Sort of.

If you’ve seen promos for this week’s episode, “The Becoming,” you likely noticed that they feature Preston Burke - even if the former character doesn’t appear on the actual episode of Grey’s Anatomy. Just a picture of him.

Below is a photo taken from the promo. Tonight’s Grey’s Anatomy will focus on how Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh) reacts to this news of her ex-fiance.

Isaiah Washington, who portrayed Preston so brilliantly before being fired after Season 3, is now shooting a movie with Forrest Whitaker in New Orleans, but is reportedly upset about his likeness being used on Grey’s Anatomy.

Washington’s rep, Howard Bragman said in a statement:

“Isaiah has no plans to go back to Grey’s Anatomy … That being said, we were more than a little surprised that ABC used his likeness in a promo for the show, and indeed advanced his character’s storyline. Mr. Washington’s attorney has contacted the Screen Actors Guild and ABC as to the appropriateness of that action.”

A representative for ABC could not be reached for comment.

This poses the question of whether ABC is using Burke (a la Addison) as a ploy to boost Grey’s Anatomy ratings, which have slipped. Thoughts?

It’s safe to say our favorite show is back and better than ever. Below are two questions answered by top TV sleuths Michael Ausiello (TV Guide) and Kristin Veitch (E! Online) about the upcoming episodes of Grey’s Anatomy…

Question: Seems like Grey’s Anatomy is heading on the right track to greatness again! Any spoilers to confirm this?

Michael Ausiello: Yes indeed. I just found out which two characters will be performing the “major kiss” in the Grey’s Anatomy season finale and trust me when I say you will not be disappointed.

Will it be Meredith and Derek engaging in the unforgettable kiss?

Question: Any Grey’s Anatomy scoop involving Hahn and Sloan? They are my new favorite couple.

Kristin Veitch: But isn’t she a le…ooker, a looker? Not that there’s anything wrong with that! (Wink, wink.) I can tell you that Eric Dane (Mark “McSteamy” Sloan) has a nude scene in the finale. God bless you, Shonda Rhimes! Who he’s gettin’ naked with I cannot say, but obviously there is gonna be some steam involved. In other Grey’s Anatomy news, I’m also told that Ava/Rebecca is actually sick, and that will be a big story line for both Alex and Izzie.

With the return of Grey’s Anatomy just eight days away, here are some new pieces of news, gossip and spoilers from TV Guide’s Michael Ausiello.

Question: Does your news of a two-hour finale of Grey’s Anatomy mean two new hours of the show, or is it going to be a recap episode and then the finale?

Ausiello: As I understand it, there’ll be about 80 minutes of show, plus 22 minutes of commercials and 18 minutes of ABC promos. Give or take a few here and there.

Question: Grey’s Anatomy casting two gay service members? Sign me up! I am a former service member that was discharged for being gay.

Ausiello: You’re too late — they’ve already found a few good-looking men: Benny Ciaramello (Friday Night Lights‘ Santiago) and Road Rules’ David Giuntoli have been tapped to play the same-gender-lovin’ soldiers who share a “very romantic kiss.”

Question: Wanna tell us who is gonna be involved in the super-secret, special, surprising kiss in the Grey’s Anatomy season finale?

Ausiello: First, let’s explain to the class what you’re referring to, Mandy. In the current issue of TV Guide, guest columnist Shonda Rhimes offers a first-person preview of the show’s final five episodes — and she saves the best for the last paragraph. “A lot happens in these five episodes,” she writes. “And it all ends with a kiss. A good kiss. A great kiss. A kiss so good it makes you lean into your televisions. A kiss we never saw coming. Oh, it’s a major kiss.” Unfortunately, I come bearing no clues since I honestly have no idea whose lips will be smacking. She kind of threw me for a loop with the whole “kiss we never saw coming” bit.

Who’s it gonna be, Grey’s Anatomy fans! Talk to the Insider!

We’ve read the Grey’s Anatomy spoilers and heard the whispers (even from head honcho Shonda Rhimes) that Derek and Meredith may reunite for good this spring.

But how, exactly, is that going to come about? TV Guide’s Michael Ausiello sheds some light on that subject in his weekly Q&A session.

Interestingly, the answer may be guest star Amy Madigan.

Check out what he has to say about her role on Grey’s Anatomy…

Question: Do you know for sure if Amy Madigan will be playing the psychiatrist of Meredith Grey on Grey’s Anatomy?

