Grey’s Anatomy boasts a sizable number of regular cast members, and between that and budget cuts at ABC, the longtime medical series has been dealing with smaller episode counts and cast member exits. So when a character is written off the show — as was the case for Monica Beltran, Teddy Altman and Owen Hunt in Season 22 — when and how do they find out? Jason George explained the process, and I was shocked by a couple of things.

Grey’s Anatomy’s Season 22 finale featured some unexpected cliffhangers, but it was not a surprise that Kim Raver and Kevin McKidd’s characters said goodbye at the end of “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” Their exit had been confirmed well in advance, and Jason George — who plays Ben Warren — said the writers handle those situations with as much grace as possible. He told US Weekly:

So at what point in the process is showrunner Meg Marinis making a call to an actor whose character may be on the chopping block? I was surprised by what Jason George had to say:

Luckily for Jason George, not only was Ben Warren not written off Grey’s Anatomy, he was allowed to return to the series after Station 19 was canceled. It’s surprising to me that cast members are notified so early in the process that their character could be at risk, and what’s more shocking is that not every series has the same amount of respect for its cast. George said:

I simply can’t imagine how awful it would be to sit in a room with your colleagues and then everyone reads at the same time that you’ve just been fired. What an awkward situation to put everyone in. However, as Jason George said, you do hear those stories.

The Yellowstone spinoff 1923 killed off seven characters in one episode last year, and the actors say they didn’t find out until they read the script. Compare that to former Grey’s Anatomy recurrer Natalie Morales' experience after Season 21's explosive finale. She got a call from the showrunner asking if she’d return for the Season 22 premiere, and it was then that she learned that Monica was being killed off.

These are people’s livelihoods that we’re talking about here, so you’d certainly hope for such matters to be handled as delicately as possible. It’s nice to hear from Jason George that’s how it is on Grey’s Anatomy.

Ben Warren’s fate is not in question heading into Season 23, so we look forward to seeing him — and that upcoming Grey’s Anatomy Texas spinoff — hit the 2026 TV schedule this fall. For now you can stream all 22 seasons of the medical drama with a Hulu subscription or a Netflix subscription (where the recently concluded season will be available starting June 5).

Spoilers ahead for Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 finale.

Sophia Bush has made a splash on Grey’s Anatomy, with her character Cass Beckman earning quite the reputation for making waves in the Seattle surgeons’ relationships. It’s likely we haven’t seen the last of her, either, after that unexpected Season 22 finale cliffhanger, and it sounds like she’s already thinking about Season 23’s return to the 2026 TV schedule this fall.

In fact, she pitched one of her One Tree Hill co-stars as the next perfect addition to Grey’s Anatomy, and I know exactly where they’d fit in.

Sophia Bush Thinks James Lafferty Should Join Grey’s Anatomy

Cass Beckman made a surprise return to Grey’s Anatomy Season 22, providing much-needed help in the wake of a bridge collapse that left Nick Marsh’s life in her hands. Later, however, it’s revealed that she ended up in bed with Amelia Shepherd. That sounds like some Brooke Davis behavior to me, and speaking of One Tree Hill, Sophia Bush had an idea about another actor who could make the jump over to Grey Sloan Memorial. She told EW:

First of all, it is kind of crazy how naturally One Tree Hill’s actors flow into the Grey’s Anatomy-verse, with Hilarie Burton playing Dr. Lauren Boswell on three episodes of Season 9 (and also being the real-life wife of Denny Duquette actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan). Bethany Joy Lenz, meanwhile, had a short-but-memorable storyline as the new fiancée of Jo’s abusive ex-husband Paul in Season 14 and Jana Kramer also appeared on two episodes of Season 4.

More importantly, though, Sophia Bush is so right that James Lafferty has major McDreamy vibes, and I think he should totally lean into that.

James Lafferty Should Play Another McDreamy Nephew — A Rival To Cousin Lucas

On One Tree Hill, James Lafferty played Nathan Scott, one of the titular high school’s star basketball players and half-brother to Chad Michael Murray’s Lucas. On Grey’s Anatomy, I think he should have another kind of familial drama with a different Lucas — McDreamy’s favorite nephew Lucas Adams (Niko Terho).

With Derek Shepherd having four sisters and a family full of medical professionals, it would make a lot of sense for Lucas to have cousins who are also doctors. James Lafferty could play one of them, giving ole McBroody another chance to feel less-than amongst his family and peers.

How Did James Lafferty React To Sophia Bush’s Suggestion?

Word got back to the Everyone Is Doing Great creator that he was being pitched as a possible McDreamy 2.0, and James Lafferty had a pretty funny response, telling EW:

I don’t know, I think that brand of humility in the face of something he seems so right for is exactly the kind of thing that would endear Grey’s Anatomy fans to a character — and drive Lucas Adams bonkers.

Only time will tell if Sophia Bush has that kind of sway behind the scenes of the longtime medical drama, but I hope Meg Marinis is listening — even as she works on that Grey’s Anatomy Texas spinoff — because I think James Lafferty could be a really fun addition.

In the meantime, you can rewatch any season of Grey’s Anatomy or One Tree Hill with a Hulu subscription (all 22 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy will also be available with a Netflix subscription starting June 6).

Much like Blue Kwan did to a patient during Grey’s Anatomy’s recently wrapped 22nd season, the medical drama injected something unexpected into our day Tuesday. However, rather than dosing us with an experimental drug to cure our greatest maladies, this breaking news has left viewers with a lot of questions. A Texas-based spinoff is coming to ABC, premiering in midseason 2027, and fans have some strong opinions.

The as-yet-untitled Grey’s Anatomy spinoff will not revolve around an existing character, Deadline reports, but there will be connections, possibly to Debbie Allen’s Catherine Fox. The series will be set in rural West Texas at a medical center presumably smaller than Seattle’s Grey Sloan Memorial. The announcement sent several Grey’s Anatomy fans spiraling on Reddit, including Khajiit-ify, who is asking some good questions:

Why Shonda Rhimes and Meg Marinis have teamed up for a small-town spinoff with no familiar characters is unknown, but the scheduling was addressed in the announcement. With Grey’s Anatomy facing budget cuts, it appears Season 23 will share its timeslot with the spinoff, with the flagship series premiering this fall on the 2026 TV schedule and the new series taking over in 2027.

Logistics aside, some Grey’s Anatomy fans had some hilarious reactions to the spinoff news, including:

• I bet Warren will look for a new job for this spin off – FuzseaFlow9706
• Isn’t there already a show called "Nobody Wants This"? – eddane1
• Remember when Owen had that one episode last season where he worked at a small hospital? Shonda has the opportunity to do the funniest thing – CaptainVesta

That last comment references Kim Raver and Kevin McKidd’s exit from Grey’s Anatomy in the Season 22 finale, with their family moving to Paris so Teddy can accept a job. It would have been hilarious to pull one over on fans like and make it Paris, Texas, rather than France, but then again, I don't want a Teddy/Owen spinoff, and also, that movie already exists on Netflix, too.

There were some other interesting takeaways from fans in the Reddit comments, including how a Boston spinoff would have made more sense, and questions about why they’re not centering the show around Levi Schmitt, who left Seattle for Texas in Season 21. Other reactions included:

• Rural Texas - going for the Yellowstone viewing demo there. – balthazar_edison
• This is so random, totally left field for ABC to order another spin-off when the main show is facing budget cuts – Skyboy-14
• Just end it already – SuddenDepact
• I asked for a Boston spinoff with Avery and Kepler not a yeehaw spinoff 😭😭 – Loose-Fisherman3695

This Texas-based series will be the third spinoff in the Grey’s Anatomy universe after Private Practice and Station 19, and regardless of all the questions this wild announcement has injected into our lives, I’m really excited to learn more as more details become available.

For now, you can stream all 22 seasons of Grey’s, as well as its two existing spinoffs, with a Hulu subscription. The first 21 seasons are also available with a Netflix subscription, with Season 22 coming June 6.

In its Season 22 finale, Grey’s Anatomy bid farewell to Kim Raver and Kevin McKidd (for now at least), but I’m not quite ready to assume that means the rest of the cast is safe. We knew budget cuts would force us to lose some series regulars, and Teddy and Owen were far from the only doctors facing uncertain futures. Blue Kwan and Nick Marsh are two characters I’d call “in unstable condition,” so what’s the prognosis, according to Harry Shum Jr. and showrunner Meg Marinis?

Blue Kwan Was Fired From Grey Sloan Ahead Of The Season Finale

I’ve had my concerns for Blue Kwan ever since he chose to inject a patient with an experimental drug — against FDA orders. The surgeon was fired in the penultimate episode, but when “Bridge Over Troubled Water” aired on the 2026 TV schedule, he was allowed back due to the bridge collapse being an “all-hands-on-deck” situation. I was sure Richard Webber would reinstate him after that, but instead, he wasted no time kicking Kwan to the curb.

Harry Shum Jr. spoke about his character’s future with E! News at an AAPI changemakers dinner, where he admitted he hasn’t been told much:

Well, first things first, it doesn’t sound like Harry Shum Jr. is leaving the show. If that were the case, I’d hope the actor would have been informed by now. However, Grey’s doesn’t often follow its characters once they’ve left the hospital, so if Webber (James Pickens Jr.) is firm with his decision, how much longer could Blue last?

Does Scott Speedman Have Time To Continue Grey’s Anatomy?

When it comes to Scott Speedman, my questions about his character’s future have more to do with the actor’s schedule than Nick Marsh’s storyline. There’s a spoiler ahead if you haven’t seen the Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 finale (streaming with a Hulu subscription), but Nick survived the injuries he sustained in the bridge collapse and ended up engaged to Ellen Pompeo’s Meredith Grey by the end of the episode.

However, that was all written and filmed before his other ABC show, R.J. Decker, was renewed for a second season. Scott Speedman also appeared as a guest star on Running Point Season 2 on Netflix, so does the actor even have time for the medical drama? Showrunner Meg Marinis sounds optimistic about making it work with him and Ellen Pompeo, telling THR:

I was afraid Grey’s Anatomy might kill Nick off in the Season 22 finale, but, apparently, nobody wanted to see Meredith lose another partner after McDreamy’s death in Season 11. Let’s not forget she also dated Andrew DeLuca for a good bit before he was murdered in Season 17.

My concerns for Marsh were all for naught, because now we’re talking wedding plans?! While he and Kwan seem like the most at-risk characters on Grey’s Anatomy, the season ended with Jo Wilson on the fence about continuing to practice medicine, Miranda Bailey looking to effect change in bigger ways and several other unexpected cliffhangers, so who knows what’s going to happen in Season 23?

Until then, you can stream all 22 seasons on Hulu. The first 21 seasons are also available with a Netflix subscription, with Season 22 being added June 6.

Spoiler alert! Big spoilers for the Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 finale ahead. If you missed the May 7 episode, you can stream it now with a Hulu subscription.

Grey’s Anatomy wrapped up its 22nd season with plenty of surprises popping up with the bridge collapse. Sophia Bush’s return as Dr. Cass Beckman was one delightful twist — the bridge disaster was an “all hands on deck” situation, after all, and Cass’ hands were on the right side of the carnage. She ended up being instrumental in one of the finale’s more shocking and unexpected cliffhangers, but Bush said another part of her storyline initially gave her pause.

Sophia Bush has now appeared in seven Grey’s Anatomy episodes, mostly as a potential love interest to Teddy Altman (Kim Raver), but in “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” she had the much more serious job of saving Nick Marsh’s life. The One Tree Hill alum understood the weight of that situation, telling EW:

As we all remember, Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) lost Derek Shepherd to improperly trained surgeons, and it sounds like Sophia Bush had no interest in becoming “Perfect Penny” Part 2 by killing off Nick (Scott Speedman). Cass smartly refused to let Meredith into the operating room with her, instead calling on Chandra Wilson’s Miranda. Seeing that in the script made Bush feel better, as she said:

Yes, Sophie Bush said “Meredith’s husband,” because to underscore the significance of the situation, Meredith told Cass that she and Nick were married, setting up the surprise engagement near the episode’s end.

Speaking of the end of the episode, Sophia Bush was part of another wildly unexpected reveal, when Toni Wright (Jen Landon) told Amelia Shepherd (Caterina Scorsone) she was falling in love with her, only to realize that Amelia had just slept with Cass! It seems like Bush had the same reaction as every Grey’s fan, as she said:

Forget the scandal of it all, with Toni and Amelia at such a tenuous place in their young and complicated relationship — this CassMelia pairing is one that fans have apparently been begging for. Sophia Bush continued:

Well we certainly can’t blame Cass for needing to blow off some steam after operating on Meredith Grey’s partner, but will she continue to show up in Season 23? Who knows? We didn’t even expect to see her in the Season 22 finale! We’ve got a while to wait before finding out if CassMelia can be a real thing or if she’s just a bump in the road for Toni and Amelia, just like she proved to be for Teddy and Owen.

You can rewatch any of Grey’s Anatomy’s 22 seasons on Hulu, or start a rewatch from your favorite Grey’s era, with the first 21 seasons available to stream with a Netflix subscription.

Spoiler alert! Major spoilers ahead for the Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 finale, which aired May 7. The episode is available to stream with a Hulu subscription.

Grey’s Anatomy is known for leaving fans with some pretty brutal cliffhangers, especially on season finales. Think back to last year’s explosion, which led us to believe Link was dead, along with who knows how many others. Combine that with Camilla Luddington’s tease of “so many cliffhangers,” and I was ready for the Season 22 finale to be a bloodbath. I was wrong, and showrunner Meg Marinis had a good explanation for why she “needed” that ending.

So, despite the penultimate episode making us think Kevin McKidd’s Grey’s Anatomy exit might come by killing off Owen Hunt, nobody died in “Bridge Over Troubled Water” (not on-screen at least; the bridge collapse did result in several casualties, we were told). Owen saved himself and a family of four, while Nick Marsh pulled through a tough surgery and ended up ENGAGED to Meredith Grey! That’s a lot of joy for a Grey’s Anatomy finale, and apparently that was exactly the point, as Meg Marinis told THR:

She pointed out that we saw quite a bit of tragedy in Season 22 — Monica Beltran’s death, Lucas Adams losing Katie (still a big mistake in my book), Richard Webber’s cancer, Jo and Link both nearly dying, etc. So rather than teasing us with more death, Meg Marinis decided to cliffhang us on relationships and career decisions. She said:

We’ve known for a while that Meredith and Nick are endgame, so I wasn’t expecting to have such an emotional reaction to their decision to make it official.

We also got Owen making the right relationship decision (for once) by deciding to move to Paris with Teddy (Kim Raver) and the kids so she could accept the great job offer. Elsewhere in the hospital, however, the showrunner pointed out:

This was definitely not the finale I expected — I’m still waiting for Owen’s unchecked head laceration to come back to bite him — but I’m pleased that it proves cliffhangers don’t have to mean putting our heroes’ lives at risk to keep interest alive in the upcoming stories.

