Bridgerton has been one of Netflix’s most bingeable shows since its very first season in 2020. Fans who weren’t aware of Bridgerton prior to the television series (I was one of them) quickly discovered that the Regency era romance is a book-to-screen adaptation of Julia Quinn’s popular historical romance novels. Six years later, Season 4 has finally premiered in its entirety, with production for Season 5 in full swing. Throughout the years, Quinn has supported all production decisions, from color-conscious casting to major plot diversions. Turns out there are a couple of reasons why Bridgerton’s author was more than willing to completely give up creative control so Shonda Rhimes would adapt her books.

Season 3 marked a turning point for the Bridgerton TV adaptation, departing from the book series in a few ways. First and foremost, Season 3 focused on Colin and Penelope’s love match, rather than continuing in book order (Book 3, “An Offer From A Gentleman” tells Benedict’s tale). However, the more shocking change was the gender-swap of Michael Stirling to Michaela Stirling, which quietly set up a future LGBTQ+ storyline for Francesca. This diversion resulted in a lot of backlash directed towards Quinn, who backed showrunner Jess Brownell’s decision.

The New York Times Bestselling author recently told the Maher sisters on House of Maher that she has almost no involvement with the show, and revealed two reasons why it was easy to give up creative control of the series:

It’s true, there’s no historical romance series adaptation quite like Bridgerton. Quinn’s original deal with Shondaland and Netflix was $100 million for four seasons, although she told People Rhimes had plans to adapt all eight Bridgerton books. The How To Get Away With Murder creator is one step closer to that goal now that Netflix has renewed the popular romance for two more seasons.

There truly is no one better than Shonda Rhimes when it comes to salacious scandal, extraordinary yearning, and the kind of breath-taking confessions of love we’ve come to expect from the Bridgerton leads. Need I remind you of Meredith Grey’s iconic ultimatum, “pick me, choose me, love me?” Only a warm-up to one of my favorite love confessionals in TV history:

It’s not an exaggeration when I say I think about that scene every day. At the time, Quinn didn’t know what Shondaland’s Bridgerton would become, but she knew from Rhimes’ track record that she could completely trust the Grey's Anatomy creator with her beloved historical romance series:

That’s not to say Quinn is completely cut out from the television adaptation. Most big decisions, especially major plot changes, are run by the author first, not for approval, but more on a consulting basis. For example, when Bridgerton showrunner Jess Brownell ultimately decided to make Francesca’s romance a sapphic love story, Julia Quinn heard about it ages before it went public.

It seems there’s a lot of trust and respect that goes both ways between the author and those who run the show, and given Bridgerton is one of Netflix’s most-streamed shows of all time, I’d say the results speak for themselves. So while I understand that some fans are disappointed about the many changes made to things like Francesca’s story, I sit firmly with Julia Quinn on this one: there is no doubt in my mind that Shondaland will continue to give us great romance. I also think they'll give us an epic queer romance between Francesca and Michaela, who have officially been announced as the main couple in Season 5.

I’m psyched that a sapphic couple will be the lead roles on a show like Bridgerton, known for swoonworthy moments, steamy scenes, and opulent sets. Given production has just started, we won’t see any lesbian yearning or spark-worthy tension from Hannah Dodd (Fran) and Masali Baduza (Michaela) on the 2026 TV schedule, but we can hope for a premiere date sometime in 2027 or 2028.

The 2026 Oscars have come and gone, with a number of filmmakers awarded for their work over the last year. Additionally, the In Memoriam segment honored the many actors, directors, and film professionals that we lost. While the ceremony gave special love to folks like Rob Reiner and Diane Keaton, a few figures were noticeably missing. That includes late actor Eric Dane, although both his wife Rebecca Gayheart and Shonda Rhimes have responded to this snub.

The Academy Awards' In Memoriam always leave some folks out, and this year they failed to honor both Dane and James Van Der Beek after their deaths. Some fans took umbrage with this, and now we have an idea about how those who knew the late Grey's Anatomy star are responding.

How Rebecca Gayheart Reportedly Feels

Eric Dane and Rebeca Gayheart were married for over 21 years, although the Jawbreaker icon did file for divorce (and later withdrew the request after his ALS diagnosis). So how did she feel about her husband not being included in the Academy Awards' In Memoriam segment this year? A source who is allegedly close to Gayheart spoke to TMZ, claiming she was "saddened" to see him left out. Although the family also reportedly understands, as they put it:

The In Memoriam definitely proved that. Whether it was Rob Reiner's death or the recent passing of Catherine O'Hara, there were a ton of names to honor throughout the In Memoriam segment. And Eric Dane was included on the Academy website... even if he didn't make it onto the telecast. Since Dane and Van Der Beek were best known for their work on TV, smart moneys says they'll be heavily featured in the next Emmy Awards.

How Does Shonda Rhimes Feel About Dane's Oscars Snub?

Another major figure has also weighed in on Dane not being featured: Grey's Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes. She worked with the late actor for years, resulting in Mark Sloan aka McSteamy being one of the most beloved characters in the show's history. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, the TV mogul said:

Despite knowing Dane, it sounds like Rhimes understands why he didn't appear during the Oscars telecast's In Memoriam. While the late actor has a number of movie roles such as X-Men: The Last Stand, Burslesque, and Bad Boys: Ride or Die, he is best known for being a TV star. Now if the Emmys leave him out, that'll be another story entirely.

Luckily for Eric Dane's fans, he's got some posthumous roles coming, including Euphoria Season 3, which premiers April 12th as part of the 2026 TV schedule. Given his legacy on TV and film, smart money says folks are going to be watching his appearance as Cal Jacobs even more closely.

Heartbreaking news hit the entertainment industry on Thursday, when Eric Dane’s family confirmed that the 53-year-old actor had passed away less than a year after he revealed that he’d been diagnosed with ALS. Dane was known for series like Euphoria and his appearance on Brilliant Minds, where his portrayal of a character with ALS earned him a standing ovation from the cast and crew. For many, though, Dane was best known as Mark Sloan, aka “McSteamy” from Grey’s Anatomy, and many former co-stars from the medical drama paid tribute following the sad news.

With James Pickens Jr. being one of only two Grey’s Anatomy stars serving as series regulars on all 22 seasons, he was there for all of Eric Dane’s 145 episodes. Pickens posted a photo to Instagram Stories in remembrance of the actor:

Eric Dane joined Grey’s Anatomy in Season 2 and was a series regular through Season 8, with Mark Sloan getting killed off at the beginning of Season 9. McSteamy made a posthumous return in Season 17 alongside other killed-off characters like Lexie Grey, George O’Malley and Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd.

McDreamy and McSteamy were best friends on Grey’s Anatomy (when one wasn’t sleeping with the other’s wife, at least), and according to Patrick Dempsey, that friendship existed off-camera as well. Speaking on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on February 20, the actor laughed as he described Eric Dane as “the funniest man” and “such a joy to work with,” but admitted:

Eric Dane said in June 2025 that it made him “angry” that ALS was going to take him away from his two teenage daughters, and it’s devastating to think of what his family is going through and what they've already been through.

Patrick Dempsey said he hopes to just remember his friend's spirit and how “he brought so much fun to” the Grey’s Anatomy set. He continued:

Kim Raver, who plays Teddy Altman on Grey’s Anatomy, also took to social media to honor Eric Dane’s memory, writing:

April Kepner portrayer Sarah Drew shared a photo of the late actor with her own “Rest in peace” message and crying emojis:

Kevin McKidd, meanwhile, released a statement to Page Six, also acknowledging Eric Dane’s humor and saying that no matter how long it’s been since he appeared on the show, his portrayal of Mark “McSteamy” Sloan will always be an important part of Grey’s Anatomy’s history. The Owen Hunt actor said:

ABC and 20th Television also released a statement via Instagram, sending condolences in the wake of Eric Dane’s death. They wrote:

Grey’s Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes posted several images to Instagram of herself with the late actor, penning an emotional caption that read:

After announcing his diagnosis in April 2025, Eric Dane continued to act (and will reportedly appear on the long-awaited Euphoria Season 3) and advocate for other families affected by ALS. The above tributes and those from other former colleagues who championed his “fight not flight” attitude show how much Dane will be missed.

Our condolences go out to Eric Dane’s family, friends and anyone else affected by his passing.

Shonda Rhimes had to put up quite the fight 20 years ago to get Grey’s Anatomy made. She endured several different title changes, pushed for diversity in casting and insisted Meredith’s one-night stand in the series premiere would not doom the series to failure. Her efforts paid off in spades, as Season 29 continues on the 2026 TV schedule. Thinking back to those early days, Rhimes admits there was one unexpected (and pretty funny) side effect to all of the work she put into writing the show.

Grey’s Anatomy has featured some wild medical emergencies and weird diseases since its 2005 debut, and it turns out spending so much time researching different illnesses to populate a fictional hospital will turn you into something of a hypochondriac. During a visit to The Jennifer Hudson Show, Shonda Rhimes confirmed she fell victim to this, saying:

Wait, hold on a second! Self-diagnosing rare ailments and wanting to operate on them are two completely different beasts.

So, in addition to being constantly worried that she might be exhibiting symptoms of some uncommon disease, Shonda Rhimes also apparently felt like she’d gleaned enough knowledge to fix everything. I can see why her doctor might have dreaded seeing her name on the appointment book! She continued:

The cast and crew have always raved that Shonda Rhimes was great to work for when you were pregnant, and I guess we can add “willing to deliver the baby” to the list of reasons why.

In all seriousness, given the way the Grey’s Anatomy’s cast scrubs in on real surgeries to prepare for their roles, I’ll admit there are people I’d trust less than Shonda Rhimes to give me medical care in an emergency.

A lot of research goes into the medicine practiced by the Seattle surgeons, and those long surgery scenes reportedly take days to shoot, so while I’d probably stop short of letting them take my appendix out (if I still had mine, which I don’t), they’re probably better trained than the majority of civilians one might encounter outside of a hospital.

Of course, if we’re talking about the current season, the Grey Sloan Memorial doctors need to figure out how to keep themselves safe first. Season 22 so far has featured one main character being killed off, Atticus Lincoln’s near death in the hospital explosion, and most recently Jo’s twins having to be delivered via emergency C-section, risking all three of their lives. Where’s Shonda Rhimes when you need her?

Grey’s Anatomy airs at 10 p.m. ET Thursdays on ABC and can be streamed the next day with a Hulu subscription.

There are a lot of romances I’m yearning for in 2026; however, one of my most highly anticipated has to be Season 4 of Bridgerton. That’s because Benedict Bridgerton is my favorite sibling, and his love story with Sophie sounds utterly divine. I’m also a sucker for a Cinderella story, so I’ve been counting down the days since to this season before there were days to count down. However, now I’m even more excited for what we’re about to see after hearing Shonda Rhimes speak about how emotional these new episodes made her.

Overall, Season 4 of Bridgerton, which is a book-to-screen adaptation of Julia Quinn’s novel, An Offer from a Gentleman, is set to be quite different from its predecessors. That’s because it will tell an upstairs/downstairs story as Benedict falls for Sophie, a servant. While on The Jennifer Hudson Show, Shonda Rhimes praised the upcoming episodes because of that big difference, too, saying:

From the trailers they’ve released ahead of Bridgerton’s premiere on Netflix’s 2026 schedule, I can already tell that Luke Thompson and Yerin Ha, who play Benedict and Sophie, respectively, have crackling chemistry. I also cannot wait to see how they fall in love. It really seems like we're about to experience a grand romance, and I expect emotions to be high.

According to Shonda Rhimes, emotions certainly will be high, and they already have been for her. Explaining what it’s been like to do final edits on Season 4, she noted that there’s one episode that’s made her tear up every time:

You know something has to be epic and emotional when super producer Shonda Rhimes said it made her well up. Yes, the woman behind Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder and Bridgerton, a woman who has done so much, said that out of all her time working on this beloved period romance, Season 4 was the first one to make her cry every time she watched a certain episode. Talk about high praise!

This statement, mixed with showrunner Jess Brownell saying that Season 4 has been the “easiest” to “adapt,” has me beaming. To be clear, I’ve loved every season of Bridgerton; however, Benedict’s has been the one I’ve been waiting for. So, to have it receive such high and enthusiastic praise from the people who make it is exhilarating.

Now, that January 29 release date can’t come soon enough! However, you better believe I’ll have my Netflix subscription ready for that day, because I’ll be bingeing the first part of Benedict and Sophie’s story the second I’m able to, I’ll also probably be crying on many occasions (hopefully including the moment Shonda Rhimes referred to here).

Grey’s Anatomy has already stood the test of time, as its 22nd season will resume on the 2026 TV calendar on January 8, with no indication that the end is near. However, if the medical drama had gone by a different name, would it still be this successful? I'm asking because it turns out that was almost the case. ABC tried out several different titles for the medical drama, including one creator Shonda Rhimes allegedly hated.

As a longtime Grey’s fan, I personally love that the title of the series is a play on both its main character’s name — Ellen Pompeo’s Meredith Grey — and the revered textbook Gray’s Anatomy. However, in the book How to Save a Life: The Inside Story of Grey’s Anatomy, one of the higher-ups at ABC hated that name, and the show was changed to Complications, the title of another nonfiction book. According to former show writer Eric Buchman:

The writer said ABC went so far as to option Complications just to be able to use its title.

Kate Burton, who continues to guest star sporadically on Grey’s Anatomy as Meredith’s mother Ellis, despite the character’s death in Season 3, said in How to Save a Life the show had a different name when she was told about it. Burton recalls:

Both Complications and Surgeons are pretty generic names, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing — just look at ER, which was the longest-running primetime medical drama with 15 seasons before being surpassed by Grey’s Anatomy. However, it wasn’t just those two titles that were (mercifully) nixed.

Those Involved In The Show Had Some Strong Feelings About The Unused Titles

Kate Walsh — aka Addison Montgomery, who will return to Grey Sloan Memorial on January 29 (hopefully for a sisterly reunion) — threw in yet another potential title and didn’t hold back her feelings on which one she preferred when she spoke with Buzzfeed in 2017, saying:

When it comes to the titles that never were, there’s one more that admittedly isn’t as basic as the three listed above, but it may have been the most offensive to Shonda Rhimes. Eric Buchman admits he might have been responsible for coming up with this one, saying How to Save a Life:

Yeah, Miss Diagnosis is not great. I hope that really was a joke. Thankfully, things came full circle, and ABC agreed to go with the original title of Grey’s Anatomy, and 20 years in (and counting), I have no doubt the network would agree that the right call was made.

If you need a refresher on Season 22 or any of Grey’s Anatomy’s best eras, every episode is available to stream with a Hulu subscription. Tune in at 10 p.m. ET Thursday, January 8, on ABC to see what will happen to Jo Wilson (Camilla Luddington) after that harrowing midseason finale.

Grey’s Anatomy has been on the air for 20 years now, and after Ellen Pompeo reduced her role in front of the camera a few years ago, only two actors have the privilege of being able to say they’ve been series regulars on all 22 seasons — Chandra Wilson and James Pickens Jr. It’s hard to imagine Grey Sloan Memorial without Miranda Bailey and Richard Webber, but the actress revealed that she actually thought she wouldn’t make it to Season 2.

Bailey made a quick impression on both the new interns and the fans with her “I have five rules” speech in the Grey’s Anatomy series premiere in 2005 (and she continues to be a presence on current episodes airing on the 2025 TV schedule). After that first season, however, Chandra Wilson became pregnant with her third child, and she said on Good Morning America she thought that meant her time on the show was over, recalling:

After two decades of seeing the strong women that Shonda Rhimes champions in her series, she certainly doesn’t seem like the kind of boss to let someone go because they’re having a baby. Chandra Wilson didn’t know that, though, back in 2005, and she was apparently surprised to hear that she’d be able to continue in her Grey’s Anatomy role.

She went on to give birth to her son Michael, who she said was the medical drama’s first “show baby,” and since then, Chandra Wilson says there have been at least 36 babies born to various cast members.

In fact, Shonda Rhimes has become famously wonderful to work for when you’re pregnant. Katie Lowes, who starred in Scandal and has appeared on four of Shonda Rhimes’ series, said Rhimes fostered such a sense of community and support, saying (per Business Insider):

Ellen Pompeo had a similar experience, saying on the Call Her Daddy podcast earlier this year that Shonda Rhimes’ best quality as a boss was “so easy to answer.” She continued:

Shonda Rhimes may not be running the day-to-day over on Grey’s Anatomy, but it seems being able to have a family is still held in high regard for those who want to. In the milestone 450th episode that aired October 16, longtime writer Zoanne Clack echoed her own journey of having a child via a donor through Maggie Pierce’s storyline.

It’s great to hear that Chandra Wilson and the other parents on Grey’s Anatomy’s cast had so much support, and I’m so thankful that the actress was able to put in another 21 seasons — and counting! — after that first one.

Grey’s Anatomy airs at 10 p.m. ET Thursdays on ABC and can be streamed the next day with a Hulu subscription.

Spoiler alert! This story contains major spoilers for the first two episodes of Grey’s Anatomy Season 22. They can be streamed with a Hulu subscription if you need to catch up.

Grey’s Anatomy hit a pretty impressive milestone Thursday night on the 2025 TV schedule, celebrating its 450th episode. “We Built This City” paid homage to past eras of the medical drama with several references to past seasons and another of its signature gnarly medical cases. We also saw a couple of familiar faces return, including Kelly McCreary, whose character Maggie was involved in a twist that has meaningful real-life connections to writer Zoanne Clack and creator Shonda Rhimes.

The second episode of Season 22 picks up in the days following the hospital explosion that resulted in the death of Monica Beltran. As expected, Caterina Scorsone’s Amelia Shepherd is taking the loss particularly hard, causing Maggie Pierce (Kelly McCreary) to return to Seattle to help Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) care for their sister and deliver some exciting news.

Longtime Grey’s Anatomy Writer Reveals Personal Connection To Maggie’s Pregnancy Reveal

Sisterhood has always been an important part of Grey’s Anatomy, starting with “twisted sisters” Meredith and Cristina Yang back in the early days, and then Lexie Grey (who probably deserves a collective apology, particularly for her death that even Shonda Rhimes admits was “horrifying”).

Without Cristina and Lexie around, Meredith bonded with her half-sister Maggie and sister-in-law Amelia, and it was wonderful for this milestone episode to reunite them after Kelly McCreary exited the series in Season 19. Even more, Maggie announced that she’d decided to start a family and was having a baby through a donor.

Zoanne Clack, who’s been a writer and producer on Grey’s Anatomy for nearly its entire run, explained why they made this choice for Maggie, telling The Wrap:

The choice to become a single mother could also be a nod to Shonda Rhimes, who has two daughters through adoption and one through surrogacy, and to Zoanne Clack, who made the same choice as Maggie and included a pretty personal easter egg in the episode. When Meredith asks who the father of Maggie’s baby is, she gives them a donor number, and Clack revealed:

What a special thing for Zoanne Clack to be able to do! She couldn’t confirm whether or not we’ll see Maggie anymore in Season 22, but we’ll definitely get updates on her pregnancy, as well as reactions from Richard Webber — James Pickens Jr.’s character is getting a grandchild! — and Maggie’s ex-husband Winston Ndugu (Anthony Hill).

Maggie’s Pregnancy Announcement Also Led To That Big Carousel Callback And Another Character Return

“We Built This City” included several classic Grey’s Anatomy references — for instance, did you catch Lucas Adams’ “Seriously?” when finding out Simone Griffith slept with one of the new interns? (What, he didn’t like Simone taking a page out of his favorite uncle’s playbook?)

The most profound of these blasts from the past was the return of Kate Burton as Meredith’s mom Ellis Grey and her famous metaphor about life:

The carousel represents trauma for Meredith and her mother, which we’re reminded of in the episode’s opening scene. She’s having a nightmare about performing surgery on the carousel as her kids cry out for her to make it work. Her mom is there, too, barking at her to be faster, and we hear the words from Season 3 that clearly continue to haunt Meredith:

But later in the episode, Meredith recontextualizes that word and the carousel, as her three kids enjoy the ride while she and Maggie talk. When her sister tells her she’s doing great with her children, Meredith says:

Not only did the moment show how Meredith is moving past her mom-related trauma, but Maggie is too, as she admits she's heartbroken to be having a child after her adoptive mom Diane Pierce’s Season 13 death. Meredith promises to be there to give advice, and as for Diane:

Just as Ellis always does. I love how this episode acknowledges classic moments from Grey’s past as a way to advance the characters’ current stories, and it wasn’t just the carousel.

