Grey's Anatomy is Yet Another Show Not Coming Back in 2023, Season 20 Delayed
The ABC medical drama is facing a hiatus of more than a year for the first time in its history.
Back in May, when the Writers Guild of America (WGA) hit the picket lines, it became clear that Season 20 of ABC's popular medical drama would be undergoing changes. And now, it looks like Grey's Anatomy fans will have to wait longer than usual to step into the corridors of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital and reunite with old favorites and new characters.
When the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) joined the writers on July 14, the major delay became inevitable, adding Grey's Anatomy to the list of other highly anticipated shows that have been put on hold by the strikes, including The Last of Us, Euphoria, and Stranger Things.
Apparently, this will be the longest hiatus in the show's long history.
Historically, Grey's Anatomy has been one of the most consistent TV series in terms of scheduling. Even with the previous WGA strike in the background in 2007–2008, the show managed to release its fourth season on schedule in September with fewer episodes. But this time, the chances of the new season premiering in 2023 are close to zero.
The main reason for this is that both the cast and crew of the medical show are actively supporting the Hollywood strikes. Creator Shonda Rhimes was one of the first to join the WGA strike, and star Ellen Pompeo has been vocal on her social media about streaming services not paying residuals to actors.
So when will the new Grey's Anatomy episodes be released? Since it's a returning scripted show, production on the new season probably hasn't started yet. The writers and production team will be able to get back to work once the strikes are over, but it's not clear when this may happen.
According to SAG President Fran Drescher, the actors are ready for 'the long haul.' And even though the writers have been on strike much longer, the deal between them and the studios is nowhere in sight. So, unfortunately, the premiere date for Grey's Anatomy is still up in the air.
Source: Independent.