Grey’s Anatomy Season 23 promises a lot of relationship drama and possibly new beginnings and career changes for several of the surgeons. Until then, you can relive all 22 seasons on Hulu or revisit your favorite Grey’s Anatomy era from the first 21 seasons with a Netflix subscription.

The Grey’s Anatomy finale that’s set to hit the 2026 TV schedule late Thursday doesn’t just mark the end of the medical drama’s 22nd season, but also the end of Kevin McKidd and Kim Raver’s long runs on the show. Grey’s has been setting up Owen and Teddy’s exits for weeks, and while we don’t know exactly what will cause them to leave Grey Sloan Memorial — or if they’ll even make it out alive — McKidd says he’s already pretty sure he’ll be back.

The Season 22 finale, “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” is not only Kevin McKidd’s final Grey’s Anatomy episode — as a series regular at least — but it’s also his 49th time directing. He sat down for a Good Morning America interview this week, and when asked if he’d be back to helm future episodes, McKidd said:

There’s definitely precedent for Grey’s Anatomy bringing back actors to direct after their characters leave the show. Giacomo Gianniotti directed an episode after his character Andrew DeLuca was murdered in Season 17, and Levi Schmitt portrayer Jake Borelli, was left in tears after making his directorial debut earlier in Season 22. Kim Raver has directed three episodes, the latest of which also came this season.

So directing is definitely still on the table for Kevin McKidd — especially so close to hitting that 50-episode milestone — but that doesn’t necessarily mean we won’t also see Owen Hunt or Teddy Altman ever again. Doctors from previous seasons (and canceled spinoffs, in the case of Kevin McKidd’s real-life girlfriend Danielle Savre) have a way of popping in every so often, and that’s not even contingent on the character being alive.

That’s especially important for Kevin McKidd’s trauma surgeon, because Season 22’s penultimate episode ended with Owen in a pretty precarious position following a bridge collapse. I know this is Grey’s Anatomy, and the finale will inevitably leave us with “so many cliffhangers,” but I’m hoping we at least get closure on Owen and Teddy’s stories before they disembark for new opportunities.

As for what else we can expect from “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” Ellen Pompeo will be back as Meredith Grey, who doesn’t appear to be in danger of dying (for once). Rather, it’s her partner Nick Marsh (Scott Speedman) who seemingly is injured in the same bridge collapse as Owen.

We also don’t know Blue Kwan’s (Harry Shum Jr.) fate after Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.) fired him (off-screen) in the lead-up to the finale. We’ve also got our eyes on a few relationship storylines, and I’m personally now invested in Winston Ndugu’s irrational fear of yarn.

What will get sorted out in the finale, and what will keep us guessing through the summer months? Find out at 10 p.m. ET Thursday, May 7, on ABC and streaming the next day with a Hulu subscription.

Spoiler alert! This story discusses the Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 episode “Through the Fire,” which aired on the 2026 TV schedule on April 30 and can be streamed with a Hulu subscription if you need to catch up!

The stage is set for a pretty epic (and cliffhanger-filled) Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 finale next week, with the penultimate episode shaking things up all over the place. One doctor was fired, while Teddy and Owen took another step toward the door (existentially speaking, in Owen’s case), and we got a big character update in that Station 19 crossover. For me, though, what stuck out most about “Through the Fire” was Winston Ndugu’s admission of an “irrational” fear he has. Let's recap.

Honestly, the writing was on the wall for Blue Kwan (Harry Shum Jr.) the second he chose to inject a patient with an experimental drug against FDA orders, and sure enough, he was fired (off-camera) the second Webber found out Bailey had been covering for him. I don’t think he’s gone for good, though. He’s in the trailer for next week’s season finale, for one thing, so we'll have to see if and how he can get back in Webber's good graces.

More Owen And Teddy Drama Surrounds Their Impending Exits

Meanwhile, Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd) characteristically freaked out because Teddy Altman (Kim Raver) had the audacity to consider a wonderful job opportunity in Paris. Will his apology voicemail be the last time Teddy hears his voice? The bridge collapse that will dominate the season finale seemed to happen at the end of that voicemail, as Owen is cut off to the sound of crashing and mayhem.

We've known that Kevin McKidd and Kim Raver were leaving Grey's Anatomy following the Season 22 finale, and while story hints have been dropped, we haven't yet gotten a full picture of how their characters will depart — or what their relationship status will be when they do so. At this point, it seems Owen will be lucky to even survive his final episode (which, incidentally, McKidd is directing).

What Do You MEAN Carina Didn't Make An Appearance?

Lastly, we may not have seen Station 19’s Carina DeLuca return after her wife Maya Bishop (Danielle Savre) was badly injured in a fire, but we did get an update on the couple’s daughter. Carina was pregnant in the Station 19 series finale, and in the April 30 Grey’s Anatomy episode, Maya revealed that they’d named the baby Andrea DeLuca-Bishop — an obvious reference to Carina’s brother Andrew, who was murdered in Season 17.

Unlike Jason George's character Ben Warren, who was able to jump back into Grey's Anatomy after Station 19 was canceled, Stefania Spampinato was apparently not invited back to the series where Carina originated. There have been several mentions of her, as Carina canonically still works at Grey Sloan Memorial, but she seems to always be conveniently out of town when someone goes into emergency labor or her wife gets admitted with life-threatening burns. Not seeing her here was disappointing, but I still LOVE this Marina update.

Now We Have To Talk About Winston Ndugu.

Winston Ndugu and Jules Millin (Anthony Hill and Adelaide Kane) had a heart-to-heart after their plans for a sexy hotel tryst were scuttled by the blaze that injured Maya. Millin admitted that she was into crystals and that she’d seen the fire as a bad omen. Ndugu brushed off her embarrassment, saying, “Everyone has weird things.” When she looked doubtful that he could match her, he revealed:

Wait, what? Winston Ndugu, who holds hearts in his hands for a living, is afraid of YARN?! Millin confirmed it’s not just scarves, but his fear includes blankets, mittens and other creature comforts. Ndugu continued:

What a bizarre turn that took! And I am in no way mocking anyone’s actual fear of yarn. I dug into this a little, and linonophobia — the fear of string, yard or rope — is a real thing, though that’s often associated with being tied up or restrained, and it reportedly doesn’t typically affect clothing choices.

However, there are a lot of people with tactile sensitivities who may have aversions to certain fabrics, etc. Like Ndugu, those people can find ways to manage so that these things go largely undetected by others around them.

In this specific case, though, it does seem quite an interesting character trait to introduce six seasons into Ndugu’s time on the show. Was it written just so he’d have a quirk equal to Millin’s belief in the energy of crystals? If we go back through the past six seasons, will we really see no sweaters or knit scarves or anything? Is this possibly something Anthony Hill deals with in real life?

I’m thinking it’s probably the first of those options, though I’d definitely be open to Grey’s Anatomy normalizing the sensory issues that people face and often feel forced to mask.

Whether this is a developing storyline or not remains to be seen, and there’s a real good possibility I’m taking this way too seriously. But even if it was just a throwaway admission — a means to an end to get Ndugu and Millin into bed, crystals be damned — it’s a detail that I haven’t quite been able to shake.

I won’t let it distract me from everything that’s to come in next week’s season finale, though. Is Kwan gone for good? Will Owen make it out alive? Will Teddy thwart the trope of giving up Paris for a mediocre man? We don’t have to wait long to find out. The Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 finale airs at 10 p.m. ET Thursday, May 7, on ABC.

As NCIS continues its run on the 2026 TV schedule, one can't help but to have noticed all the breadcrumbs being dropped for a potential new romance on the CBS series. Now, Wilmer Valderrama and Katrina Law are talking about the possibility of Nick and Jessica getting together, and Grey's Anatomy was caught in the crossfire.

Fans have asked for a Knight/Torres romance on NCIS for a while, and after a recent episode featured the duo cuddling in the wilderness to preserve body heat, people want answers. Valderrama discussed the episode, which also featured some romantic tension, with TVLine and gave his thoughts on the writers' motivations behind all of that:

As Valderrama said, it's normal, but it doesn't make the situation any less messy. Nick dated Jessica's sister Robin just one season ago, and having these two link up so soon after could certainly create some awkward family get-togethers.

Let's not forget the work family, either, as Jessica dated NCIS' Jimmy Palmer, who also works with Nick. Jimmy and Jessica broke up in Season 21 on solid terms, and while actor Brian Dietzen talked about the potential return of that storyline with CinemaBlend a while back, Wilmer Valderrama clearly has mixed feelings:

NCIS may not have as much romance (or failed romances) as Grey's Anatomy, but it's not exactly foreign territory for the CBS procedural either. While Tony & Ziva was ultimately canceled after a short run, it was the slew of fans that cheered on that relationship for years that had executives thinking more people would tune in and watch the series with a Paramount+ subscription.

Katrina Law wasn't about to spoil any plotlines, but shared what she could about what could be ahead for Jessica when it comes to Nick Torres. She likes the fact that it seems there are multiple possibilities to how this plays out, and there's a reason why it's written that way:

As someone who values the bromance that Jimmy and Nick have shared over the years on NCIS, I have to think that both characters would feel uncomfortable sneaking around behind Jimmy's back, and a conversation would have to happen to make sure something like this doesn't impact the overall dynamic of the team.

All this to say, Torres and Knight shippers should hold positions for the moment and continue to stay tuned. I'd like to think each moment is building to both characters acknowledging their feelings, and we'll get some sort of resolution eventually.

NCIS airs on CBS on Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. These latest comments from the actors have me curious about how the rest of the season will play out, and if we'll get some meaningful updates on Torres and Knight's relationship before the end of the season.

With Grey’s Anatomy nearing the end of its 22nd season, I feel that there’s a real possibility that the medical drama may exist as long as network television is a thing. However, the past few years have seen quite a few questions about the future of the ABC medical drama, so fans have definitely given some thought to what would constitute a satisfying series ending. I’m not sure what that would be, but I completely agree with the fans who know what they DON’T want to see, if and when Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital closes its doors.

There was a point in time when series creator Shonda Rhimes knew how she wanted Grey’s Anatomy to end, but she’s long since given up on that. However, many fans weighed in on a Reddit thread asking what series ending would be the most disappointing, and the consensus was clear. As whateverrrrrrrr2 put it:

Grey’s Anatomy premiered in 2005 with Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) starting her internship at the hospital and going through her mother’s old journals as the esteemed surgeon’s health deteriorated due to Alzheimer’s. Meredith has voiced her fears about inheriting her mother’s condition, and with her oldest daughter Zola basically being a surgical prodigy, the dominos certainly seem to be lining up to knock us down with a full-circle moment.

I don’t know if I can speak for all Grey’s Anatomy fans out there, but I don’t want the full-circle moment that seems as if it’s been nicely laid out. For one thing, Meredith has fought too hard to fall to Alzheimer’s now, and secondly, I want them to do something unpredictable. If I could write it, I don’t want it. Other fans echoed the sentiment in what would disappoint them the most:

• I also really don’t want to see them go the route of Meredith with Alzheimer’s and Zola reading her diaries to her as the show ends but I feel like that’s going to come full circle. – BadPumpkin87
• I feel like this would be so lame given they've already had both Ellis + Adele go through it. It'd make the whole continuing Derek's research storyline feel pointless. – luna1uvgood
• If it’s anyone's diaries or I see Zola rock up for residency I will throw the TV – mercy_death
• Zola saying “it’s a beautiful day to save lives” like genuinely 🤮 – Feeling-Visit1472
• The final episode is going to show Zola wearing Derek’s scrub cap going into surgery. They might even show her visiting Meredith with Alzheimer's. It's going to be a full circle moment. It won’t be bad I don’t think, just a tad lazy – HisSpo2345
• Mer getting or having Alzheimer’s and the show being about one of her kids reading her journals. 👎 – BellaNutella22

This is just a sample, as the comments from viewers who don’t want to see Meredith slip into dementia and/or see Zola donning that ferry boat scrub cap go on and on.

Of course, that wasn’t the only disappointing ending fans could come up with. Many hoped it wouldn’t all turn out to be a dream, like this was all Meredith’s coma hallucination when she almost drowned or that Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) survived the wreck and created this reality in his head.

Others say the cruelest ending would be one that the writers didn’t see coming:

• News of a cancellation without the chance of closure. I've made it here so far... so it better has an end – giftopherz
• If it were to get cancelled without being able to get a proper ending. Any real ending will likely disappoint me, but I would be much more upset if it got cancelled on a cliff hanger. – Pretty_Please1

Some fans said they would be upset if the series finale killed off James Pickens Jr.’s Richard Webber or Chandra Wilson’s Miranda Bailey, and I agree, that would cause a riot. I also agree with Reddit user Juoreg, who said their most disappointing ending would be:

I’m not sure how long it will be before we have to worry about wrapping up the storylines of our Seattle surgeons for good, but when the time comes, fans are going to be expecting something more than Meredith and Zola coming full circle with how Meredith started the series with her own mother.

Grey’s Anatomy is currently on hiatus, but take a look at what we can expect from the final two episodes of Season 22 when the series returns at 10 p.m. ET Thursday, April 30, on ABC and streaming the next day with a Hulu subscription.

Spoiler alert! This story discusses some plots of Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 through episode 16, all of which can be streamed with a Hulu subscription.

Any Grey’s Anatomy fans who were hoping to jump right back on the elevator with Millin and Ndugu this week will have to wait a bit, as the longtime medical drama is on a multi-week hiatus. When it returns, we’ll see the final two episodes of Season 22, which also means the final two episodes with Kim Raver and Kevin McKidd as series regulars. So when exactly is Grey’s Anatomy coming back, and what can we expect from Teddy and Owen’s goodbyes?

When Will Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 Be Back?

Grey’s Anatomy is taking three weeks off before concluding its 22nd season and will be back on the 2026 TV schedule at 10 p.m. ET Thursday, April 30. Airing in its place on April 9 and 16 will be reruns of R.J. Decker, ABC’s new crime drama starring Grey’s Anatomy’s Scott Speedman and Station 19 alum Jaina Lee Ortiz. On April 23, ABC’s Thursday night block will be overtaken by coverage of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Big Things Are In Store For Teddy, Owen And More In The Season Finale

When Grey’s Anatomy does resume new episodes on April 30, it will be the beginning of the end for Kevin McKidd and Kim Raver’s characters, though the series so far has done a great job of keeping fans guessing how exactly Owen and Teddy will exit the series.

First, it seemed like Owen Hunt might accept a position at a smaller hospital that hoped to use his trauma expertise to rebuild its surgical unit. Then, I thought his mother’s stroke might inspire a big change for the military vet. After seeing the preview for April 30’s “Through the Fire,” we might be lucky to see Owen even make it out alive:

Things look intense, to be sure, as Station 19’s Maya Bishop (Danielle Savre) comes into Grey Sloan via ambulance after being injured in a structure fire. This is a particularly special appearance in Kevin McKidd’s penultimate episode, as Savre is McKidd’s real-life partner.

