Spoiler Alert! New Love, Work and Marriage Coming to Grey’s Anatomy

The sixth season of Grey’s Anatomy ended with a bang, as a crazed widower terrorized Seattle Grace-Mercy West Hospital, eventually shooting Derek, whom he blamed for the death of his wife. When the ABC drama begins its seventh season next month, things will have calmed down a bit, though there’ll be plenty of new dramas developing — personal and professional — even in the very first episode. Keep reading for some of the juiciest tidbits.

Warning: Spoilers ahead!

• Feeling responsible for the loss of staffers during the shootout, Derek (Patrick Dempsey) will step down as chief, returning the reins to Dr. Webber. Derek is also still unaware of Meredith’s pregnancy and miscarriage. “I think he’ll be devastated,” Dempsey tells TV Guide. “Seeing how quick life can be, I think they’ll want to have a child even more. Why not create a life before you lose your own?”

• Teddy (Kim Raver) finds a new love interest in trauma counselor Dr. Andrew Perkins (James Tupper). “I make out with him in episode 1,” says Raver. “It was just like it was with Kiefer [Sutherland] on 24, where we met and had to kiss.”

• An unnamed couple will get engaged and married during the season premiere. TV Guide says it’s one of three possible couples — Callie and Arizona, Alex and Lexie or Owen and Cristina.

• Speaking of Owen and Cristina, “They definitely take it to the next level,” Kevin McKidd says, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the ones tying the knot. “They’ve been through a huge amount in two seasons,” he continues, “and I think Cristina felt burned by her last wedding [to Burke].

The new season of Grey’s Anatomy begins September 23rd at 9:00 pm (ET) on ABC.

Paparazzi!: No Scrubs

Talk about McSteamy! New papa Eric Dane returns to Seattle Grace Monday while shooting episodes of Grey's Anatomy in Los Angeles.

Is Katherine Heigl Leaving Grey’s Anatomy?

Izzie is back — but her return could be short-lived.

After taking a three-month maternity leave to bond with her 15-month-old daughter Naleigh, whom she adopted in September with husband Josh Kelley, Katherine Heigl is due to return to the set of Grey’s Anatomy on March 1. Two weeks later, the actress, 31, will travel to Las Vegas to accept the ShoWest award for Female Star of the Year, a film-industry honor previously won by the likes of Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Aniston.

Is the award yet another sign that Heigl — who took a five-episode hiatus from Grey’s earlier this season to film the romantic comedy Life As We Know It with Josh Duhamel — is ready to depart Grey’s to focus full-time on her film career?

“It wouldn’t be a shock,” says a source close to the show. By the time Grey’s airs the finale of season 6 in May, Heigl will have been absent from roughly half of its 24-episode run.

Since joining ABC’s hit medical series in 2005, the actress hasn’t shied away from expressing her occasional displeasure with the show. She won a supporting actress Emmy in 2007 but announced the following year she was withdrawing her name from Emmy contention because she “did not feel that I was given the material this season to warrant an Emmy nomination.” Last July, the actress complained to David Letterman about returning to the Grey’s set: “Our first day back was Wednesday and it was — I’m going to keep saying this because I hope it embarrasses them — a 17-hour day, which I think is cruel and mean.”

Then is the actress, who has five movies in development and an action comedy, Killers, due in theaters in June, indeed winding down her stint as Dr. Isobel Stevens? “The level of speculation is no different than it has been in the past couple of years,” says another show insider, who adds that casting changes are typical of a show with a six-season run.

Whatever happens, don’t expect an announcement before June, when the show’s cast typically learns about their contracts for the coming season. Heigl’s rep did not return calls for comment, and ABC declined to discuss specifics of their actors’ contracts.

Former Grey's Anatomy Star T.R. Knight is Single

T.R. Knight has split from Mark Cornelson, his boyfriend of two years.

"It's amicable," says a source of the breakup.