Ausiello: Yes, she’s definitely playing her shrink and, presumably, the catalyst that will bring Mer-Der back together by the finale.

When Grey’s Anatomy returns from its long, writers strike-induced hiatus, its first new episode back, on April 24, is titled “Where the Wild Things Are.”

Make of that what you will.

We’ve read a lot of what follows already, but the Chicago Tribune has some interesting Grey’s Anatomy spoilers that might be of note to some of you.

Follow the jump to read some of what supposedly transpires in “Where the Wild Things Are” and in the Grey’s Anatomy episodes following that…

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The return of Grey’s Anatomy is a little more than a month away and even more Grey’s Anatomy spoilers are starting to surface regarding its new episodes.

Last week, TV Guide’s Michael Ausiello has the latest on what we can expect for Meredith and Derek, as well as some interesting cast notes (and speculation).

This week, the insider has tracked down some scoop regarding another fan favorite, star-crossed Grey’s Anatomy couple - the often maligned Gizzie.

Be forewarned if you want to be totally surprised when Grey’s Anatomy comes back to ABC Thursday, April 24. Follow the jump if you want to learn a little bit more about George and Izzie and more from the world of Grey’s Anatomy spoilers …

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The return of Grey’s Anatomy is a little more than a month away and the Grey’s Anatomy spoilers are starting to surface regarding its new episodes.

Don’t get your hopes up - there’s nothing Earth-shattering here.

But TV Guide’s Michael Ausiello has the latest on what we can expect for Meredith and Derek, as well as some interesting casting notes (and speculation).

Be forewarned if you want to be in the dark and totally surprised on Thursday, April 24. Follow the jump if you want to learn a little bit more about Meredith and Derek and more from the world of Grey’s Anatomy spoilers …

Continue Reading »

“My goal is to get Meredith [Ellen Pompeo] and Derek [Patrick Dempsey] together for good and let them try to figure out what it is to be in a relationship in the future.” - Grey’s Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes.

The executive producer’s words may offer welcome relief for fans exhausted by months - years - of Meredith and Derek getting closer, yet always driven apart.

“That is something that time off [during the writers' strike] really gave me some perspective on — whether or not we could actually do it, how we could do it, that it would be amazing to watch how that works,” Rhimes said.

Will the much-maligned Meredith and Derek love story finally be repaired?

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Shonda Rhimes said she had dinner with Dempsey and “we talked about all of this. As actors, they’re very invested in Derek and Meredith. Ellen and I are getting together Monday.”

Even the Grey’s Anatomy cast itself is excited by this news.

When told of the MerDer development, T.R. Knight exclaimed, “Oh, wow, I didn’t know that! I guess Meredith and Derek are gonna smooch again!”

On a slightly less ecstatic note, Knight said he is busy getting over a bad cold before heading back to work next week: “I got the crud that’s been going around,” he said as he drove home from a doctor’s appointment yesterday. “It was like, Body is crashing, you’ve got a week and a half to be sick before work starts, so go.”

Also coming up when Grey’s Anatomy returns April 24:

• Lauren Stamile, who plays McDreamy’s latest potential love interest, Nurse Rose, will return for all five new spring episodes.
• Elizabeth Reaser, as Jane Doe / Ava / Rebecca, will be back for three.

The return of Grey’s Anatomy is still weeks off, but TV Guide sleuth Michael Ausiello is already getting the scoop on what we can expect when our favorite show ends its long, long writers’ strike-induced absence on Thursday, April 24.

There’s nothing Earth-shattering here, but we’ve hidden these new Grey’s Anatomy spoilers after the jump for the benefit of those who wish to be kept in the dark.

If you want some hints on the future of Mer-Der and the character that was supposed to be played by Josh Jackson, follow the jump and read on!

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Drs. Karev and Stevens heated up Grey’s Anatomy in Season 2, but as we know, it didn’t work out. Since then, they’ve become good friends… but is that it?

At the SAG Awards Monday night, Justin Chambers (Alex) weighed in on a possible Alex-Izzie reunion on Grey’s Anatomy, while his Grey’s co-star, Sara Ramirez (Callie) hints that there still may be hope for Callie and George.

Would you like to see either or both of these couples back together?

Check out TV Guide reporter Michael Ausiello’s SAG video to learn more and to watch his interviews with our favorite stars and others in the TV world.