However, Owen isn’t there to see Maya’s special guest appearance, as it appears that he was injured (and imminently drowning?!) in a bridge collapse. Scott Speedman’s Nick Marsh also gets gurneyed in, presumably from the same bridge disaster, which means Ellen Pompeo’s Meredith Grey is officially in the building, ladies and gentlemen.

All of this will set up what is sure to be an exciting and frustrating finale, as we’ve already been promised “so many cliffhangers.” One thing that we know for sure, though, is that Kevin McKidd is directing the final episode of Season 22, titled “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” facilitating his own character’s exit alongside Kim Raver’s Teddy Altman.

It’s frustrating that we’ll have to wait a few weeks to reach this conclusion, but it’s definitely one fans won’t want to miss. Catch the final two weeks of Grey’s Anatomy Season 22, starting at 10 p.m. ET Thursday, April 30, on ABC and streaming the next day on Hulu.

Grey’s Anatomy is coming up on the end of Season 22, and in true Grey’s fashion, I do not know what to expect. There are two episodes left on the 2026 TV schedule, but most details surrounding the finale, airing on May 7, have not been revealed (aside from a concerning promo for the penultimate episode). That isn’t stopping Camilla Luddington from spilling the beans on the upcoming cliffhangers, though, and it makes me so happy Season 23 is happening.

If there is one show that knows how to do season finales, it’s Grey’s Anatomy. Every year it’s unpredictable. There could be a happy ending, a sad ending or a cliffhanger ending, and that ending is more than likely something that will keep fans on the edge of their seats and waiting very impatiently for next season. It seems that's exactly what's going to happen this season, too, as Luddington, who plays Dr. Jo Wilson, told Us Weekly that fans may want to brace themselves:

Cliffhangers are unfortunately normal on Grey’s Anatomy, and a lot of times the resolution doesn’t have a happy ending. So the fact that there is more than one cliffhanger in the season finale makes me really worried about what this could mean for some characters. Most notably, I'm concerned about Owen and Teddy, since both Kevin McKidd and Kim Raver are leaving at the end of the season.

At the very least, there is going to be a lot to look forward to in the finale, which is pretty big, according to Luddington:

As a Station 19 fan, I am very excited about the fact that Danielle Savre will finally be returning as Maya Bishop, marking the first time a Station 19 star has appeared on Grey’s since the show ended in 2024, excluding Jason George, of course. However, from the looks of the promo, it’s not going to be under happy circumstances, and that scares me. So while we’re getting Maya back, what will the cost be? Owen and Scott Speedman’s Nick also seem to be in trouble, and there’s no telling what will happen. So, all around, I'm concerned about these cliffhangers.

Whatever happens in the season finale, fans will see a resolution, likely later this year. The hospital-set TV show was recently renewed for Season 23, and while there weren’t any concerns about its future, it is nice getting that confirmation, especially knowing how Season 22 will end.

The Season 22 finale of Grey’s Anatomy airs on Thursday, May 7, at 10 p.m. ET on ABC, streaming the next day with a Hulu subscription, so fans still have about a month to wait before we find out how things will come to an end. It’s likely Season 23 will premiere this fall, but more information on that should be announced soon. Grey’s returns for the rest of Season 22 on April 30.

Spoiler alert! This story discusses the Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 episode “Feel It Still,” which can be streamed with a Hulu subscription.

When Grey’s Anatomy said goodbye to Levi Schmitt over a year ago, fans hoped that wouldn’t be the last time we saw Jake Borelli. While the actor did return for Levi to attend his BFF Jo Wilson’s wedding, he may have flown under the radar with his latest appearance. Borelli made his directorial debut in the April 2 episode that aired on the 2026 TV schedule, and he opened up about the scene that was “shocking” to him and left him in tears.

Jake Borelli joins a handful of Grey’s Anatomy actors to take their talents behind the camera, including Chandra Wilson, Jesse Williams, Kevin McKidd and Kim Raver, and he opened up about how different it was to direct Camilla Luddington as opposed to being there as Jo’s best friend. Borelli told TV Insider:

The scene was a heartbreaker, as Jo uses a close call with a current patient to ultimately admit to Link that she’s suffering from postpartum depression and feels guilty about associating their twins’ birth with her own near-death experience.

As close as Levi was to Jo, even he wouldn’t have been privy to this vulnerable conversation between Jo and her husband, and Jake Borelli said it was tough to get through. He continued:

Honestly, the scene brought me to tears as well, because Link had such a sweet, supportive response, and it reminded me of why I really love Jo and Link’s relationship.

For Jake Borelli, though, it was more than just the emotion of Jo being able to admit something so hard. Watching the character go through that triggered the Levi in him, as he said:

Jo and Levi’s friendship always felt so authentic, and to know that Jake Borelli feels that connection even when Levi’s not actually around just validates why fans have always loved them so much.

Grey’s Anatomy is on hiatus for a couple of weeks, but be sure to tune in for the final two episodes of Season 22, starting at 10 p.m. ET Thursday, April 30, on ABC and streaming the next day on Hulu.

Medical dramas are a tried and true genre in the TV world, and we recently got a great new addition with The Pitt. The Emmy-winning series (which is streaming with a HBO Max subscription) is currently in the midst of Season 2, showing another insane shift in the Emergency Department of Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center. I absolutely love the Noah Wyle-led series, but it's making watching current Grey's Anatomy feel almost impossible. Hear me out.

Shortly after its premiere, The Pitt joined the ranks of HBO shows that got the world talking. This largely thanks to Wyle's return to the genre, its real-time format, and its gory medical procedures. I'm a longtime Grey's Anatomy fan who still watches the show's new episodes on ABC (and streaming with a Hulu subscription), but seeing how great the HBO show is makes enjoying Season 22 of Grey's even more difficult.

The Pitt Is Incredible And Makes Me Think Of The Golden Age Of Grey's

I've been watching Ellen Pompeo's show since early in its run, and regularly rewatch classic Grey's to experience the series at its pinnacle. The more recent seasons have been a bit of a slog to watch, but I'm not someone who really quits TV shows... especially ones like this that mean so much to me. But The Pitt's quality is so far beyond the current state of Grey's Anatomy that it's making it hard to even sit through.

To start, the gore that's shown in The Pitt has really highlighted how easy we've had it throughout the 22 season of Grey's (so far). And after watching the HBO show, it's difficult to feel the same thrill and scares from the medical procedures at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.

Then there's the actual storyline of The Pitt, which in many ways feels like the good old days of Grey's Anatomy. The show is filled with compelling medical cases, combined with the interpersonal drama of the Emergency Department staff. It's a reminder of how the ABC series used to be prestige television, and the way that its quality has unfortunately waned in the two decades it's been on the air.

When Season 1 of The Pitt was on, I urged Grey's Anatomy fans to check it out... especially when Perfect Penny actress Samantha Sloyan popped up as the mother of a young patient. Season 2 has been similarly incredible, but now it's actually giving me a sense of ennui about the days of Grey's past. I mean, think about how great we had it in the single-digit seasons!

Another reason the comparisons have been bumming me out is due to how few long-running Grey's Anatomy actors are still in the show. The news of Kevin McKidd and Kim Ravers' forthcoming departures only highlighted how the cast is mostly made up of the newbies, and I was kind of hoping that the show was coming to an end. Alas, it's been renewed for Season 23, so there's no indication that the beloved medical drama is going to wrap up anytime soon. As such, the comparisons between Grey's and The Pitt are likely going to continue for the foreseeable future.

Grey's Anatomy and The Pitt both air new episodes Thursdays as part of the 2026 TV schedule. We'll just have to wait and see how long these two shows end up staying on the air.

Spoiler alert! This story reveals major plots from Grey’s Anatomy’s March 26 episode, “Take Me to the River.” The episode can be streamed with a Hulu subscription.

Grey’s Anatomy fans knew some cast reductions might be coming, as budget cuts continue to plague TV’s longest-running primetime medical series, and we got that confirmation this week. Kim Raver and Kevin McKidd announced they are leaving at the end of Season 22, which is currently airing on the 2026 TV schedule, and as the reason for their impending exits starts to become clear, I’m actually more worried that Blue Kwan’s latest actions may end with us losing that character as well.

Did Grey’s Anatomy Just Give Us A Peek At Teddy And Owen’s Future?

In “Take Me to the River,” we learn that Owen Hunt has recently been offered a job at Cascade Hill, a smaller hospital with fewer resources, where he and Teddy are helping out for the day. More than once there is talk of Owen “leaving,” as in, leaving Grey-Sloan for a new job, but the clear subcontext is Teddy not wanting their relationship to end.

Owen ultimately turns down the offer, but I’ve got a feeling that’s not the last we’ve heard of Cascade Hill. In fact, I wonder if the events of next week’s episode, “Feel It Still,” will have an impact on his and Teddy’s future, after his mom suffers a stroke. Check out the preview:

My theory is that this family emergency will lead Teddy and Owen to realize their expertise would be more valuable to the smaller facility, and they’ll choose to leave Grey-Sloan together.

Meanwhile, it seemed like Grey’s Anatomy might be setting up another character exit, and I did not see this wild Blue story coming.

Will Kwan’s Actions Result In Him Leaving The Hospital Too?

For better or worse, Grey’s Anatomy has a long history of its surgeons breaking the law to better serve their patients, and while I’d rarely condone such actions in real life, it’s always thrilling to watch fictional stories like Izzie cutting Denny’s LVAD wire or Meredith tampering with an Alzheimer’s trial. Blue Kwan (Harry Shum Jr.) is the latest example.

Kwan got emotionally invested in single dad Quinn, who came in with Stage IV cancer, and his teenage son. Kwan was around the same age when he lost his mom, so he was desperate to buy them some more time together, and despite the FDA rejecting Miranda Bailey’s request to inject her experimental gel, Kwan secretly did it anyway.

This didn’t work out well for him, as Bailey (Chandra Wilson) figured out immediately what he had done, and we’ll continue to see the fallout from that next week, as both her and Kwan’s careers could be on the line.

I don’t see anything happening to Bailey, because even if Grey’s Anatomy has to lose some characters, they’re not messing with the OGs. Kwan, however, is a different story, because in what world does this not end with him — at the very least — losing his medical license?

Well, that would be the world of Grey’s Anatomy, where anything is possible and jail time is almost always avoided. We’ve got three episodes of Season 22 left, so tune in at 10 p.m. ET Thursdays on ABC and streaming the next day on Hulu.

Grey's Anatomy is one of the longest-running dramas in TV history, and it's currently in the midst of its whopping 22nd season on the air. Fans have spent decades watching the medical drama on ABC (and streaming with a Hulu subscription), and have seen some big casting changes go down. It was just announced that both Kevin McKidd and Kim Raver will be departing this year, after a ton of time playing Owen Hunt and Teddy Altman, respectively. And both actors have posted messages to fans about the news.

Grey's has been going through a ton of changes lately. After Ellen Pompeo departed as a series regular, fans were largely left without the show's title character. Then the actors' episode counts were reduced, resulting in us seeing less of our favorite surgeons. Now we're losing two more long-running characters with Teddy and Owen. McKidd took to Instagram to speak about his long tenure as Hunt, posting:

While I've watched every season of Grey's Anatomy, Kevin McKidd actually breaking down how many years he's been portraying Owen Hunt is still shocking. That's nearly two decades! In addition to acting as the trauma surgeon, he's also directed 48 episodes of the series at the time of writing this story. He'll reportedly be behind the camera for a few more episodes before departing at the end of Season 22.

In McKidd's post, which was shared to his 2.7 million followers on Instagram, he spoke about not expecting to have such a long job when he first showed up as Owen Hunt. He also admitted to struggling with his career prior to finding a home on Grey's Anatomy. As he went on:

"For now" will likely offer some hope for fans hoping to see Owen pop back up on Grey's after Season 22. Indeed, the show has a habit of bringing back former series regulars for guest appearances. In recent years, we saw the return of Kate Walsh's Addison, Jesse Williams' Jackson Avery, and Greg Germann's Tom Koracick.

Not to be left out, Kim Raver also took to Instagram to speak about her tenure playing Teddy Altman. While she left for a few seasons in the middle of that run, Teddy is another beloved character who has been around for over a decade. The actress posted:

Teddy was first introduced in Season 6 as a guest actor, before becoming a series regular later in that season. Her relationship with Owen has been at the heart of her story throughout most of that time, so it makes sense that the characters would depart Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital at the same time. Later in her post, she thanked the fans of the show, writing:

It's really hard to imagine Grey's without these two long-running characters. And if the show continues running into Season 23, it'll seemingly be more focused on the newer class of surgeons. While we've still got Jo Wilson and Amelia Shepard in the cast, it feels like we're losing all the characters that we've been following through the years.

Grey's Anatomy airs new episodes on Thursdays as part of the 2026 TV schedule. Luckily, we still have a few more episodes with Teddy and Owen before they depart the hospital.

There are long-running TV dramas, and then there's Grey's Anatomy. We're currently in the middle of Season 22 on ABC (and streaming with a Hulu subscription), and the medical drama is going through another huge casting change. And while I'm a fan, I'm starting to think this could be the beginning of the end.

Grey's Anatomy's original stars have largely left the show, with there being just three OG's left: Ellen Pompeo (who only appears part-time), Chandra Wilson, and James Pickens Jr.. THR just revealed that that we're losing two longtime actors: Kevin McKidd and Kim Raver aka Owen Hunt and Teddy Altman. And this is likely going to bring some doubt into longtime Grey's fans about how long the show could really keep going.

Both actors will stay on until the end of Season 22, with the season finale marking their last episode. McKidd will also direct the finale episode. That being said, plenty of departed actors have popped up with guest appearances, so it doesn't mean we won't ever see them again. Showrunner Meg Marinis went so far as to say "this is never truly a goodbye" with the announcement of their departures.

This casting shakeup comes after a number of other BTS changes to the show. The cast have seen their episode count shortened presumably for budgetary reasons. And we've lost a ton of stars in the last few seasons, making the cast now largely made up of the new class of interns.

McKidd made his debut as Owen back in Season 5, growing into a series regular and a director of an impressive 48 episodes throughout the years. Ravers debuted back in 2009, and was a guest actor before becoming a series regular. She'd eventually leave for three seasons, before returning as the trauma surgeon. It's hard to imagine the show without Owen and Teddy at this point, who have gone through a ton of ups and downs in their decade and change on the beloved series.

I'm a longtime Grey's Anatomy fan, and it remains one of my favorite shows ever... specifically the first 10 seasons or so. I've been wondering if it might wrap up its story, especially now that Ellen Pompeo's Meredith Grey only appears a few times a season (besides her iconic narration). Personally I feel like losing two more long-time characters could be a sign to wrap things up, but I'll still be watching until the time it ends its impressive tenure on ABC.

