Even after 12 seasons Grey's Anatomy is still going strong. In its long 12 years, it's seen several actors come and go - most notably Patrick Dempsey who left the show while still having a year left on his contract. Now with the show officially returning for its 13th season, some fans were wondering which actors would return. We already knew that Justin Chambers was returning to Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital but mum was the word for the other characters. Contract negotiations can be a messy thing if the show can't pony up more money for the actors. It seems that fans don't have to worry anymore, though, because a bunch of long time Grey's Anatomy players just signed on the another season.
The Hollywood Reporter has the details, and reports that cast members Chandra Wilson (Bailey), James Pickens Jr. (Richard), and Kevin McKidd (Owen) have all signed contracts that will bring them through Season 13. This will hopefully give some consistency to Grey's Anatomy, which has seen a number of actors depart the show over the years. Sara Rameriz, who has been a part of the show since Season 2, will not be returning for the new season. Other stars to have left the show were Sandra Oh back in Season 10, as well as more scandalous exits by Katherine Heigl and T.R. Knight.
What's most remarkable about Grey's Anatomy is that it is still one of the highest rated dramas on ABC, a rarity for any show in its 12th season. The medical drama is poised to finish the year as the highest rated show on ABC in the highly coveted 18-49 demographic. Looking at it with a wider spectrum, the show is among the top five on all broadcasts, which is pretty insane.
Grey's Anatomy is just one of the many successful shows produced by Shonda Rhimes. Other shows that fly under the Shondaland banner are How To Get Away With Murder, The Catch, and the always popular on Twitter Scandal. Rhimes believes the success of Grey's Anatomy lies in its focus on real evolving characters that an audience can get invested in. Sorry to anyone who watched the show for the medical part of the medical drama.
Grey's Anatomy will return at some point next season with most of its cast intact on ABC. For all updates for Grey's Anatomy and all the other Shondaland shows, make sure to keep it here at CinemaBlend.