Richard Is Chief Again, And Owen Finds A (Familiar) New Home

Owen Hunt and Teddy Altman (Kevin McKidd and Kim Raver) are always in turmoil, but at least with them deciding to split up in the Season 21 finale, they’ve got a good reason. After getting an assist from Richard on some paperwork, an overwhelmed Teddy admits that she wants to be a surgeon more than a suit, and the easiest transition of power ever takes place, with Richard agreeing to take over as Chief of Surgery.

This warms my heart, because that’s where he was when the series premiered back in 2005, and it’s where he belongs. Zoanne Clack admitted as much, saying:

It’s so true.

As for Owen, he’s apparently been living out of the on-call room since moving out of his and Teddy’s house. By the end of the episode, however, we see that he’s back living in Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd’s old trailer. Wow, it’s been a minute since we’ve seen that mobile marvel.

You Can’t Have A Grey’s Anatomy Milestone Without A Major Medical Emergency

One other moment from the October 16 episode reminded me of the old Grey’s Anatomy days, and that's thanks to the episode's weird medical emergency. For the 450th episode, the show seemed to draw inspiration from a past case, because the man who was impaled by his forklift was very reminiscent of Season 2’s “Into You Like a Train,” in which two people were impaled together by a large pole.

This story had a happier ending, and — like the examples above — it also moved the plot forward, with Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) promoting her husband Ben Warren (Jason George) to Chief Resident after he went against her to make a life-saving call.

Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 is off to a strong start, especially with this big milestone episode. Zoanne Clack — the credited writer on “We Built This City” — did a great job of weaving classic moments with current storylines, and I love that she was able to incorporate her own story into Maggie’s pregnancy plot.

Tune in to see how everything plays out, with new episodes airing at 10 p.m. ET each Thursday on ABC.

Medical Dramas are a tried and true genre in TV, and none have had the wild success of Grey's Anatomy. The show still airs new episodes on ABC, and streaming the next day with a Hulu subscription. The megahit was created by TV icon Shonda Rhimes, who recently admitted that one death in particular was "horrifying". As a long-time fan I've got to say I agree.

As some folks figure out how to watch Grey's Anatomy Season 22, Rhimes recently spoke about the show's past. While appearing on the Call Her Daddy podcast, the TV juggernaut and Grey's creator revealed she recently re-watched some of the show, including the infamous plane crash episode from Season 8 that killed Chyler Leigh's Lexie Grey. Rhimes said:

Lexie's is one of Grey's Anatomy's most devastating deaths, and that's saying a lot considering how many beloved surgeons have perished at Grey Sloan Memorial over the years. While Rhimes admits that Lexie and Mark's death made sense for the story she was telling, the manner in which Little Grey was dispatched was especially horrifying. But hey, at least Shonda knows what she put us through.

Lexie dies early in the episode "Flight" where she's crushed under a piece of a plane after its crash. The credits aren't even done rolling by the time she's gone. And to make matters worse, in the Season 9 episode "Remember the Time", Cristina reveals that animals ate Lexie's remains in the time they were left stranded in the woods. Seriously, Shonda?

Later in the same podcast appearance, the accomplished TV creator and writer/showrunner went on to speak about just how hard it was to watch Lexie's death scene. She went on:

Well, yes. I can vividly remember watching the Grey's Anatomy plane crash episode for the first time live, and having full body sobs over Chyler Leigh's character. Aside from her devastating death, we owe Lexie a collective apology, as she was treated pretty poorly by the other doctors for the majority of her time on the show. And Shonda Rhimes re-examining how she killed Lexipedia is step one.

Lexie returned to Grey's Anatomy during the COVID season where Meredith was having her beach hallucinations, revealing she and Mark Sloan were together in the afterlife. The fact that these two lovers didn't get to reunite before their sudden deaths was always a sore point for fans like me, so this helped to soften the blow years later. Our girl just deserved better!

Grey's Anatomy airs new episodes Thursdays on ABC as part of the 2025 TV schedule. And I'm hoping that we get to hear more of Shonda Rhimes looking back on the stories (and deaths) that helped make the show such a sensation.

Grey’s Anatomy is celebrating 20 years on television this year, as its 22nd season is primed to hit the 2025 TV calendar next month. The anniversary celebration planned for the Emmy Awards may have fallen through, but creator Shonda Rhimes is still looking back at the past couple of decades at what the show has accomplished. Grey’s Anatomy has always been noteworthy for its diverse cast, and Rhimes recalls how she pushed for that to happen.

In the documentary Seen & Heard: The History of Black Television (available to stream with an HBO Max subscription), Shonda Rhimes said when they were auditioning actors back in the early 2000s, she hadn’t written any of the characters’ races into the script, and she was perplexed when only white actors came in to read for roles. She said:

The executives assured her that was never the plan, and calls were made, Shonda Rhimes said. The talent agencies came through, too, as she continued:

Shonda Rhimes has said it makes her “embarrassed for television” that part of her legacy and that of Grey’s Anatomy will be that they made it possible for more people of color to have on-camera jobs on television, because it shouldn’t have taken so long.

Before Grey’s Anatomy premiered in 2005, you didn’t see three Black characters — Chandra Wilson’s Miranda Bailey, James Pickens Jr.’s Richard Webber and Isaiah Washington’s Preston Burke — in main roles, holding prestigious jobs in the hospital. It was something Shonda Rhimes said she could be proud of. In her words:

The diversity on the show has continued during its two decades on ABC, featuring doctors and patients of many races, as well as LGBTQ+ and nonbinary characters. Grey’s Anatomy has tackled issues like AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) hate, racial injustice, gender discrimination and abuse.

Grey’s Anatomy wouldn’t be the same if Shonda Rhimes hadn’t insisted on hiring a diverse cast 20 years ago, and I think television as a whole is better for it.

All 21 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy can be streamed with a Netflix subscription or Hulu subscription, and Season 22 is set to premiere at 10 p.m. ET Thursday, October 9, on ABC and streaming the next day on Hulu.

We’ve still got a month to go before Grey’s Anatomy returns to the 2025 TV schedule and throws us into the chaotic aftermath of the explosion at Grey Sloan Memorial, and I’ve already spent a lot of time thinking about what’s to come. Who will die? Will it be multiple doctors? Who do we know is safe? I'm working on a new theory, but it’s admittedly a pretty wild one — especially because it may have already been disproven on a different Shonda Rhimes series.

To backtrack a little bit here, in the Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 finale (available to stream on Hulu or with a Netflix subscription), a canister of gas that was thought to be empty after Piper Perabo’s hostage situation ignited, blowing out a portion of the building and operating floor. Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) and Ben Warren (Jason George) were outside of the hospital when the blast occurred, so I’ve been assuming they are safe, but what if that’s just what they want us to think?

Hear Me Out: I Think Grey’s Anatomy Might Kill Off Ben Warren

We do know that Ben doesn’t die in the explosion, but what about in the aftermath? He is clearly seen sprinting back into the hospital immediately after, with those firefighter instincts kicking in and his wife Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) last seen on the operating floor. Ben has proven to be impulsive to a fault time and time again. It’s gotten him in trouble. It’s gotten him hurt.

Do any of us think he wouldn’t risk life and limb to save his wife, or any of his other colleagues or patients? We know he would. He even says as much in his final conversation with Miranda just minutes before the blast:

And why exactly is Ben having to stand by his choices in “How Do I Live”? Oh yes, because as of the Season 21 finale, he is no longer employed by Grey Sloan Memorial. That means Jason George’s role on the show was already in question.

Is Grey’s Anatomy showrunner Meg Marinis going to send him to another hospital to continue his training after bringing him on board from Station 19? Or will he give it all up and be a stay-at-home dad to his adopted daughter Pru? Personally, I think it makes more sense that this rule-breaking maverick would go out like a hero trying to save his wife.

Ben and Miranda’s last words to each other have me a bit concerned, too, as she got paged while they were discussing his next moves:

• Ben: Go. I’ll be OK.
• Miranda: That’s right, you will. I love you.

Will he, though? Now look, I’ve predicted Ben Warren’s death before, and I definitely don’t want to be right, but his character never really got fully reintegrated at the hospital following Station 19’s series finale. Fittingly enough, it’s that very finale that throws the biggest wrench in my theory, because …

Station 19’s Finale Seemed To Show Ben In The Future — Alive

Station 19 was canceled after seven seasons, and its series finale “One Last Time” (streaming with a Hulu subscription) gave us a glimpse into each firefighter’s future. For Ben Warren, that included seeing his and Miranda’s three children all graduate. The proud mom and dad flash across the screen in the audience of three different commencement ceremonies, which seemingly proves that Ben (and Miranda, for that matter) survives at least another decade.

Is Grey’s Anatomy beholden to that ending? Does it mean that Meg Marinis and the rest of the writers can never mess with Jason George or Chandra Wilson’s characters? Or was that Station 19 ending never intended to be taken literally in the first place?

Are Station 19’s Finale Flash-Forwards Actually Canon?

The Station 19 finale featured a huge wildfire that put most of the firefighters in near-death situations, during which they imagined the futures they had to fight to live for. So were those the real futures showrunners Zoanne Clack and Peter Paige intended for the first responders, or simply projections of what the characters hoped their futures held? Clack was asked that very question but never gave a clear-cut response. To The Wrap, she said:

How infuriatingly vague! However, the co-showrunner sounded a little more decisive when speaking to Deadline about Ben’s ending specifically, as she said:

I’m pretty sure that I’m not the only Station 19 fan that took those endings as canon, but it sounds like there’s enough wiggle room there if Grey’s Anatomy did have different plans for its crossover characters.

Who Else Is In Danger, And Who’s Not Likely To Die?

Another big question going into Grey’s Anatomy’s Season 22 finale is not just who, but how many surgeons will be killed or badly injured. So who are the people most at-risk, and who is very likely safe? Atticus Lincoln (aka Chris Carmack’s “Link”) is definitely in the most danger, as the finale suggested he was in the operating room that blew up. Carmack has had some fun with that theory on social media, and I’ve been back and forth on whether or not I believe it.

I also believe Teddy Altman (Kim Raver) could be in danger, since her whereabouts were unknown seconds before the explosion and she had just made a big move for herself by breaking up with Kevin McKidd’s Owen Hunt after saving the life of the woman Owen may or may not be in love with. That would certainly be an interesting twist in Owen’s story.

As for who’s safe. Meredith is not going anywhere. She’s already confirmed for multiple episodes in Season 22, so if I’m wrong, I’ll eat my ferry boat scrub cap. I also think Simone Griffith (Alexis Floyd) and Lucas Adams (Niko Terho) are safe, because we’ll want to explore what happens when Lucas finds out Simone had a one-night stand with one of the new residents, played by Trevor Jackson.

However, if Lucas were injured in the blast, we might finally find out which of Derek and Amelia Shepherd’s sisters is his mother.

All will be answered before too long. Grey’s Anatomy’s 22nd season premieres at 10 p.m. ET Thursday, October 9, on ABC and streaming the next day on Hulu. As a big fan of Ben Warren’s, though, I’m going to start preparing myself.

Shonda Rhimes is a visionary TV mogul who is the mind behind megahits like Grey's Anatomy (streaming with a Hulu subscription), Scandal, How To Get Away with Murder, and most recently the Bridgerton franchise (which is available with a Netflix subscription). The latter is one of the best Netflix shows to binge watch, and was even given a spinoff. And she recently responded to criticism about the show being "woke."

Rhimes has a uniquely captivating way of writing, including her famous Shondalogues. Bridgerton is a book-to-screen adaptation, where she's putting her own spin on the source material. In a recent interview with Deadline, she was asked about claims the show's casting is "woke", offering a simple "that's so cute." She further expanded her feelings, saying:

Honestly, this sounds like a pretty healthy way to approach being an artist. One can't create when they're focusing on outside voices, which is why I think the hate watching discourse surrounding And Just Like That contributed to it ending after Season 3. As such, it doesn't seem like Rhimes is taking stock in folks who criticized Bridgerton for being woke.

This backlash is likely related to the fact that Bridgerton is set in an alternate reality of 19th Century London, where racial equality is passed and Black citizens are able to rise to High Society. Queen Charlotte is a black woman (played to perfection by Golda Rosheuvel), and even her own prequel to show how she and King George fell in love. Bridgerton boasts a diverse cast, which has seemingly resulted in it taking some heat online. But Rhimes seemingly isn't engaging in the noise.

Bridgerton has lots of steamy scenes, and in some ways it's like seeing a romance novel come to life... especially back in Season 1. Funny enough, Rhimes said in the same interview that she had a "disdain for romance novels", but that the Bridgerton books captured her attention while she was ill and stuck in a hotel. She actually sees the series as more of a "workplace drama", where the women of the show are finding independence through love.

Still, it's hard not to see the connection between the show and romance novels, which typically feature love scenes. While Bridgerton has pumped the breaks in regards to this in the second and third seasons, these sequences still do occur. Season 3 saw Penelope and Colin get busy in the back of a carriage, and have more love scenes as their coupling was made official.

Bridgerton's first three seasons are streaming now on Netflix, as is Queen Charlotte. Season 4 is expected sometime in 2026, although it doesn't have a concrete release date at the time of writing this story.

Ever since Cristina Yang and Meredith Grey danced it out one last time in the Grey’s Anatomy Season 10 finale, fans have been hoping that Sandra Oh will one day return to reunite with her twisted sister. That has yet to happen, even as the medical drama prepares to enter its 22nd season this fall on the 2025 TV schedule, and while the actress has called her experience with the show “traumatic,” she recently admitted that she caused some “grief” for those around her.

Sandra Oh gave the commencement address at Dartmouth College on June 15, where she spoke to graduates about what a great learning experience it can be to live with discomfort. That’s something she apparently got from Grey’s Anatomy, which she said was one of the most beneficial but challenging decades of her life. Oh continued (via EW):

Sandra Oh and Ellen Pompeo were among the OG cast members of Grey’s Anatomy when it premiered in 2005. And the fact that the actors don’t always have a say in their storylines is a lesson that Pompeo was still coming to terms with in Season 21, as she said she was “deeply against” one of the choices made by Meredith. If it's still that way today, one can imagine that two decades ago, Oh didn't know how to give the writers the creative license they needed.

She said there was even a “dedicated Sandra whisperer” whose job it was to “deal” with her. This led to what sounds like a pretty intense phone call between her and Shonda Rhimes, as Oh continued:

It was reportedly Dartmouth alum Shonda Rhimes who recommended Sandra Oh for the commencement address, and you have to imagine she approved of this sentiment.

Learning from her discomfort doesn’t sound like a very pleasant process, though. The Quiz Lady star has spoken openly about the health issues she suffered due to the stress on Grey's Anatomy, but at least it sounds like she was able to take valuable lessons away from the experience. Now we’ve just got to get her back inside Grey Sloan Memorial.

While we wait for Season 22 to premiere this fall, you can relive the MAGIC days of Meredith, Alex, George, Izzie and Cristina or rewatch any of your favorite Grey’s Anatomy eras by streaming all 21 seasons with either a Netflix subscription or Hulu subscription.

Grey’s Anatomy is celebrating its 20th anniversary as Season 21 plays out on the 2025 TV schedule. The series started as a midseason replacement and quickly became a hit with fans, skyrocketing creator Shonda Rhimes to fame. Her multiple series over the years have proven the strength of her creative decision-making, but that doesn’t mean she hasn’t had to fight. Rhimes said she’ll be “forever bitter” over the pushback she got for one classic episode, and I’m so glad she won that battle.

“Song Beneath the Song” — more casually known as Grey’s Anatomy’s musical episode — aired on March 31, 2011, and to this day it allegedly remains one of Shonda Rhimes’ favorite episodes of the medical drama. That’s likely why it still bothers her that the higher-ups were iffy on the concept at the time, as Rhimes told EW:

The music was written into the “Song Beneath the Song” plot, as Sara Ramirez’s Callie Torres is badly injured in a car accident and has an out-of-body experience as the doctors try to save her life. In her state of semiconsciousness, everyone is singing. The episode features some of Grey’s Anatomy’s most iconic needle drops like “Chasing Cars” and “How to Save a Life.”

The episode didn’t get the reaction that Shonda Rhimes likely wanted. Critics and fans largely don’t consider it one of Grey’s Anatomy’s best episodes, and while I will always support trying something different creatively, I admit to feeling a little thrown-off by the unique concept at the time.

However, it’s still disheartening to hear that the network didn’t trust Rhimes’ vision. By 2011 she had seven seasons and nearly 150 episodes of Grey’s Anatomy under her belt. Add in the fact that the cast boasted several actors who’d been on Broadway, including Sara Ramirez, who won a Tony Award in 2005 for their role in Spamalot, and it seems like it was the perfect opportunity for Shonda Rhimes to take a big swing.

I’m honestly curious about what the network’s argument was against doing it, because there have been several great musical TV episodes over the years. Just look at It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s “The Night Man Cometh,” “My Musical” from Scrubs or Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s infamous “Once More, With Feeling” from Season 6.

Now in its 21st season, Grey’s Anatomy continues to employ actors who can sing, including Kevin McKidd and Chandra Wilson, so who knows — maybe we’ll get a musical episode redo one day.

Until then, Grey’s Anatomy (its first 20 seasons) is one of the best shows to binge on Netflix right now, with all 21 seasons available to stream with a Hulu subscription. New episodes continue at 10 p.m. ET Thursdays on ABC and streaming the next day on Hulu.

There have been some truly heartbreaking and shocking deaths on Grey’s Anatomy, whose 21st season is currently airing on the 2025 TV schedule. George O’Malley and his “007” reveal is one that sticks out, as well as Derek Shepherd, of course (although I still think the McDreamy death episode was terrible). However, there’s another character fans just can’t get over — Denny Duquette — and it turns out Katherine Heigl and Jeffrey Dean Morgan tried to save him.

Denny Duquette made such an impression on Grey’s Anatomy fans that I’d go so far as to say it’s one of Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s best roles. Not even Shonda Rhimes could have predicted how upset fans would still be over that Season 2 storyline, and it’s not just us. Morgan reunited with Katherine Heigl to talk about their time together on Grey’s, and they revealed they’d actually asked Rhimes to let Denny live. Check out a portion of their viral TikTok chat with EW:

It's well-known that Katherine Heigl and Shonda Rhimes butted heads at times on the Grey’s set. However, Heigl felt strongly enough about this that she and Jeffrey Dean Morgan approached the showrunner in an attempt to get her to tweak the Denny storyline. Heigl said:

I guess you don’t get to be as successful as Shonda Rhimes if you cater to every actor’s request, like Katherine Heigl bargaining that they could still bring Denny “close to death.” Jeffrey Dean Morgan added that Rhimes was set in her ways, even when he tried to buy his character another season.

When the day came to film that heartbreaking scene for “Losing My Religion” — one of Grey’s Anatomy’s best episodes — Jeffrey Dean Morgan said he refused to go to set. He recalled:

I can’t imagine how difficult that day was for Katherine Heigl, especially knowing the dark places Heigl took herself in order to show Izzie’s grief for Denny. The two actors involved aren’t the only ones still traumatized, though. Fans spoke out in the comments, writing:

• Denny and Izzie was the end game sorry – sunflower_2046
• Them going to Shonda and asking for Denny to not die is so Izzie and Denny coded though. – jacketpotato24601
• TBH Denny dying hurt worse than Derek 😭 – brittanychapman153
• No one wanted Denny to die… but Owen Hunt is still around!! – nic.marq
• No one will get over Denny Duquette's death 😭😭😭 – klshhhhhhhhhh
• Denny was the worst death. I’ll die on this hill – _arianaharrington

Jeffrey Dean Morgan has said that playing Denny changed his life, as it got him noticed and led to other big roles, and I love that the actor who may be more well-known these days for his roles on Supernatural, The Walking Dead or The Boys, seems to have a soft spot in his heart for Grey’s Anatomy.

The Denny and Izzie love story is without questions one of the best starting points for a Grey’s Anatomy rewatch, with the first 20 seasons of the medical drama being among the best shows to binge on Netflix right now. Meanwhile, all 21 seasons are also available to stream with a Hulu subscription, as new episodes of Grey’s Anatomy continue at 10 p.m. ET Thursdays on ABC.