Grey's Anatomy airs new episodes Thursdays on ABC as part of the 2026 TV schedule. We'll just have to wait and see if the network decides to keep going into Season 23 or not.

Spoiler alert! This story discusses events from Grey’s Anatomy Season 22, so if you’re not caught up, stream the episodes with a Hulu subscription.

Things have been wild this season on Grey’s Anatomy — killing off main characters, plenty of near-death experiences (including for a series OG), lots of returning familiar faces, and (as always) as much relationship drama as there is medicine being practiced. Amongst all the noise, however, I’ve become really invested in the fate of one of the hospital’s patients, Katie Rogers, and I’m really afraid the show is about to repeat a big mistake from Season 2.

Is Katie Rogers The New Denny Duquette?

Katie (Samantha Marie Ware) has been a recurring character on Season 22 as a Stage IV cancer patient of Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson). Her heartwrenching story and the undeniable spark between Katie and Lucas Adams (Niko Terho) have made her a fan favorite. The whole thing is reminiscent of Denny Duquette and Izzie Stevens in Season 2, and I can’t help but think that if they kill her off, they’re going to regret not having that character around — just like they did with Denny.

We’ve been on such a rollercoaster with Katie this season, seeing her brighten up with the hopes of getting better and traveling the world … until she received the gutting news that her medical trial had been canceled and that she would likely never leave the hospital again.

There are no LVAD wires for Lucas to cut in this scenario, like Izzie (Katherine Heigl) did for Denny (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) back in one of Grey’s Anatomy’s best episodes, “Losing My Religion,” before a blood clot caused a fatal stroke and he died anyway.

Instead, Lucas, Simone and Kwan offered to give Katie palliative care from Lucas’ “Aunt Meredith”’s house, and boy does it look like we’re in for a sobfest on March 19:

I definitely don’t love the idea of such a great character being taken away from us — not to mention that she’d be such a good love interest for McDreamy’s nephew.

Don’t Relegate Katie And Lucas To The Same Fate As Denny And Izzie

Anything is possible in the world of Grey’s Anatomy, so as bad as things look for Katie, I haven’t given up all hope yet. However, I’m skeptical that any last-second reprieve is coming, mostly because the ABC medical drama just did that storyline at the end of Season 21 — Nora was a terminal patient when Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd) fell for her, only to have his wife, Kim Raver’s Teddy Altman, come up with a life-saving procedure in the 11th hour.

Back in 2006, Jeffrey Dean Morgan recognized how Denny and Izzie’s romance had “taken the world by storm,” and he begged Shonda Rhimes not to kill him off. Of course his efforts were unsuccessful, and while I won’t go so far as to say Rhimes regretted the decision she made, the writers sure seemed to miss having him around, given how many scripts Denny’s ghost got written into (never forget Izzie’s ghost sex era).

Let’s not relegate Katie Rogers to posthumous hallucinations, OK? She is, after all, the only character who can make McBroody (my nickname for Lucas) even remotely tolerable, and I think letting her die would be a mistake.

I’m not sure how the writers could pull it off at this point, but I’m holding out hope that they’ll remember how much it sucked to lose such a fan favorite character (with love interest potential) in Season 2 and figure out a way to let Katie live.

Tune in to see what happens when “Wrecking Ball” airs at 10 p.m. ET Thursday, March 19, on ABC and streaming the next day on Hulu. You can also rewatch the Denny Duquette era — or find any of your favorite Grey’s starting points — on Hulu or with a Netflix subscription.

It’s been just over a week since Eric Dane died, succumbing to ALS less than a year after he revealed his diagnosis, and many are still reeling over the loss. Former colleagues haven’t stopped paying tribute and sending condolences to Dane’s wife, Rebecca Gayheart, and their two daughters. There are plenty of fun memories being shared as well, including a resurfaced interview where the Grey’s Anatomy actor had a great reaction to his daughter’s comments about Mark Sloan’s abs.

ET shared an interview with Eric Dane from 2022 that questioned what he would say if his daughters — Billie and Georgia, who are currently 15 and 14, respectively — wanted to watch him as Cal Jacobs on Euphoria or McSteamy on Grey’s Anatomy. While he was quick say Euphoria was off-limits until they turned 18, it seems the Mark Sloan of it all was already on their radar, as he said:

Leave it to your kids to take you down a peg! Eric Dane’s reaction was really funny, too, because I guess he was rocking more of the standard “dad bod” at the time (and no doubt still looking excellent). You can see this response in the interview clips below:

Eric Dane made his Grey’s Anatomy debut on Season 2, where Ellen Pompeo’s Meredith Grey was quick to dub his character “McSteamy” — the bad-boy counterpart to Derek Shepherd’s (Patrick Dempsey) “McDreamy” — and the nickname survived long after Mark Sloan was killed off at the beginning of Season 9.

While many fans still consider McSteamy one of Grey’s Anatomy’s best characters ever, Eric Dane always found the nickname “strange” because, in real life, he said he was nothing like Mark Sloan. He had those abs, though, and he even admitted “it didn’t suck” to have that nickname.

Even though his character's death occurred way back in 2012, Eric Dane remained a venerated member of the medical drama’s family, and several Grey’s Anatomy stars paid homage to the actor when he passed. In addition to that, the show went above and beyond with a sob-worthy tribute at the end of the most recent episode — “(If You Want It) Do It Yourself,” which was the first one since Dane’s passing — complete with Snow Patrol’s “Chasing Cars” playing behind clips of Mark Sloan’s biggest moments.

“Chasing Cars” has historically been used on the show to signify the series’ most heartbreaking moments, including the deaths of Denny Duquette and Derek Shepherd. The real-life loss of Eric Dane definitely stands out as one of the saddest things to happen surrounding the longtime medical series, so I really love that there are plenty of funny moments and happy memories to look back on as well.

If you want to relive any of the McSteamy days on Grey’s Anatomy, all seasons are available to stream with a Hulu subscription (including the already-aired Season 22 episodes), while Seasons 1 to 21 can also be streamed with a Netflix subscription.

There are long-running shows, and then there's Grey's Anatomy. The medical drama (which is streaming with a Hulu subscription) is still running to this day, although most fans agree that the single-digit seasons were the best. Following actor Eric Dane's death, I think it's time to talk about why he was so incredible as Mark Sloan a.k.a. McSteamy.

Grey's stars have been paying tribute to Dane since his passing, and so have the generations of fans out there. While characters like Derek Shepherd and Owen Hunt might have had longer runs on Grey's Anatomy, I personally think that Sloan is one of the show's very best characters. Allow me to explain why.

McSteamy Is One Of The Most Complicated And Endearing Grey's Figures.

Sloan made his entrance onto Grey's back in Season 2 and he's a bit of a scoundrel. The former best friend of Derek shows up at Seattle Grace and flirts with Meredith, before being revealed as the person Addison had an affair with. While he's originally all ego and sex appeal, the character was ultimately an onion whose deeper feelings were methodically revealed throughout the course of his tenure on the show.

It turns out that he was actually in love with Addison, and wanted to be with her. Despite this, he was insistent that he'd find a way to repair his familial-like relationship with Derek. While he and Meredith might be in the Dirty Mistress Club, it soon became clear that he was much more than that. Eric Dane masterfully pivoted between these two sides of Mark, resulting in McSteamy becoming instantly popular among viewers.

It would end up being Sloan's relationships with both Callie Torres and Lexie Grey that would ultimately result in him being a beloved doctor on Grey's Anatomy. While he and Sara Ramirez's character started off as a casual hookup, a beautiful friendship was formed out of their sexual attraction. They even became parents together, with Mark making it clear that he's always wanted a family of his own. Aside from Cristina and Meredith, it's probably my favorite friendship duo in the entire show.

Anytime I re-watch classic Grey's, I'm reminded about how we all owe Lexie a big apology. Most of the cast treats her like dirt, but her love story with Sloan is one of my favorite of the entire show. While they had ups and downs and ultimately both perished in the plane crash episode, seeing the way McSteamy adored Lexipedia was touching. And, it provided a much-needed will-they-won't-they after Meredith and Derek finally settled down.

Throughout his years on Grey's, Eric Dane found a way to bring charm, comedy, and tons of heart to Mark Sloan. The character's death still hurts to this day, and the fact that now the actor has also passed brings new power to the end of the surgeon's story. There are plenty of fans who are re-watching now to see just how much magic Dane brought to the role.

Grey's Anatomy airs new episodes Thursdays on ABC as part of the 2026 TV schedule. Dane's tenure as McSteamy can be seen on Hulu, including his return during Meredith's beach hallucinations in Season 17.

Spoiler alert! This story contains spoilers for Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 through the February 26 episode, “(If You Want It) Do It Yourself.” These episodes can be streamed with a Hulu subscription.

Grey’s Anatomy returned to the 2026 TV schedule this week following a brief hiatus, and equally as important, Amelia Shepherd was officially back from her sabbatical after previously being dragged out of the house for a “very intimate” reunion with Kate Walsh’s Addison. A new love interest served as a welcome-back gift for the neuro goddess, and Caterina Scorsone shared some insight into the potential relationship, as well as how “shattering” that sabbatical actually was for her character.

Behind the scenes of Grey’s Anatomy, series regulars have seen their episode counts cut for budgetary reasons — which is also why we’re likely to lose at least one cast member for Season 23 — but on the screen, the reason for Amelia’s absence was written into the show. She felt guilty when the explosion caused by her patient’s mother (Yellowstone’s Piper Perabo in a guest role) resulted in Monica Beltran’s death. Amelia chose to take some time away from the hospital, and Caterina Scorsone told The Wrap why that was so significant:

It makes so much sense to think of medicine as the strongest relationship in Amelia’s life, especially given her addictive tendencies, and I hadn’t considered the full weight of what it meant for her to voluntarily take a step away from that.

It’s kind of funny, then, that as soon as she returns to Grey Sloan Memorial, she’s hit with a blast from her past. Dr. Toni Wright (Jen Landon) made her first appearance as a plastic surgeon who went to med school with Amelia.

At first, Amelia thinks Toni hates her, but it’s soon revealed that they both had secret crushes on each other back in the day. By the end of the episode, they’d found their way to the on-call room, and I can only hope Amelia’s dealings with this Yellowstone star are explosive in less disastrous ways.

It definitely could be interesting, as Caterina Scorsone pointed out:

Thinking back to the Amelia we first met on Private Practice, it’s an understatement to say the character has changed a lot over the years, so I’m excited to see where this goes. The first rumblings of past trauma are teased in the preview for next week’s episode, which you can see below:

It looks like Amelia is afraid to tell Toni about her son Scout, which makes sense when you remember that Kai (E.R. Fightmaster) left her because they didn’t want kids. Who knows? Maybe Amelia will be the one responsible for the “messy” stories to come.

Tune in to find out, as Grey’s Anatomy airs at 10 p.m. ET Thursdays on ABC, streaming the next day on Hulu.

Grey's Anatomy has said goodbye to many characters over its two decades on the air, but the real-life death of Eric Dane has shaken up longtime fans and cast members. The actor passed away from a battle with ALS at the age of just 53 in February, and former co-stars like Patrick Dempsey, James Pickens Jr., and Sarah Drew all shared tributes to him. It felt all but guaranteed that the first new episode of Grey's Anatomy in the 2026 TV schedule after Dane's death would honor him in some way, but the show went above and beyond what I even imagined.

The first episode in the wake of Eric Dane's death aired on February 26, and I expected that it would either open or end on a simple "In Memoriam" card on screen for a few seconds. Instead, the episode ended with enough time left for a minute-long video showing some of the greatest hits of Dane's years as Dr. Mark Sloan, all set to one of the songs that Grey's Anatomy fans will know well: "Chasing Cars." Take a look:

Kudos to whoever edited the tribute, because a lot of emotional moments were packed into the one minute of footage. The callbacks to Mark being "dirty mistresses" alongside Meredith and going all-in on the "Plastics Posse" name (to Jackson's dismay) put a smile on my face, and I'm glad that there was time dedicated to his romance with Lexi and his journey to becoming a dad with Callie.

I personally loved the snippets of his iconic speech to Jackson about always telling somebody that you love them even if it "will burn your life to the ground," and the whole tribute really reminded me of how Mark Sloan could have been such a sleazy, unlikable character if Eric Dane didn't bring enough charisma and heart to keep the character around for well over a hundred episodes. His last appearance on the show came in Season 17, years after Mark died.

As for the song choice, "Chasing Cars" has a long history on Grey's Anatomy, going back to one of the very first massive heartbreaks of the entire series. Viewers first heard in the Season 2 finale, with the original Snow Patrol version playing when Izzy was sobbing over Denny after his sudden death in the hospital. Versions of it were used throughout the series, memorably including the cover by The Wind and the Wave in late Season 11 following the death of Derek. The version used in the Eric Dane tribute was a cover from Tommee Profitt x Fleurie.

All in all, it was a wonderful but emotional surprise at the end of the latest episode on ABC to see just how much of a tribute Eric Dane was going to get from his longtime show. It certainly beats the quick In Memoriam that I was expecting. You can find the full episode streaming with a Hulu subscription if you want to see everything that happened prior to the tribute.

After a week filled with news about what Dane was going through in his final months (with some help from Johnny Depp), a GoFundMe being launched for his family, and even Patrick Dempsey sharing how he thinks Dane would feel about all the support, seeing Grey's Anatomy give Eric Dane his due added some sweet to the bitterness.

If you're now in the mood to revisit some of the Mark Sloan years of the show, you can find Grey's Anatomy streaming with a Netflix subscription as well as on Hulu. New episodes continue airing on Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.

Since Eric Dane's passing, tributes have flooded in from all corners of Hollywood. Former co-stars, like Grey’s vet Katherine Heigl, longtime friends, and devoted fans have shared stories, favorite scenes, and personal memories. Patrick Dempsey joined the heartfelt tributes as well, and he recently reflected on Dane's death and the overwhelming public response it got. He also offered a sincere perspective on what the late star might think about the outpouring of love.

Patrick Dempsey was candid about how grief has touched his life in recent years, and how that context informs the way he sees the reaction to Eric Dane’s death during an interview with NewstalkFM. In his words:

Losing a parent at a young age, and more recently his mother, has given Dempsey an intimate understanding of how grief lingers and resurfaces. Add to that the loss of several friends within the past year, and it’s clear why Dane’s death hit especially hard. But amid that sorrow, the Ferrari actor focused on the knowledge that Dane understood how much he meant to people.

