`GREY'S ANATOMY' STAR APOLOGIZES -- AGAIN.

Byline: GREG HERNANDEZ Staff Writer

Under fire once again for his offensive remarks toward the gay community, ``Grey's Anatomy'' star Isaiah Washington on Thursday said he was sorry for the stir he created at the Golden Globe Awards.

Amid calls for him to be fired, it's not known whether the apology will be enough to save his job on the mega-hit show, which won an award for best drama series Monday night.

Washington, who plays Dr. Preston Burke on the show, lit a fire under what had been a smoldering issue when he grabbed a microphone backstage after the show and announced to the world press: ``I did not call T.R. (Knight) a faggot. It never happened.''

But the actor, now firmly in the center of a growing firestorm involving political correctness and professional behavior, changed course and issued a lengthy apology to Knight, his colleagues, the show's fans and ``especially'' the gay and lesbian community for his use of the word ``faggot.''

``By repeating the word Monday night, I marred what should have been a perfect night for everyone who works on `Grey's Anatomy,''' he said. ``I can neither defend nor explain my behavior.I can also no longer deny to myself that there are issues I obviously need to examine within my own soul, and I've asked for help.''

ABC had issued a carefully worded statement critical of the actor earlier in the day.

``We are greatly dismayed that Mr. Washington chose to use such inappropriate language at the Golden Globes,'' the network said. ``We take this situation very seriously, and his actions are unacceptable and are being addressed.''

ABC mum on apology

ABC did not have further comment and declined to discuss the actor's future on the show or respond to his apology.

In October, news of an on-set scuffle between Washington and co-star Patrick Dempsey led to reports that Washington had referred to Knight as a ``faggot.'' Knight then publicly confirmed that he is gay, and Washington issued a statement saying, ``I sincerely regret my actions and the unfortunate use of words during the recent incident on-set.''

Knight, who portrays Dr. George O'Malley on ``Grey's Anatomy,'' had never spoken publicly on the matter beyond his original statement confirming his sexuality. But he appeared on ``The Ellen DeGeneres Show'' on Wednesday to give his version of events and said: ``(Washington) referred to me as a faggot. ... Everyone heard it.''

The network said Thursday that it has ``a long-standing policy to create and maintain respectful workplaces for all our employees. We dealt with the original situation in October and thought the issue resolved.''

ABC said it was ``dismayed'' to hear Washington use language at the awards show ``that he himself deemed `unfortunate' in his previous public apology.''

Leaving the show

Producer-director Paris Barclay, a vice president of the Directors Guild of America, has called for Washington to be written out of the show.

``Isaiah needs to be fired,'' Barclay told the AfterElton.com Web site.

``It's just that simple. He needs to go. He's a homophobe and a liar, and no matter how important he may appear to be, there has to be a line on what behavior is acceptable both on the set and when representing the show to the press.''

When asked how he would handle the situation, Barclay, currently working on FX's ``Dirt'' and CBS's ``CSI,'' said: ``We'd figure out a way to work out the contract issues and write the actor out as quickly as possible. Actors with addiction problems have been let go unceremoniously -- this to me is much worse.''

But the tone of Washington's written apology indicates that the actor wants to keep his job and repair his relationships with his colleagues: ``T.R.'s courage throughout this entire episode speaks to his tremendous character.I hold his talent, and T.R. as a person, in high esteem. I know a mere apology will not end this, and I intend to let my future actions prove my sincerity.''

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation had called for Washington to publicly apologize this week. Executive Director Neil Giuliano said Thursday, ``We are encouraged by Isaiah Washington's statement ... and optimistic that it may mark a turning point in this deeply troubling situation.''

Washington is scheduled to meet with GLAAD early next week, Giuliano said.

The actor said he welcomes the chance ``to meet with leaders of the gay and lesbian community to apologize in person and to talk about what I can do to heal the wounds I've opened.''

Izzie speaks up

Other members of the cast had kept mum publicly on the matter until an angry Katherine Heigl spoke up in a post-Globes televised interview.

``I'm going to be really honest right now. (Washington) needs to not speak in public. Period. I'm sorry, that did not need to be said,'' said Heigl, who plays Dr. Isobel ``Izzie'' Stevens. ``I'm not OK with it. ... Drawing attention to it and saying the word again is just unnecessary.''

In addition to Washington's future, another question is how the controversy might affect the show's ratings. ``Grey's Anatomy'' has already effortlessly survived a time-slot change from its comfortable post-``Desperate Housewives'' slot Sunday nights to a more competitive Thursday night perch where it managed to beat ``C.S.I.''

```Grey's Anatomy' is a juggernaut of sorts that is going to continue to do just fine,'' said Robert Thompson, director of the Center for the Study of Popular Television at Syracuse University. ``There might be a lot of people who now feel animosity toward that actor because of what they heard he said, but I don't know that that's going to derail `Grey's Anatomy.'''

Well-known Hollywood publicist Michael Levine said he thinks the ratings might even go up.

``The brutal facts are that controversy is good for ratings,'' Levine said. ``The opposite of love is not hate; it's indifference. This kind of stuff, even if it's emotionally traumatizing for certain individuals, is good for ratings.''

greg.hernandez(at)dailynews.com

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(color) Isaiah Washington, right, an actor on ``Grey's Anatomy,'' apologized Thursday for again using the word ``faggot'' in reference to T.R. Knight, left.

Matt Sayles/Associated Press