Grey’s Anatomy's 21st season is airing on the 2025 TV schedule, and over the years, audiences have fallen in love with so many doctors, patients and first responders who have come into the hospital. So much so, in fact, that it’s spawned two successful spinoffs. Shonda Rhimes recently revealed she had ideas for plenty of other Grey’s spinoffs, and I really wish one in particular had come to fruition.

Shonda Rhimes confirmed that the Kate Walsh-led Private Practice and firefighter-centric Station 19 (both available to stream with a Hulu subscription) weren’t the only shows she’s thought of over the years to continue certain characters’ stories outside the hospital. When asked about what other series she’d conjured up, Rhimes told EW:

A Boston spinoff definitely would have made sense, considering all the characters who live there and work at the Fox Foundation (hello, Japril!). Meredith Grey herself relocated to Boston for her daughter to enroll in a gifted program. In Chicago, we could have kept up with Maggie Pierce (Kelly McCreary) and the staff at the city’s Heart Center.

I personally thought they were setting up a spinoff in Minnesota when Scott Speedman returned to the series, and David Hamilton (Peter Gallagher) established The Grey Center for Meredith’s research. I also loved E.R. Fightmaster in the recurring role of Kai Bartley. But it was another of Shonda Rhimes’ spinoff ideas that really piqued my interest. She continued:

That’s just simply a stroke of brilliance. We’ve been introduced to all three of Derek and Amelia Shepherd’s sisters on Grey’s Anatomy over the years, as well as the fact that Amelia is the black sheep of the family. That turbulent dynamic and the fact that they all work in the medical field is such a good premise, not to mention the amazing actors who have played these women.

Embeth Davidtz appeared on Seasons 3 and 15 as OB/GYN Nancy; Neve Campbell guest-starred for two episodes of Season 9 as Liz (also an M.D.); and Amy Acker made her sole appearance in Season 15 as psychiatrist Kathleen. If nothing else, this spinoff would at least put the “Who is Lucas’ mom?” mystery to bed.

Unfortunately, that idea — and apparently many others — went unrealized. For a while, it looked like ABC might be setting up a police-based series to rival the One Chicago shows on NBC with its own medical, fire and P.D. trilogy. Then, in 2021, an ABC exec got fans excited when he spoke of “the next phase of Grey’s Anatomy,” only to backpedal on that comment and insist that no new spinoff was in the works.

We haven’t had a Grey’s Anatomy spinoff since Station 19, but with that and Private Practice being embraced so much by fans, I’d say as long as Grey’s is on the air, there’s always the potential for more in that universe. For now, though, tune in to new episodes of Grey’s Anatomy at 10 p.m. ET Thursdays on ABC and streaming the next day on Hulu.

Shonda Rhimes has a new series on the 2025 TV schedule called The Residence, in which Uzo Aduba’s Cordelia Cupp, the detail-oriented, bird-loving police consultant, is called to the White House to investigate the murder of Chief Usher A.B. Wynter. The great Giancarlo Esposito portrays the fallen staffer, but that wasn’t the original plan. Andre Braugher was the first actor cast as Wynter, and Esposito spoke candidly about the “difficult decision” to step in following Braugher’s death.

Fans were devastated when Andre Braugher died in December 2023 after a battle with lung cancer. The Juilliard-trained actor was known for both dramatic roles and comedic ones like the beloved Raymond Holt on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and Giancarlo Esposito had known and worked with Braugher for years. He told the AP that connection was on his mind when deciding if he wanted to take over the role on The Residence, saying:

It’s obvious that the Better Call Saul actor holds Andre Braugher in the highest regard, and I can’t imagine how tough that was on him and the rest of The Residence cast to have to reshoot the late actor’s scenes when production restarted following the shutdown.

It certainly wasn’t a decision Giancarlo Esposito took lightly, and he explained how he ultimately realized he could honor his friend through his performance. He continued:

Giancarlo Esposito has stayed in demand lately, even boasting a couple of credits on the 2025 movie calendar already, and he’s appeared on multiple series including The Boys and The Mandalorian. He may have been a late addition to the new Netflix series, but he fit right in with impressive names like the previously mentioned Uzo Aduba, Susan Kelechi Watson (after a disappointingly short stint on Will Trent), Jason Lee, Ken Marino, Randall Park, Taran Killam and many more.

The Residence, which is available to stream with a Netflix subscription, centers around a fictional murder, but Shonda Rhimes used the book The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House by Kate Andersen Brower as her guide. The source material offers a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of the president’s home through interviews with real-life maids, butlers, cooks, florists, doormen and other former staffers.

As upsetting as the situation must have been to lose Andre Braugher, I love that Giancarlo Esposito is honoring him through the character, and I’d say Wynter is in good hands.

Ellen Pompeo has been a familiar face on televisions for decades now, including the 2025 TV schedule. That is thanks to Pompeo’s most notable role as Meredith Grey on Shonda Rhimes' iconic Grey’s Anatomy. With the longstanding relationship with the show’s creator, the actress behind the eponymous role revealed some absolutely grounded yet magical advice. And those words were revealed on a staple daytime talk show.

During the Old School alum’s interview with The View, they covered her new show, Good American Family, and how it's based off the doc series called Curious Case of Natalia Grace. Along with it, they talked about the strong women who’ve been a part of her career, including Debbie Allen and Shonda Rhimes. After being asked what kind of tips and wisdom they shared with her, she said this of the latter's specific words of practical but incredibly special guidance:

Leave it to the Scandal creator to lay down some simple but life-changing advice! It absolutely rivals, if not outplays, most of the iconic Grey's Shondalogues, and it’s wonderful that the message was gifted to Pompeo during their run together. Plenty of female support among Hollywood generations is always nice to hear, as well as that they’re willing to share that knowledge with the fans.

Both the Bridgerton creator and the Catch Me if You Can actress have dedicated fandoms, seemingly all spawning from the show that brought them together. And though both have stepped away from Grey’s Anatomy in various capacities presently, their characters still exist within this world. Rhimes and Shondaland are still in the midst of the streaming exclusive deal with Netflix. Meanwhile, people are starting to get into and enjoying Pompeo's new semi-factual series, so it’ll be interesting to see how the limited series fares as it goes on.

Needless to say, that knockout advice the Grey’s Anatomy star received all those years ago from her showrunner is incredible. The sentiment can be felt from both creatives’ works on the ABC hit and beyond. You can check out Pompeo’s Good American Family with a Hulu subscription, with new episodes releasing on Wednesdays. Watch Rhimes’ Bridgerton and Queen Charlotte and more with a Netflix subscription.

Grey’s Anatomy’s return amidst other 2025 TV premieres will mark 20 years since its March 2005 premiere. Loyal fans have seen many doctors come and go in that time, but arguably no exit was as jarring as Derek Shepherd’s — the result of Patrick Dempsey’s allegedly “terrorizing” behavior on set. I remember despising the kill-off episode — Season 11’s “How to Save a Life” — and the 10th anniversary of McDreamy’s death inspired a full rewatch to see if my feelings changed.

Sure enough, they did, but not in a good way. I still hated it, and I now have 3 big reasons why the installment was even more infuriating after years of hindsight.

Flash back to April 23, 2015. My then-job didn't require me to keep up with behind-the-scenes drama of shows like Grey’s Anatomy, but I recall knowing it was likely Patrick Dempsey’s swan song. I was curious how the show would continue without Derek, but wasn’t particularly upset to be losing him. Ultimately, though, I was in disbelief by such a vital character's death being handled so haphazardly, and I felt that again rewatching it for the first time in a decade, with three big takeaways.

Derek’s Collision With The Truck Looks Ridiculous

I found myself rolling my eyes pretty often at the cheesy dialogue in “How to Save a Life,” but the first time I watched Derek’s car get hit by that truck 10 years ago, I recall letting out a shocked laugh at how terrible the effects looked. My memory wasn’t playing tricks on me, either; it was that bad, especially when compared to the effects-driven wreck that came just minutes before, featuring multiple flipping vehicles from different camera angles. Maybe they blew their budget on that?

Of course I think it was stupid that Derek pulled his car onto the road, blocking both lanes while stopping to look for his buzzing cellphone. (The lack of cell service was also repeatedly established, so having his phone ring made no sense.) The whole thing felt very much like a commercial warning teens about the dangers of texting and driving. However, at least human fallacy is believable. My real problem is with the truck.

Honestly, where did the truck come from? Because it didn’t blow its big 18-wheeler air horn until it was on top of McDreamy’s car. Did it come around a blind curve? If so, how and why was it going fast enough to skewer Seattle’s top brain surgeon? Perhaps due to the mysterious lack of seemingly any other vehicles on that particular road.

Plus, just look at the photo above. Where is the back of the truck? I feel like there should be more truck that keeps us from seeing sky and trees out of the back window.

Derek’s Narration Of His Impending Death Doesn’t Make Sense

I really didn’t like listening to Patrick Dempsey as Derek Shepherd narrating everything the doctors were doing wrong. At first, though, it made sense. When he got to Dillard Medical Center and was conscious but couldn’t speak, I totally bought his internal monologue explaining what he would do — and therefore what those doctors should do — as they initially treated him. When it stopped making sense was when they took him to surgery and put him under anaesthesia. Why are you still talking to us, Derek?

I’m certain there are plenty of Grey’s Anatomy fans who found it soul-crushing to hear Derek Shepherd say his final words when the trauma surgeon finally got to the hospital — “It’s too late. You’re too late.” — or McDreamy’s decidedly more impactful quote from midway through the episode:

I get it; it is sad. However, being able to know Derek’s final thoughts made the death less impactful than the utter chaos of, say, George O’Malley’s equally sudden death. We don’t know what was going through his head, which made it all the more torturous when we looked into his desperate eyes as he wrote “007” on Meredith’s hand with his finger. That was the shocking Grey’s Anatomy death its male lead deserved. What Derek got was less impactful because he literally told us over and over it was coming.

The Fakeout That Derek Had Survived Was So Cheap

The writers did attempt to make it less predictable by allowing us to think for a minute that Derek had beaten the odds and survived the surgery. We see Meredith arrive at the hospital and chide her very awake, very alive husband for scaring her, before climbing into his hospital bed and curling up next to him with a sleepy smile. Then we snap back to reality and realize the scene was merely a fantasy, and Meredith is still at her house with the officers informing her of the accident.

I can appreciate the parallels to Izzie Stevens and Denny Duquette in the imagery, but I think this was a pretty cheap way to get people’s hopes up before bringing in Meredith to take him off life support.

Other Questions I Have About ‘How To Save A Life’

Those are my big issues with “How to Save a Life,” but they’re not the only ones I’m left with 10 years after McDreamy’s final episode as a series regular. (He would, of course, make a surprising return to Meredith in dream form in Season 17.) Here are a couple more questions:

• Does the timing work? It was established in the previous episode “One Flight Down” that Meredith would wait until 5 p.m. to panic over Derek’s whereabouts. When the clock hit 5, she picked up the phone, only to see police cars pulling up to inform her of the accident. In the next episode, she arrives at the hospital after Derek has been declared brain dead following a surgery that started — according to a clock on the OR wall — after 8:55 p.m. Dillard Medical Center was supposedly near Puget Sound, which is only 90ish minutes away from Seattle (per Google Maps), so why did it take over four hours for Meredith to get there?
• Who’s really to blame for Derek’s death? At first we’re meant to blame Penny Blake (Samantha Sloyan) and her colleague Paul Castello (Mike McColl) at Dillard for failing to order a head CT for Derek; however, we later learn that McDreamy might have lived if trauma surgeon Dr. Cohn hadn’t chosen to finish his dinner before going to the hospital, taking an hour and a half to get there, rather than the expected 20 minutes. Meredith says, “Perfect Penny killed my husband” in Season 12 before literally killing Paul with one of Grey’s Anatomy’s most epic “Shondalogues” in Season 16. Why is Dr. Cohn getting off scot-free?

Regardless of if you share my opinion of this episode or not, it’s inarguable that “How to Save a Life” was a turning point in Grey’s Anatomy’s history. It’s not often that a series kills off its male lead and probably even more rare that it would go on for 10 more seasons (and counting!) after doing so.

If you want to relive that episode or, conversely, some of Grey’s Anatomy’s best episodes, all 21 seasons so far can be streamed with a Hulu subscription, while the first 20 seasons are available with a Netflix subscription. Season 21 resumes at 10 p.m. ET Thursday, March 6, on ABC.

Since television began, women have been an important part of its history. This is a list of many of the groundbreaking women who have made their mark not only for themselves but for all women in the industry. Women like Lucille Ball, Barbara Walters, Mary Tyler Moore, and many more.

Lucille Ball

I Love Lucy has been one of the most enduring hits in the history of television. It's been on TV both in the first run when it first aired in 1951 and in reruns ever since. Almost the entire time TV has been in people's homes. Of course, that's all because of the brilliant Lucille Ball's performance as Lucy. She's a one-of-kind legend we're unlikely to see the likes of again.

Roxie Roker

Over the course of her incredible career, Roxie Roker broke new ground everywhere she acted, whether it be on the big screen, the Broadway stage, or, as Helen Willis on The Jeffersons, on television. The most important thing Roker did on TV seems so antiquated now that it's hard to believe, but when she was on a hit CBS show, she was actually the first Black actress to appear on a TV show in a relationship with a white man. It was a huge deal.

Carol Burnett

Not only is Carol Burnett one of the funniest women in TV history, but she's at or near the top of the list of the funniest people, period. Her eponymous show was a groundbreaking sketch comedy show and she not only paved the way for more female comedians to have their own show, she paved the way for enduring sketch comedy shows like Saturday Night Live

Betty White

There are few actors more beloved than Betty White. When she died just shy of her 100th birthday in 2021, the outpouring of grief from fans was incredible. It wasn't just for her roles on legendary shows like The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Golden Girls, but for her whole career in television back to its earliest days.

Shonda Rhimes

Many of the women on this list are here for what they've done in front of the camera. Shonda Rhimes is here for what she does behind the scenes as one of the most prolific show creators of all time. Not only is she one of the first women to be so successful as a TV producer, but she's one of the first Black women to do it, making it doubly important and groundbreaking.

Ellen DeGeneres

It's obvious why Ellen DeGeneres is on this list, but that doesn't mean we should overlook the obvious. When DeGeneres came out as a lesbian on her sitcom in 1997 it was actually earthshattering. It shouldn't have been and today, something like that would hardly be blinked at and that's all because she had the guts to do it when she did.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge

Phoebe Waller-Bridge's Fleabag does something that few shows have done before it - it's an unflinching look at the life of a single woman and by doing that it, it automatically less of the cultural taboo it's been for far too long. It's weird that it's taken so long for something like this be a cultural stone, but at least we're here now.

Barbara Walters

In the TV news business, there is no more groundbreaking figure than the legendary Barbara Walters. As a news broadcaster, reporter, interviewer, and panel host, Walters did many things no woman before her had ever done. It's hard to downplay just how much of a trailblazer Walters was during her amazing career.

Marta Kauffman

As the producer and co-creator of Friends, Marta Kauffman showed the world that a woman could create what was, at the time, the biggest show in the world. It wasn't a show "for women," Friends was a show for everyone and few shows have seen the kind of popularity Friends had - and continues to have today with its endless life on streaming.

Mary Tyler Moore

Without The Mary Tyler Moore show, we might not have had other trailblazing shows like Murphy Brown, or Ellen, or Fleabag. Mary Tyler Moore did it first and, for many, still did it best. Before he blazed a trail on her own, she was also an early hero on The Dick Van Dyke Show. She truly made it on her own on TV.

Jane Curtain, Lorraine Newman, And Gilda Radner

It had to be hard for the three women in the original "Not Ready For Prime Time Players" on Saturday Night Live, Jane Curtain, Lorraine Newman, And Gilda Radner. The show felt like a frat house at times and there they were, consistently as funny or funnier than the frat bros that made up the rest of the amazing cast. Talk about groundbreaking.

Cicely Tyson

Cicely Tyson's first television role came in 1961 and her final appearance came just before her death in 2020. In between she starred in literally 100s of episodes of television and often was the first and only Black woman on those shows and episodes. There aren't enough words to explain how important she was for every Black woman who came after her on TV.

Peggy Charren

Activist Peggy Charren is different than most on this list. She wasn't an actress, nor did she even work in the television industry. Instead, she was an advocate for the children at home watching. It's because of the work of Charren that kids had the option to watch informative and educational TV, and not just corporate drivel made to sell more sugary cereal to them. Anyone who grew up loving Sesame Street or The Electric Company has Charren to thank, at least in large part.

Katie Couric

It's hard to believe that it took until 2006 for a major network to have a female lead anchor, but it's true. That woman was, of course, Katie Couric and for that alone, she should forever be remembered as a groundbreaker. She's done so much more as well, so it's not the only thing she'll be remembered and appreciated for.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Julia Louis-Dreyfus' career has been nothing short of spectacular. She is one of very few people, much less women, to have won more than 10 Emmy Awards, for her work on not one, not two, but three hit shows. Seinfeld, The Old Adventures of New Christine, and Veep have all been great in large part due to her talent and hard work.

Irna Phillips

On her Wikipedia page, Irna Phillips is described as a scriptwriter, screenwriter, casting agent, and actress. In reality, she kind of invented the entire genre of the soap opera in the 1940s, first on radio and later on TV. She was the first to really pinpoint women as a target audience and write and create shows geared towards them. Daytime TV would be very different if not for Phillips.

Diahann Carroll

Diahann Carroll isn't the most famous person on this list and that's kind of weird because her contribution to TV is huge. Her groundbreaking role as the lead in Julia showed that Black actors, especially Black women, could be a whole more than just maids or other stereotypical roles they typically played before Julia debuted in 1968.

Candice Bergen

Even before she blazed a new trail in Murphy Brown as the first woman on TV to express the desire to raise a child as a single mom, Candice Bergen was breaking ground on TV. She was the first female member of the SNL Five-Timers Club, for example. As the lead on Murphy Brown, she won so many Emmys (five) that she started declining invitations to give others a chance at the career boost a win provided.

Bea Arthur

Like her cast mates on Golden Girls, Bea Arthur was a true trailblazer. For starters, she is one of few women in Hollywood who served in the active military during World War II as a marine. Once she got to Hollywood, she played by her own rules which eventually landed her a recurring role on All In The Family in the early '70s, tackling some of the biggest issues of the day. That led to the spinoff Maude where she was unflinching in her pursuit of bringing women's liberation issues to the forefront on prime-time TV, including such political hot topics as sensitive as abortion in the early '70s.

Oprah Winfrey

Of all the entries on this list, the one who might need the least introduction is Oprah Winfrey. Starting with a small locally-produced talk show on TV called AM Chicago and later simply The Oprah Winfrey Show, Winfrey built a massive media empire and became one of the biggest moguls in television. Her empire reaches across all forms of media these days and she's among the richest people in the world. And then there are all the cars she's given away...

Nichelle Nichols

Nichelle Nichols was the sole woman in the original Star Trek cast and she more than held her own. Not only was she an equal member of the Enterprise crew, she was an equal member of the cast. On the show, Nichols' character Uhura shared an on-screen with Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) which was one of the first, and most famous example of an interracial kiss on network television. It seems simple, but it was incredibly groundbreaking at the time.

Donna Reed

There were plenty of family-focused sitcoms on 1950s television. What set The Donna Reed Show apart is evident by its name. It was one of the first shows that focused on the mother, played by Donna Reed, as the primary character of the show. This wasn't Father's Knows Best or My Three Sons. Reed was the star and the main character. Additionally, she was no mere wallflower. She was a strong, independent-minded mother and wife who had a full life as a homemaker and mother and audiences saw it all, not just June Cleaver doing the dishes while wearing her pearls.

Laverne Cox

Orange Is The New Black star Laverne Cox wasn't the first transgender woman on TV, but she was one of the most visible as part of such a huge hit. Cox, and her character were remarkable not only because she was was transgender but because her character Sophia dealt with problems that weren't just because she was transgender, but because she was also human locked up in prison. Sophia wasn't simply a one dimensional character, she was much more than her gender. That was, and still is, rare.

Jodie Whittaker

If she does nothing else in her career (and that is unlikely), Jodie Whittaker will forever be known for being the first female Doctor on Doctor Who. That alone makes her incredibly groundbreaking and worthy of inclusion on this list. There was even a time when critics and fans thought that such a thing would be impossible. Whittaker has been remarkably popular and has proven all the doubters wrong.