So often, tributes arrive too late for the person at the center of them to hear the praise. According to Dempsey, many fans and colleagues made a point of expressing their appreciation directly to the late HBO star while they still had the chance. The response following his death only amplified that message. Social media timelines quickly filled with scenes from his career, interviews that showcased his humor and warmth, and behind-the-scenes snapshots from sets he once called home. Former castmates shared statements that painted a picture of someone generous with his time and spirit.

Eric Dane died on February 19, 2026, less than a year after being diagnosed with ALS. He is survived by his wife, Rebecca Gayheart, and their two daughters. Though the longtime television favorite and Gayheart separated in 2018, they remained close until he passed away. Following the Last Ship star’s death, a family friend launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover mounting medical expenses, as he had been unable to take on as much work as he would have liked during his illness.

Patrick Dempsey and Eric Dane shared the Grey’s Anatomy screen for seven seasons. Mark Sloan first appeared late in Season 2 before becoming a series regular from Seasons 3 through 9, later returning for a cameo in Season 17. As McDreamy and McSteamy, the two played a now-iconic duo of heartthrob surgeons whose on-screen chemistry became a defining part of the series.

Though years had passed since they last appeared together on the show, their connection extended beyond the hospital halls of Grey’s Anatomy. The actors reportedly stayed in touch, reconnecting privately over the years, and had even discussed the possibility of a reunion after the Euphoria actor’s ALS diagnosis.

Grey’s Anatomy is still on the air, now deep into its 22nd season on the 2026 TV schedule, but for many viewers, the early years hold a special place in their hearts. Those seasons that introduced McDreamy and McSteamy remain some of the show’s most talked-about chapters. Fans looking to revisit that era can stream all 22 seasons with a Hulu subscription, while Seasons 1 through 21 are also available with a Netflix subscription.

Patrick Dempsey may now be starring in Fox’s Memory of a Killer on the 2026 TV schedule, but the actor will forever be known as Derek Shepherd, a.k.a. McDreamy, on Grey’s Anatomy. He spent the first 11 seasons of the medical drama saving lives and making fans swoon like Meredith Grey. It’s truly a defining role in his career, so it's hard to imagine anyone else playing him. However, it turns out Rob Lowe was up for the part and turned it down.

How to Save a Life: The Inside Story of Grey’s Anatomy by Lynette Rice digs deep into the behind-the-scenes stories of the longest-running primetime medical drama, including casting. In an excerpt from the book, per EW, executive producer Peter Horton revealed that Dempsey was not ABC’s first choice for Derek. They wanted Lowe first:

Considering Lowe chose between Grey’s and Dr. Vegas, and went with the latter, which was pulled after only five episodes had aired, it’s crazy to think how different things could have been had he gone with the ABC drama. It's also wild to think that the network didn't initially want Dempsey, considering the fan-favorite he became.

McDreamy wouldn’t be McDreamy without Dempsey. Luckily, it all worked out in the end, and Lowe has no regret over his choice, despite how things turned out, as he said:

Some things are just meant to be, and Patrick Dempsey was meant to play Derek Shepherd, and it really impacted his career and the fans. It’s possible that if that didn’t happen, Grey’s wouldn’t be where it is today. And it’s not like Lowe didn’t get other great roles after Dr. Vegas failed. He has stayed steady on television for decades, with main roles, recurring roles, and guest roles on all sorts of series, like Parks and Recreation and 9-1-1: Lone Star. Now, he is currently hosting The Floor on Fox, which was recently renewed for two seasons.

Meanwhile, even though Derek was tragically killed off towards the end of Season 11, he made a surprise appearance during Season 17, briefly recurring when Meredith had COVID and dreamt of being on the beach with her lost loved ones. Whether or not Dempsey will ever return again, especially with his new show, is unknown, but stranger things have happened. And while we're dreaming, it would be fun if Lowe appeared on Grey’s, even for an episode, just to fulfill that “What if?” and see what the hospital would have been like with him running around.

Dr. Vegas may have only run for one season, but it might have been the best decision Rob Lowe made, because if not for him and the producers pushing for Patrick Dempsey, who knows what could have happened. Fans can look back at their favorite McDreamy moments with a Hulu subscription, knowing that the role went to the perfect actor.

The past week has been an emotionally draining one for those closes to Eric Dane, as the actor passed away on February 19, 2026, less than a year after being diagnosed with ALS. Understandably, the days following his death have been filled with public tributes from family, friends and former co-stars from Dane’s 35 years in the entertainment world. Now, fellow Grey’s Anatomy vet Katherine Heigl has broken her silence with her own mournful and moving farewell message.

Heigl, whose career both exploded and imploded due to Grey’s Anatomy, took to Instagram on Sunday, Feb. 22, to share a grief-filled reflection that she’d hesitated to go public with before. As she put it:

Heigl specifically addresses Dane's wife Rebecca Gayheart and their two children, Billie Beatrice Dane (15) and Georgia Geraldine Dane (14), in her post, as the family has certainly had a rough go of it in the last year or so. (Dane and Gayheart separated in 2018, but somewhat rekindled the relationship, though both allegedly engaged in romances outside of the marriage.) A family friend stepped up to launch a GoFundMe campaign following the Last Ship star's death, as a way to offset the numerous medical bills that piled up without Dane being able to take on as much work as he'd have liked.

The capmaign is currently over $300,000, which is amazing, though no amount of money can fill the void left by a loved one. To that end, Katherine Heigl addressed her own personal go-to source of inner peace when faced with such a devastating loss. In her words:

Heigl then shared lines from Frost's poem ahead of a few personal thoughts about Eric Dane himself.

Katherine Heigl's Dr. Izzie Stevens and Eric Dane's Dr. Mark "McSteamy" Sloan walked the same hospital hallways for four seasons and change on Grey's Anatomy, as he popped up late in Season 2 before becoming a series regular in Seasons 3-9. (He returned for a cameo appearance in Season 17.) Meanwhile, Heigl starred in the first six seasons of the Shonda Rhimes drama, though her final season was purposefully cut short after many months of exit rumors, and she more or less convinced Rhimes to release her from her contract.

Though she was the latest medical drama vet to share her grief over Eric Dane's death, Heigl was far from the only one. Many other Grey’s Anatomy stars paid tribute as well, such as Patrick "McDreamy" Dempsey, James Pickens, Kim Raver and Kevin McKidd. Shonda Rhimes also shared the love. To date, Ellen Pompeo is arguably the most noteworthy cast member who hasn't gone public with a tribute.

We at CinemaBlend send our thoughts and condolences to Eric Dane's loved ones during their time of mourning.

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.

Eric Dane, known for shows like Grey's Anatomy, Euphoria, and The Last Ship, was popular among viewers across the years of his career. Sadly, the actor has now passed away at the age of just 53. The tragic news comes less than a year after he opened up publicly about being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a.k.a. ALS.

Despite the diagnosis, the actor remained active in his career, with no fewer than three TV credits in 2025, including a series regular role in Countdown. Dane's family has confirmed that he passed away on Thursday, February 19, with this statement (via PEOPLE):

Eric Dane's advocacy for awareness started as soon as he announced his diagnosis with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, in April 2025 with his plan to "navigate this next chapter" with his family. While his health struggles meant that he couldn't be part of a Grey's Anatomy reunion at the Emmys, he returned to network TV for a Brilliant Minds role that ended with him getting a standing ovation while filming.

The actor was perhaps once better known as "McSteamy" for his fan-favorite character on Grey's Anatomy opposite Patrick Dempsey and Ellen Pompeo. Dempsey even opened up recently about staying in contact with Dane, wanting to get him on his new Fox show, Memory of a Killer, before the progression of his disease "made it impossible."

While he recurred on shows like Charmed and Las Vegas in the early 2000s, debuting on ABC as Dr. Mark Sloan in 2006 was his big break on the small screen, and he'd go on to be credited with nearly 150 episodes of the medical drama. The popularity undoubtedly helped land his leading role on The Last Ship, an action drama that ran for an impressive five seasons on TNT.

Euphoria was his last major role before Countdown, and at the time of his diagnosis announcement last April, he revealed that he planned to return to the set in the near future. With the long-awaited return of Euphoria in the coming months of the 2026 TV schedule, fans will get to see how much he filmed while still able. Brilliant Minds is his final credit to have aired at the time of writing.

Hopefully fans and supporters of Dane will grant the family's wish for privacy during this most difficult time. Our thoughts here at CinemaBlend are with his family, friends, and loved ones.

There are still months to go before the end of the spring season of the 2026 TV schedule, but it's not too soon to start looking ahead to what will come next fall. Grey's Anatomy is expected to return for a 23rd season on ABC despite Season 22 getting off to a tragic start. That said, cuts at the network likely mean more changes on the show, possibly including the exit of at least one main character. How devastating would it be to lose TV icons from primetime just for the sake of dollars and cents?

Grey's Anatomy's status as ABC's longest-running scripted primetime series doesn't mean that it won't be subject to cuts from the network like other shows. Deadline reports that the medical drama is facing budget cuts that could affect both the number of episodes for the fall 2026-2027 TV schedule and the cast. Despite the ensemble currently only boasting two series regulars from the very beginning, Grey's has gone on long enough that there are many stars who also happen to be long-tenured, reportedly ranking as some of the highest-paid on broadcast network television.

Certain cuts like reducing the number of episodes guaranteed to longtime cast members have already happened, like what has happened over on NBC with the Dick Wolf TV shows over the past several years. According to the outlet, a renewal for Season 23 could come with cast departures, and it's hard not to wonder if they will affect some of the most highly-paid heavy hitters.

Plus, the current 22nd season is already among the series' shortest with an order for just 18 episodes. The expected renewal is likely tied to how well Grey's performs via streaming, with new episodes joining the first 21 seasons next day for those with a Hulu subscription. The first 21 seasons are also available with a Netflix subscription.

So, which actors could be on the way out of Grey's Anatomy for Season 23, and how could it happen? Well, the death of Monica in the Season 22 premiere and the shocking demise of DeLuca just a few years earlier are proof that the deadly medical drama isn't afraid to keep killing off key characters, so it's worth keeping an eye even on fan-favorites.

Chandra Wilson's Miranda Bailey and James Pickens Jr.'s Richard Webber are the only two original stars still on board as series regulars, and the showrunner's recent comments about Webber make me think the OG cast members are safe as long as they want to stick around. Kevin McKidd is the next most senior cast member after joining as Owen Hunt in Season 5, with Kim Raver debuting as Teddy Altman in Season 6. While Raver dropped in and out for several years after, she's been back full-time since Season 15.

Grey's found a way to keep Camilla Luddington (who joined in Season 9) in the mix as Jo Wilson after Justin Chambers' abrupt exit put a halt to some of her storylines. Caterina Scorsone's Amelia Shepherd has survived some unlikely events over the years since her arrival as a regular in Season 11. Chris Carmack's brush with death as Link was a close call last fall, having joined in Season 15.

Suffice it to say that there are plenty of longtime stars whose exits would shake up the series in some big ways, and I'm not sure that fans can count on losing some of the newer characters instead when it comes to budget cuts. The class of interns comprised of Simone Griffith, Harry Shum Jr., Adelaide Kane, Midori Francis, and Niko Terho has mostly remained intact since arriving in Season 19 (with one exception), and keeping them in the cast would undoubtedly be cheaper for ABC than keeping all the longtime fan favorites.

For now, keep tuning in to ABC on Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET for episodes of Grey's Anatomy, or stream earlier seasons on Netflix and/or Hulu.

Spoilers ahead for Grey’s Anatomy Season 22’s “Strip That Down,” which aired January 29. The episode can be streamed with a Hulu subscription.

Ever since it was announced that Kate Walsh was returning to Grey’s Anatomy, fans like myself hoped that would mean more shared screen time between ex-sisters-in-law Addison Montgomery and Caterina Scorsone’s Amelia Shepherd. We got our wish when “Strip That Down” aired on the 2026 TV schedule, and now Walsh is opening up about getting that “very intimate” reunion with her former Private Practice co-star.

With Caterina Scorsone having been a series regular on Grey’s Anatomy since 2014, it’s easy to forget that Amelia was first introduced as Derek Shepherd’s sister on the Kate Walsh-led spinoff Private Practice. Fans have not been shy about how much they love Addison and Amelia’s scenes together and the way the actresses convey their characters’ deep history. (Even a casual mention of Private Practice gets us in a tizzy.) Walsh recognized the familiarity she and Scorsone have formed, telling Variety:

Indeed, Amelia didn’t have to share Addison with very many people in “Strip That Down,” as McDreamy’s ex-wife returned to Seattle to bring Amelia out of her sabbatical to help one of her patients. Addison ended up confiding in the neurosurgeon that her husband Jake (played on Private Practice by Benjamin Bratt) was considering leaving her. Kate Walsh explained:

When Addison last appeared on Grey’s Anatomy, Miranda Bailey set her up with a mobile clinic for women, and the world-renowned OB/GYN hit the road to help women living in states that limited their options for medical treatment. Kate Walsh thought it would be interesting to explore what such a lifestyle would realistically mean, which allowed for a spin on Addison and Amelia’s typical dynamic. She continued:

Things definitely got tense, as Addison let her personal struggles seep into the operating room and Amelia was forced to kick her out. Afterward, however, they talked it out, and while this was only a one-off guest appearance from Kate Walsh, I can’t help but hope that movement in Addison’s life might be the first step toward that Private Practice revival that Shonda Rhimes has talked about.

For now, though, catch the current cast of doctors — including Amelia — when new episodes of Grey's Anatomy resume at 10 p.m. ET Thursday, February 28, on ABC and streaming the next day on Hulu.

Spoilers ahead for the first nine episodes of Grey’s Anatomy Season 22. Stream the series with a Hulu subscription if you’re not caught up.

Over the past two decades, we’ve seen some pretty shocking deaths on Grey’s Anatomy, from McDreamy to the “horrifying” Lexie situation to the most recent loss on Season 22. In fact, the current season has put several of the Seattle surgeons knocking at death’s door, but how close were Meg Marinis and her writers to actually letting that door open? I’m aghast over the showrunner’s admission that there was even “a conversation” about killing off Richard Webber.

James Pickens Jr. is one of just two series regulars to be on all 22 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy so far (along with Chandra Wilson), so when his character Richard was diagnosed with prostate cancer, I have to admit I wasn’t too worried about his chances of survival. Meg Marinis laughed at the audacity it would take to kill off an OG, telling THR:

OK, despite the fact that the writers did apparently bring up the possibility of having Richard die, it doesn’t sound like Meg Marinis wants that to be part of her writers room’s legacy.

The episode in question — which introduced Richard’s late father in a dream sequence — was emotional enough without having to worry about the doc’s survival, and it sounds like that’s exactly what the showrunner was going for. It was the same thing, she said, with Jo Wilson (Camilla Luddington) and her twins, whose fates were cliffhanged in the fall finale. Meg Marinis said:

Grey’s Anatomy has gone dark, for sure, but it felt a little too extreme to think that the show would either kill off Jo and leave Atticus Lincoln (Chris Carmack) a single father of four, or that they’d take one of Jo and Link’s twins from them. I’m eternally grateful neither scenario came to fruition.

