Isaiah Washington has lost his job on the hit ABC medical drama "Grey's Anatomy," five months after creating a furor with his use of an anti-gay slur.

Washington's contract option was not renewed for next season, series producer ABC Television Studios said Thursday.

"I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore," Washington said in a statement released through his publicist, Howard Bragman, without elaboration.

He drew fire after using the anti-gay epithet backstage at the Golden Globe Awards in January while denying he'd used it previously on the set against cast mate T.R. Knight.

Gay rights groups and cast member Katherine Heigl, who publicly denounced Washington, were among his most vocal critics.

"This is something that will have changed the scope of his life," Heigl told Entertainment Weekly last month. Washington was "sorry and embarrassed" for the mistake, she said.

Washington tried to make amends and said he was seeking therapy.

He also met with officials from the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network and the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and filmed a public service announcement in which he said "words have power" to hurt or heal.

The May finale of "Grey's Anatomy" opened the door for the departure of his character. Burke was on the verge of marrying Dr. Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh), but her doubts at first delayed and then derailed their splashy wedding.

Later, Yang found that Burke cleared out his favorite possessions from their apartment. (Associated Press)

Fox News (gasp!) apologizes
Fox News Channel issued a second on-air apology Wednesday for mistakenly running tape of a different congressman while reporting on the indictment of Rep. William J. Jefferson on bribery charges.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers of Michigan, whose picture aired while Fox anchors talked Monday about Jefferson's indictment, had been unhappy with Fox's apology Tuesday. Both congressmen are black.

Conyers was reportedly upset that Fox's first apology was nonspecific and didn't mention he was the victim.

On Wednesday, Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum explained to viewers that a production assistant picked up a tape that had been identified as a meeting about Jefferson. The picture showed Conyers.

"We regret this mistake," MacCallum said. "We in no way meant to suggest that there was any connection between the Jefferson indictment and Congressman Conyers. We have extended our apology privately to the congressman and we do so here as well."

A Conyers spokeswoman had no comment about the second apology. (David Bauder, Associated Press)

McCoy promoted on 'Law'
As expected, prosecutor Jack McCoy is getting a promotion to New York district attorney on "Law & Order," but viewers could see less of Sam Waterston, the actor who plays him.

McCoy will take over from New York D.A. Arthur Branch, who was played by Fred Thompson. A former U.S. senator, Thompson asked to be released from the NBC drama as he weighs a bid for the Republican nomination for president.

Waterston will begin his 14th season as McCoy, who was an executive assistant D.A., when the show returns in midseason. In past episodes, the district attorney's character generally has been seen in brief scenes offering counsel to his staff. (AP)

Channel surfing
Point Park University freshman dance major Neil Haskell is one of 10 male finalists on Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance." ... Before Bob Barker's final "Price Is Right" episode Friday, Nichole Poli of Monroeville competes for cash and prizes Tuesday at 11 a.m. on KDKA-TV. ... All 13 episodes of NBC's canceled series "The Black Donnellys" will air weekly on HDNet, including seven that NBC never aired. Unfortunately for local fans, Comcast doesn't carry HDNet. ... Lifetime's "Army Wives" became the network's biggest premiere ever, with 3.5 million viewers tuning in Sunday. ... TBS's critically reviled "House of Payne" did even better, setting records with 5.2 million viewers watching its 9 p.m. premiere and 5.8 million tuning in for a second episode at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday. According to Daily Variety, in adults 18-49, "Payne" beat programming on NBC and CBS. (Rob Owen, Post-Gazette TV editor)