Marlo Thomas

Like many instances on this list, it's hard to believe that there was ever a time when it was shocking to even consider an entire television show focused on an unmarried woman. Of course, there was a time when that was true, but that was before Marlo Thomas starred in That Girl starting in 1968. The show, which was actually a little controversial at the time was all about Thomas' character moving to New York to try to make it in show business.

Debbie Allen

Debbie Allen is probably best known as the star of the TV version of Fame (and a small role as the same character in the movie), as well as a judge of So You Think You Can Dance. But Allen's accomplishments run so much deeper than that. She is one of the most prolific TV directors of the last few decades and was the choreographer for the Oscars for a decade. She's had an amazing career on both sides of the camera.

Kerry Washington

It's really hard to wrap one's head around the fact that between Julia, starring Diahann Carroll, which ended in 1971, and Scandal when it started in 2012 (created by Shonda Rhimes), there were no TV shows with a Black female lead. Kerry Washington changed all that when Scandal became a huge hit and ran for six seasons on ABC.

Lynda Carter

Who says girls can't be superheroes? Well, today we know all too well that women can not only be superheroes, but they can lead franchises as such. Back in the late '70s, that was an open question that was answered by Lynda Carter who helped turn Wonder Woman into a hit show that ran for three seasons and then became a staple of syndication for years after.

Sandra Oh

It seems like Sandra Oh has been around forever. She got her big break as part of the cast of Arliss on HBO, then found more fame as a member of the cast of Grey's Anatomy. Her groundbreaking moment came in the titular character in Killing Eve. When she did, she became the first woman of Asian descent to lead a show in the United States. Remarkably it took until 2018 for that to happen. Like all the other women on this is, she proved there are still trails to be blazed.

Pauline Frederick

Pauline Frederick was a groundbreaking female reporter with ABC and NBC during her career. She covered major events like World War II and the Vietnam War, first on radio and then as one of the first female reporters on TV.

Mary Kay Stearns

Like the TV network it was first broadcast on, The DuMont Network, Mary Kay Stearns, and her sitcom Mary Kay And Johnny has mostly been lost to time. Few people remember the show or the network and that's too bad, because both were groundbreaking. In fact, Mary Kay And Johnny was the very first sitcom ever aired on broadcast TV when it debuted in 1948. Mary Kay Stearns starred with her real-life husband Johnny Stearns and not only was it the first sitcom, but it was the first show to feature a pregnant woman and the first to show a married couple sleeping in the same bed.

Viola Davis

As an EGOT winner, Viola Davis has proven over and over what a powerhouse actor she is, no matter where it is. Whether on stage, in film, or on television, she is one of the best to ever do it.

There are long-running TV shows, and then there's Grey's Anatomy. While Grey's Anatomy music might be one iconic part of the series, it's also known for its A+ speeches aka Shondalogues. And there are quite a few I think especially stand out as the best.

Throughout the years, fans have seen crazy Grey's Anatomy diseases from patients, as well as countless breakups and hookups from the surgeons of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. Named after creator Shonda Rhimes and her signature style of writing, Shondalogues are the fan-named name for the speeches from her shows. They usually each come with a central statement that's repeated, and there are 32 in particular that really helped make the show as legendary as it is now. Beware: a spoiler alert is in effect!

Pick me, choose me, love me.

Obviously this one was going to be on the list. While Ellen Pompeo might hate the fact that her character Meredith begged McDreamy to be with her back in Season 2, it is one of the most quotable lines of the entire series. Unfortunately, Derek would try to work things out with Addison before they were finally able to get together.

Izzy begs Denny to help her steal a heart.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan's Denny Duquette is one of the most iconic guest stars of Grey's Anatomy, and his love for Izzie extended seasons after his onscreen death. Katherine Heigl's character famously cut his LVAD wire to worsen his condition and procure a heart for a transplant, but not without a fight. And ultimately Heigl won an Emmy for her performance in Season 2, before famously pulling out of contention in a future season.

Give me my dad.

Meredith's half-sister Lexie Grey shows up as an intern in Season 4 of Grey's Anatomy, and we watch as they slowly develop a beautiful relationship. One major test came when Thatcher came in for a liver treatment, and they found out that Lexie wasn't a match. But Meredith is, and Lexie begs her to help her as a sister, despite Meredith's strained relationship with their father.

I'm free.

Season 3 of Grey's Anatomy ends with the wedding of Cristina and Burke which... does not go well. After being left at the altar, she returns to their apartment and quickly realizes that his most prized possessions are missing. She's finally "free" from him, and ends up having an anxiety attack and needing to be cut out of her dress by Meredith.

You are like needing glasses.

Brooke Smith's Erica Hahn is a character first introduced in Season 2, and eventually became a series regular in Season 3. When she and Callie hook up for the first time, she equates the experience of being with a woman for the first time with finally being able to see as a kid after getting glasses. And the moving speech ends humorously with "I am so gay. I am so so so gay. I am extremely gay."

It's unbearable.

In Season 4 Cristina is reeling from the departure of both her mentor and romantic partner Preston Burke. When asked to fill out HR forms about their relationship by Chief Webber, she issues a stunning monologue about what it feels to be unmoored as he wins the Harper Avery Award. That's why Sandra Oh's Cristina continues to be a fan-favorite character after all these years.

Arizona is a good man in a storm.

Prior to Jessica Capshaw's surprising firing, Arizona Robbins as a major character in Grey's Anatomy for many years. She and Callie's romance had plenty of challenges, including the reaction of Callie's father to her coming out. The beloved pediatric surgeon appeals to Ms. Torres by revealing her own family's history, and assuring him she's a trustworthy person.

April pleading for her life.

Grey's Anatomy's shooter episodes are truly chilling hours of television, in which almost all of the surgeons come face to face with the gunman Gary Clark. That includes vintage April Kepner, who tells Mr. Clark details about her family in an effort to humanize herself. Ultimately he spares her life in this moment.

Webber tells McDreamy to sober up.

In Season 5 of Grey's, Derek Shepherd falls into a depression after losing a patient. He punches Mark over Lexie, and starts drinking heavily and lashing out at people from his trailer. Eventually, Webber shows up to talk some sense into him, where he speaks about his history with alcoholism.

Izzie defends her modeling past.

While Karev became a fan-favorite character, he was largely antagonistic in Season 1 of Grey's Anatomy. Case in point: when he found out about Izzie's past as a model and posted photos of her in lingerie all over the locker room. She tears him a new one, while also taking pride in the fact that her fellow surgeons are all in debt and she is not.

Meredith confronts the Doctor who killed Derek.

In Season 16, Meredith's medical license is nearly revoked, and she must mount a defense and go to a hearing in order to continue practicing medicine. One of the judges on the panel making the decisions happens to be the doctor who was responsible for Derek's death, and when he mentions their daughter Zola she loses it and gives him a truly iconic verbal lashing. Shockingly enough, he dies shortly after.

Jesus would be ashamed.

While Callie Torres is a bisexual icon on TV, the character's coming out experience was a difficult one. Eventually, her father shows up at the hospital with their family priest in tow, hoping to "pray away the gay." After going back and forth about scripture, Callie offers a moving speech where she says that Jesus would be ashamed of Mr. Torres for turning his back on her.

I am yelling.

Throughout much of Grey's Anatomy's early seasons, Richard Webber was flirting with retiring, and deciding who might replace him as Chief of Surgery. In Season 3 he offers the job to Burke, but his hand tremor and secret plot to cover it up with Cristina complicates things. Eventually, Webber loses his temper and yells at him about it... while telling Burke that he's yelling.

Izzie explains why she signed a DNR.

At the back end of Grey's Season 5, it's revealed that the hallucinations of Denny that Izzie was seeing were the result of cancer. In the penultimate episode, she's being wheeled into surgery, and Alex tries to convince her to rip up her DNR. While explaining her reasoning, she has a speech about the hallucinations she's currently feeling, including seeing beaches behind Alex's eyes.

You don't get to call me [easy].

This is probably a Top 5 moment for Meredith Grey, and another wildly quotable and iconic Shondalogue from Grey's Anatomy history. After Derek insults her and says she "gets around" after she confided in him about her one-night stand with George, Ellen Pompeo's title character confronts him in the stairway. In this speech, she tells him he doesn't have the right to judge her, especially after he left her and chose Addison.

She's my person.

Certain phrases that originated in Grey's Anatomy have become part of the pop culture lexicon. That includes the term "my person" which Cristina and Meredith use to describe their friendship. After getting engaged to Burke, Cristina gets an A+ Shondalogue explaining exactly what that means to her.

Bailey tells George he isn't a bad guy.

Dr. Bailey might have been a tough mentor in the early seasons, but she always had a special place in her heart for T.R. Knight's George O'Malley. This is largely thanks to him helping her give birth while her ex was in surgery. And when George and Callie's marriage blows up after he sleeps with Izzie, Bailey gives him a pep talk telling him he's not a terrible person for making a terrible mistake.

Today I become a man.

While Izzie is sick in Season 5, she plans Meredith and Derek a dream wedding. But they end up giving the day up to her and Alex, who get married in the midst of her cancer battle. His wedding vows are a gorgeous Shondalogue, and hint at Karev's ultimate ending with Izzie years later.

That will never happen again.

Cristina Yang has some of the best speeches in Grey's Anatomy history, and this is definitely one for the record books. In Season 6 Owen asks her about her history with Burke, and she gives a moving speech about how her former fiancee and mentor took pieces of her. And while she allowed Owen to do the same once, she wouldn't allow herself to be compromised in this way again.

He's a drunk.

Lexie and Meredith have a difficult time connecting during Season 4, thanks to their very different upbringings. When Thatcher starts showing up to the hospital drunk, Meredith tells her half-sister to take better care of him. That's when Chyler Leigh's character reveals the truth of her father's alcoholism and the struggles she's been facing privately with it.

Meredith builds a house of candles.

The on and off again relationship between Meredith and Derek is the main love story for the first handful of Grey's Anatomy seasons. One of the most iconic moments of their relationship is at the end of Season 4, when Meredith builds a house made of candles on his land, showing how committed she is to their future. Even though she "doesn't build houses".

Cristina talks about her father's death to Owen.

Cristina Yang's history is something that Grey's fans needed to earn. And while she reveals to George that her father died during Season 3, it isn't until Season 5 that she hears what happened to him. As she tells Owen Hunt, she was there in the car accident that caused his death, and felt his heart stop beating. And that's why she wins all the contests and works so hard.

Ellis calls Meredith ordinary.

In the final moments of Grey's Anatomy's pilot episode, it's revealed that Meredith is taking care of her mother Ellis, who has Alzheimer's. And in Season 3, Ellis briefly becomes lucid and catches up on the years she missed. When she finds out her daughter doesn't have a surgical specialty and is more focused on McDreamy, she asks "What happened to you?" and calls her ordinary in a biting speech.

Cristina tells Owen about what happened after the plane crash.

Season 8 ended with the Grey's Anatomy plane crash episode, which was a brutal hour of television where Lexie died. Exactly what went down in the time between the crash and the surgeon's rescue isn't revealed until the second episode of Season 9, where Cristina says she "can't get out" of the tub... or out of her memories of those horrifying days. She finally reveals what they went through in the woods, and it's a gripping monologue.

Did you say it?

The fifth season of Grey's Anatomy ends with an emotionally devastating cliffhanger. George is revealed to be the John Doe, while Izzie codes before Alex's eyes in another room. The two characters meet in a dream space, where Meredith's narration offers a moving monologue about love and the passing of time.

I am infected by Mark Sloan.

Lexie and Sloan are a beloved pair on Grey's Anatomy, but one that never got their happy ending. They're broken up throughout Season 8, before Meredith's younger sister blurts out that she loves him and can't stop because he's like a disease she's contracted. Unfortunately, she died in the plane crash just a few episodes later, and he perished shortly thereafter.

You died in my arms. 

At the start of Season 6, the surgeons are still reeling from George's sudden death, as well as Izzie briefly dying and coming back to life. While Katherine Heigl's character tries to make him act normal and as a married couple, he lets out an emotional Shondalogue about what he went through when she was coding and just how scared he is of something happening to her.

This man is [easy].

In Season 4, Mark Sloan gets into a serious beef with the nurses of Seattle Grace. They try to boycott the surgeon's service due to him sleeping with so many of them and not calling them back. But when it starts affecting patients, Bailey offers a hilarious Shondalogue about how Sloan is easy, but they all knew that before getting involved with the plastic surgeon.

Susan Grey apologizes to Meredith.

While Meredith's relationship with her father is strained throughout all of Grey's Anatomy, she does end up getting close with his second wife Susan. But it's a process to get there, and Susan has to first stand up for herself, before eventually apologizing for not making Thatcher try harder to have a relationship with her.

Kepner's crisis of faith.

While the surgeons of Grey's Anatomy practice medicine, a few also have strong relationships with religion. Few as much as April Kepner, who experiences a crisis of faith in Season 14. She takes over Meredith's narration for the episode "Personal Jesus", where she offers a cynical and devastated look at scripture.

My diaper is hardcore.

In Season 6, Seattle Grace merges with Mercy West, leading all of the surgeons to fight to keep their jobs. While on McDreamy's service for a particularly long surgery, Lexie gets the idea to wear a diaper so she wouldn't need bathroom breaks. And when Jackson tries to mock her for it, she gives him a hilarious earful.

McDreamy's elevator proposal.

After years of breakups and hookups, Meredith and Derek eventually became a real couple. During Season 5, he proposes to her in a very on-brand way: reminiscing about their medical cases together and how they were connected to their romantic life. Of course, it happening in an elevator was all the more appropriate for them.

Grey’s Anatomy recently premiered its 21st season on the 2024 TV schedule, and for a show that’s provided so much on-screen drama over the past two decades, it’s also had its fair share of conflict behind the scenes. The most recent example of this was the 2022 story of writer Elisabeth Finch, who lied about having cancer and other tragedies in her life that inspired some of Grey’s Anatomy’s best episodes. The docuseries Anatomy of Lies dives into those fabrications, but it turns out there was much more the directors weren’t able to include, like one story that involved another infamous liar with ties to Rhimes — Anna Delvey.

Longtime Grey’s fans have endured Katherine Heigl’s feud with Shonda Rhimes and stories of Patrick Dempsey’s allegedly “terrorizing” behavior that led to McDreamy being killed off. However, the Vanity Fair article written by Evgenia Peretz and the ensuing three-part docuseries Anatomy of Lies (available to stream with a Peacock subscription) from Peretz and her filmmaker husband David Schisgall uncovered a story that was as wild as anything we’ve ever seen on the show. And yet there were still parts of Elisabeth Finch’s deception that didn’t make the cut. Schisgall told The Wrap:

Other triggers were discussed on Anatomy of Lies, including Elisabeth Finch not being comfortable with rainy weather or the mention of guns due to PTSD from her friend being killed in the Tree of Life synagogue shooting in 2018. (She later admitted she knew no one who died in that tragedy.)

But I’m really interested in the Anna Delvey of it all. Delvey — aka Anna Sorokin, who has been in the news recently for her hilariously dismissive response to getting eliminated from Dancing with the Stars — is the fake heiress who lied her way into New York’s upper-class social scene, swindling people and banks out of millions of dollars along the way. She’s also the subject of the Netflix series Inventing Anna, created by none other than Shonda Rhimes. It makes sense that Elisabeth Finch might have seen a bit of herself in Delvey, and I’m curious about this story that got left on the cutting room floor.

Another fabrication that was edited out involved Elisabeth Finch’s then-wife Jenn Beyer and Finch's brother, who the writer said had abused her as a child and then died by suicide during her time with Grey’s. (Finch’s brother is reportedly alive to this day.) Evgenia Peretz said:

So do Evgenia Peretz and David Schisgall plan to continue to follow Elisabeth Finch and possibly tell these stories? Peretz said it’s unlikely:

The couple may be done with the former Grey’s Anatomy writer, but there’s apparently more to mine from this well, and if anyone ever did want to do a series on it, they’d be willing to share their research. Schisgall said:

It’s hard to believe there’s so much that didn’t make it into Anatomy of Lies, given the lengths Elisabeth Finch went to to keep up the charade. If you’re interested in going on that stranger-than-fiction journey, the docuseries is available to stream now on Peacock, and you can catch current episodes of Grey’s Anatomy at 10 p.m. ET Thursdays on NBC.

We’re only a few weeks away from Grey’s Anatomy’s return to the 2024 TV schedule, where we’ll learn who exactly is still employed by Grey Sloan Memorial after some big moves in the Season 20 finale. However, the Seattle surgeons won’t be the only doctors in ABC’s house on Thursday nights. Ryan Murphy is bringing a new series to the Alphabet Network, with Doctor Odyssey also premiering on September 26.

While I’m excited to see Joshua Jackson practice medicine on the high seas, I can’t help but be a little put off that the rookie medical series is bumping Grey’s Anatomy from its timeslot. Let me explain why, as a Grey's fan, I’m concerned about the new Thursday lineup.

Can ABC Handle Two Medical Dramas On Thursday Nights?

Joshua Jackson will star in the freshman ABC series as Dr. Max Bankman, the new on-board doctor for a luxury cruise ship. He, the ship’s captain Robert Massey (Don Johnson), nurse Avery Morgan (Phillipa Soo) and nurse Tristan Silva (Sean Teale) will be faced with some unique crises as they navigate the seas miles from shore and a traditional operating room. This, to me, sounds like a great premise — and as far as medical dramas go, it’s definitely different from Grey’s Anatomy’s brand of hospital-oriented entertainment.

That said, with ABC’s Thursday nights kicking off with a two-hour Ryan Murphy block of the first responder drama 9-1-1 and then Doctor Odyssey at 9 p.m. ET, I’m concerned that audiences aren’t going to stick around for another doctor show. It’s a similar situation to when Grey’s Anatomy followed Private Practice, but in that case, Kate Walsh’s medical series was a spinoff that worked in tandem with Ellen Pompeo’s gig. And just look at what happened to Station 19.

Will Grey’s Anatomy Suffer Station 19’s Fate?

Grey’s Anatomy’s second TV spinoff Station 19 seemed to be going strong six seasons in, featuring multiple crossovers with the flagship series and together dominating Thursday night ratings. However, ahead of its seventh cycle, ABC announced that the 2024 season would be its last. For its final run, the firefighter drama was also bumped from its timeslot, into the same 10 p.m. ET space where Grey’s Anatomy is headed next month and being replaced by 9-1-1 — that’s right, a Ryan Murphy drama of the same genre. Sound familiar?

There’s also the question of what the pairing will mean for Doctor Odyssey. Will Joshua Jackson’s show benefit from Grey’s Anatomy’s existing fanbase, or will viewers remain loyal to Meredith Grey and opt not to add more medicine to their Thursdays? And how long will ABC give Doctor Odyssey to settle into its “Big Deck Energy” (the series’ words, not mine), when they’ve already got an established medical drama on the schedule?

Grey’s Anatomy’s New Timeslot Hasn’t Seen Consistency In Years

As I previously mentioned, I’m also not thrilled about seeing Grey’s Anatomy move to the 10 p.m. ET timeslot. How to Get Away with Murder was the last Thursday night show to hold that hour for more than one season, and that was when it was bolstered by other Shonda Rhimes brainchildren like Grey’s and Scandal.

Since How to Get Away with Murder ended after the 2019 season, the 10 p.m. hour has been held for one season each by A Million Little Things (which moved back to Wednesdays the next year), Big Sky (also moving to Wednesdays the year after), Alaska Daily (canceled after one season) and finally Station 19’s seventh and final season. Can Grey’s Anatomy break the trend, or will it too be moved or canceled next year?

The Shonda Rhimes Era On ABC Appears To Be Over

Grey’s Anatomy has always seemed pretty indestructible. Even a few years ago when Ellen Pompeo was convinced it should end, ABC apparently wouldn’t hear of it because it was such a big moneymaker. However, with the show facing budget cuts for the network to shift its focus to new series, I wonder if there could be an expiration date on Grey’s after all.

Either way, the writing had been on the wall for a while, even before the cancellation of Station 19, regarding the end of the Shonda Rhimes Thursday night era on ABC. In 2017 Rhimes parted ways with the company (she felt like she was “dying” on network television) and accepted a lucrative deal with Netflix. Station 19 was her final creation for the Alphabet Network.

When Grey’s Anatomy premieres in September, it will be the first time since 2008 that it’s not accompanied by at least one other Shonda Rhimes series. In 2009 Private Practice moved from Wednesdays to Thursdays, and after that our Thursday nights featured one or more of Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder and Station 19 to keep our favorite Seattle doctors company.

