Grey’s Anatomy Renewed for Landmark 20th Season with New Showrunner

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Grey's Anatomy has been officially renewed for its 20th season, ensuring its title as the longest-running primetime medical drama in TV history.

Meg Marinis, a seasoned executive producer, will take over as showrunner, succeeding Krista Vernoff.

The show remains popular, ranking as ABC's number one show in the 18-49 demographic and averaging 10.7 million viewers per episode across all platforms.

The Season 19 finale is set to air on May 18, with significant cast changes, including the exit of series lead Ellen Pompeo as a full-time cast member.

Grey's Anatomy, which premiered in March 2005, has seen numerous cast changes and character exits throughout its run, yet has consistently introduced fresh faces to maintain its dynamic storytelling.

ABC has officially announced the renewal of its longest-running primetime medical drama, Grey’s Anatomy, for its milestone 20th season.

Meg Marinis, a seasoned executive producer for the show, will take over as showrunner, succeeding Krista Vernoff.

The new season ensures Grey’s Anatomy maintains its title as the longest-running primetime medical drama in TV history.

Meg Marinis Steps in as Showrunner

Meg Marinis, who has been with the Grey’s Anatomy team since its third season, will serve as the showrunner for the 20th season.

Marinis started as a writer’s production assistant and has worked her way up through various positions, such as a writer’s assistant and medical researcher.

With more than 25 episodes of the show under her belt as a writer, she became an executive producer in Season 15.

Marinis succeeds Krista Vernoff, who previously announced her departure as executive producer and showrunner of both Grey’s Anatomy and its spinoff, Station 19.

Grey’s Anatomy Continues to Thrive

Grey’s Anatomy remains a popular choice for viewers, ranking as ABC’s number one show in the 18-49 demographic.

The show currently averages 10.7 million viewers per episode in Live+35 viewing across all platforms.

The enduring appeal of Grey’s Anatomy can be attributed to its ability to tell ever-evolving human stories, as Kim Raver, one of the series’ cast members, explained in a recent interview.

The Season 19 finale of Grey’s Anatomy is set to air on May 18. This season saw significant changes in the cast, including the exit of series lead Ellen Pompeo, who played Dr. Meredith Grey.

Season 19 Finale and Cast Updates

The Season 19 finale of Grey’s Anatomy is set to air on May 18. This season saw significant changes in the cast, including the exit of series lead Ellen Pompeo, who played Dr. Meredith Grey.

Pompeo will continue to provide the voiceover at the beginning and end of each episode and is set to appear in the finale. However, her status for the 20th season is still uncertain.

The Season 19 cast also includes Chandra Wilson, James Pickens Jr., Kevin McKidd, Caterina Scorsone, Camilla Luddington, Kelly McCreary, Kim Raver, Jake Borelli, Chris Carmack, Anthony Hill, Alexis Floyd, Harry Shum Jr., Adelaide Kane, Midori Francis, Niko Terho, and Scott Speedman.

Kate Walsh has a recurring role as Dr. Addison Montgomery, and series alumni Jesse Williams and Greg Germann have made guest appearances.

Grey’s Anatomy is the first ABC drama to secure a pickup for the 2023-24 season, joining comedy Abbott Elementary on the network’s slate.

A Brief History of Grey’s Anatomy

Grey’s Anatomy, created by Shonda Rhimes, first premiered on ABC in March 2005.

The show centers around the lives of surgical interns and residents as they progress through their medical careers and navigate personal relationships.

Set in the fictional Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital in Seattle, the show has consistently tackled a wide range of medical cases and ethical dilemmas, contributing to its widespread popularity and longevity.

Initially, Grey’s Anatomy debuted as a mid-season replacement for the show “Boston Legal.” 

However, it quickly gained a dedicated following and became a critical and commercial success, earning numerous awards and nominations throughout its run.

In its early years, the show played a crucial role in ABC’s mid-2000s renaissance, alongside other hit series like Desperate Housewives and Lost.

Over its 19-season span, Grey’s Anatomy has seen numerous cast changes and character exits, yet it has continued to introduce fresh faces, such as a new class of medical interns, to maintain its dynamic storytelling.

The series achieved the status of the longest-running primetime medical drama in American network TV history in 2019, with its 411th episode airing on March 23, 2023.

Grey’s Anatomy has also made a significant impact on the streaming market, with its catalog on Netflix consistently ranking in Nielsen’s streaming top 10.