It's Official: T.R. Knight Will Not Return to Grey's Anatomy
The sixth season premiere is still months away, but one of last season's bigger Grey's Anatomy cliffhangers has already been resolved. Sources have confirmed to Entertainment Weekly the following: T.R. Knight's wish to be released from his contract has been granted.
He will not return to the show.
The official decision, according to Michael Ausiello, came down in the past few days, just as many of his castmates began receiving their formal pickup letters from ABC.
The actor's exit closes yet another rocky chapter for the embattled show, one that opened with Isaiah Washington-gate and worsened when, amid rumors that Knight was clashing with series creator Shonda Rhimes, George O'Malley was back-burnered.
Finally, Knight grew so fed up with his character's lack of storyline that he asked if he could check out three years before his deal expired. After that, indications were that he would be let go, although Rhimes didn't make a final decision until recently.
Contractually speaking, she had until June 30 to make up her mind.
Last month, Rhimes said George's relatively light storyline this year was the result of the normal "ebbs and flows" of ensemble television. But Shonda did acknowledge that he was intentionally written lighter during the last half of the season.
That way, viewers wouldn't think it odd that he was absent from the season finale - something that was necessary to preserve the episode's biggest twist: that George O'Malley was actually the disfigured John Doe who had been hit by a bus (above).
"I really wanted you to not notice that he wasn't there for most of this episode," she said. "I don't think anybody noticed because of the way we laid it out this season."
TR Knight's departure would seem to indicate George's demise as a character, however, some fans have wondered if Rhimes is planning to pull an Elizabeth Reaser (Jane Doe/Rebecca from Season Three) and have him live, only to be replaced by another actor.
That's "hilarious, ridiculous," the boss has said.
However, rumor has it that Rhimes was indeed interested in having Knight appear in next season's first three episodes, but a short-term deal could not be brokered.
Reps for Knight and ABC declined to comment.
Now that the question of George O'Malley's future seems to have been answered, albeit sadly, another puzzler moves to the forefront: What's going to happen to Katherine Heigl and Izzie, whose life also hung in the balance in last May's capper?
Sound off on both topics below ...
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June 17th, 2009 5:45 PM
:( this really saddens me. i loved george :(
June 17th, 2009 5:46 PM
O.O
Well, it's official...Not sure what to do now...
June 17th, 2009 5:46 PM
i just want jessica capshaw to come back
and katherine heigl
the fact that george didn't have any massive storylines in this last season, i think, makes it easier for me to not be as bothered
June 17th, 2009 5:46 PM
It is seriously not official until Shonda or ABC say it is which will not happen so I will not believe any rumors or anything until I see it for real on the sixth season.
June 17th, 2009 5:47 PM
Oh wow, that's incredibly sad!! I LOVE George and i really hated the lack of anything he had this season. I guess his time on the show has run out, although it really sucks. I still hope Izzie lives, though. It will make the blow a little less horrible if one of them lives. I wonder how everyone will take George's death next season. Hopefully Izzie stays on the elevator and doesn't get off and lives another day.
George, i'll miss you ;(
June 17th, 2009 5:50 PM
Again, I find myself going off on another rant. Does anyone at ABC know how to keep talent? This is the 3rd decent actor to leave Grey's (Isaiah Washington and Brooke Smith being the other 2).
What can I say, simply put "IDIOTS"
By the by, I want to wish every success in the future to T.R. he is an excellent actor and anyone who doesnt employ him soon are fools. Grey's lost, others gain!
June 17th, 2009 5:50 PM
So then what happens with the George/John Doe storyline?? Will they just say he died? How will they cope? Especially Izzie, we all know what she was like after Denny. At least there was no romantic stuff between them this time.
yes. I am like Meredith because I ramble a lot. Yay!
June 17th, 2009 6:08 PM
I agree with Amanda-- Ausiello's word is not "official word" I won't believe it fully until I hear it from TR himself, Shonda or ABC. But I sincerely must say, TR leaving would be a seriously and devastating loss for the show.
George is the heart of MAGIC.
TR Knight is incredibly talented and brings so much to Greys.
But again, I will not fully believe until a real OFFICIAL source comes forward.
June 17th, 2009 6:14 PM
Can honestly say I won't miss him. The show needed to revitalize itself and I think removing George and Izzie, and bringing in Owen and Arizona adds a freshness that was lacking towards the end of the fourth season.
June 17th, 2009 6:14 PM
I really liked George and Izzy..what a twist in the season finale. It was heartbreaking.
I hope at least Katherine Heigle stays.