The Los Angeles Times is weighing in on the rumors of two Grey's Anatomy cast members leaving the show, and whether said rumors should be believed - and moreover, if all of the suspense surrounding the pair's drama is necessarily a bad thing.
Whatever plot twists the Grey's Anatomy writers are planning, they can't possibly be as dramatic - or at least as suspenseful, in the literal sense of something suspended that never actually falls - as the rumored exits of cast members Katherine Heigl and T.R. Knight.
Lingering for months already, this particular bit of off-screen gossip was heightened yesterday by a new report that quotes fellow cast member James Pickens, Jr., as declaring that Heigl and Knight are as good as gone from the ABC medical drama.
Katherine Heigl is a sometime movie star (some of her Knocked Up quotes were pretty funny) with a well-documented fondness for saying seemingly unguarded and possibly career-jeopardizing things, like dissing the series with a grandiose gesture.
That being removing herself from Emmy consideration last year and saying "the material I was given" failed to warrant consideration. This after winning the previous year.
T.R. Knight, who was at the center of an ugly gay-baiting incident involving former co-star Isaiah Washington, is reportedly unhappy with what he feels is limited screen time.
A couple points, however, are getting lost in the scuffle to squeeze some sort of definitive news from Pickens' comments, according to the L.A. Times ...
First, how does Pickens know for sure that either one of his costars is leaving?
Actors are not always the most reliable sources of dish on upcoming scripts, let alone information about what's happening off the set.
For the record, Grey's Anatomy, network and studio sources have declined comment on the Heigl-Knight issue, as have PR reps for the two actors themselves.
That leads the second point: Why should anyone comment and ruin all this great suspense? Now in its fifth season, Grey's Anatomy needs all the help it can get.
Back in the day - the 2006-2007 season, to be precise, when it averaged a record 19.9 viewers - it was ABC's top-rated scripted show and bona fide sensation.
That all seems like a very, very long time ago.
Some fans have complained about this season's story lines - particularly the remergence of "Dead Denny," a deceased former love interest of Heigl's character surgical resident Izzie Stevens - and the show is slogging through its worst-ever ratings, averaging 15.1 million.
A current arc of interlocking episodes with the Grey's Anatomy spin-off Private Practice seems to be boosting the latter show without doing much to help the former.
So by keeping the Katherine Heigl-T.R. Knight drama alive, was James Pickens, Jr., just been doing what he could to help out the home team. Or speaking candidly?
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43 Comments
February 11th, 2009 2:22 PM
All the drama makes people want to watch more to find out what is going to happen right? These rumors are probably started by ABC to boost ratings. LOL. I hope they both stay on, and I hope Grey's has a long future ahead of it. Good lord, what would I do with my Thursday nights if it went off?! ;)
February 11th, 2009 2:54 PM
I realy realy hope its a rumour or publicity stunt because either way i dont want them to leave and i LOVE grey's anatomy it is THE best show there is!
February 11th, 2009 2:57 PM
I'll never stop watching, even if they get rid of anyone. I mean, if McDreamy was gone then I wouldn't watch because whats the point? But I love the show too much, even if it makes me mad sometimes.
February 11th, 2009 3:05 PM
"I'll never stop watching, even if they get rid of anyone. I mean, if McDreamy was gone then I wouldn't watch because whats the point?."
You just contradicted yourself.
I hope they stay. I really love them.
February 11th, 2009 3:08 PM
I really don't think that their leaving (okay, I doubt it, but hope that they stay).
They can't be that ungrateful. Let's just hope that this is a PR stunt...
February 11th, 2009 3:45 PM
The only way I MIGHT stop watching is if they broke up Mer and Der for good (which won't happen). The original actors need to stop leaving. The "newbies" aren't as good. For example Dixon and Sadie.
February 11th, 2009 3:50 PM
I really don't want them to leave, they are part of the team that made the show so great in the first place, and i think it would be a tragedy to lose either one of them. However, if they choose to leave, i can't blame them. George's lack of screen time when his very best friend/former lover is going through all of her madness seems completely illogical. Why wouldn't Izzy confide in George? And why is George never on screen anymore? WHY!!? And the whole Izzy and Dead Denny thing? Please. I loved JDM when he was on the show, and they have totally ruined him and that character for me now. I hope that this rumor really is just a publicity stunt and that Grey's gets back to the good stuff! Remember season 2? Ahh the good old days...
February 11th, 2009 4:08 PM
Aw, I don't want them to leave. I agree with what greysanatomyismylife said, the original cast members are irreplaceable.
February 11th, 2009 4:18 PM
i don't care what the ratings say.. grey's is and always has been my number one.. and without Kath and T.R.. its not gonna be the same, they're two of the most important cast members. I really hope these are just rumors.
February 11th, 2009 4:25 PM
I reall think all this is some kind of publicity stunt. Think about the timing...right in the middle og ABC's big hyped crossover event with PrP. And there is no way an actor on Grey's is going to blow such a huge story of two cast members leaving without comment from either actor's publicists or ABC executives or executives from the show! It's just craziness.
I have been a loyal viewer since the pilot and even though I would miss Katherine and T.R terribly if they left, I'd continue watching. That's just me.