Shonda Rhimes speaks about whether she would come back to write theGrey’s Anatomyseries finale. Rhimes is the creator of the medical procedural seriesGrey’s Anatomy, which made its premiere in 2005. It is now one of the most popular network television shows, spawning 21 seasons and spinoff series, includingPrivate PracticeandStation 19. The program has won four Emmys, including one for Best Guest Actress in a drama series for Loretta Devine. TheGrey’s Anatomycast also includes Chandra Wilson,Ellen Pompeo, Kevin McKidd, Jesse Williams, and Justin Chambers.
Speaking withEntertainment Weekly, Rhimes addresses whether she would return toGrey’s Anatomyto write an eventual series finale. Rhimes says thatshe “might want to write the series finale, if that ever comes.“She does admit, though, that by that point, current showrunner Meg Marinis may have “really earned the right to end the show.” She speaks highly of Marinis and notes that she no longer has an idea of what aGrey’s Anatomyseries finale would look like. Check out the full quote from Rhimes below:
I read a fairly recent interview where you were talking about how you stepped away fromGrey’sso that current showrunner Meg Marinis can really feel ownership, but do you think you’ll ever write another episode ofGrey’s? Maybe when it ends?
Yeah, I might want to write the series finale, if that ever comes. I keep waiting for it, but no. I might want to write the series finale. I might not. It might be that, by that point, Meg has really earned the right to end the show, so I don’t know. I’m always excited to see what she comes up with. She just pitched me the finale of this season and I was so excited by it. I was so proud of her. It’s such a good one.
I also saw where you talked about having an ending forGrey’s20 years ago, and then you had eight other endings forGrey’s. Have you stopped even trying at this point?
I have zero endings forGrey’snow. I mean, literally zero. Until season 8, I still had endings. And by the way, I felt like I ended the series several times. I was like, “This could be the finale, this could be it,” but it wasn’t. So after a while I just started writing those things that I thought would happen at the end into the show, because it wasn’t ending.
What This Means For Grey’s Anatomy
Rhimes Is Still The Show’s Longest-Running Showrunner
In unpacking Rhimes' quote, it is important to understand the history of the series' different owners. Considered the heart and soul of the show as its original creator,Rhimes was the showrunner forGrey’s Anatomyfor an entire decade. When she left in 2015, she passed the torch onto Krista Vernoff. Vernoff ran the series from season 14 to season 19, and also served as a showrunner for most ofStation 19in the meantime. Current showrunner Meg Marinis took over for Vernoff in season 20, and remains in the position today, while Rhimes is a producer.
Grey’s Anatomy: The 10 Best Episodes
From the foundation-laying “A Hard Day’s Night” to the tense “Sanctuary,” there are plenty of standout Grey’s Anatomy episodes, according to Ranker.
Given this history, Marinis would still have to work on the series for several years to “earn[] the right to end the show” in the way Rhimes or even Vernoff has. If Rhimes thinks that Marinis may get to that point, that speaks to how long Rhimes thinksGrey’s Anatomywill still run for. In other parts of her interview,the creator seems surprised by how long the series has gone on, explaining the multiple endings she has crafted over the years, and feeling like the series finale is an “if” rather than a “when.”
Our Take On Shonda Rhimes' Grey’s Anatomy Quote
Grey’s Anatomy Is Likely Here To Stay For A While
It is interesting for Rhimes' quote to come out now, in a time whenGrey’s Anatomyhas still not been officially renewed for season 22. While some think its return is inevitable, the ending ofStation 19and the overall changes to the series have led some to wonder whether the show could be ending. The fact that Rhimes, who is still likely to be privy toGrey’s Anatomyknowledge despite her indirect involvement, seems confident in the show’s continuation, and is uncertain about when it will end, suggests the show is here to stay for a while longer.
Grey’s Anatomy
Cast
Grey’s Anatomy is a medical drama series revolving around surgical interns, residents, and attendings at the fictional Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. The show features the professional and personal lives of these medical professionals, led initially by Dr. Meredith Grey, played by Ellen Pompeo. Created by Shonda Rhimes, the series highlights the complexities of medical cases while delving into the interpersonal relationships among the hospital staff.
