glee” 😉
Of the interns, she was probably my favorite.
She’s one of the better interns. She has a little spunk. Feel like it’s time for Grey’s to retire. The storylines aren’t always great, & what made the show appointment viewing is gone.
Can’t help but notice how the 2 actors that have been let go so far are the 2 queer series regulars.
Damn. Not a good week. First Levi and now Yasuda? That’s like most of the lgbtq people in the show. Yasuda has become my favorite intern too. What a shame. They should be cutting Owen and teddy. They ran out of stories for those two ten years ago.
And Helm is pretty much guaranteed to be gone now since she only has a relationship with Levi and Yusada. And who knows what’s going to happen to Carina with Station 19 ending.
Not necessarily. With no Levi. They still need a chief resident. She lost a year due to her bartender job. She will just find a new love interest.
Except her residency ends this season.
She won’t need to be chief resident if her last year of residency ends this season.
No Yusada is my favorite of the interns
this is a shame, and if it’s indeed because of budget cuts as well, a big mistake on the show’s part! she’s one of the better and more enjoyable interns and I will be sad to see her go.
I really liked the new intern group and I thought this could be Grey’s 2.0 but I guess they have other plans. Although I watch every episode of it and enjoy it often, it feels like the “old” crew should retire bit for bit. What’s the point? I man, yes, Meredith and Richard and Bailey are great..but the rest..the don’t even have good storylines…so Owen, Amelia, Link, Jo, Teddy, Winston, Catherine should go instead…
Grey’s Anatomy De-Gay 2.0
Hopefully noone disappears in the parking lot this time.
Two cuts in two days. Both lgbtq+
Sounds as if it is more of a mutual parting more than because of budget cuts. She wants to focus on new roles. Has new representation. But she will be missed. She was one of the better new interns.
She is the only new good character ?!!!!