Grey’s Anatomy showrunner Krista Vernoff considered ignoring COVID-19 in season 17. Created by Shonda Rhimes, Grey’s Anatomy debuted on ABC in 2005 and is now hailed as the longest-running medical drama in television history. Starring Ellen Pompeo as Meredith Grey, Grey’s Anatomy follows the lives, losses, and loves of the surgical team at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.
Earlier this year, amid coronavirus concerns, theme parks, movie theaters, and restaurants closed down, and film and television productions came to an equally abrupt halt worldwide. Forced into an early-season 16 finale - the season that bid farewell to original cast member Justin Chambers (Alex Karev) - Grey’s Anatomy featured numerous twists in the last episode that aired, called “Put on a Happy Face”. Earlier this month, Pompeo took to social media to dedicate season 17 to healthcare workers after it was revealed the upcoming season will incorporate the pandemic into the plotline. However, Vernoff admits she had other plans for season 17.
Speaking to Variety, Vernoff reveals that back in June, the creative team behind the medical drama debated on whether to ignore coronavirus in season 17 or address the slew of recent changes in the medical world. Initially, Vernoff marinated on the idea of featuring the surgical staff of Grey’s Anatomy in a world without COVID-19 and said, “I think people have fatigue of COVID, and I think they turn to our show for relief.” However, Vernoff and her team eventually agreed that they have a responsibility to viewers and healthcare workers to portray the current medical crisis on Grey’s Anatomy.
Slated to premiere on ABC November 12, Grey’s Anatomy season 17 will reportedly pick up six weeks into the global crisis and address how the pandemic has altered the hospital. Vernoff admitted tackling the relevant subject matter and filming with coronavirus protocols has been challenging and stated, “We’ve actually reinvented the wheel. We are changing everything everyone has understood about how you make television. Everything is changing.” Of course, it remains to be seen how the structure of the Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital will look different amid a global pandemic.
Clocking in over 300 episodes, Grey’s Anatomy has provided compelling storylines while tackling topical issues. These include domestic violence, mass shootings, immigration, alcohols, healthcare, and more. As it stands, the healthcare system continues to grapple with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and the upcoming season of Grey’s Anatomy could shine a light on what the general public doesn’t see behind the scenes of a hospital. Overall, it is fitting for Vernoff’s team to highlight healthcare workers and address the coronavirus in season 17 of Grey’s Anatomy.
Source: Variety