Speaking of Link, his near-death experience came only weeks before his wife’s, as he was critically injured in the hospital explosion that ended Season 21. However, while Chris Carmack teased fans over that cliffhanger, his character's injuries turned out to be a ruse to throw us off the scent of Monica Beltran’s impending doom, which set up Amelia Shepherd’s need for a sabbatical.

It’s obvious that Meg Marinis values her characters’ lives — and the emotional state of the fans — and even if the writers do have to at least have a conversation about killing people off, I'm relieved to hear they're in no hurry to get rid of Richard Webber. I assume the same is true of Chandra Wilson’s Miranda Bailey.

We’ve got a bit of a wait before Grey’s Anatomy continues, so go ahead and start a rewatch of your favorite era and then tune in for its return at 10 p.m. ET Thursday, February 26, on ABC and streaming the next day on Hulu.

Grey’s Anatomy may be going strong, with its 22nd season airing on the 2026 TV schedule, but many longtime fans remain nostalgic for those epic early years. Not only did you have the MAGIC of Meredith, Alex, George, Izzie and Cristina, you had the dynamic duo of heartthrob surgeons McDreamy and McSteamy. It’s been a long time since Patrick Dempsey and Eric Dane shared the screen, but apparently the actors had talked about a reunion.

Patrick Dempsey, who starred as Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd for the first 11 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy, has a new series — Memory of a Killer — which premiered this month on Fox (and can be streamed with a Hulu subscription). While promoting the crime drama, he was asked about Eric Dane, who revealed last April that he’d been diagnosed with ALS. It turns out the two have been in touch recently, as Dempsey told Parade:

It’s heartbreaking to hear that Eric Dane (aka Mark “McSteamy” Sloan) was unable to reconnect with his former Grey’s co-star, but I love that the reunion was even an option.

The actor has continued to work amidst his health issues, filming series like Countdown, the long-awaited and highly anticipated Euphoria Season 3, and — as Patrick Dempsey mentioned — an episode of Brilliant Minds.

In the Brilliant Minds Season 2 episode “The Fire Fighter” (streaming with a Peacock subscription), Eric Dane plays a firefighter who’s wrestling with how to tell his family about his own ALS diagnosis. Brilliant Minds showrunner Michael Grassi said the cast and crew were so touched by Dane’s vulnerable performance that he received a standing ovation and 10-minute clap-out after his scene wrapped.

Patrick Dempsey went on to commend his former Grey’s Anatomy co-star for the man he is and the awareness he’s bringing to ALS. He continued:

In addition to not being able to cameo in Memory of a Killer, Eric Dane also missed a planned appearance at the Emmy Awards in September after suffering a fall before the ceremony. Jesse Williams went on to present an award during what was supposed to be a Grey’s Anatomy tribute.

Eric Dane made his premiere as McSteamy on ABC’s medical drama in Season 2, lasting through Season 9 before he was killed off — with McDreamy joining him in the afterlife just two seasons later. It’s been over a decade since we lost those sexy surgeons, yet they remain two of Grey’s Anatomy’s most shocking and heartbreaking deaths.

While it’s tough to hear updates about Eric Dane’s ALS progressing, it warms my heart to know that he’s still in touch with Patrick Dempsey, and that they’d even considered a reunion on the new Fox series.

You can catch Memory of a Killer at 9 p.m. ET Mondays on Fox and streaming the next day on Hulu. If you want to relive the days of McDreamy and McSteamy on Grey’s Anatomy (or find out the starting point for all of your favorite eras), all 22 seasons can also be streamed on Hulu, with the first 21 seasons available with a Netflix subscription.

Grey’s Anatomy has always been about the romantic connections between its doctors as much as anything else, and that’s certainly true as Season 22 plays out on the 2026 TV schedule. While much of the recent focus has gone to fan-favorite spouses Jo and Link, given their individual fights for survival, there’s always something brewing with Teddy and Owen. Kim Raver opened up about what’s to come from their “fun and frustrating” relationship, and now I’m worried they’re going to get back together.

Teddy Altman and Owen Hunt (Kim Raver and Kevin McKidd) are one of Grey’s Anatomy’s longest-standing couples, though it’s been a rocky road, to say the least. After deciding to separate in the Season 21 finale, the latest episodes have seen them settling into a friendly, professional place with each other. But this is Teddy and Owen we’re talking about here, so how long can that realistically last? Raver acknowledged as much, telling TV Insider:

In other words, don’t get too comfortable! The ups and downs of Owen and Teddy’s relationship could be a series unto itself, with the two pining secretly for each other for years, then battling bad timing, as Owen was married to Amelia Shepherd and Teddy was dating (and cheating on Owen with) Tom Koracick.

Even after they had a baby together and got married, things were rarely peaceful between them, especially after they chose to open their marriage in Season 21. That ultimately led to Teddy walking away, after Owen developed feelings for Nora — a childhood friend of his sister’s and Teddy’s patient — and they slept together.

If that all sounds like a lot, it is, and Kim Raver suggests that’s not going to change, as she said:

Kim Raver teased that Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 was going to get “messy,” and I can’t help but wonder if her character is involved. As much drama as Teddy and Owen bring to the show, I’ve never been a fan of the toxic couple — particularly Owen, who I think is one of Grey’s Anatomy’s worst overall love interests.

I’m hoping that instead of retreading Teddy and Owen’s insecurities through an on-off dynamic, Grey’s Anatomy explores the characters as a separated/divorced couple who are still working together and co-parenting. That would allow them to maintain that entertaining, complicated relationship without making me feel like downing my bottle of wine when they inevitably run back to each other.

Tune into new episodes of Grey’s Anatomy at 10 p.m. ET Thursdays on ABC and streaming the next day with a Hulu subscription.

Spoiler alert! This story discusses the January 22 episode of Grey’s Anatomy, “Fortunate Son.” The episode is available to stream with a Hulu subscription if you’re not caught up.

Grey’s Anatomy fans were given a treat in the latest episode, as it not only served up one of its classic dream sequences through Richard Webber’s emotional cancer story but we also took a trip out of the hospital (and Seattle altogether), visiting Meredith Grey and Nick Marsh at their home in Boston. Both plotlines introduced new family members to the Grey’s universe, which makes me flabbergasted that we still don’t know who Lucas Adams’ mother is.

Richard Webber Reveals Guilt Over His Father’s Death From Cancer

Richard’s prostate cancer journey has been a pretty emotional one, especially since it mirrors James Pickens Jr.’s real-life diagnosis. “Fortunate Son” really hit me with the introduction of his father Charles (Dorian Harewood), who paid a visit to the Grey’s Anatomy OG while Richard was under anesthesia.

The operating room was transformed into a barbershop as the father and son reconnected, and I couldn’t help but tear up when Richard’s guilt over his father’s death came to light. Richard believed he had failed to recognize the symptoms of the cancer that ultimately killed Charles, and not only had he been living with that, a new layer of guilt was added when he was able to save his own life through early detection.

That’s heavy stuff — but important — as Richard also realized in his unconscious state that he needed to inform his daughter Maggie, who is pregnant with a son, since prostate cancer runs in their family.

I just love that James Pickens Jr. is using his story to spread the word about early detection in hopes of saving lives.

Nick Marsh Talks Babies And Past Relationship With Meredith After His Sister’s Surprise

Nick Marsh (Scott Speedman) had previously revealed that his sister Erica suffered from addiction and years ago had left her 10-year-old daughter Charlotte for Nick to raise. On Season 22’s ninth episode we got to meet this sister (Brit Morgan), who arrived at his and Meredith’s Boston home with — SURPRISE! — another child!

Nick was certain that history was about to repeat itself, especially when Erica drove off unexpectedly without her 6-week-old baby. This was heartbreaking to see, as well, as he explained to Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) that he’d been planning to propose to his girlfriend when everything went down with Charlotte, and she’d left because she wasn't ready to become the parent of a 10-year-old. He was afraid Meredith would have a similar reaction.

And while they agreed they didn’t want to have more children, Nick and Meredith are endgame, and she assured him she wouldn’t have left if Erica hadn’t returned. Thankfully, she did return, and with the surgeons opening up their home to the newly introduced family members, I wonder if we’ll be seeing more of Erica down the road.

Paging Lucas’ Mom! You’re Needed At Grey Sloan Memorial

Lucas Adams (Niko Terho) hasn’t been front-and-center of the Grey’s Anatomy drama lately — despite getting involved in Jules Millin’s Izzie Stevens-lite patient hijinks — but that doesn’t mean fans have forgotten the fact that we still don’t know which one of McDreamy’s sisters is Lucas’ mom.

This is a question we’ve been asking since the gasp-worthy moment in the Season 19 premiere, when it was revealed that Lucas was Derek Shepherd’s nephew. Meredith’s late husband had four sisters, and while we can rule out Amelia (Caterina Scorsone), the three others have all made appearances in the past.

It’s almost laughable at this point that two new family members would be introduced in one episode, when they still haven’t addressed whether Skywalker belongs to Nancy (Embeth Davidtz), Liz (Neve Campbell) or Kathleen (Amy Acker). Will this mystery ever be solved?

Regardless, it looks like at least Amelia will return from sabbatical in next week’s episode, “Strip That Down,” when her ex-sister-in-law Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh) comes knocking. Check out the preview below:

It’s always a treat to see the Private Practice stars reunite, and I can’t wait. Tune in at 10 p.m. ET Thursday, January 29, on ABC and streaming the next day on Hulu.

Spoiler alert! This story discusses the January 15 episode of Grey’s Anatomy, “Heavy on Me,” which is available to stream with a Hulu subscription.

While much of the Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 fall finale was focused on Jo Wilson’s harrowing birth story, Richard Webber was going through something pretty serious, too, as we learned he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. We got more of that story in “Heavy on Me,” when Catherine Fox called in a friend for a second opinion. That friend was Dr. Laura Kaplan, who — like Jamie-Lynn Sigler, the actor portraying her — has multiple sclerosis. It was Sigler’s first time playing a character with MS, and she asked one thing of Grey’s Anatomy before agreeing to the guest role.

Jamie-Lynn Sigler — best known as Meadow Soprano from the cast of The Sopranos — returned to television following a three-year break for the Grey’s Anatomy role, which was written for her. She told Deadline that the medical drama reached out to her almost a year ago about portraying a character who had MS, and she told them there was one thing that was very important to her:

It makes sense, then, that Jamie-Lynn Sigler would portray a doctor rather than a patient for her one-episode stint. Renowned urologist Laura was able to alleviate some of Richard’s concerns about the surgery she and Catherine saw as the best course of action. He saw how Laura was able to continue her career post-diagnosis, with some admitted adjustments and ultimately agreed to treatment.

The actress, meanwhile, wasn’t always as open as she is now about having multiple sclerosis. Jamie-Lynn Sigler was diagnosed when she was 20 years old but hid it for 15 years, saying she thought it would end her career. She went public with her MS diagnosis in 2016. That made Laura’s story all the more meaningful for her, as she said:

She said this role also proved the importance of disability representation and that it doesn’t mean stories have to be centered around someone’s disability. In her life, Jamie-Lynn Sigler said she has many roles, “and none of them are defined by MS.”

So will Dr. Laura Kaplan be back to check in on Richard through his cancer journey? It sounds like the door is open, as the actress said:

It was great to see Jamie-Lynn Sigler back on TV, and she carried such an important message about chronic illness for everyone watching, particularly those who — like Richard — might have needed that reassurance. If we don’t see her on Grey’s Anatomy again soon, hopefully she’ll pop up somewhere else.

Grey’s Anatomy airs on the 2026 TV schedule at 10 p.m. Thursdays on ABC, streaming the next day on Hulu.

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.

Spoiler alert! This story discusses the Grey’s Anatomy midseason premiere that aired on January 8. If you’re not caught up, you can avoid spoilers by streaming the episode with a Hulu subscription.

Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 has officially resumed on the 2026 TV schedule, picking up right where it left off in November, with Jo Wilson flatlining during an emergency C-section. Just like Camilla Luddington warned us, “Skyfall” was more brutal than the fall finale — particularly for Link, who was in agony running back and forth between his unconscious wife and the babies in the NICU. Amidst the stress, though, Chris Carmack recalled a funny story about why he had to redo one of his more emotional moments.

By the end of “Skyfall,” it seemed like Jo and both babies had all turned a corner and would be OK, but for the majority of the Grey’s Anatomy episode, there was very little encouraging news for Link to hold onto. That changed when Baby B — who was having heart problems — urinated, signaling that their methods were working. Chris Carmack opened up about what his character was experiencing in that moment, telling The Wrap:

Chris Carmack gave a great performance, with Link being exhausted from not sleeping and overwhelmed that not only did he have Jo and the twins to worry about, but their other children, Luna and Scout. (Also, his anxious realization that he’d forgotten to call in to work was so real and absolutely broke my heart.)

That’s why when Baby B finally showed signs of improvement, Link had such a strong reaction. The actor said:

I love that Chris Carmack’s instinct was to celebrate in a way that must have been deemed too rowdy for the other babies and parents in the NICU, but the shot they landed on — however dialed-down it was from that original take — ended up being my favorite part of the whole episode (especially when he high-fived that nurse). You've never seen a prouder pop, and it was palpable in that moment how desperate Link was for a win.

Fingers crossed, but the preview for next week’s episode “Heavy on Me” appears to show Jo getting to meet her little ones:

With Jo seemingly out of the woods, hopefully she and Link will give Baby A and Baby B some actual names sooner than later. Any guesses as to what those will be? I’m officially putting money on “Winnie,” for one of them, in honor of Winston for saving their lives. Grey’s Anatomy likes to do that kind of thing.

This episode was a big ball of nerves, and I’m ready to see what’s coming next, especially with Kim Raver teasing “messy” things to come and Kate Walsh making her return in a couple of weeks. Catch new episodes at 10 p.m. ET Thursdays on ABC and streaming the next day on Hulu.

The wait is over! Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 is set to resume on the 2026 TV schedule on January 8, and I have to admit the weeks since that fall finale cliffhanger haven’t been too rough — probably because we got the good news of Kate Walsh’s impending return to hold us over. As for what to expect from the rest of the season, Kim Raver says things are going to get “messy,” and I’ve got some guesses about what she means.

Kim Raver Teases ‘Shock’ And ‘Surprise’ To Come On Grey’s Anatomy Season 22

We last left our beloved Seattle medical professionals in quite a dire state — at least for some. Jo Wilson (Camilla Luddington) was experiencing heart failure as Winston Ndugu (Anthony Hill) prepared to deliver her twins via emergency C-section. We also learned that Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.) has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. There was plenty of relationship drama as well, of course, and Kim Raver revealed her reaction to getting the new scripts, telling US Weekly:

Kim Raver’s character Teddy Altman might very well be a part of that messy situation, as she continues to navigate her separation from husband Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd). Whatever it is, though, she sounds excited — and it sounds pretty major, as she continued:

So what could these shocking twists be?