Is Ryan Murphy the new Shonda Rhimes? The queen is dead. Long live the king.

Of course, I would love for Doctor Odyssey to be a hit, and it’s certainly possible that all three Thursday night shows could help one another prosper. A rising tide lifts all boats, right? With the new drama taking place on the water, it seems like there’s such a huge opportunity to bring something unique to the world of medical TV. A cruise ship is such a great setting, too, and coming from the brain of Ryan Murphy, you just know we’re in for some wild times.

My big concern as a longtime Grey’s Anatomy fan is that there’s just so many things working against it this year — the budget cuts, the late timeslot, the loss of cast members and, yes, the competition with a young, fresh medical drama. I think I’m going to have trouble getting comfortable until we see how the ratings play out and what ABC decides to do going forward.

Be sure to tune in on Wednesday, September 26, as 9-1-1 kicks off its eighth season at 8 p.m. ET, followed by the premiere of Doctor Odyssey at 9 p.m. ET and then Grey’s Anatomy at 10 p.m. All three will be available to stream the next day with a Hulu subscription.

So much Black talent has made unforgettable movie breakthrough performances with a positive impact on TV, music, sports, television creation, and more. Outside of the roles you know them for, many Black celebrities created businesses to make things better for the masses with a sharp focus on people of color. In honor of Black Business Month, here are 15 celebrities who’ve come up with successful businesses.

Tracee Ellis Ross

You know Tracee Ellis Ross for starring in one of the best sitcoms of all time, black-ish, and as the daughter of famous celebrity parent Diana Ross. What you may not know is that she founded Pattern Beauty in late 2019. Inspired by her hairstylist’s suggestion for clients to wear wigs to look like Ross, she was instead focused on creating products for textured, curly hair. 

Ross' Pattern Beauty started with four people, seven products, and Macy’s as the only retail partner. It has since grown to 30 employees, over 50 products, and 10 retail partners, including Sephora and Ulta Beauty. The High Note actress credits her business’s marketing strategy with focusing on celebrating hair compared to solving problems using standout products like the Pattern Blow Dryer specifically for textured hair.

Kevin Hart

American comedian Kevin Hart, known for making us laugh in his best movies, founded Laugh Out Loud Productions in 2007 to create and distribute comedy content. Originally a subscription comedy streaming service, it partnered with platforms like Plex, Pluto TV, Peacock, YouTube, and more. Taking a big career step, Hartbeat Productions merged with LOL Productions to create Hartbeat to diversify global comedy. Hartbeat Studios produces films like Netflix’s Lift and Hartbeat Media focuses on digital content, music, and events. 

In 2022, Kevin Hart also entered the alcohol industry, teaming up with 11th-generation tequila producer Juan Domingo Beckman to create the tequila brand, Gran Coramino. Inspired by his experiences in Mexico, the Fatherhood actor’s goal was to make a smooth tequila that consumers would love. $1 from every smooth-flavored tequila bottle sold is donated to support diverse entrepreneurs and small businesses across the U.S. and Mexico.

Gabrielle Union

When Gabrielle Union noticed that on-set hair stylists didn’t know what to do with her hair, she took mental notes on effective hair products and launched Flawless by Gabrielle Union in 2017. Once those ten successful products of hers sold out, the Bring it On actress revamped the business to be “100% Black-owned, Black-led and Black-marketed.” Union worked with a team of chemists to develop new products for textured hair using naturally derived ingredients. 

Inspired by her daughter Kaavia’s skincare struggles when she was three, Union also decided to create Proudly, with her husband Dwyane Wade, to make products for children with melanated skin. Launched online in April 2022, Proudly expanded nationwide to Target in September of that year.

Snoop Dogg

The Grammy nominee responsible for singles like “Gin and Juice” and “Drop It Like It’s Hot” has embraced being typecast as a weed enthusiast to create many cannabis-based businesses. Snoop Dogg founded the cannabis-focused digital platform Merry Jane which normalizes discussions about the business and politics of the cannabis industry. 

The brand Leafs by Snoop provides fine-quality cannabis like flowers, concentrates, and edibles. The rapper made history as the first celebrity to brand and market legal marijuana products. In July 2024, Snoop Dogg launched L.A.’s first legal marijuana shop S.W.E.D (Smoke Weed Everyday) to provide top-shelf premium products and services for cannabis experts, with August plans to expand in Amsterdam.

Serena Williams

Grand Slam winner Serena Williams, who retired from tennis in 2022, successfully transitioned into the business world with Serena Ventures. This venture capital firm came about after discovering only 2% of venture capital went to women and less to people of color. 

Through Serena Ventures, the former athlete has invested in more than 85 companies with 79% under-represented founders, 54% women founders, 47% Black founders, and 11% Latino founders. Serena Williams' portfolio includes innovative companies like AI-platform custom wig company Parfait, plant-based meat company Impossible Foods, weight loss app Noom, and more. Remarkably, 14 of these businesses have even reached Unicorn status, being valued at $1 billion or more.

Jay-Z

Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter is widely considered one of the best rappers of all time, not only because of his chart-topping music but for shaping the entertainment industry with his businesses. After parting ways with Def Jam Records, he founded Roc Nation in 2008 which evolved from a record label into artist management, supporting athletes, and music publishing and distribution. A lot of musicians have benefited from Roc Nation, like Rihanna, Demi Lovato, DJ Khaled, and more. 

Jay-Z is also the first rapper to own a champagne label, acquiring full ownership of Armand de Brignac. In 2014, the “99 Problems” rapper bought the remaining stake and it sold more than 500,000 bottles five years later.

Oprah Winfrey

You see trailblazing media mogul Oprah Winfrey’s name all over the place whether it’s on TV, in movies, on book covers, the radio, and more. A fun fact about Winfrey is that she’s the first Black billionaire, which is unsurprising considering her success with The Oprah Winfrey Show, O Magazine, and Harpo Films. With all of the other businesses Winfrey has, why not have her own television network called…OWN? 

In 1992 after a conversation with her life partner Stedman Graham, Winfrey immediately envisioned OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network). Although she co-founded Oxygen, The Color Purple actress wanted complete control of her network. In 2007, Discovery head David Zaslav loved Winfrey’s magazine and proposed to create a channel with a similar vibe. The network launched in 2011 with its first shows The Haves and the Have Nots and Love Thy Neighbor.

Dwayne Johnson

Moana’s Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, known for blowing up the entertainment industry with his top-ranked movies and as a professional wrestler, expanded his influence into business. For example, he merged the XFL with the United States Football League to form the United Football League and co-founded ZOA Energy Drink. 

However, Johnson's most significant project was Teremana Tequila, a brand named after the Polynesian word “teremana” meaning “Spirit of the Earth.” Despite launching during the pandemic, the tequila quickly gained popularity, selling 30,000 cases in 2020, 600,000 cases a year later, and the wild stat of selling a million cases last year within the past 12 months.

Patti LaBelle

“Godmother of Soul” Patti LaBelle is acknowledged for her seven-decade-long singing career. But, her first passion has always been cooking. The “Stir It Up” singer would offer to cook for various musicians like Prince, Elton John, and the Rolling Stones and would label her dishes so people would know they were hers. 

Fifteen years ago, LaBelle launched her own food brand, Patti’s Good Life, starting with homemade hot sauces and barbecue sauces. The food brand has since expanded to frozen meals and baked goods like sweet potato pie, mac n’ cheese, collard greens, and peach cobbler. With plans to introduce a breakfast line soon, Patti’s Good Life grossed nearly $200 million in sales through partnerships with Target and Walmart in 2022.

Dr. Dre

Seven-time Grammy winner Dr. Dre has made his mark on the music industry as a rapper, the founder of Aftermath Entertainment and Death Row Records, and a record producer helping other artists make a name for themselves. In 2006, The Super Bowl LVI halftime show performer helped music enthusiasts listen to music the way he does in the studio with Beats by Dre. 

Collaborating with Interscope Records co-founder Jimmy Iovine, the “Let Me Ride” rapper’s dream of bringing the sound in a professional recording studio to his premium headphones came true. By 2011, Beats dominated over 64% of the $100+ premium headphone market and was acquired by Apple in 2014. 

Rihanna

Chart-topping artist Rihanna, one of the best-selling female artists of the 21st century, has made a great impact on the beauty industry with Fenty Beauty. Launched in 2017 and named after her surname, Fenty made history as one of the first brands to cater to all kinds of skin tones with its 50 shades of foundation. The business has since expanded to haircare, lipstick, eye makeup, skincare, and more. 

In 2018, Rihanna expanded her beauty services to fashion with Savage x Fenty, a lingerie brand designed to empower men and women “to feel sexy and have fun doing it.” There were even eight limited edition items that were Super Bowl LVII themed when the R&B singer performed for the halftime show. With Fenty Beauty worth $2.8 billion and Savage x Fenty worth $1 billion, the Grammy winner’s business ventures have put her at billionaire status.

Lenny Kravitz

American singer-songwriter Lenny Kravitz, known for his catchy music and unique style, has home designing talent through Kravitz Design Inc. As The Hunger Games actor said that he’d be a designer if music didn’t work out, Kravitz decided to put his designer skills to the test by creating a relaxing atmosphere for his clients with his interior and furniture designs. Kravitz Design Inc.'s clients include Morgans Hotel Group, The Setai Resort and Residences, Delano South Beach, and more.

Berry Gordy Jr.

Before Berry Gordy Jr. became a renowned music industry entrepreneur, he worked a lot of jobs like boxing, assembly line worker, record store owner and more. While already a songwriter, Gordy Jr. set out in 1959 to use the lessons he learned in his previous careers to create and manage musical groups and solo artists. 

He founded Motown Records in Detroit in 1960 with just $800 from his family’s savings, combining the words “motor” and “town” to represent the city. Berry Gordy Jr. used his great ear to make music a universal language, breaking down racial barriers with chart-topping songs like “Money (That's What I Want),” “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “Dancing in the Street,” and more.

Shonda Rhimes

Award-winning television creator and producer Shonda Rhimes took the television world by storm with her global media company Shondaland, creating the best shows to binge-watch on Netflix like Grey’s Anatomy and Bridgerton. Launched in 2005, Shondaland broke new ground by featuring strong female lead characters and prioritizing diversity and inclusion for people of color and the LGBTQ+ community. 

Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, and Scandal made Rhimes the first woman to have three TV dramas achieve the 100-episode milestone. Her company has since expanded to shondaland.com, a platform providing articles to empower women and TV show updates, and Shonda Audio, which offers scripted and unscripted podcasts.

Tyler Perry

Inspired after watching an episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show that spoke of the therapeutic power of journaling, Tyler Perry discovered his writing talent and transitioned from stage productions to founding Tyler Perry Studios in 2005. The studio now rests on 330 acres of the former Fort McPherson army base in the heart of Atlanta, which he bought in 2015. 

Perry’s films, starting with the Diary of a Mad Black Woman, have opened doors to aspiring actors, writers, and film directors of color. On a busy day, Bloomberg reports that nearly 5,000 people work at the studio, providing plenty of employment. The cast of his BET+ series, Ruthless, said there’s “beauty” and “freedom” working at Tyler Perry Studios in representing people of color and feeling unstoppable on the property. He is seen as the first African-American to own a major film production studio.

These empowering Black celebrities have used their big names and fame to build empires that service the world outside of entertainment. Through their innovative ideas, A-listers have found ways to promote diversity to ensure that everyone benefits from services like hair care, skincare, entertainment networks, venture capital for businesses, and more. The lesson that everyone can learn from their inspirational stories is that if you see an industry where the change you make can have a positive impact on humanity, don’t hesitate to make a difference. 

Make sure to look at our 2024 movie schedule and our 2024 TV releases so you’re updated on the following celebrities’ future projects.

Over a month has passed since we bid farewell to the Seattle firefighters on Station 19, as the Grey’s Anatomy spinoff was canceled following its seventh season. While we’ll see Jason George return to the medical drama as Ben Warren, it’s been a little heartbreaking to see the other actors like Danielle Savre move on to other gigs. All hopes of the show being saved were dashed when the series finale basically flashed forward to each firefighter’s future, but two of Station 19’s stars revealed just how close we allegedly came to getting that sought-after eighth season, and now I’m upset all over again.

Fans were crushed when it was announced that Station 19’s shortened seventh season would be its last, and a petition to save the show immediately began collecting signatures. There was hope that Shonda Rhimes’ ties to Netflix might be just the lifeline the show needed, and while that never panned out, it may have been closer to reality than we all realized. Soaps.com reports that at a convention, Danielle Savre and Stefania Spampinato seemed to indicate the series did almost get picked up by the streaming service. The Carina DeLuca actress told fans: 

Danielle Savre, who played Carina’s wife Maya Bishop on the series, appeared to confirm that. She looked at Stefania Spampinato before nodding to the fans and said: 

That sound you just heard was Marina stans’ broken hearts cracking in all the same places all over again. We’ve only just started to come to terms with the fact that Danielle Savre has joined the cast of Found, which was renewed for a second season on NBC, and that it’s unlikely Stefania Spampinato will return to Grey’s Anatomy in any meaningful capacity. Now we have to live with the knowledge that there may have, in fact, been talks to move Station 19 to Netflix? 

I sob for the Marina babies we won’t get to watch grow up.

Of course, if Station 19 had gotten picked up for an eighth season — on whatever platform — the finale we saw would have been entirely different. Because showrunners Peter Paige and Zoanne Clack knew going into the final season that the series was ending, they were able to put a bow on each firefighter’s story, and I think they did that in a very satisfying way. 

With Grey Damon’s Jack Gibson being forced to quit firefighting; Vic Hughes (Barrett Doss) and Travis Montgomery (Jay Hayden) heading off to Washington, D.C.; and Ben Warren returning to Grey Sloan to finish his medical residency, the writers really did close that chapter of the fire station’s story. 

That’s all to say that the decision to allow Station 19 to end had to be final before that last episode could be written, so I’d be very interested to know when in the process any conversations with Shonda Rhimes and/or Netflix were taking place.

Regardless of how close we came to getting more of our favorite Seattle firefighters, it’s all over now. However, fans can still relive the series as much as they want, with all seven seasons available to stream with a Hulu subscription. Also keep an eye on the 2024 TV schedule for Grey’s Anatomy’s Season 21 premiere date. 

Ever since the first season of Bridgerton hit Netflix, the Regency romance has had its audience in a seductive chokehold, not only with sequel seasons focused on other couples, but with the 2023 spinoff,Queen Charlotte. As we await the third season of Bridgerton, I know many of us have been wondering about whether a second season of Queen Charlotte is coming or not. Well, Shonda Rhimes just commented on it, and I actually love her reasoning regarding why a new season isn’t in the works yet.

Queen Charlotte was a huge success on Netflix by all measures, between critics raving about it and the series seeing an impressive 1.9 billion viewing minutes in just the first few days on Netflix. Here’s what Shonda Rhimes had to say about why Season 2 hasn’t been announced yet:

While I would absolutely love to see another season of Queen Charlotte, despite how sad of a love story it actually is, I really respect these thoughts from Shonda Rhimes when she recently spoke to Variety. When it comes to a series as popular as Bridgerton, I’ve seen it happen time after time where the writer’s room gets lazy and the quality of the show decreases. So I’m all in on Rhimes taking her time to decide how and why Queen Charlotte’s story should continue rather than jumping the gun and giving us a half-baked second season.

Unlike Bridgerton, seasons of which are based on novels by Julia Quinn, Queen Charlotte was an original spinoff from the mind of Shonda Rhimes. The series is based on the real Queen Charlotte, who was the wife of King George III and was alive from 1744 to 1818. After Golda Rosheuvel played the queen in the initial Bridgerton series, India Amarteifio brought something new to the character by detailing her marriage to George. It’s also fun to see how the series is diving deeper into other characters from the main show, such as Lady Danbury’s surprising romance.

While we wait for the hopeful good news at some point for the return of Queen Charlotte, it’s time to get excited for the return of Bridgerton. This time around, the first half of the season (four episodes) will arrive on May 16 before the other four drop on June 13. You can catch up on everything Bridgerton right now with a Netflix subscription.

Grey’s Anatomy is continuing its historic run on ABC, and along with the show’s wildest medical cases, fans have stuck around for all of the drama, romance, and much more. The series has had some memorable moments throughout the 20 seasons, and even some that have become pretty popular -- such as Meredith’s “Pick me. Choose me. Love me.” However, creator Shonda Rhimes revealed the under-the-radar line that has now become a part of everyday conversations. 

It's no secret that Grey’s Anatomy has had an impact on pop culture for numerous reasons. The medical drama is so big, in fact, that Rhimes is even hearing lines out in public, especially this one in particular. She told Variety more about the two little words she constantly hears and how great it’s been see it used in everyday life:

The quote “My person” has been used since basically the beginning of Grey’s Anatomy. Whether it’s Meredith calling Derek, Cristina, or Alex that, or fans pointing out other pairs, both platonic and romantic, it’s been used quite a lot over the years. The fact that more and more people are starting to use it, whether they know it's a Grey’s Anatomy reference or not, must be a pretty cool feeling for Rhimes. 

Speaking of “My person,” Meredith was missing one of hers in a recent episode of Grey’s Anatomy when her son Bailey fell ill. She admitted to Webber that she still misses Derek like crazy, especially when the kids wake up in the middle of the night, and she doesn’t have anyone to talk to. While Derek was surely not Meredith’s only “person,” his death was the one that hit the hardest. Now that the series is starting to focus more on her relationship with Nick, perhaps he could be just what she needs, her person if you will, but it’s hard to tell since she isn’t on the show as much anymore. 

With Grey’s Anatomy renewed for Season 21, its impact will surely continue. Even though it’s hard to tell how much longer Grey’s will realistically last, the series will definitely still be part of conversations years after the doors at Grey Sloan close. 

However, the doors are still wide open, and there is much to look forward to in these remaining episodes of Grey’s Anatomy Season 20, including one final crossover with its spinoff Station 19. There is no end in sight for Grey’s, and it’s going to be exciting to see how else it impacts pop culture like it did with "my person." 

New episodes premiere on Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC as part of the 2024 TV schedule.

It may feel like Station 19 only just kicked off its seventh season on ABC, but somehow we’re already halfway through the 10-episode order. That means when the firefighter drama returns from a short hiatus, we’ll be on a countdown to the end. Or will we? Fans continue to hold out hope that Station 19 might be saved by another network or streaming service after ABC announced its cancellation at the end of Season 7. Netflix would seemingly be a good place for the series to land, and showrunners Zoanne Clack and Peter Paige definitely have thoughts about that.

Netflix has a history of saving canceled shows, picking up series including Manifest, Girls5eva and You and developing new seasons for fans with a Netflix subscription. That, in addition to the fact that the streamer has a working relationship with Grey’s Anatomy creator and Station 19 executive producer Shonda Rhimes, has fans hopeful that the fire might not be put out on the Seattle spinoff we’ve come to love so much. So have the showrunners gotten any indication that those talks are happening? Zoanne Clack tells TV Line: 

Zoanne Clack apparently hasn’t been made privy to any conversations about extending Station 19’s run, though she does sound like she’d jump at the chance to have the series taken off the list of 2024 TV cancellations. Fellow showrunner Peter Paige emphasized her enthusiasm, saying: 

So just in case there was any question about whether or not Peter Paige and Zoanne Clack would be willing to stick around following the presumed Station 19 series finale, both of them have stated their commitment to the show, should it be saved by Netflix (or anyone else) and renewed for an eighth season.

This makes sense, as I can’t imagine the disappointment they must have felt over the series’ cancellation before any of their episodes had even aired. Zoanne Clack and Peter Paige took over showrunning duties from Krista Vernoff, who exited Grey’s Anatomy and Station 19 following their 2023 seasons. Clack worked on Grey’s Anatomy as a story editor, writer and producer from the very first episode before joining its spinoff in 2022.

Peter Paige, meanwhile, started working with Station 19 in Season 4 when he directed an episode, and he felt like he was a great fit for the showrunner gig, given his background on series including The Fosters and Good Trouble.

The team has remained mum on any post-Season 7 plans, including whether or not Ben Warren and Carina DeLuca will return to Grey’s Anatomy, where they originated. Their focus may well be on creating the best final episodes possible, and while they appreciate fans for the Change.org petition, billboards and letters, Peter Paige and Zoanne Clack emphasized that they need the ratings too, so keep watching, Station 19 fans.