Don't expect the newly single actor, who departed Grey's Anatomy this spring after five seasons on the show, to be spending his nights nursing a broken heart at home: He'll be performing in Parade, his first musical, in Los Angeles through November 15th.

The split was first reported by In Touch.

Star Sighting: Cycling Doc

Grey's Anatomy hunk Eric Dane shows off his fine form – in his cycling suit! – while taking his two-wheeler to-go during a detour in West Hollywood on Wednesday.

Fall TV Premieres: Thursday Night

The Fall TV Premiere week continues tonight with three favorites returning for their new season and one series premiere. Thursday night is a night to watch great shows throughout the networks.

CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (CBS 9:00 PM): Season 10 starts with Sara Sidle (Jorja Fox) returning to the hit series for five episodes. Also look out for promotions for Nick Stokes (George Eads) Dr. Ray Langston (Laurence Fishburne) as they hunt for a new serial killer, Dr. Jekyll.

FLASH FORWARD (ABC 8:00 pm): Joseph Fiennes stars as FBI agent Mark Benford in this Sci-Fi drama. The show is about what happens when Earth blacks out for two minutes and 17 seconds and all the survivors of this disaster return with the ability to see their lives six months later in time.

GREY'S ANATOMY (ABC 9:00 pm): Entering it's sixth season, Grey's Anatomy focuses on Izzie (Katherine Heigl) beating cancer but she comes down with an even more debilitating malady: survivor's guilt as she becomes a wreck by the death of George (T.R. Knight).

THE MENTALIST (CBS 10:00 pm): The second season starts with the arrival of a roadblocking rival Agent Same Bosco (Terry Kinnet) gets in the way of the California Bureau of Investigation consultant Patrick Jane (Simon Baker) and snatches the case of the serial killer who murdered Jane's wife and daughter.

All hours are based on Eastern Time.

T.R. Knight Says Leaving Grey’s Anatomy Was ‘the Best Decision’

Former Grey’s Anatomy star T.R. Knight is opening up about his departure from ABC’s hit medical drama, telling Entertainment Weekly he saw no future for Dr. George O’Malley, the lovable resident he played for five seasons.

Knight says his screen time dropped so much by season 5 that he chose to leave the show rather than seek an answer — something he says was hard to come by.

“My five-year experience proved to me that I could not trust any answer that was given [about George],” he tells the magazine. “There just comes a time when it’s so clear that moving on is the best decision.”

Costar Katherine Heigl initially disagreed with her friend.

“I didn’t think it was the right decision,” she says. “I felt like some of the problems could be worked through. But by the time it came to fruition, I was [glad] for him because he was ready to go.”

Knight also addresses the dismissal of former costar Isaiah Washington, who used a gay slur in an infamous incident on the set of the show, saying the controversy that followed created tension with Grey’s executive producer Shonda Rhimes.

Knight came out shortly after.

“I think she was concerned about having my statement come out so close to the [initial] event,” Knight says of Rhimes, who he says discouraged him from coming out.

Rhimes denies this, telling EW, “I said, ‘If you want to come out, that’s awesome.’”

While Knight leaves behind a top 10 show and a $14 million contract, he says the move is best for his career.

“From an outsider’s perspective, I get the ‘He’s just a spoiled actor … he doesn’t know how good he has it,’” he says. “There are a lot of people who would like to be in my position. But in the end, I need to be fulfilled in my work.”

It’s Official: T.R. Knight Leaves Grey’s Anatomy

It’s been a long time coming: After years of playing the lovable George O’Malley on Grey’s Anatomy, ABC has granted T.R. Knight his wish to leave the show, Grey’s sources confirm to People.

A show source explains that in addition to feeling his character was not getting juicy enough plot lines, the actor was uncomfortable with the spotlight cast on him as a result of show’s success.

“From some people’s point of view, T.R. doesn’t realize how good he has it being on a hit show and making the money he’s making,” a source says. “But I don’t know that he ever wanted that. He might be better off going and doing theater. Money doesn’t matter very much to him, and he likes to lead a private life.”