Here Are My Theories On What Could Get 'Messy'

Of course, the January 8 episode “Skyfall” will reveal Jo’s fate and the fate of her and Atticus Lincoln’s (Chris Carmack) babies. Camilla Luddington has warned that the midseason premiere is even worse than the fall finale for Jo, but if anything happens to her or either one of the twins, that would be enough to make me rage-quit this series.

That said, I predict that at least some of the mess to come involves the doctors’ love lives. The fall finale saw Nora (Floriana Lima) call things off with Owen, and there is always so much potential for messiness when it comes to Owen and Teddy. I just hope they don’t get back together.

All apologies to Niko Terho’s Lucas Adams — forget Skywalker, I’m calling him McBroody — because I’m kind of on board with whatever Simone Griffith (Alexis Floyd) has going on with Wes Bryant (Trevor Jackson).

Kim Raver also mentioned that she’s set to direct an episode centering around Meredith Grey and Nick Marsh (Ellen Pompeo and Scott Speedman), and while they have become one of Grey’s Anatomy’s most solid couples, I’m wondering if they might be responsible for one of Season 22’s bigger surprises.

As far as someone I don’t think is in danger, I predict that Richard Webber will be OK. The character’s cancer diagnosis comes alongside James Pickens Jr.’s revelation that he is now cancer-free after his own prostate cancer was caught early. He has been an advocate for early and regular screenings, particularly for Black men, and I think this storyline is going to be used to further the important message that early detection saves lives.

All in all, I’m just glad Grey’s Anatomy has returned, and I can’t wait for whatever twists the medical drama has in store. Catch new episodes at 10 p.m. ET Thursdays on ABC and streaming the next day with a Hulu subscription.

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.

Medical TV shows have been popular as far back as I can remember, and that’s certainly still the case as of the end of the 2025 TV schedule. The Pitt swept some of the biggest categories at the 2025 Emmys, Watson combines detective work with medicine, and more than one drama is currently in double-digit seasons by this point. I even watch most of them! That said, as the year winds down, one of the medical shows that stands out to me the most is actually a comedy.

Medical TV Options Alive And (Mostly) Well In 2025

Network television is usually the place to be for doctors slicing and dicing in primetime, and that didn’t change for the most part this year. In fact, thanks to a few uncertain renewals back in the spring, all four of the major broadcast networks have at least one such series on the air.

Grey’s Anatomy has had the longest run so far, surviving even the exit of leading lady Ellen Pompeo as a series regular to reach 22 seasons and counting. Chicago Med is also in its second year of double digits, with the One Chicago entry gaining new life last year with a showrunner change. In fact, only one medical show got the axe in 2025. Take a look at the full list of this year’s medical offerings:

• Brilliant Minds/NBC (Season 2)
• Chicago Med/NBC (Season 11)
• Doc/Fox (Season 2)
• Doctor Odyssey/ABC (Cancelled after Season 1)
• Grey's Anatomy/ABC (Season 22)
• The Pitt/HBO (Season 1)
• St. Denis Medical/NBC (Season 2)
• Watson/CBS (Season 2)

The Pitt, which returns early in the 2026 TV schedule, is likely the most talked-about medical show of the past year, and not just because former ER star Noah Wyle finally won his well-deserved Emmy. Doctor Odyssey generated its own sort of buzz for coming about as close to a soap opera as can be found in primetime. Star Joshua Jackson wasn’t kidding when he addressed the cancellation by saying that it was “like nothing else on television.”

With the exception of NBC’s Brilliant Minds (and of course Doctor Odyssey), all of the medical dramas were renewed ahead of their season finales. The show that NBC wasted no time in renewing got confirmation of a second season not even halfway through the first, and that’s the one and only comedy on this list: St. Denis Medical.

Why St. Denis Medical Is Far From Comatose

St. Denis Medical premiered as TV's newest mockumentary in November 2024, with a cast comprised of David Alan Grier, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Allison Tolman, Josh Lawson, Kahyun Kim, Mekki Leeper, and Superstore’s Kaliko Kauahi. They play a crew of doctors and nurses in the ED of the titular hospital, underfunded and overworked.

That is, some of them are overworked, with Tolman’s Alex picking up a lot of slack as the workaholic supervising nurse, which can range from trying to curb executive director Joyce’s (McLendon-Covey) worst instincts to handling medical emergencies. Cocky trauma surgeon Bruce (Lawson) makes up for his arrogance by actually being a pretty solid doctor, with Serena (Kim) as the self-proclaimed “Beyoncé” of nurses opposite newbie nurse Matt, who has a surprising stash of stories about his religious cult life before coming to Oregon.

Then, of course, there’s the wonderful Dr. Ron (Grier), whose curmudgeonly approach to medicine while still being a great physician makes him a standout part of the cast, with Grier earning a Critics' Choice Award nomination for both 2025 and 2026 for his performance.

All of this is to say that even though the premise of an overworked crew of doctors and nurses in an underfunded hospital isn’t revolutionary (see: 15 seasons of ER), St. Denis’ comedic approach makes it a fun rather than stressful watch. I personally was late to tuning in to the show, and I regret not watching live from the very start.

St. Denis Medical had a recipe for success from the jump. The sitcom was coming to a network with a strong history of medical TV shows, with ER and Chicago Med as particular standouts. NBC is also the home of some of TV’s most successful mockumentaries with The Office and Parks and Recreation. It was renewed for Season 2 before even half of the first season had aired, which came as a particular relief later in the spring when both Night Court and Lopez vs. Lopez got the axe.

Why The Mockumentary Format Is Still So Popular

NBC is continuing with the mockumentary style of comedy into the 2026 primetime lineup, with Stumble as a cheerleading mockumentary joining St. Denis Medical on the network. I spoke with St. Denis’ Kaliko Kauahi about her role as Val on the sitcom shortly after it was renewed, and the comedy veteran shared her take on why the format is still so popular. She told me:

There are, of course, some limits to the format, and a mockumentary doesn’t necessarily mean that the “documentary” will ever actually be finished in-universe. St. Denis Medical is a mockumentary in the style of The Office and, most recently, Stumble, insofar as the camera operators are addressed as though they’re filming a documentary. That wasn’t the case for ABC's Modern Family, for example.

How To Watch St. Denis Medical

If you haven’t checked out St. Denis Medical yet, it won’t surprise you to read that I highly recommend it. The full first season, as well as every episode of Season 2 so far, is available streaming with a Peacock subscription now. At the time of writing, 26 episodes have aired.

It’s worth noting that episodes are the traditional network TV sitcom length of around 21 minutes without commercials, so it’s not even that much of a time commitment to catch up. I caught up with the show in the first place on a flight, so the comedy is definitely binge-worthy. (My seatmate might have been slightly confused by me laughing mid-air, though.)

The sitcom returns early in the new year. You can plan on the St. Denis Medical winter premiere on Monday, January 5, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. After the network’s decision to pull The Paper from primetime, Season 2 will be joined on Mondays by reruns of Stumble. Starting in March, the mockumentary will be paired in primetime with Tracy Morgan’s The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins.

Spoilers ahead for the first six episodes of Grey’s Anatomy Season 22, which can be streamed with a Hulu subscription.

We’ve still got a few weeks ahead of us before Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 returns on the 2026 TV schedule, with the fall finale ending on yet another cliffhanger. As we fret over the fate of Jo and her babies, however, some exciting news has been announced — Kate Walsh will reprise her role as Addison Montgomery, and I know exactly what I want to see from this visit to Seattle.

It’s been too long since we’ve seen McDreamy’s ex-wife walk the halls of Grey Sloan Memorial, so I can’t wait to see Addison when Season 22 resumes. Variety reports that Kate Walsh will guest star in the January 29 episode, “Strip That Down,” so that will be four episodes into the back half of Grey’s Anatomy’s 22nd season.

No other details were given, including the plot, but it appears we’re only getting Addison for one episode. If that is the case, I really hope the reason for her return involves her ex-sister-in-law, Amelia Shepherd.

The last time we saw Amelia, she was struggling with Monica Beltran’s death and announced she was going on sabbatical. This set up an extended hiatus for Caterina Scorsone, as budget cuts have forced reduced episode counts for Grey’s Anatomy’s stars.

While Caterina Scorsone has been on Grey’s Anatomy since Season 7, her character originated on Private Practice, the six-season spinoff that starred Kate Walsh. Amelia did not have her addiction under control at that point, so nobody has been through more with her than Addison.

Fans have come to cherish the rare Private Practice reunions between Derek Shepherd’s sister and ex-wife. So, with Amelia feeling guilty over her role in the explosion that killed Monica, now seems like the perfect time to bring in red-headed reinforcements.

This will be the first time Kate Walsh has returned to Grey’s Anatomy since Season 19, where she appeared in a storyline about women’s reproductive rights and even got run down by an anti-abortion protester. The actress is an “elder statesman” on the longtime medical series, making her introduction at the end of Season 1, when we learned for the first time — at the same time as Ellen Pompeo’s Meredith Grey — that Derek Shepherd was married.

ICONIC! Kate Walsh was a series regular for Seasons 2 and 3, before taking her character’s talents to Los Angeles for her spinoff. She continued to appear at least once a season through 2012 before disappearing for nearly a decade. Addison came back in Season 18 for the first time since Derek Shepherd’s death, giving us an all-time great elevator scene with Meredith, as being flooded with so many memories of her ex-husband overwhelmed her with grief.

If one Season 22 episode is all we can have of Addison Montgomery, I will take it, especially if it means a reunion with Amelia.

Grey’s Anatomy already brought back several former characters in the season’s first episodes, including Kate Burton returning as Meredith’s mother in a haunting carousel nightmare. We also saw Kelly McCreary’s Maggie Pierce announce her pregnancy to Meredith and Amelia, and Jesse Williams’ Jackson Avery made the trip from Boston for a big medical case.

Grey’s Anatomy resumes at 10 p.m. ET Thursday, January 8, on ABC and streaming the next day on Hulu.

Spoiler alert! This story contains major spoilers about the Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 fall finale, which aired November 13. Episodes can be streamed with a Hulu subscription if you need to catch up.

It turns out I was right to be concerned about at least one Grey’s Anatomy character ahead of the Season 22 fall finale, “When I Crash.” Camilla Luddington delivered on her promise of Jo’s story being one that will “shock” fans, as Jo and her twins were both in danger at the end of the episode that aired November 13 on the 2025 TV schedule. As tough as that cliffhanger was, it doesn’t sound like things are going to be any better when Season 22 resumes.

Camilla Luddington Says The Next Episode Of Grey’s Anatomy Is ‘Worse,’ And ‘Survival Is Not Guaranteed’

Remember back at the end of Season 21, when we were simply able to enjoy Jo and Link being in love and getting married? I know, that feels like seven years ago given what they’ve gone through in the first six episodes of Season 22. Grey’s fans spent the summer wondering if Chris Carmack’s Atticus Lincoln would die in the operating room explosion, leaving Jo a widow with four children and, now, the shoe’s on the other foot.

Link is now dealing with the possibility of losing his wife and/or two daughters, and as Camilla Luddington broke it all down for The Wrap, she certainly didn’t sound optimistic, saying that “survival is not guaranteed.” She talked about getting the scripts for “When I Crash” and the episode to follow, saying:

Grey’s Anatomy hasn’t been afraid to tackle heartbreaking stories involving babies in the past, but I feel no need to go down that road emotionally until it’s necessary. That day might come, though, as the actress warned:

Drink a lot of wine. Check. And yes, she did say it’s not happening until January, because…

Grey’s Anatomy Is On Hiatus Until 2026

While it sounds like the cast is aware of what’s to come, we’ve got to carry this cliffhanger through the holidays, because Grey’s Anatomy will return as part of the 2026 TV schedule, with the spring premiere set for Thursday, January 8. We can’t tell too much from the preview, except that we should probably bring tissues to this watch party:

I’m going to take the sounds of a baby crying as a good thing but, honestly, I won’t be OK until we have two babies. I also think the shot of Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) crying might be a response to Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.) having cancer, which we learned in the finale.

Camilla Luddington’s Comments About Her Future On Grey’s Sound Ominous

Camilla Luddington joined Grey’s Anatomy in Season 9 way back in 2012, and with around 250 episodes under her belt, she said she’s just happy to have gotten this far, saying:

Does that sound a little bit like a goodbye to anybody else? The Wrap also asked her about an idea she said she had about bringing Katherine Heigl back as Izzie Stevens, but she said she never pitched it to the writers. Furthermore:

Um, yikes.

It’s going to be a long winter, Grey’s fam, but you can relive the best Grey’s Anatomy episodes to keep you occupied for the next couple of months. Or relive your favorite stories with a rewatch from the starting point of your favorite Grey’s era. with episodes streaming on Hulu. (The first 21 seasons can also be viewed with a Netflix subscription.)

Spoiler alert! This story discusses the death of a character in the Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 premiere. If you haven’t watched the current season, episodes can be streamed with a Hulu subscription.

For months, during Grey’s Anatomy’s summer hiatus, fans debated if Atticus Lincoln would end up dead following the Season 21 finale explosion, making a widow out of Jo Wilson. Now, as the Season 22 midseason finale approaches on the 2025 TV schedule, the shoe is on the other foot, as it looks like Jo’s life could be in danger. Would Grey’s really kill off another main character so soon? Something Camilla Luddington said early in the season has me worried.

The Preview For ‘When I Crash’ Teases Emergencies For Jo And Teddy

It’s not just Jo who appears to get caught in a life-or-death situation in the trailer for the November 13 fall finale, but Teddy Altman as well. The episode, “When I Crash,” comes just weeks after Monica Beltran (Natalie Morales) died in the Season 22 premiere from injuries sustained in the blast and, now, we’re right back to worrying about these surgeons’ fates. Check out the preview:

It looks like Jo (Camilla Luddington) is going to experience some complications while delivering her twins, which is kind of expected, because when has Grey’s Anatomy ever given us a baby with no drama? It’s still shocking, though, to hear Jo say she can’t breathe and hear Winston Ndugu (Anthony Hill) tell Link (Chris Carmack) that “her heart is failing.”

Does he mean Jo? One of the babies?

Then there’s Teddy (Kim Raver), who slides underneath an unsecured bus — she really should know better — to try to help an injured person and appears to get trapped. Given her separation from Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd), killing off Teddy might be an interesting direction to go, but I want to see more of her reignited fling with Sophia Bush’s Cass Beckman. (Not to mention, killing Teddy would only add to Grey’s Anatomy’s unfortunate “bury your gays” trope.)