Attracting those eyeballs has been another factor in the show’s seventh season, as 9-1-1 took over the 8 p.m. ET timeslot when it jumped from Fox to ABC. Now Station 19 airs after Grey’s Anatomy at a much-less-desirable 10 p.m. ET. The show is on a short hiatus for now, but new episodes — the last five if Shonda Rhimes or someone else doesn’t jump in — resume Thursday, May 2, on ABC, with all episodes available to stream with a Hulu subscription. 

Back in the earlier seasons of Grey’s Anatomy, the behind-the-scenes drama was plentiful — and often as salacious as anything happening on the screen — from Patrick Dempsey’s supposed “terrorizing” behavior that led to McDreamy being killed off to Katherine Heigl’s strained relationship with creator Shonda Rhimes. Time does heal many wounds, though, and 14 years after she left the ABC medical drama, Heigl reunited with her former co-stars on stage at the 75th Emmy Awards. Some viewers seemed surprised to see her hand-in-hand with Ellen Pompeo, and her appearance elicited some strong reactions on social media.

Katherine Heigl took the stage with Ellen Pompeo, Justin Chambers, Chandra Wilson and James Pickens Jr., with the actress who played Izzie Stevens acknowledging that, “Yes, there have been changes” over the years as Grey’s Anatomy approaches its 20th season. Given the turmoil that surrounded Heigl’s exit from the show, seeing her hand-in-hand with Pompeo had people in their feels, like this fan who wrote on X (Twitter): 

The Emmys were quite the fitting venue for Katherine Heigl to show that fences had been mended with her former castmates, given the role the awards show played in fracturing their relationship. 

After winning an Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama in 2007, Heigl withdrew her name from consideration for the following year’s awards, saying, “I did not feel that I was given the material this season to warrant an Emmy nomination.” At the time the actress also spoke out about working 17-hour days, and she was eventually released early from her contract in 2010. Many watching the 2023 Emmys loved seeing this redemption story, with one viewer saying: 

Others had similar reactions, tweeting: 

• I will forever be a Katherine Heigl defender. I hope 2024 is the year she is in literally everything. – laynesays
• Katherine Heigl is HOMEEEEE – WAYSTIAR
• Watching Katherine Heigl with the Grey’s cast feels so nostalgic – everybdymovedon
• On the floor with Katherine Heigl I love her so much IZZIE COME HOME – fearlustpride
• Katherine Heigl you were WRONGED by Hollywood you are sooooo beloved – TlMBRADFORD

It was a meaningful moment to see five of the original Grey’s Anatomy cast members together, as only Chandra Wilson and James Pickens Jr. remain series regulars. Ellen Pompeo reduced her role on the series in Season 19, after Justin Chambers left in Season 16. Some fans were disappointed that Sandra Oh and T.R. Knight were absent from the reunion, but others saw potential Season 20 plot possibilities, with one fan writing: 

I agree it would be great to see Izzie Stevens (and possibly Justin Chambers’ Alex Karev, too?) back on Grey’s Anatomy, since it appears they’ve left the off-the-screen drama in the past. We’ll have to see just how far this reunion will take them, when Season 20 premieres Thursday, March 14, on ABC. In the meantime, you can relive any of the first 19 seasons with a Netflix subscription. 

After enduring a fall with no new seasons of Station 19 and Grey’s Anatomy due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, fans were relieved when a 2024 premiere date was announced for the Seattle series on ABC. However, our excitement over the return of Andy Herrera (Jaina Lee Ortiz), Maya Bishop (Danielle Savre) and our other favorite first responders was quickly extinguished, with the news that Season 7 of the firefighter drama will be its last. Creator Shonda Rhimes has now spoken out about the cancellation, as viewers started a petition to “Save Station 19.”

Station 19 premiered in 2018 as a second spinoff of Grey’s Anatomy (following Private Practice, which ran from 2007 to 2013). Shonda Rhimes paid tribute to the cast in an Instagram post that featured photos of some of the cast members alongside the caption: 

While the creator may be grateful for the memories, Station 19 fans didn’t take the cancellation news lying down. A “Save Station 19” petition has been started at change.org that has garnered more than 16,000 signatures as of this writing. The organizer cited the show’s large fan base around the world as one of the reasons that it should continue, as well as its handling of tough social issues and LGBTQ+ representation.

Station 19 boasts a diverse cast of POC and queer characters, with Danielle Savre and Stefania Spampinato in particular making fans believe in love as Maya Bishop and Carina DeLuca (aka their couple name Marina). Representation seemed to be a big topic on the petition, as people gave their reasons for signing. A few of the comments included: 

• This show saved me in so many ways. It's the best show on television right now. I don't want to lose Marina. That representation is so important. – Artie Sookram
• The representation on this show is so needed to be seen. There are not many wlw representation on television today which is so sad. We really need it. – Jaquetta Fitzpatrick
• This show is needed right now. Representation matters and fans and the cast/crew deserve these stories to be told. – Jessica Johnson

The silver lining of the Station 19 cancellation is that the writers had enough warning to be able to write Season 7 to a satisfying ending. This season will only feature 10 episodes — receiving the same shortened order as Grey’s Anatomy due to the strikes — but hopefully there will be resolution at least for Jack Gibson (Grey Damon), who suffered a head injury in the Season 6 finale and Theo and Vic’s relationship drama after he got it on with another woman in a coat closet. And can we please, please, finally get a Marina baby before we have to say goodbye?

March 14 will mark the beginning of the end for Station 19, as Season 7 will premiere with a new showrunner in a new timeslot. With 9-1-1 moving to ABC this season, that will take the 8 p.m. ET hour on Thursdays, with Grey’s Anatomy maintaining its 9 p.m. slot and Station 19 following at 10 p.m. While we wait, you can get caught up on all the drama by rewatching the first six seasons of Station 19 with a Hulu subscription. 

The moment that romance fans with a Netflix subscription have been waiting for (especially since Bridgerton Season 3 is still on the way) finally arrived last week when the prequel, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story hit the streamer. While viewers and critics are enjoying the love story of Charlotte and King George, many were also likely quite shocked at a romantic development involving the young Lady Agatha Danbury, played by Arsema Thomas. Now, Shonda Rhimes has explained why she went with that story for the character, and Thomas has opened up about why the romance was “formative” for Agatha.

Why Did Shonda Rhimes Give Lady Danbury That Surprising Romance?

While the love, strife, and sexytimes between Charlotte and George is, obviously, the main focus, young Agatha Danbury’s romantic life also gets a spotlight in the prequel. She’s married to a much, much older man, whom she was betrothed to when she was only 3-years-old, and has basically lived her whole life for him. But, she finds herself attracted to someone else (and he to her) before the end of the series, and creator Shonda Rhimes (who also wrote most of the show) told Entertainment Weekly about the romance:

So, big spoiler alert for those who haven’t finished the episodes yet, but after her not-so-great husband dies, the very surprising man Agatha finds herself falling for is…Lord Ledger (Keir Charles), none other than the married father of the eventual Lady Violet Bridgerton!

Even though Lord Danbury hadn’t appeared to be mean/abusive to Agatha during their marriage, he was hardly someone she was in love with or respected by. On top of that, we’re shown that their sex life is far from ideal, with Agatha being bored/annoyed/desperate to be done with their every carnal encounter. 

She’d already known Lord Ledger, and he’d been nice to her when so many others in the ton hadn’t, so when the two happen upon each other while walking their adjoining lands one day, they eventually strike up a real friendship by talking and taking daily walks. It’s not so long before it’s quite clear that they both have deeper feelings. 

Why Was Lady Danbury’s Romance ‘Formative’ For The Character?

We can see that Agatha had never experienced a relationship with a man who actually listened to her before when she began her friendship with Ledger. As star Thomas notes later in the interview, that’s part of the importance of the romance, which led to one night of passion for the duo before they called it off:

Awwww! OK, I know they were both wrong for having an affair while Ledger was married, but it was very clear that neither of them were looking to form a romantic connection at the start, and also really obvious that Ledger and Agatha understand the error of their ways soon, never having any Charlotte/George style confession of love. We can also see how the brief romance (and sex that came with it) help to galvanize Agatha into becoming the tough, independent woman we know and love from Bridgerton, with Thomas adding:

Even though I wish we’d gotten to see Agatha have a relationship on her own terms that really worked for her and was more long-term, it’s hard not to love her realizing what she needed for her life, making this plotline a worthy addition overall.

Nobody could have expected Grey’s Anatomy to still be this successful, as it approaches the finale of its 19th season. Ellen Pompeo certainly didn’t think she’d play Meredith Grey for this many years, and creator Shonda Rhimes has said the network executives thought it would fail. Suffice it to say, the famed producer’s vision for the series’ trajectory has changed multiple times, as it continues to get renewed, so while she used to know how the Seattle surgeons' story would end, now she’s more focused on when that time will come.

Shonda Rhimes has said she’s written the ending to Grey’s Anatomy eight times, but the ABC drama seems to refuse to take its foot off the gas, remaining one of the most popular series on the network. The creator of several other projects, including Grey’s spinoff Private Practice, How to Get Away with Murder and Netflix’s Bridgerton, said she’s given up trying to plan how her first show will end but told ET how she’ll know when the time has come: 

Scandal is another of Shonda Rhimes’ success stories, with Kerry Washington keeping audiences entertained for seven seasons as Washington, D.C., crisis manager Olivia Pope. Rhimes anticipates having a similar feeling with Grey’s Anatomy in knowing the series has run its course.

That will be no easy task. Grey’s Anatomy continues to make its mark on the TV landscape by tackling important social issues and showcasing diverse casting practices. Shonda Rhimes knows that part of the series’ legacy lies in how it made it easier for people of color to be cast in leading roles. Having three Black actors — James Pickens Jr., Chandra Wilson and Isaiah Washington — playing high-ranking doctors was somewhat revolutionary in 2005, and through the years Grey’s has introduced iconic LGBTQ+ characters, nonbinary doctors, and shone the spotlight on many different cultures.

That’s not even to mention the impact the show has had on its fans in terms of the medicine, inspiring people to go into the medical field. Showrunner Krista Vernoff opened up recently about the lives that have been saved because of something viewers saw on Grey’s Anatomy or information they learned from the show. When you’re having that kind of real-world impact, pulling the plug seems like an impossible decision to make.

With Ellen Pompeo stepping away as a series regular, followed by Kelly McCreary’s exit, and with Krista Vernoff leaving at the end of Season 19, one might wonder if it’s the beginning of the end. However, this season introduced five first-year interns to breathe new life into Grey’s, and several veterans have spoken out about their future on the show. 

We can rest easy knowing that it’s already been renewed for a 20th season, and otherwise just continue to hope that Shonda Rhimes doesn’t get the feeling that Grey’s Anatomy has done what it needed to do! The last episode ahead of the Season 19 finale will air at 9 p.m. ET Thursday, May 11, on ABC, and you can catch up on the current season’s episodes with a Hulu subscription. The first 18 seasons, meanwhile, are available to stream with a Netflix subscription.  

Shonda Rhimes is the powerhouse creator of hit series like Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal and Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. But before she became one of the biggest names in television, Rhimes actually penned the script for 2004’s The Princess Diaries: Royal Engagement, which starred Anne Hathaway, Chris Pine and Julie Andrews. Amidst reports that a third Princess Diaries movie is in the works from Disney, Rhimes shared her thoughts about the story continuing. 

Back in November 2022, THR heard word that Scorpion and Supergirl writer Aadrita Mukerji had been hired to write a script for the next Princess Diaries movie. However, it’s too early to know whether the project will come together as fans want it to. Shonda Rhimes shared her thoughts on Princess Diaries 3 possibly happening with these words: 

Have you rewatched Princess Diaries 2 lately? It’s a very strong sequel and Anne Hathaway romantic comedy, so we’re not surprised that such a huge talent is behind the title. During an interview with Today, Shonda Rhimes confirmed that if there’s going to be a future for Mia Thermopolis, it won’t be from her due to her busy schedule and contract with Netflix. However, she was very much excited about the idea of a sequel happening. She also said this: 

Another Princess Diaries sequel has long been a subject of conversation and was previously being developed before the death of the franchise’s director Garry Marshall in 2016. When Hathaway was most recently asked about reprising the role of Mia Thermopolis, she said that she was thrilled to “see the level of excitement” for it, and it was a “process that requires patience.” Chris Pine shared he was “here for it,” he is just waiting for a phone call or email about a project. 

Julie Andrews, on the other hand, has shared that she thinks now “would be too late” for her to return to the role. The 87-year-old actress has greatly retired from acting. However, as Rhimes alluded to in her recent interview, Andrews is among the Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story cast as the narrator, as she has also been for the main Bridgerton series as well. 

Time will tell what comes of Princess Diaries 3. Until then, you can stream Rhimes' latest series, Queen Charlotte, on Netflix. 

Not only does pretty much everyone with a Netflix subscription know that the Regency romance, Bridgerton, caused a stir when it debuted in late 2020, but nearly the entire planet’s population understands that fact, as well. While people have lauded the multicultural cast (something that continues in the spinoff, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story), the costumes, and classical pop song covers, we all get that one of the show’s much-talked-about aspects are the sex scenes. Now, as super producer Shonda Rhimes is preparing for the release of Bridgerton Season 3, she’s gotten very candid about shooting them and how she goes about writing such scenes.

What Did Bridgerton’s Shonda Rhimes Say About Shooting And Writing Sex Scenes?

There was a lot to love about the first, mega-hit season of Bridgerton, but one thing that viewers took special note of was how this was pretty much the first time an on-screen love story set in Regency England included sex scenes and nudity. We all remember the stir that was caused by that Taylor Swift-scored sex marathon scene, correct? Well, Shonda Rhimes recently spoke to Entertainment Weekly about the franchise’s very intimate scenes, and said:

As we now know, there was once a time, not that long ago, when actors were largely expected to wing it when it came to sex scenes. Thankfully, we now live in a time with intimacy coordinators who help to craft those moments with the actors and directors, both to make sure the important emotional beats of the scene are communicated to the audience, and to see to it that no one on camera is doing anything they’re actually uncomfortable with. 

Seeing as how the bingeable Netflix series has plenty of these scenes, the intimacy coordinator who works on the show has talked about things like her favorite steamy scene from the romantic drama, and the challenges of the job. Meanwhile, star Jonathan Bailey opened up about why he likes working with intimacy coordinators and how sometimes filming sex scenes requires “silly” methods to get the job done respectfully. 

Rhimes also spoke about her approach to writing intimate moments, and it turns out that it’s not as exciting as it might seem to be. When asked if she can take the breaks off for her popular streaming shows because there aren’t the same restrictions which are place on series like Grey’s Anatomy, she told the outlet:

Even former Bridgerton star Phoebe Dynevor said her sex scenes were ‘important,” as they were a part of her Daphne having a “sexual awakening” that needed to be shown, and noted that they “worked really hard at making them feel real.” Considering how people react to those moments in this romantic drama, I’d say that everyone involved is doing a great job when taking sex scenes from the page to the screen.

I know it may be hard to believe, dear reader, but it’s now been slightly over a year since Regency fans with a Netflix subscription were treated to the Bridgerton Season 2 ending. And, while we know that the third season will focus on the love story of Penelope and Colin, and that fans should be “extremely pleased” with the sex scenes held within the upcoming episodes, we have no idea if the new season will answer our questions or, for that matter, when it will finally debut. Well, Shonda Rhimes has finally offered a Bridgerton Season 3 update that should get everyone very excited.

What Bridgerton Season 3 Update Did Shonda Rhimes Give Us?

Aside from the romantic stars of the third season, and word that Bridgerton sibling Francesca has been recast, along with Season 1 star Phoebe Dynevor apparently not being around all that much in the upcoming episodes (which makes a lot of sense), we haven’t heard too much about what we’ll see when the dramatic costume drama returns. However, we do at least know now that the show is basically ready to go, as Rhimes recently revealed to Virgin Radio UK:

WOOOOO! It sounds like eager fans who’ve been dying to get their eyeballs on the new season might be able to stop obsessively re-reading the Bridgerton books in order soon, as the executive producer is currently helping to get each episode to the optimal length. This almost certainly means that the romance with some of the sexiest scenes ever set in the Regency period should still debut in 2023 as planned.

Though we knew that the season had started filming back in mid-July 2022, there was a bit of panic that washed over the fandom in January of this year, when word came out that there were, supposedly, some filming delays. It was said that Rhimes was unhappy with “the direction” that a few of the scripts were going in the third season, because one sex-based storyline was too dark for her liking. The part of that report that said there were production delays was refuted not long after, but there’s been no word on whether or not the mega-producer did have issues with any of the storylines.

The important thing now is that the series is very close to being completely finished and ready to stream right into the very happy faces of fans who’ve been waiting to see just how Penelope and Colin are finally going to end up with their happily ever after, seeing as how Pen has been in love with her best friend’s not-so-smart older brother for many years. 

In the early years of Grey’s Anatomy — which made its premiere as a midseason replacement in 2005 — the drama behind the scenes was often as titillating, if not more so, than what was happening when the cameras were rolling. From Isaiah Washington’s eventual firing to Derek Shepherd getting killed off because of Patrick Dempsey’s alleged “terrorizing” behavior on set, there are a lot interesting stories behind Grey’s Anatomy’s major cast members’ exits. 

Among the most public of the turbulent relationships, though, was the one between Katherine Heigl, who played Izzie Stevens, and creator Shonda Rhimes. Let’s take a look at the timeline of what went down with the actress that led her to leaving the show.

2007: Katherine Heigl Refuses To Renegotiate Her Contract, Gets Into Public Feud With Isaiah Washington 

The first signs of trouble between Katherine Heigl and the forces behind Grey’s Anatomy came pretty early into the drama’s run. In 2007 the actress reportedly became upset when Shonda Rhimes and the powers that be gave salary bumps to Ellen Pompeo, Patrick Dempsey, Isaiah Washington, and Sandra Oh, Lynette Rice reported in her book, How to Save a Life: The Inside Story of Grey’s Anatomy. Because of this, Heigl apparently refused to negotiate her contract, saying:

That same year, Heigl was also involved in a public feud with co-star Isaiah Washington, who had used a homophobic slur in reference to fellow Grey’s Anatomy actor T.R. Knight. Despite issuing an apology, Washington joked about the incident a few months later, prompting Heigl to say in an interview that he "needs to just not speak in public, period." Washington was subsequently fired from the show, and Rice reports that Heigl was then given her pay increase. 

2008: Katherine Heigl Withdraws Her Name From Emmy Consideration 

Despite the beginnings of behind-the-scenes issues, Katherine Heigl won the 2007 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. However, when the next year’s awards came around, she withdrew her name from consideration, and when she was asked why she was missing from the ballot, Heigl said (via the New York Times): 

This was seen as a huge slap in the face to the show, and years after the incident, Heigl admitted she mishandled the situation and “ambushed” the Grey’s Anatomy writers with her Emmy withdrawal. The actress explained in RIce's book: 

Despite her intentions, or how she feels about the incident now, Katherine Heigl gained a reputation for being “ungrateful” that followed her for years, even after leaving Grey’s Anatomy. 

2009: The Actress Publicly Shames Producers For ‘Cruel And Mean’ Working Hours 

The reputation Katherine Heigl had developed was only exacerbated when she went on The Late Show with David Letterman in 2009 and mentioned the long hours the actors had been made to work. Heigl said (via TODAY): 

At the time, Heigl was criticized for, again, having a bad attitude, however, perspective on that incident has also changed over time. Ellen Pompeo, who is exiting Grey’s Anatomy in Season 19, has also spoken about the brutal filming schedule and long hours, and she addressed the Heigl brouhaha on her podcast Tell Me in April 2022, saying:  

While people may be able to see now that she was justified in speaking out, the damage that had been done between her and creator Shonda Rhimes was seemingly beyond repair. 

2010: Shonda Rhimes Releases Katherine Heigl From Her Contract 18 Months Early 

After years of friction between the Izzie Stevens actress and the Grey’s Anatomy crew, creator Shonda Rhimes agreed to release Katherine Heigl from her contract 18 months early. Heigl and her husband, Josh Kelly, had just adopted their first child a year earlier, and family obligation was the official reason given for her exit, according to How to Save a Life. However, conflicting reports in the book suggest there may have been additional motivations, including her wanting to focus on her film career and her failure to see eye to eye with Rhimes. 