Reps for ABC and the actor had no comment on the news, which was first reported by EW.com.

Chandra Wilson, who is spending her summer as Mama Morton in Broadway’s production of Chicago, said she understood the tendency for some cast members to want distance from the Grey’s family — even if she doesn’t feel the same way.

“If you’re with your family in the house for ten months, all day every day, you’re going to have something to say about it, because that’s your family,” she tells People. “Sometimes you want your cousins over; sometimes you want your cousins to get out the way. And that’s okay.”

T.R. Knight Given the Ok to Quit Grey's Anatomy

Grey's Anatomy star T.R. Knight's request to quit the hit medical drama three years before his contract expires has reportedly been granted by show boss Shonda Rhimes.

Sources tell Entertainment Weekly magazine Knight had grown tired of his character's lack of good storylines and asked series creator Rhimes to let him leave.

His character, George O'Malley, appeared to die in the final episode of the most recent season of the show.

The actor's experience on the series has provided career and personal highs and lows - fans loved his character but he was was forced to 'come out' as a gay man after former co-star Isaiah Washington referred to him as a "f**got" during an on-set fight with castmate Patrick Dempsey in October 2006.

ABC Hands Out Early Pickups for 2009/2010 Season

ABC doled out some good news to producers Thursday morning, giving early pickups to its top primetime performers.

Others weren’t so lucky — yet — although momentum is building for the returns of "Samantha Who?" and even "Scrubs," which was originally expected to close shop after the season.

There weren’t many surprises in the Alphabet’s renewals, which included key series "Desperate Housewives," "Grey’s Anatomy," "Brothers and Sisters," "Private Practice" and "Lost," which had already been given a go-ahead and will now complete its final season next year.

Biggest news was probably a firm go-ahead for another season of bubble show "Ugly Betty," but ABC execs had been hinting for months that the show wasn’t in danger.

On the unscripted side, staples "Dancing With the Stars," "The Bachelor," "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," "America’s Funniest Home Videos," "Wife Swap" and "Supernanny" are a lock for 2009-10.

Speculation continues to grow that the Alphabet may find a way to bring back "Scrubs" for a ninth season after all.

Although not on Thursday’s pick-up list, "Scrubs" has had enough of a creative streak this season — and ABC still lacks much in the way of half-hours — that a deal to bring the show back is now quite conceivable.

According to insiders, talks continue about ways to lower the show’s license fees and bring back most or all of the cast, including star Zach Braff (who would perhaps do at least a portion of the episodes).

The other real question mark on ABC’s sked remains "Samantha Who?"

Once a solid Monday night performer and shoo-in for renewal, "Samantha" struggled on Thursdays — so much so that the show was pulled two weeks earlier than expected, with seven episodes still in the can.

That means "Samantha" remains on the bubble, although insiders believe the show will ultimately get another season on air.

Also among half-hours, there remain fans inside ABC of "Better Off Ted," which has earned strong reviews even though its ratings haven’t reflected that.

"Surviving Suburbia" hasn’t made any friends with critics, but if producer MRC offers to bring back the show at a lower license fee, it might still find a way to return next season. Then there’s "In the Motherhood," which is now off the air — likely for good.

On the drama side, bubble shows include midseason hours "Castle," "The Unusuals" and "Cupid."

Alphabet was said to be hopeful about "Unusuals," giving it a Tuesday night showcase this week in addition to its Wednesday home. But that experiment fell short, likely hurting the show’s chances. With "Cupid" not making much noise that gives "Castle" the best shot of the three to return next season.

Back to the returning shows: Pickups make it season six for "Desperate Housewives," "Grey’s Anatomy" and "Lost." It’s the fourth season — bringing it close to off-net sale time — for "Brothers and Sisters" and "Ugly Betty." "Private Practice" is entering its third year.