What Camilla Luddington Teased About Jo’s Story This Season

The switch from being worried about Link to wondering what is going to happen to Jo reminded me of something Camilla Luddington said on her Call It What It Is podcast after the Season 22 premiere. She revealed:

The response elicited a gasp from co-host and former Grey’s regular Jessica Capshaw, who said she didn’t expect Jo’s story to be the most surprising. She also noted that with the podcast recently adding video, we were all now able to see the pained look on Camilla Luddington’s face when she made the above comment, which looked like this:

She looks like she's almost in tears!

Jessica Capshaw started to ask if the twins were going to be OK, but she decided to not inquire about anything else, in case Camilla Luddington’s face would end up spoiling a storyline. The Jo actress agreed, saying:

Well I guess now we can assume that Jo’s shocking storyline does have to do with the birth of her and Link’s twins. The big question is whether or not Grey’s Anatomy will kill off another character so quickly. Before Monica’s death, the last surgeon to die was Andrew DeLuca in Season 17.

Grey’s Anatomy, however, is fighting budget cuts by cutting the actors’ episode counts, with the show already writing in a hiatus for Caterina Scorsone’s Amelia Shepherd and sending Ellen Pompeo’s Meredith Grey back to Boston.

The medical drama has been known to downsize when the cast gets too large, which is something Jessica Capshaw knows all too well. Her own character, Arizona Robbins, was written off ahead of Season 15, along with Sarah Drew’s April Kepner, allegedly for that reason.

Will Jo or Teddy be the next to go? Will Link be left to raise four children by himself? Will the twins survive (do NOT hurt those babies!)? Thankfully, the answers to these questions are likely just days away, with Grey’s Anatomy’s Season 22 fall finale airing at 10 p.m. ET Thursday, November 13, on ABC and streaming the next day on Hulu.

2026 is close to being half-over, but instead of panicking and worrying where all the time has gone, I think it's better to plan ahead for all the new Netflix shows, upcoming horror series, new DC projects and everything else coming during the rest of the year. June 2026 is hardly an exception, and I'll be firmly planted for House of the Dragon's massive Season 3 premiere, the latest round of America's Got Talent auditions, and Tom Hanks' American Experiment, to name a few.

June is also a big month for live events, from the NBA Finals to the Stanley Cup to the livestream of Bonnaroo 2026 to the BET Awards. And you better believe I'm also jazzed to see Larry David's HBO return for Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness. And that's not counting everything else coming later in the year. [You can jump ahead to see what's coming in July, August, September, October, November and December.)

NOTE: New series premieres are listed in ALL CAPS, and all times listed below are in ET/EST.

June 2026 TV Premieres

Beyond everything noted above, June 2026 also brings the romance with Sweet Magnolias Season 5, the fantastical with Avatar: The Last Airbender and culinary moodiness with the final season of The Bear.

July 2026 TV Premieres

At long last, Paramount+ revealed that fans can look forward to the fourth genre-mashing season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds in July, which also comes peppered with returns from Apple TV's sci-fi fave Silo, the long-running reality series Project Runway, and the final story-concluding feature from Netflix's Heartstopper.

August 2026 TV Premieres

This is not a practice drill. I repeat, not a practice drill. Ted Lasso is making its long-awaited Season 4 return on Apple TV in August, and fans couldn't be happier to have it back on the horizon. One premiere that's earned slightly less warm embraces from fans is HBO's DCU mystery drama Lanterns, which finally got its August premiere confirmed in late April.

September 2026 TV Premieres

September can be a bit of a bummer as it marks the end of summer (no rhymeplay intended), but NFL fans always have a lot to look forward to. And this September will also deliver the one-two punch of Mayweather vs. Pacquiao on Netflix, as well as the streaming service's first LEGO special for the popular anime adaptation One Piece.

October 2026 TV Premieres

November 2026 TV Premieres

December 2026 TV Premieres

2026 Shows Without Premiere Dates

Quite a few upcoming TV shows are locked in for 2026, but without official premiere dates set in stone. Here's a round-up of some of the biggest projects that we can expect to see at some point later this year.

• 3 Body Problem Season 2 - Netflix
• BLADE RUNNER 2099 - Prime Video
• CAMP ROCK 3 [TV Movie] - Disney Channel
• CARRIE - Prime Video
• COVEN ACADEMY - Disney Channel
• DESCENDANTS: WICKED WONDERLAND [TV Movie] Disney Channel
• A DIFFERENT WORLD - Netflix
• The Diplomat Season 4 - Netflix
• The Hunting Wives Season 2 - Netflix
• Leanne Season 2 - Netflix
• MONSTER: THE LIZZIE BORDEN STORY - Netflix
• Nobody Wants This Season 3 - Netflix
• Outer Banks Season 5 (Final Season) - Netflix
• The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 4 - AMC
• The Witcher Season 5 (Final Season) - Netflix
• Yellowjackets Season 4 (Final Season) - Paramount+

Remember to check back for more dates as they're revealed by networks and streaming services in the coming months.

Spoiler alert! This story discusses the October 30 episode of Grey’s Anatomy, “Goodbye Horses,” which can be streamed with a Hulu subscription if you need to catch up.

Jackson Avery’s face is always a welcome one at Grey Sloan Memorial, and that was certainly true this week, as fans continued to enjoy a season of Grey’s Anatomy that’s already given us several guest appearances from favorite former cast members. Jesse Williams reprised the role in “Goodbye Horses,” and my only complaint is that his story set up what could be another long hiatus for one of the doctors.

The preview for the October 30 episode teased tension between Jackson and Ellen Pompeo’s Meredith Grey, and we got possibly more than we bargained for when they not only bumped heads over the publication of Tom Koracick’s biased Alzheimer’s research but over the big medical case Jackson was in Seattle to do. By the episode’s end, Meredith agreed it was time to continue her own research, and she agreed to accompany her colleague on his private jet back to Boston.

Well, thanks a lot, Dr. Avery. Just when we got Meredith back in the operating room, imparting her vast wisdom on the young Grey Sloan doctors, she gets whisked away to go cure Alzheimer’s and, oh yeah, maybe see if she remembers what her children’s faces look like. OK, I guess we shouldn’t be too mad at him.

Ellen Pompeo has made it pretty clear she doesn’t ever intend to return as a series regular on Grey’s Anatomy, so it’s really to be expected that Meredith wouldn’t get too comfortable in Seattle. Also, it was known ahead of Season 22’s premiere on the 2025 TV schedule that budget cuts were forcing lower episode counts for its cast members.

However, this latest character exit — even if it’s temporary — comes so soon after Amelia Shepherd (Caterina Scorsone) decided to take a sabbatical to deal with Monica Beltran’s death and the hostage situation that preceded it.

Deadline reports that Caterina Scorsone will miss eight of Season 22’s 18 episodes, returning sometime in 2026. As of this writing, it hasn’t been confirmed how long it will be before we see Meredith again, as she hits the lab to figure out why estrogen in female mice prevents Alzheimer’s treatment from being as effective as in male mice.

Honestly, that sounds like some pretty heavy lifting, so I’m thinking she might be gone a while. At least we have the comfort of knowing she’s with Nick Marsh (Scott Speedman) and her children, unlike with Amelia, who gave no real indication of how she was planning to spend her sabbatical.

Jesse Williams’ return marks the third big character comeback, as Kelly McCreary appeared as Maggie Pierce and Kate Burton reprised her role as Meredith’s mom Ellis Grey, who continues to haunt her daughter from beyond the grave. Cass Beckman (Sophia Bush) and Nora Young (Floriana Lima) are also back as love interests for Teddy and Owen, respectively, now that they’re officially separated.

I guess my only other complaint about Jackson Avery’s return is that he did not provide us an update on April Kepner, but in this case I’m going to assume that no Japril news is good Japril news.

Will these Grey’s Anatomy blasts from the past continue? Will the show keep writing the actors’ hiatuses into the script, and if so, who’s next? Tune in to find out when the medical drama returns at 10 p.m. ET Thursday, November 6, on ABC and streaming the next day on Hulu.

For 10 seasons, Jessica Capshaw played pediatric surgeon Arizona Robbins on Grey’s Anatomy, where her character survived a plane crash, intense relationship drama with wife Callie Torres and countless medical emergencies involving children. Now she’s traded in the scrubs for something a little more country as part of the 9-1-1: Nashville, so how does she feel about the change of pace? Turns out she’s more than OK with it.

Jessica Capshaw is back on ABC Thursdays, just on a different show, as she plays Blythe, the wife of Chris O’Donnell’s fire captain Don Hart, on the Ryan Murphy spinoff that premiered on the 2025 TV schedule this month. While Arizona was a rock in an emergency on Grey’s Anatomy, Blythe lets her husband and son handle the first responding on 9-1-1: Nashville, and that’s just how the actress likes it. She said on The Kelly Clarkson Show:

It sounds like Jessica Capshaw is fully embracing her new character’s lifestyle, and even though Blythe still finds plenty of drama — thanks in large part to her husband's ex, Dixie Bennings (LeAnn Rimes) — there’s a lot about the world of medicine that she seems fine to leave in the rearview mirror. She continued:

Whether it’s high heels or cowboy boots, somebody call time of death on Dr. Robbins’ rollerskates!

Jessica Capshaw joined Grey’s Anatomy in Season 5 and was not only a series regular through Season 14 but one of the show's most iconic queer characters before being written off alongside Sarah Drew’s April Kepner, due to the show’s need to downsize its large cast.

Shonda Rhimes paid tribute to the actresses in a touching social media post, but there was still some confusion surrounding their exits, at least on Sarah Drew’s part, as she has candidly said their firing felt “mean and unjust.” Time seems to have healed some of that, as both actresses have come back to the show for guest appearances.

Jessica Capshaw made her return to Grey Sloan Memorial in Season 20, seven years after her final episode as a series regular, and she’s also started a podcast Call It What It Is with current Grey’s Anatomy star Camilla Luddington (aka Jo Wilson), where they often talk about the medical drama and discuss all the behind-the-scenes tea.

Naturally, now they’ve added 9-1-1: Nashville to their list of regular topics, so tune in to see how Jessica Capshaw continues to enjoy her non-first-responder role, and tune into the 9-1-1 spinoff at 9 p.m. ET Thursdays (followed by Grey’s Anatomy at 10 p.m.) on ABC and streaming the next day with a Hulu subscription.

Spoiler alert! Minor spoilers for Grey’s Anatomy’s October 23 episode “Between Two Lungs.” Season 22 can be streamed with a Hulu subscription if you’re not caught up.

Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 has already featured some huge medical cases, including a gnarly injury in its milestone 450th episode. A forklift through the chest is pretty good, but for Anthony Hill, a different episode on the 2025 TV schedule sticks out — “Between Two Lungs,” in which his character Winston Ndugu got to work with Meredith Grey on a risky surgery. Working with Dr. Grey is inarguably a big deal, but it turns out the same is true of acting alongside Ellen Pompeo.

Anthony Hill joined Grey’s Anatomy at the end of Season 16 so, while he’s not the greenest doctor in the house, he's new enough that actors as tenured as Chandra Wilson, James Pickens Jr. and Ellen Pompeo could be intimidating to him. Apparently, the October 23 episode was the first time Winston and Meredith had a case together, and Hill seemed psyched when he talked to US Weekly about it, saying:

The case involved a complicated transplant, in which two parents were each donating part of their lung to their son.

Winston was apprehensive about the surgery due to the lifelong effects it could have on all three of the family members, even if they were successful. Apparently, it was fun to act in that dissenting role, even if his character did have to stand up to the great Meredith Grey. He said:

It wasn’t just Ellen Pompeo that Anthony Hill was excited to share scenes with, but Scott Speedman as well, who plays transplant surgeon and Meredith’s partner Nick Marsh. Hill continued:

I'd imagine the experience was made even better by the fact that when complications arose inside the operating room, it was Winston who figured out how to pivot and save the patients’ lives. Hopefully, Anthony Hill’s acting skills were appreciated by Ellen Pompeo and Scott Speedman as much as Winston won the respect of Meredith and Nick.

We’ll have to see what’s ahead for Winston for the rest of Season 22, but fans may be preoccupied with a different heartthrob surgeon in the upcoming “Goodbye Horses,” when Jesse Williams returns as Dr. Jackson Avery. Tune in at 10 p.m. ET Thursdays on ABC and streaming the next day on Hulu.

Jesse Williams may not be a series regular on Grey’s Anatomy anymore, having exited the show in Season 17 after 12 years, but he never strays too far. The first three episodes of Season 22 have already reunited fans with several blasts from the past, and in the next episode to hit the 2025 TV schedule, it looks like we’re getting Jackson Avery. His return is always welcome, but after seeing the preview for “Goodbye Horses,” I’m left with a couple of questions.

The logline for the upcoming episode teases a bizarre trauma for the interns, while “a complex breast reconstruction forces Meredith into a tense partnership.” Who could they possibly be talking about in regards to Ellen Pompeo’s character? After seeing the preview for Season 22, Episode 4, I’m afraid it might be Jackson. Check it out below:

Jackson is certainly acting pretty frosty toward his friend and esteemed colleague, which leads me to my first question:

What’s With The Attitude Toward Meredith?

Personally, I’ve enjoyed having Meredith Grey back in Seattle doing more surgeries, but that’s apparently posing a problem for Jackson over in Boston. It sounds like he’s upset that her lab has gone unused and she’s not publishing any new findings. Maybe I’m confused, but didn’t she just publish all of her research, which upset him and the Catherine Fox Foundation and nearly got her fired?

Either way, I’m getting big petty energy from Jackson, and I don’t love that he’s OK publishing what sounds like incomplete research. I’m intrigued to find out what’s going on in his life. Speaking of his life …

Where The Heck Is April Kepner?

Yes, it did Grey’s Anatomy fans’ hearts good when they confirmed that Jackson and April Kepner were back together when Jesse Williams and Sarah Drew guest starred in the Season 18 finale. However, next week’s episode will be the third time Jackson returns to the show sans April. You can’t have Japril without April!

I know, Sarah Drew has a whole career of her own, and I honestly love all of those Lifetime and Hallmark movies so I’m not asking for a full Japril spinoff, but couldn’t she just go with Jackson to Seattle again at some point?

It’s possible I’m getting spoiled by all of the Season 22 character returns. Three episodes in, we’ve already seen Kelly McCreary’s Maggie Pierce return with big news; Kate Burton’s Ellis Grey back to haunt her daughter as always; and Sophia Bush’s Cass Beckman heating things up again with Teddy Altman (Kim Raver).

I really can’t wait to see Owen Hunt’s reaction to that reunion!

At least we don’t have long to wait before we learn what Jackson Avery’s doing back in Seattle and why he’s so upset with Meredith. Hey, even if Sarah Drew doesn’t show up, there’s always the chance that we’ll at least get an update to confirm that everything’s good on the Japril front.

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

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.