2012: Shonda Rhimes Shoots Down The Possibility Of Izzie’s Return 

Former Grey’s Anatomy executive producer Mark Wilding has said Izzie Stevens wasn't killed off of the show because they thought there was the possibility Heigl might return after filming 27 Dresses. However, current showrunner Krista Vernoff had said major changes were made to her story to accommodate her unexpected exit, and Shonda Rhimes didn’t seem intent on doing that again to write her back into the show. When asked about Heigl’s apparent interest in returning to the series, Rhimes told TV Guide during a 2012 interview:

When Grey’s Anatomy did write Izzie back into the story in Season 16, it was to explain Justin Chambers’ exit. His character, Alex Karev, informed his colleagues that he’d moved to Kansas to reunite with Izzie and the twins he’d never known about. While brief flashes of Alex’s family were shown in “Leave a Light On,” Katherine Heigl was not brought back to portray Izzie. 

2014: Shonda Rhimes References Katherine Heigl When Describing ‘Nasty People’ 

Time did not appear to heal the wounds that were formed between Katherine Heigl and Shonda Rhimes. Years after the actress’ exit, the famed producer name-dropped the Firefly Lane star when describing the relationships between the actors on the ABC drama Scandal. Rhimes told THR she had a “no assholes” policy, and things ran smoothly on the Kerry Washington-led series because: 

About a month later, Heigl responded to Shonda Rhimes’ interview, saying it “sucks” that the Grey’s creator was left with such a “crappy impression” of the actress, but she had nothing negative to say in return. 

The two women may not be actively firing shots at each other any longer, but I’m not holding my breath on the chance that Katherine Heigl will be joining the cast of any of Rhimes’ upcoming projects. Speaking of the streamer, if you want to rewatch Heigl’s time on Grey’s Anatomy, the first 18 seasons are available with a Netflix subscription.  

Back in 2005, Grey’s Anatomy was a surprise hit when it came in as a midseason replacement for Boston Legal on ABC. Viewers fell in love with the medical drama, in which the secret hookups were always as important as the medicine being practiced. Seventeen years later, the drama is a big moneymaker for the network in its 19th season, Shonda Rhimes is a household name, and with a new class of interns giving the series a breath of fresh air, it doesn’t look like Grey’s Anatomy is going anywhere anytime soon. However, back when the creator met with TV executives about the pilot, they told her they were sure it was going to fail.

Shonda Rhimes spoke on the podcast 9 to 5ish with theSkimm about a nightmarish-sounding meeting with network executives, and she revealed the reason they didn’t think audiences would relate to show. Rhimes recalled:  

Shonda Rhimes said she was appalled that these executives seemed so out of touch and yet were the ones making the decisions. While the suggestion that viewers wouldn’t connect with the show for the simple fact that Meredith Grey had a one-night stand (or so she thought) before her first day as a surgical intern seems crazy today, the TV producer pointed out how much she was doing with Grey’s Anatomy that wasn’t seen on network television back then. She said:

Thank goodness, too, because it turned out to be a show that a lot of people wanted to watch. Shonda Rhimes knows that part of her legacy is going to be that she made it possible for more people of color to get acting jobs on television, and while that’s an admirable thing to be known for, the famed producer has said it really just makes her embarrassed for television. Grey’s Anatomy continues with the mission of representation and tackling social issues, but it is crazy to think that 2005 wasn’t that long ago, and Rhimes has said it shouldn’t have taken so long to include more diversity in the faces we see on our screens.

It may not have been the easiest road, but I, for one, am glad that Grey’s Anatomy did make it to air. I’d love to hear what those network execs have to say now about the series that’s still going strong 19 seasons in. You can catch new episodes of Grey’s Anatomy at 9 p.m. ET Thursdays on ABC, or stream Seasons 1-18 with a Netflix subscription. 

There are long-running TV shows, and then there’s Grey’s Anatomy. We’re currently in the midst of the medical drama’s whopping 19th season on ABC, with millions of fans tuning in every single week for nearly two decades. While some folks have dropped off across the years, Grey’s Season 19 is actually exciting me as a long-time fan.

Given how long Grey’s Anatomy has been on the air, there’s been a ton of peaks and valleys. Some have complained about the quality dip when compared to the first handful of seasons, but that’s exactly why I’m enjoying the first episodes of Season 19 so far. Namely because it feels like classic Grey’s.

Grey’s Anatomy was at its best in the beginning, as we watched as a scrappy group of surgical interns learn and compete, all while their personal lives played out before our eyes. But over the last few years the show has mostly focused on the doctor’s interpersonal drama, to my disappointment. But Season 19 is once again focusing on the medicine, and is buoyed by the new class of interns that made their debut in the premiere episode “Everything Has Changed.”

Obviously this isn’t the first time that a new group of interns was introduced in Grey’s Anatomy. We’ve seen this happen a number of times over the years, most recently with Levi Schmitt and Taryn Helm’s class back in Season 14. But this new group is more akin to the original interns we met back in Season 1, and the show’s writers and directors are seemingly leaning into this nostalgic factor. I mean, just look at where this new group hangs out when they get the chance!

Hardcore Grey’s fans will recognize this hallway as the same place where Meredith used to hang out with fellow interns like Cristina, Izzie, Karev, and George in the middle of their long intern shifts. The group’s competitiveness with each other also feels reminiscent of those early seasons, where the bumbling surgeons fought for time in the OR every episode. This sense of urgency has been missing with the show’s principal cast for years, as they’re all at the top of their game and leading various departments at Grey Sloan Memorial. Once again I have to repeat: the more medicine on Grey's, the better.

Another way that Grey’s Anatomy has been delivering for hardcore fans like me during Season 19 is the way it’s brought back and connected with various characters from its many years on the air. The medical drama has gotten some flack for its constantly changing cast, and the various unexpected departures that have happened over the years. But this year we’ve already seen the return of Addison Montgomery, and the introduction of McDreamy’s nephew. I have to assume one of the Shepherd sisters will eventually show up once we know who his mother is. Additionally characters like Jesse Williams’ Jackson Avery and Greg Germann’s Tom Koracick are slated for their returns to the show.

Grey’s Anatomy airs new episodes Thursdays on ABC. In the meantime, check out the TV premiere list to plan your next binge watch. 

Kate Walsh has been a fan favorite as Addison Montgomery on Grey’s Anatomy since the shocking Season 1 reveal that Meredith’s boyfriend, McDreamy himself, was actually still married. Walsh was even chosen to lead her own spinoff, Private Practice, which aired on ABC for six seasons, and even now — seven years after Derek Shepherd was killed off and as Ellen Pompeo is on her way out — Addison Montgomery continues to show up in the operating rooms of Grey Sloan Memorial. What’s more, if it were fully up to Shonda Rhimes, she might be expanding the world-class neonatal surgeon’s story even further in a Private Practice revival.

The creator of Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice (and many other series) appeared on Good Morning America, where she was asked which of her completed series she’d most want to see brought back. Shonda Rhimes responded: 

Grey’s Anatomy has certainly pulled from real-world events to fuel its stories — including Season 17’s tackling of the pandemic and the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade in the current season. Private Practice seemingly had that same deep well to pull from, as Shonda Rhimes pointed out. 

If a Private Practice revival were to happen, it sure seems like a good time to do it, as Kate Walsh has kept her character's story going Grey’s Anatomy. Addison Montgomery returned to Seattle in “Let’s Talk About Sex,” Episode 3 of Grey’s Anatomy’s 19th season, after making multiple guest appearances in Season 18. 

The character hasn't disclosed much about her life back in L.A., but she did tell her former sister-in-law Amelia Shepherd (who was introduced on Private Practice before becoming a Grey's series regular) that she went through a dark time during the pandemic, to the point where she said she “began to truly hate” her husband Jake (played on the spinoff by Benjamin Bratt) and son Henry. I certainly wouldn’t mind finding out what the rest of the cast and characters have been up to since the series ended in 2013.

The characters of the Los Angeles-based spinoff were played by some real heavy hitters, including Audra McDonald, Taye Diggs, Paul Adelstein, KaDee Strickland, Chris Lowell and more. Strickland, Adelstein and Griffin Gluck will be reunited in Season 2 of the Freeform anthology Cruel Summer, which recently wrapped filming. 

Shonda Rhimes didn’t make it sound like there were actually any plans to revive the Grey’s Anatomy spinoff, but these days anything seems possible. For now, though, you’ll just have to catch Addison and Amelia on Grey’s Anatomy, which airs at 9 p.m. ET Thursdays on ABC. Also be sure to check out our 2022 TV schedule to see what other shows are premiering soon. 

With its future always somewhat uncertain from one season to the next, Grey’s Anatomy seemed like it might be taking strides to limit its yearly intake of new cast members by shutting down the then-current teaching program within Grey Sloan during its shock-filled Season 18 finale. (Even with a goal of revamping things for a new and polished start, it wouldn’t be hard for the ABC drama to explain away such things.) But no, Grey’s Anatomy will indeed feature some fresh faces as first-year surgical residents, and the first of those to be cast is Alexis Floyd, the up-and-coming actress who already made a big splash for Shonda Rhimes in Netflix’s drama Inventing Anna.

When Season 19 arrives this fall, fans will be introduced to Alexis Floyd’s new character Simone Griffin, whose addition to the staff as a surgical resident flies in the face of what the character herself would have expected years prior. It appears as if Simon has a complicated relationship with Grey Sloan itself, as Deadline reports she has a painful and personal history with it. To the point where, despite growing up in Seattle, she distinctly did not want to lend her professional efforts to the facility. 

Yet there she’ll be, putting her talents to work in the halls of Grey Sloan. But don’t go thinking she was coerced into taking the position or anything. Simone is described as being high-achieving, clever, intelligent and with a sense of humor to boot. So even if she’s got some deep-seated beef with the hospital, she’ll likely still find ample camaraderie amongst her colleagues. 

Alexis Floyd, who boasts a musical theater degree from Carnegie Mellon, is no stranger to either the screen or the stage. Her first on-screen role was in the 2011 short feature Life’s Poison from Girls Trip and The Best Man franchise director Malcolm D. Lee, though it was her recurring role as Tia on The Bold Type in 2019 that really struck a chord with audiences. 

It was that same year when she sent an audition tape into Netflix to portray the dramatized version of NYC hotel concierge Neffatari Davis for its popular original series Inventing Anna, which focused on the grift-filled life of Anna Delvey/Sorokin. Coincidentally enough, Floyd was then working as a concierge at a yoga studio. As viewers are well aware, the actress landed that role and nailed it, and her professional relationship with Shonda Rhimes is already bearing more fruit.

Here’s how Alexis Floyd reacted in a statement:

Fans can probably expect Alexis Floyd’s casting to be followed by more casting announcements as the early episodes go through the production process. That said, it doesn’t appear as if any major exits will be happening. While Kevin McKidd was tapped as a lead for the ITV drama Six Four, and star Jaicy Elliot is heading to a Hallmark movie, those roles are in addition to Grey’s, and not replacements.

Grey’s Anatomy Season 18 can be streamed in full with a Hulu subscription, with all 18 seasons available on Netflix. The show will return to ABC with Season 19 premiering on Thursday, October 6, at 9:00 p.m. Head to our 2022 TV premiere schedule to see what other new and returning shows are on the way. 

How long Grey’s Anatomy will continue has been an ongoing discussion for years now. After 18 (going-on-19) seasons, the hit medical drama is a big moneymaker for ABC, whose bosses say they’ll take as much of the series as they can get. Meanwhile, however, series star Ellen Pompeo has been open about being ready to move on. So it's often been pondered: Could Grey’s Anatomy exist without Meredith Grey? The actress makes it sound like there’s a real chance the show could outlive its namesake character, and it sounds like a win-win situation to me. 

Ellen Pompeo is one of three actors to still be with the Shonda Rhimes creation since its 2005 premiere, with James Pickens Jr. and Chandra Wilson being the other beloved stalwarts. In November 2021 Pompeo signed a contract extension to return to Grey’s Anatomy for a 19th season, but how much longer could this year-to-year situation continue? Especially when the actress openly jokes about having been on the show too long. When ET asked if she could see the ABC ratings hit continuing without her, Pompeo said she and Rhimes do indeed want to keep the show going beyond all things Meredith, if possible: 

Ellen Pompeo has spoken about how she never intended to stay on Grey’s Anatomy this long, which is understandable, since nobody could have expected the success the series would still be having 18 seasons later! (The first 17 seasons are currently available with a Netflix subscription, while a Hulu subscription will grant access to Season 18.) But it’s strong enough now, with a dozen or more interesting characters around Meredith, that it could certainly survive without her. 

It’s not just the pure longevity that gets to Ellen Pompeo, though. The actress/executive producer also consistently worries about the quality of the stories they’re telling. She’s talked about maintaining her motivation by staying fully engaged with the entire process to make sure they do right by her character, and the show as a whole, for the fans. 

Other Grey’s Anatomy actors don’t seem to see the situation quite the same way. Kevin McKidd, who’s played Owen Hunt since Season 5, said the medical drama doesn’t have the same issue finding stories as other series do, because they can mine endless stories from the characters who enter the hospital. Not to mention the always dramatic home lives a lot of them have.

The fact remains that Ellen Pompeo isn’t likely to hang around for another decade or two, so if Grey’s Anatomy does outlive Meredith, will they bring in another member of the Grey family to take her place as namesake, or just continue with the bountiful cast the show has developed over the years? That’s another question Pompeo can’t quite answer yet: 

Either way, if Meredith’s rant to Nick during the May 5 episode “Should I Stay or Should I Go” was any kind of art imitating life, let’s just let Ellen Pompeo go! She’s given us nearly two decades of her life, and I’m more than happy to continue without Meredith if that’s what’s best for the actress and what keeps Grey’s on my screen Thursday nights. 

No decision is likely to come soon, however, and right now I’m just looking ahead to the two-hour Season 18 finale, which will see the return of Jesse Williams and Sarah Drew as fan fave couple Japril. If the show continued on with those two at the helm, I'd have no complaints.

Tune into ABC an hour earlier than usual — 8 p.m. ET — on Thursday, May 26, for the big finale, and be sure to check out our 2022 TV Schedule to see what premieres are coming soon.

Lady Whistledown is back after more than a year for Season 2 of Netflix's hit Bridgerton, with the sexy saga focusing this time around on the love story between Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sharma. Season 1 saw Jonathan Bailey's Anthony involved in a sexy up-against-a-tree affair with opera singer Siena Rosso. When that didn’t work out, Anthony swore off love, but the Season 2 trailer seemed to indicate that vow won't last too long. Critics had the opportunity to preview Bridgerton Season 2 ahead of its release on Netflix, so fans can now figure out if we can expect the sophomore season to live up to the highly-binged Season 1. 

Bridgerton’s second season will see Anthony pursuing Edwina Sharma (Charithra Chandran) for practical purposes rather than love. However, no one gets to Edwina except through her sister Kate (Simone Ashley), who apparently has immediate chemistry with Anthony. How will Anthony navigate those tricky waters? How does Season 2 hold up without Rege-Jean Page’s Duke of Hastings? Will we get any of our Season 1 questions answered? Most importantly, is it as steamy as the first go-round? Let’s see what the reviews are saying about Bridgerton Season 2. 

Proma Khosla of Mashable says Season 1 was just foreplay compared to what’s in store for audiences in Season 2. The central relationship is handled with more maturity and nuance, despite not as much actual sex:

Caroline Framke of Variety, however, feels Bridgerton took too long to get to the “good stuff” with its second batch of episodes. And yeah, she’s talking about the sex scenes. But the actors are very, very good, according to the critic, especially Jonathan Bailey for his development of Anthony from Season 1:

Angie Han of THR calls Season 2 “less sexy but almost as sweet,” listing among its more impressive accomplishments the fact that it makes Anthony into a worthy romantic lead. 

Meghan O'Keefe of Decider claims that Season 2 is less intoxicating than Season 1 and tends to forget what drew fans to it in the first place. Despite all that, though, the upcoming season of Bridgerton is still worth the watch: 

Alex Stedman of IGN says she was concerned Bridgerton wouldn’t be able to replicate Season 1’s sizzling romance without Rege-Jean Page, but thinks it does that and more, saying the series has a lot left in its tank. She grades the sophomore season a “Great” 8 out of 10:

It sounds like viewers are in for a huge buildup of tension between the two leading characters — possibly to a frustrating level — but even despite less sex than Season 1, the critics all seemed to enjoy the story Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley tell through their characters. The upcoming season is sitting pretty strongly on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of this writing, as it's 84% Fresh with just under 20 reviews accounted for.

Season 2 of Bridgerton will be available for streaming on Friday, March 25, with a Netflix subscription. Check out these other series available on Netflix, as well as our 2022 TV Schedule to see when all of the new and returning shows are premiering.

To say that Grey’s Anatomy has carved out a place for itself within television history would be an understatement. One of the biggest reasons for this is that series creator Shonda Rhimes and her team have been so successful is that they’ve delivered stories that contain a significant amount of authenticity. This is partly achieved by hiring writers who’ve actually lived through some of the experiences Meredith Grey and her colleagues experience each week. A writer for the show, however, is now taking a leave of absence, as a recent report alleges she made up medical ailments during her time on the job.

Elisabeth Finch is the staff writer who’s been placed on administrative leave due to an ongoing investigation. The Ankler was the first to report that Disney Television Studios is looking into claims that Finch fabricated aspects of her life while talking with the writers’ room. The TV scribe’s lawyer recently released a statement to People on the matter:

According to the reports, Elisabeth Finch, who’s written for shows like True Blood, claimed that she suffers from a rare form of bone cancer and that she lost part of her kidney and leg. She also allegedly recalled how she’d experienced verbal and sexual abuse at the hands of a male director while she was working on The CW’s The Vampire Diaries. Amid the investigation, Shondaland issued a brief statement to the trade:

The television writer joined Grey’s Anatomy in 2014 and has since written some of the show’s most acclaimed installments. One of her most notable credits is the 2015 episode “Silent All These Years," which many regard as one of the best Grey’s episodes thus far. In it, Jo Wilson met her birth mother and ultimately learned that she was conceived from a rape. The episode garnered praise from viewers, and it was later discovered that Shonda Rhimes had to fight to keep key aspects of the story intact. In addition to her work as a writer on the story, the No Ordinary Family alum also appeared on camera as a nurse during the episode.

Right now, the Emmy-winning show is finishing out its eighteenth season and has scored a renewal for Season 19. It remains to be seen whether Elisabeth Finch will return to the show after the investigation has been completed.

Grey’s Anatomy airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC and can be streamed with a Hulu subscription. Also, as the season winds down, head over to CinemaBlend’s 2022 TV schedule for info on what's coming up later this year.

Fresh off the success of the Netflix true crime series Inventing Anna, Shonda Rhimes is back at it with the announcement of a new upcoming series for the streaming service, titled The Residence. Rhimes is well-known for re-teaming with actors and colleagues from past projects, and this one will be no different, as former Scandal writer/producer and For the People creator Paul William Davies will serve as showrunner and executive producer on the new project.

The Residence will be an eight-episode drama and will use the book The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House by Kate Anderson Brower as a jumping off point for a murder-mystery, THR reports. Shonda Rhimes and longtime Shondaland partner Betsy Beers will also executive produce. 

The official synopsis, according to Netflix, describes the upcoming series as a “screwball whodunnit” that takes place inside the White House:

The Residence falls in familiar territory for longtime TV producer Shonda Rhimes, who was a well-known fan of The West Wing and explored the dramatic and salacious inner workings of the White House for seven seasons on Scandal. But we're not quite used to screwball shenanigans coming from the TV queen's wheelhouse, so this should be fun. 

Kate Anderson Brower's 2015 book offers an intimate account via interviews with the maids, butlers, cooks, florists, doormen, engineers and others who have tended to various U.S. presidents and their families, from the Kennedy administration to Obama's dual terms. Using this real-world knowledge of what goes on behind the closed doors of the White House as the setting for a murder mystery is a really intriguing concept, especially given Shonda Rhimes' interest in the topic and her proven mastery at telling a spellbinding story.

Development of The Residence was first announced all the way back in July 2018. That was when Shonda Rhimes left ABC to set her original Netflix slate of planned projects, and when she acquired the rights to Kate Anderson Brower's book. It's been a long time coming, but hopefully that just means its arrival will be all the more worth it. 

