Now that ABC has decided to renewGrey’s Anatomyfor another season (the twenty-second) and current showrunnerMeg Marinisrevealed that Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) will likely be returning for a multi-episode arc, you might wonder if the title character ever really left. During an interview onThe Jennifer Hudson Show, Pompeo addressed her lasting stint on the series and revealed whether she plans to completely exit the medical drama at some point.
Pompeo toldJennifer Hudsonthat she has no memory of filming the pilot episode 20 years ago, and also said that her real-life husband doesn’t watchGrey’s Anatomyat all because “he’s not interested in all that nonsense.” When they got to the success of the series, Pompeo admitted that,much like series creatorShonda Rhimes, she didn’t expect the show to make it this far. And now it’s reached a point where there is no end in sight for it. She stated:
“I don’t think that show will ever end. I don’t know, no, butI’ll always pop in and out.You know, that’s my home, and I don’t think Miss Allen will let me ever leave.”
Pompeo is referring to six-time Emmy nomineeDebbie Allen(Fame), whoentered the series in Season 8and never left. As she got more involved with the show, Allen became executive producer and has also directed dozens of episodes of the series — which all means she has a say about whatever goes on inside the walls of the Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.
Has Ellen Pompeo Ever Really Left ‘Grey’s Anatomy’?
Technically, Pompeo is no longer part of the main cast ofGrey’s Anatomy. The actor “left” the series in early 2023, but fans haven’t had to miss her for too long — she continued narrating every episode, just like she’s done ever since the pilot. Additionally,Pompeo has returned for her own story arcsin every season since her exit, and chances are that she will keep returning. In a recent interview,showrunner Meg Marinis stated that the door was openand that Pompeo would be allowed to return whenever she wanted.
Grey’s Anatomywill likely keep going indefinitely becauseits popularity just doesn’t seem to wind down. Last year,the series was the most-streamed dramaacross all streaming platforms, and the show is still a major audience draw on Thursday nights on ABC. Aside from Pompeo, other original cast members that have stuck with the series this far areChandra Wilson(Dr. Bailey) andJames Pickens, Jr.(Dr. Webber).
You can stream all seasons ofGrey’s Anatomyon Hulu.
Grey’s Anatomy
A high-intensity medical drama which follows Meredith Grey and the team of doctors at Grey Sloan Memorial, who are faced with life-or-death decisions on a daily basis. They seek comfort from one another, and, at times, more than just friendship. Together they discover that neither medicine nor relationships can be defined in black and white.
Source:Jennifer Hudson Show YouTube channel