Among the reality shows, "America’s Funniest Home Videos" will hit its 20th season this year; "The Bachelor" is back this fall with its 14th cycle; "Dancing With the Stars" will return with its ninth set of celebs; "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" is back for a seventh season; and "Supernanny" and "Wife Swap" are both back for their sixth year.

The complete 2009/2010 fall season for all networks will be announced in mid-May.

Katherine Heigl to be Killed Off Grey’s Anatomy

Katherine Heigl’s Dr. Izzie Stevens is to be killed off Grey’s Anatomy.

The writers have diagnosed Dr. Izzie with skin cancer that’s spread to her brain, with a five percent survival rate.

Rumors have circulated for months that Katherine Heigl was either going to get fired or she wanted to leave. Well, it looks like Katherine’s wishes have come to fruition and she will soon be out of a full time gig!

On last Thursday’s episode, Dr. Izzie has a group of inters diagnose”Patient X” and the chilling results culminated with one intern saying Patient X was “toast.”

One group of people who won’t be weeping any tears over Katherine’s dismissal is the producer and group of writers. As reported by UsWeekly.

“[Producer] Shonda Rhimes and the writers are pissed at her,” the source told Us then, adding that producers were considering giving her a brain tumor. “It’s their way of screwing with her. She won’t know whether she’s going to live or die.”

Heigl & Knight Eye Grey's Anatomy Departure

"Grey's Anatomy" stars Katherine Heigl and T.R. Knight will soon be leaving the TV medical drama, Us Weekly magazine reported on Tuesday.

Actor James Pickens Jr, who plays Dr Richard Webber on the ABC show, confirmed long-swirling rumors that Heigl, 30, would be taking off her scrubs for good.

"Yes, she is," Pickens was quoted as telling the magazine at the weekend. "Wherever Katherine goes, I wish her nothing but the best."

Pickens added that Knight, who plays Dr George O'Malley, is "going too."

"He just wanted to pursue other career paths," Pickens said.

ABC said it was "not commenting at this time" on the report.

Both Knight, 35, and Heigl, who won a 2007 Emmy for playing Dr Isobel "Izzie" Stevens, have been cast regulars since the show started in 2005.

Knight has been reported for some months to be seeking a release from his "Grey's Anatomy" contract and Heigl has recently starred in the movie comedies "27 Dresses" and "Knocked Up".

T.R. Knight Asks to Leave Grey’s Anatomy

Seattle Grace is about to lose another doctor.

Grey’s Anatomy star T.R. Knight, who has played lovable intern George O’Malley since the show’s debut, has asked producers to write him off the hit medical drama.

While details of his exit have yet to be ironed out, a source close to the situation says that it seems likely Knight’s request will be granted and he will be released from his contract.

Recent reports that Knight has not been attending table-reads for upcoming episodes or that he had walked off the set and cleaned out his dressing room are inaccurate, a rep for Knight tells People: “He has been there every day. He was at a table read yesterday. He hasn’t said goodbye to anyone.” The rep had no further comment on his possible exit.

Of speculation that Knight was still upset about former cast member Isaiah Washington’s alleged use of a homophobic slur about him — which prompted Knight to reveal he was gay, and which some felt series creator Shonda Rhimes took too long to rectify with Washington’s dismissal — a source familiar with Grey’s says it is false.

“The Isaiah stuff has no relevance at all,” says the source. “T.R. doesn’t even know why people would mention it. It was so long ago.”

So why does Knight, who remains a fan favorite, want to leave?

“Have you seen the show lately?” says the source. Knight has received little screen time this season, with the show focusing on controvesial storylines like the romance between Katherine Heigl’s Izzie and her long-dead lover, Denny.

“It’s time to move on,” says the source. “It just feels like this is the right time to go.”

News of Knight’s possible exit comes after Grey’s made headlines last month when actress Brooke Smith, who played Dr. Erica Hahn, was abruptly let go from the show.

ABC had no comment.

(Article from People.com)