There's no information yet regarding an estimated release date or cast, but it's a fair bet to make that we'll see some of the regular Shonda Rhimes players in the credits in addition to Paul William Davies. For instance, Rhimes' steamy Netflix series Bridgerton featured Regé-Jean Page, who also starred in ABC's For the People, while a number of Scandal alums appeared in Inventing Anna, including Katie Lowes, Joshua Malina (who also starred on later seasons of The West Wing), Kate Burton and Jeff Perry (both of whom played Meredith Grey's parents on Grey's Anatomy). 

Stay tuned for more information regarding The Residence, and in the meantime, Shonda Rhimes' Inventing Anna and Bridgerton are both available for streaming for those with a Netflix subscription, and be sure to check out our 2022 TV Schedule to get the premiere dates for all of the new and returning shows.  

Have you been watching Inventing Anna? Because I certainly have. 

The latest entry into the Shonda Rhimes world of TV has certainly captured the attention of viewers, becoming the number one most-watched show in the United States on Netflix the week of its debut. The limited series inspired by the article written about the real-life scandal of Anna Sorokin has gotten everyone’s attention, through its drama, story, and amazing acting delivered by Julia Garner. 

But after going through those episodes so quickly, I’m sure you’re looking for something new to watch after the limited series is done. Look no further, as these are some of the best shows you can watch next after Inventing Anna, from long-time shows to Academy Award-nominated movies. 

Self Made: Inspired By The Life Of Madam C.J. Walker (Netflix)

If you liked a series that follows someone posing as a millionaire, check out this inspiring miniseries about a real self-made millionaire. Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madden C.J. Walker follows the titular person, Madden Walker, who was a huge influence on hair care for Black women, and became the first ever African-American woman self-made millionaire. 

While the story is largely fictionalized (as this is a drama) there are several moments that are clearly inspired directly from the life of Walker, creating a memorable show that will truly captivate you from the very beginning. It also helps that Octavia Spencer stars in this miniseries, who is a true powerhouse of an actress. 

Stream Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker on Netflix.

The Tinder Swindler (Netflix)

Next up, we have The Tinder Swindler. This original movie is a documentary about a man who disguised himself in several different ways on Tinder, trying to slip into the minds of women and defrauding them all across Europe. 

Inventing Anna is based on Annie’s experiences swindling her way through hotels and private jets without a legit dime to her name, you’ll be fascinated by this story of how this man allegedly does it through just a phone. Shimon Hayut, the man behind the Tinder mask, shocked me that he somehow did all of this through a dating app, luring in these women, only to take away all of their money. You’ll find yourself pulled in too at the sheer amount of craziness that happens. 

Stream The Tinder Swindler on Netflix.

White Collar (Hulu)

Moving back to drama, we have a great series to binge. White Collar is a police procedural drama about a former con artist and the special agent that was hunting him down for three years. In order for him to be free on a work-release program, the con artist takes a job working with the very man that caught him in order to catch other con-artist criminals. 

If you're a fan of stories about expert con artists, White Collar is definitely the show for you. Not only will you get an insight into the mind of a con artist and see how they can be tracked down, but I really love the relationship between Neal and Peter, the con artist and the special agent. They bounce well off of each other and make the show great.

Stream White Collar on Hulu.

Generation Hustle (HBO Max)

If you’re looking for another great docuseries, check out the HBO Max original, Generation Hustle. This series actually focuses on the different ways in which people have hustled to gain power in the world, or money, or just overall fame, from scams to scandals. 

I mean, if you’re a fan of Inventing Anna, there’s a whole episode actually dedicated to Sorokin, and where it talks about the Moroccan retreat that was featured in the show. But honestly, this docu-series is so informative and truly tells so many interesting and amazing stories, and makes you realize just how far people will apparently go in order to get more likes on social media, or have a little bit extra money in their bank account. 

Stream Generation Hustle on HBO Max.

Sneaky Pete (Amazon Prime)

Now this is a brilliant Amazon original series. Sneaky Pete follows Marius Josipovic, a criminal who had acted as a con man, and just got out of jail after a three-year long stint. In order for him to make a life out there, he takes on the identity of his former cellmate, Pete Murphy, in order to con the man’s family, who hasn’t seen him in more than two decades. 

Again, if stories of con artists are your thing, Sneaky Pete is one of the best. To me, he’s always been such a great anti-hero, as there are moments where you’re genuinely impressed with how well his con is doing, but there are also moments that will make you want to yank your hair out for his selfishness. He’s a complex character and the show itself is a great time. 

Stream Sneaky Pete on Amazon Prime.

Catch Me If You Can (Amazon Rental)

You want to talk about the ultimate con-man? Catch Me If You Can, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks, is all about Frank Abagnale Jr., a real person who was able to con millions of dollars through checks as several different identities, all while avoiding capture for years by the FBI. 

I could go on for hours about this movie and why it’s perfect for Inventing Anna fans. Frank Abagnale Jr. used checks and his people skills in order to get by for as long as he did. The Catch Me If You Can cast is so talented, and honestly, it’s one of Tom Hanks best movies - really, you need to watch it.

Rent Catch Me If You Can on Amazon.

Scandal (Hulu)

Shonda Rhimes has done it again. Scandal, starring the lovely Kerry Washington, is a drama series about the life of a professional crisis manager, and her own practice that she started after working as a White House correspondent. But over time, she starts to realize that her clients have plenty of secrets of their own - all of which could create scandals. 

Scandal was an insanely popular show for the time that it was on TV, where it was nominated for several awards and received killer ratings each week. If you liked Inventing Anna, you just might enjoy Scandal, as not only is it literally all about scandals and the situations people of the elite go through, but it was created by the same person who made Inventing Anna, Shonda Rhimes. It’s certainly worth a shot. 

Stream Scandal on Hulu.

Imposters (Netflix)

While this series is a bit shorter than the others, it’s such a great time. Imposters follows Maddie, a beautiful woman with a dark secret - she’ll marry plenty of guys all to steal their money, and disappear. But when her past comes back to haunt her, it looks like her conning days are going to be done soon enough. 

If you thought the lead of Inventing Anna was wrong for the way she operated, just wait until you see what Maddie does. Maddie in this show almost feels even more devious than Anna because she is not only stealing money, but manipulating the emotions of the people around her in order to gain their love and steal all their possessions as soon as they’re married. 

Stream Imposters on Netflix.

Hustle (Amazon Prime)

We have another long series for you to watch next. Hustle follows a group of con artists, but instead of doing short-term cons that’ll pay them right now, this group participates in “long-cons,” cons that take a longer amount of time but usually produce a better outcome in profits. 

If you liked Inventing Anna for the con that she pulled off somehow for such a long time, you’ll really enjoy Hustle. Some of these cons are truly astounding, but what really makes this show so much fun are the actors and the characters that they play. My personal favorite thing about this is that sometimes, they break the fourth wall, which is something I didn’t know I needed until now. 

Stream Hustle on Amazon Prime.

The Act (Hulu)

While this might not be considered a "con," the long-term effects of what Dee Dee Blanchard did have impacted many people, including her own daughter. The Act is all about the story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and her mother, who had pretended that her daughter was sick for years in order to receive money from charities, but the end resulted in Dee Dee's death. 

The Act is amazing. For fans of Inventing Anna, this series is intense and filled with drama of a story that ends so tragically. While it’s not as glamorous as the Netflix series, The Act is expertly acted, brilliantly told, and creates a great balance between drama and true crime. Joey King stars as Gypsy, and I know that most people probably know her from The Kissing Booth cast, but damn, did she deliver a great performance in this show. She is such an amazing young talent. 

Stream The Act on Hulu.

Fyre Fest Documentaries (Netflix, Hulu)

I know you recognize that name. These two documentaries, FYRE: The Greatest Party That Never Happened and Fyre Fraud, both tell the story of the infamous Fyre Fest, a musical festival that was supposed to be legendary but didn't deliver on its promises, leaving attendees stranded without the luxuries they paid for. 

Inventing Anna briefly featured Ben Rappaport as Billy McFarland, who was the original planner of Fyre Fest, and later on the show referenced about how much of a disaster the festival was. If you’re looking for the real story behind the infamous music festival and how poorly it really did go, both of these documentaries are well-done and super informative - as well as entertaining. 

Stream FYRE: The Greatest Party That Never Happened on Netflix. 
Stream Fyre Fraud on Hulu.

I Care A Lot (Netflix)

Last but not least, we have I Care A Lot. This fantastic Netflix original film follows a con woman who acts as a court-appointed guardian, who ends up stealing the money of the elderly people that she “takes care” of, but soon, her con gets her mixed up with a dangerous group of people who will change her life for the worse. 

I Care A Lot was one of the best films of 2021, hands down. From its cast to its story to the whole entire ordeal, you won’t be able to tear your eyes away from the screen. Rosamund Pike truly deserved so much praise for her lead role as Marla Grayson, alongside her amazing co-stars. I won’t say much more because I’d like you to go into this movie probably knowing as little as possible because the ending will truly blow your mind, but trust me when I say for fans of Inventing Anna, this is a con that will stun you just as much as Anna’s did. 

Stream I Care A Lot on Netflix.

While there’s probably not going to be any Inventing Anna Season 2, you can at least check out some other amazing movies and TV shows once you finish that last episode. No matter what, you’ll be entertained as heck.  

Grey’s Anatomy is coming back for Season 19, as a deal was recently reached with series star Ellen Pompeo to return as Meredith Grey. As fans bask in the joy of more of our favorite Seattle surgeons, the big question that nobody seems to know the answer to is how long the medical drama can keep going. With Pompeo’s consistent concerns about being on the show too long, an ABC boss has weighed in with his thoughts on the future of Grey’s Anatomy.

While ABC renewed Grey’s Anatomy for a nineteenth season, it wasn’t specified whether or not that would be its last. Craig Erwich, president of ABC Entertainment and Hulu Originals, discussed at TCA (via Deadline) the current state of the medical drama and the network’s opinion on its longevity.  

“As much as we can have” sure has a nice ring to it for Grey’s Anatomy fans, and it’s no surprise that the ABC boss would feel that way, with the amount of success Grey’s Anatomy has had. Ellen Pompeo suggested as much when she said she’d been trying to convince everybody they should end the show:

Ellen Pompeo’s new one-year contract promotes her from co-executive producer to executive producer, a title also held by creator Shonda Rhimes and showrunner Krista Vernoff. While it can be frustrating for Grey’s Anatomy fans to hear the star say she’s ready for the show to end, Pompeo explained on her podcast that if she wasn’t motivated to make sure the show is good and the characters’ stories were strong, then she wouldn’t deserve to be in the position she’s in.

Grey’s Anatomy sure has shaken things up in the past couple of seasons. After tackling COVID in Season 17 and bringing back former cast members who had been killed off, the show continued to bring back fan favorites in Season 18, with the return of Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh), Nick Marsh (Scott Speedman) and more. Meredith and Amelia have also been splitting their time between Seattle and Minnesota in an attempt to cure Parkinson’s. 

Most recently, however, viewers were left with multiple cliffhangers, as the Season 18 winter finale saw Owen Hunt, David Hamilton and Megan Hunt’s son Farouk all fighting for their lives. Whatever the future holds for Grey’s Anatomy, I know where I’ll be February 24, when the drama picks back up for a two-hour crossover event that starts at 8 p.m. ET with Station 19 on ABC. In the meantime, check out our 2022 TV Schedule to see what other premieres are coming up. 

Even if you’re not the biggest Grey’s Anatomy fan, it would be basically impossible to doubt that the medical drama is one of the biggest shows to ever grace our TV screens. The show debuted in late March of 2005 as a mid-season replacement, and became a nearly instant hit / cultural phenomenon. Now, 18 very impressive seasons in, series creator Shonda Rhimes has admitted to the surprising number of times that she attempted to write the Grey’s Anatomy ending: eight!

While Grey’s is still going strong on ABC after nearly innumerable cast changes and storylines that have saddened, rocked and disappointed its viewers, Shonda Rhimes herself handed total creative control over to Krista Vernoff, one of the series’ original writers who’s now acted as showrunner since Season 14. But, not only did Rhimes steer the ship for many years, she still has control over when Grey’s Anatomy ends. When asked by Variety how the show might make its swan song, though, Rhimes said:

Well, this is the problem with a drama like Grey’s, I imagine. Even though the series is still very focused on Meredith Grey’s near-death experiences, triumphs and coma recovery, all of the main players could change at any time and the show can, technically, still go on. So, it makes total sense that Rhimes would come up with so many potential endings for the hit (which became the longest-running American primetime medical drama by the end of February, 2019), only to find a use for them on screen and then have the good doctors at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital keep on keepin’ on.

Actually, when you really think about how long Grey’s Anatomy has been on the air, and how many things have happened over the course of almost 18 full seasons, it’s almost a remarkable show of restraint on Rhimes’ part to have only tried to come up with the finale about eight times. She admitted to something similar back in 2018, so it seems that her mind hasn’t quite been able to stop thinking over the problem, which just goes to show how emotionally invested she continues to be, and that’s probably a good thing for viewers. 

Of course, all of this is important because, as Grey’s Anatomy continues to get even longer in the tooth, (and as the show is now down to only three original players remaining), longtime fans have been questioning how much longer it will go on, and noticed star Ellen Pompeo’s recent caginess on when she’d like to move on from this Meredith-based time in her career. It sounds like all we can really hope for is that the current showrunner at least asks for some input on the Grey’s Anatomy ending from Shonda Rhimes when the time finally comes. It sounds like she’s very good at coming up with ideas.

Grey’s Anatomy continues in Season 18 on ABC, Thursdays at 9 p.m. EST, but for more to watch right now, check out our 2021 fall TV schedule! 

Grey’s Anatomy premiered back in 2005 as a midseason replacement for Boston Legal on ABC, and just like that, Shonda Rhimes was skyrocketed into television history. As America fell in love with Meredith and Derek, fostered dreams of being Cristina, and adopted Webber and Bailey as surrogate parents, Rhimes cemented her legacy in the world of primetime TV with more hits including Scandal, How to Get Away With Murder and Private Practice. Now, with Grey’s Anatomy in its 18th season, it’s as unknown as ever if there will be more, and Rhimes has put some thought into the overall legacy of the show that started it all for her. 

When you look at the success Shonda Rhimes has had, and the number of stars that Grey’s Anatomy has produced in its 16 years — especially considering the diversity of the cast and the social issues it’s tackled — you wouldn’t think that the medical drama’s legacy would be viewed as anything but stellar. But the show’s creator has a different perspective. Rhimes told Variety she thinks Grey’s Anatomy’s legacy might end up not being about the show at all, but rather a reflection of the industry.

When Grey’s Anatomy debuted in 2005, three of the higher-ranking surgeons in the hospital were Black, and Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.) and Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) are still running Grey-Sloan in Season 18, while Preston Burke (Isaiah Washington) was around for the first three seasons before leaving on more than one awkward note. Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh) was also a major player as Meredith’s “person” and the most talent-driven of the hospital’s new interns. It shouldn’t have taken until 2005 to normalize seeing people of color in these major roles, Shonda Rhimes said.

Shonda Rhimes is absolutely right, but as a longtime fan of her shows, I applaud her for the contributions she made to diversifying TV casting, however delayed the change was. But that won’t be the only thing Grey’s Anatomy will be remembered for, of course. Rhimes spoke to another “magical” takeaway that has come from the show’s eighteen seasons so far, with this serving as more of an ideal foundation for the show's legacy.

While Shonda Rhimes years ago passed on Grey’s Anatomy showrunning duties to Krista Vernoff, the fight for representation continues. In Season 18, Grey’s Anatomy has cast its first nonbinary doctor, as E.R. Fightmaster (of Shrill fame) has joined in a recurring role. In Season 17, Robert I. Mesa was upgraded to a recurring role as James Chee, part of the new intern class and the series’ first indigenous doctor, to say nothing of other diversity-minded casting and character choices in recent years.

Grey’s Anatomy airs at 9 p.m. ET Thursdays on ABC. It will return from a short hiatus on November 11 with a crossover event with Station 19, in which someone from one of the two Seattle dramas is going to die. Also be sure to check out our 2021 TV Schedule to see what shows are premiering through the end of the year.

The chief love story of Bridgerton’s first season, and its various sexscapades, is undeniably what made it such a hit amongst Netflix fans. But it was only after the nationwide bingefest that lead actor Regé-Jean Page, who played the Duke of Hastings, revealed he wasn't coming back for the next season. See, each subsequent season (which is greenlit all the way up to Season 4 thus far) will be adapted from the next book in Julia Quinn’s series (each about one sibling in particular). But fans are still holding out hope that Page will make a return in some capacity and, on that front, executive producer Shonda Rhimes is sharing some more honest thoughts on the possibility.

She's notoriously known for her iconic love triangles on the ABC network and has even brought some characters back from the dead, to the delight of many fans. So what's the harm of bringing Simon back for even just a little cameo on the show? Well, the TV mogul has at least one pretty good reason why he shouldn’t come back. When asked again about Page’s prospective return, she told Variety:

Shonda Rhimes has indeed said as much in the past that the star's return wouldn't make sense for the show. But the show's creator, Chris Van Dusen, sorta teased at one point that “some really interesting things” could theoretically happen in Season 2, with Page himself adding to the hype. Alas, I guess I was leaning too much into hope? It seems as though previous speculation from the cast – that we will only hear Page's character being “referred to” – is what is actually going on.

To be fair, Shonda Rhimes is right – Regé-Jean Page is a hot commodity at the moment and should capitalize on it while he can. Since appearing on the Netflix series, he has starred in the Russo Brothers’ upcoming film The Gray Man, as well as Dungeons & Dragons alongside Chris Pine. Page is also consistently in the conversation regarding who'll play the next James Bond, although he has some serious competition. His co-star, Phoebe Dynevor, has likewise parlayed her success into other projects on the horizon.

What we do know about the show's second season (apart from the leading man not being in it) is that a certain Sex Education actress will be the new love interest to Anthony Bridgerton, who takes center stage from his sister. Apparently, it's a very love-hate kind of thing, much like how Daphne and Simon’s romance was – so maybe the star's absence won’t be as dire as fans think it is. Furthermore, the actress behind Lady Whistledown’s schemes has teased that the Season 2 finale is “heavy,” with the drama “amped up a lot.”

Bridgerton’s second season is expected to premiere on Netflix sometime next year. With any hope, if there's to be no Regé-Jean Page, fans can, at least, expect the same spirit of his sex appeal.

After decades of working in Hollywood, super-producer Shonda Rhimes is still staying booked and busy. The iconic media magnate, known to TV audiences for Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal (just to name a few), is at the top of her game and shows no signs of slowing down. For a while now, she's been working on the next in her series of Netflix shows and, as the second season of Bridgerton continues to film, fans can look forward the premiere of her newest streaming show early next year.

The upcoming show, which is the first that Shonda Rhimes has created since ABC’s hit political drama Scandal, is set to premiere in February 2022, according to Variety. The new series, Inventing Anna, is based on the New York Magazine story “How Anna Delvey Tricked New York’s Party People” by Jessica Pressler. The story dug deep into the scandalous enterprises of a young Russian woman who swindled New Yorkers. An exact premiere date for the nine-episode first season will reportedly be announced at a later time.

Veep star Anna Chlumsky is set to play reporter Vivian, who is loosely based on Jessica Pressler, while Ozark’s Julia Garner will play the highly sought-after Anna. The series is told from Vivian’s point of view and will see the young journalist conducting interviews with people who knew Anna and developed varied relationships with her. So far, it sounds like this is going to be an intriguing drama that fans are not going to want to miss. 

As previously mentioned, Shonda Rhimes is also working on Season 2 of regency hit Bridgerton though, on that series, she only serves as an executive producer under her production banner, Shondaland. The upcoming season of one of Netflix’s biggest shows will also be coming in 2022 and will adapt the second book in the novel series of the same name. At this point in time, a premiere date has not been set for Season 2. Hopefully, the streamer will announce it soon, as fans are likely getting anxious. Personally, I know I could use more of the Bridgerton family in my life right now.

There’s no doubt Inventing Anna will be the producer’s next big hit, considering how strong her track record is. With an intriguing plot and two capable stars as the leads, one would think it could create some serious buzz for Netflix. This is only the latest project in the deal Shonda Rhimes struck with the streaming platform back in 2017. Honestly, one has to wonder where she finds the time for all of these shows.

Be sure to catch Inventing Anna when it hits Netflix next year, and be sure to stick with CinemaBlend for details on its exact release date. And of course, we'll have details on Bridgerton Season 2 as well. But in the meantime, you can also go back and revisit the first season on the streamer in order to prepare yourself.