Shonda Rhimes’s long-running medical drama Grey’s Anatomy has been renewed for Season 20, alongside the announcement that executive producer Meg Marinis will be taking over as showrunner from Krista Vernoff. Grey’s Anatomy remains the longest-running primetime medical drama in television history, having surpassed 400 episodes last autumn, with the finale of Season 19 set to air on 18 May 2023 on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) network .
First airing on 29 August 2005 to the ABC network, Grey’s Anatomy has seen a range of drastic narrative changes throughout its run. Season 19 is no exception: most notably, the titular character, Dr. Meredith Grey (played by Ellen Pompeo), stepped away from the series. Pompeo will still be involved with Grey’s Anatomy, providing voiceovers and appearing in the finale, but her absence will be felt in a series that used to revolve entirely around her character. It is currently unknown whether Pompeo will feature in Season 20.
In addition to Meredith Grey, Grey’s Anatomy is also losing another full-time cast member of nine seasons, Kelly McCreary (who plays Dr. Maggie Pierce)—a fan-favourite. There has been no confirmation yet as to whether Maggie will make any future appearances in the Emmy-award winning show.
As of March 2023, Grey’s Anatomy is the fourth longest-running network scripted drama show on television today, with the number of episodes ordered for Season 20 yet to be confirmed. The series will no doubt feel very different with the exit of the show’s eponymous character, but viewers can rest assured that there will still be some familiar faces on their screens. The characters of Dr. Melinda Bailey (played by Chandra Wilson) and Dr. Richard Webber (played by James Pickens Jr.) are set to return to Grey’s Anatomy in Season 20.
Words by Jess Parker
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