Katherine Heigl's Emmy Shunning Infuriates "Grey's" Producers

New York Times:

Writers and producers for the ABC hit "Grey's Anatomy" are fuming after one of the show's stars, Katherine Heigl, said this week that she had opted out of the Emmy race this year because she was not given good enough material to work with last season.

The remark has fueled speculation in Hollywood that Ms. Heigl, 29, wants out of her contract on the series. This is the second time in little over a year that a dispute between Ms. Heigl and the show's producers has spread beyond the studio soundstage.

The dispute has broader implications than just another celebrity tiff. "Grey's Anatomy" commands the highest rate for commercials of any series on television after "American Idol," making it one of ABC's most profitable programs.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[imsosure]

Sounds like the "suits" can't handle the truth.

[rmetz74]

hey moderators, what's up with replies being posted to the wrong comments?

[visualizechimpeachment]

Somebody needs a spank.

[mondobleu]

She was right about Mr. Washington and she's right about this too.
GA has run out of story lines and has recycled itself right into a paper bag full of stale Cheetos.
H­er character has been left in dork limbo throughout the last season and she's entitled to talk about it.
Great actors and bad writing don't add up to much. 
They even brought back the redhead for an episode where the plot had more twists than a Chubby Checker Boxed Set.
Time for the writers to get back to work or it's "Good night nurse".

[LLT]

Well said. I don't understand what all the fuss is about. She's won a Best Supporting Actress Emmy already and this season her character was largely pushed into the background (when she wasn't being kinda whiney and unpleasant). Heigl didn't think she had the kind of material this season that was worthy of submission. That's not just a comment on the material she was given. It's also a rather refreshing admission that she as an actress was not able to do much with the material she was given and didn't think she deserved to throw her hat in the ring this time around. Since, whether they want to admit it or not, the Emmy's are in part a popularity contest and Grey's still has a seat at the popular kids table, she chose to make sure there was no chance that someone more deserving but less well known would miss the cut because an 'incumbent's' name was taking up a slot they didn't really deserve -- at least not because of her.

[rmetz74]

I'm sure all the posters here saying things akin to 'how dare she complain, there are people starving in Africa' have NEVER complained about their jobs.

The fact that she's famous doesn't mean her life is perfect, and she's allowed to speak her mind just like anyone. Don't want to hear it? Don't click on the article.

[ReelBusy]

I think it's very different if some hourly worker or cubicle slave complains about their job vs. essentially a winner complaining their golden ticket isn't golden enough.

[rmetz74]

I'm a tv actor with an office day job. And I've had plenty of reason to complain about both.

People who don't work in tv have some idea that it's all glam and money and no downside - and many naturally resent the people who do it. In fact, it's a job, and like any job, it has pros and cons. You think her job is better than an office job? Ok. Plenty of people think an office job is better than their job.

A LOT of non-actors I know, once they start learning what's really involved in making a career as an actor, realize it's the last thing they would ever want for themselves. The life you imagine she leads is in your head.

[queensboro]

people are starving all over the world and they're boo hooing about bullshit!

[hilaritee]

heigel is correct. their scripts were terrible this season and her character was completely left in the cold....th­e only good thing was putting meredith's character in analysis..­..long overdue!

[kalapa]

She's probably itching to leave the series. I'd say, kill off her character. GA will be better off without the irritating Izzie.

[chicklette]

She's right - she had lousy scripts this year, her character did a dozen things that were completely uncharacteristic and I don't blame her for being upset about it. She was also right about her character in knocked up - the women were insane caricatures. Funny, but not very realistic.

I think she could be more eloquent in making her points - because they're always valid, but don't always come across with the necessary (and I think sincere) expression of gratitude for the opportunities she has.

Regardless - I'll keep watching - I like her.

[joust1]

It's about accepting whatever life hands you, good or bad , with grace and humility. Nothing is more repulsive than someone who has been handed massive goodies on a silver platter- throwing them back into the givers' faces- because they didn't get even more and better goodies. We should all be so privilaged.

[ReelBusy]

This proves the old adage:
You can give an unemployed actor a job but you can't make them grateful.

I'm sure the Greys writing staff is fired up to give her better material this year.
And filmmakers are probably very excited to hire her next after bad mouthing her biggest grossing film ever.

Here's a list of actresses that every film exec and casting director would rather hire before Heigl.
Kate Hudson
Jessica Alba
Drew Barrymore
Kate Beckinsale
Anne Hathaway
Jessica Beil
Cate Blanchett
Cameron Diaz

This is just the beginning of the full but Heigl should read the writing on the wall.

[Aslanspal]

Something is not quite right with her....str­ict morman upbringing but smokes like a chimney...­.hot and cold on the writers strike....­puts down this movie...th­en retracts..­.puts down tv show.

In her business youth is everything and she is looking rather dated.

I don't know she may have a legit beef about the business..­.but what has she done in her body of work that shows skill or growth in her craft.

perhaps angst or how she was raised and how things are going for her and the hypocrisy of it all but she definitely is not playing her cards too smart.

imho she is not major movie material or could hold a movie all by herself.

[RoseMerry]

While this all smacks of pure ego and a failure to understand that "Grey's Anatomy" is about Meredith Grey - it is NOT "Izzie's Anatomy - I must admit, she has a point. The affair between George and Izzie was unfortunate and unbelievable. And now that it has freed Callie to explore that world of "girl on girl action", you have to wonder if she is right about this being a rating's ploy.

Sigh. Still, there has got to be a better way. After all, she is getting more attention and money that she ever has in her life. Can she not be appreciative of that?

[dattexas]

She's a good progressive, seems to have an understanding of politics, called out an actor for anti-gay comments - I'll give her the benefit of the doubt.

[XME]

Same here, especially since I and many others have agreed that Grey's has most definitely gone downhill. I stopped watching at the end of LAST season.

As for RoseMerry's comments..­.her acting when her fiancee on the show died was outstanding and VERY Emmy-worthy. The show is about ALL of the primary actors, not just Meredith Grey.

[OhComeOnNow]

Well, see, that's part of the problem - Meredith is BORING!!!!!!! (oh, and a whiner)

[RevMetheus]

For a woman who started out on a bad sci-fi series, Ms Heigl seems to make a lot of cutting comments about the quality of her employers. From Knocked Up to Grey's Anatomy, she's made comments that make it seem like she feels she's too superior for these roles and only deigns to take them to help the little people.

Maybe she's a great person, but she seems a little stuck on herself.

[adzeman]

She carries the show, and has since the beginning. She may not be the lead, but she certainly is the star.

[Boobaloo]

wtf?

uhm ... no.