SPOILER ALERT: This post contains several plot details on 'Grey's Anatomy''s upcoming season. If you do not wish to find out what happens, please discontinue reading.Katherine Heigl is temporarily checking out of Seattle Grace.
Sources for the Ausiello Files have confirmed that Heigl (who plays Dr. Izzie Stevens) will miss five episodes of the upcoming season of 'Grey's Anatomy' (premiering Thu., Sept 24 at 9PM). The reason: She'll be filming the new romantic comedy 'Life As We Know It,' co-starring Josh Duhamel ('Las Vegas').
How will the show survive without Izzie -- not to mention Meredith Grey, who will be absent during Ellen Pompeo's maternity leave? According to E!, season 6 will focus heavily on the merger of Seattle Grace and Mercy West. This will allow 'Grey's' to bring in a number of fresh faces (Nora Zehetner and Jesse Williams, among others), who will cover shifts whenever someone needs to take time off. The additional storylines will also make it easier for 'Grey's to keep going for a number of seasons to come.
Pompeo's departure will be relatively simple. Sources say her character will "fade into the background" when the time comes, although producers are working hard to keep her on for as many episodes as they can, including by filming two episodes at a time.
Heigl's, however, will be a bit more drastic. According to the report, Izzie will get fired during the merger, and will then vanish for the required number of episodes. Perhaps Heigl shouldn't have complained about those 17-hour workdays?
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Reader Comments (46)
onceagain1011 at 2:26PM on Sep 3rd 2009
Grey's has seen better days.... I won't really miss Katherine Heigl, she's turned into a "holier than thou" person, that thinks she deserves special treatment. She doesn't, it's an ensemble cast. I'll miss Ellen Pompeo maybe a wee bit. But I think the show is seeing it's last days anyway.... with or without those characters. Unless there isn't anything else on, I won't be watching this year.
Brigid at 4:24PM on Sep 3rd 2009
You sound rather jealous, if you ask me. They are both wonderful actresses and do a wonderful job portraying their characters. I personally would curl up and cry if they took Grey's off the air. It is and has been my favorite show, every since day one.
You, my dear onceagain1011, should learn to look inside the feelings and pain of their characters!
Carol at 4:27PM on Sep 3rd 2009
Doesn't sound like you ever really liked the show. Don't watch, they won't miss you! I think the writing is fabulous.
dadelici0us1 at 5:50PM on Sep 3rd 2009
this show has completely sucked since they got rid of Isaiah Washington. If anyone disagrees they are in denial. T R Knightly messed this show up, that's why he left. He wasn't welcome n e more. The writers strike hurt it too but that's no excuse because every show suffered from that. Don't believe me, believe the future lack of ratings. They will continue to fall. Last year was the beginning of the end of this show. and I actually liked it. O well.
Pat Novak at 7:21PM on Sep 3rd 2009
you loose
Lydia at 12:22PM on Sep 4th 2009
Ditto as to Izzie! However, I will still watch.
Cat at 2:26PM on Sep 3rd 2009
I'm just curious how they'll write this next season
USCFAN at 2:41PM on Sep 3rd 2009
Cat......I am guessing on a computer.
Gramma at 2:30PM on Sep 3rd 2009
Nuts! At the end of last season it looked like they were going to kill off the eternally whining Izzie. Don't get me wrong.....love the actress, hate the character.
Brigid at 4:23PM on Sep 3rd 2009
Gramma, Every show has to have a complainer, but Izzy's just trying to twart you to step inside her head and see what she is suffering with and through.
I don't tink she is a whinner... I just think you aren't getting the big picture.