ABC: We're Keeping Heigl On "Grey's Anatomy"

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — Katherine Heigl is sticking with "Grey's Anatomy" despite voicing displeasure about last season's script quality, the network's programming chief said.

Heigl's previous comments raised speculation that she might want to leave the ABC medical drama _ rumors that ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson sought to dispel.

"She's absolutely staying with the show. There's an unbelievable story line for her this year, which is really central to everything that's going to go on this season," he told a meeting of the Television Critics Association on Wednesday.

Last month, in explaining why she didn't put her name in for Emmy consideration, Heigl said she hadn't been "given the material this season to warrant an Emmy nomination."

Nominations for the 60th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were to be announced Thursday.

McPherson noted that Heigl won an Emmy Award for her role as Dr. Izzie Stevens for the previous season, then defended the popular series.

"It's unfortunate when there's any kind of turmoil on a show... I think it's a beautifully written, beautifully acted, beautifully produced show," he said, adding that all those involved with it deserve "an enormous amount of credit."

"I never like to see when any of them are in any way taken lightly," McPherson said.

A spokeswoman for Heigl said the actress had no comment.

Heigl shot to box-office success last summer with the comedy "Knocked Up" and this year's "27 Dresses."

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On the Net:

http://www.abc.com

Comments

[Topfeeder]

She always reminds me of a blond Ashley Judd.

[josephbua]

I dunno. Denny has just signed for a guest spot. At my blog I've been examining whether he's doing a Clooney and coming to get her (like on ER with Julliana Margulies), only this time, Denny being dead, it would have to happen, you know, in some sort of weird Seattle Grace afterlife.

http://iamatvjunkie.typepad.com/i_am_a_tv_junkie_a_blog_f/2008/07/is-denny-duquette-alive-or-is-izzy-gonna-die-and-have-denny-meet-her-at-the-pearly-gates.html

[RIPHRC]

She is so freakin hot, I have a hard time looking at her...

I'd keep her too.

[Hagrid]

She is overrated.
Knocked Up was great because of Aptow and crew, any actress could have done her role.

And her next movies were rather weak, no?

[camazotz]

Yep, definitely overrated. And full of herself. No depth.

I've always figured the Emmy was a fluke. I'll bet the votes were so spread out between the nominations that it created this anomaly.

There is a pattern to her type; no one will remember who she is in a few years.

[LaShon]

TOO OVERRATED! .....Just wanted to jump on the bandwagon.

I don't even watch the show anymore, partly because of HEIGL....

[mcyina]

ABC is so supid. Thank God for DVR. I will continue to fast forward over her scenes. I don't even think Pompeo the reason I watch is enough for me to put up with ABC.

[Imzadi]

Yep - We're Keeping her - in a hospital bed with a coma after the botched surgery for her brain tumor...

[Hagrid]

My thinking, exactly!

[JLindsley]

She is right. The Grey plots went from being compelling to ludicrous. I hope they discontinue the vapid plots and subplots. It almost as if the writers are out of good ideas.

[houseofglass]

she whines (with every right to), and Isaiah gets fired.

she whines about not having material good enough for an emmy and presto:

"There's an unbelievable story line for her this year"

next year: $$$ Hit 'em hard kat!

[ChiGuy]

Washington got canned because the dumba** made VERY public what had been quietly discussed, but not blown all over the media.
Had he not opened his big yap at the Emmys, the producers and ABC probably would have been content to handle the incident internally, as they had been doing up until then.

[DeadCivilian]

ABC retaining a blonde white girl? No way!

Why, this is unprecedented. Groundbreaking. Cutting edge.

Disney: keeping fantasy alive for population control.

[LoRiseAntlers]

It's not news,it's the Huffington Post.

[tasukibeth1]

It's not the Huffington Post, it's the ENTERTAINMENT SECTION of the Huffington post.

Get over yourself.

[LaShon]

I have to agree. It's just fun coming to The Huffington Post ( whether it's the politics, business, entertainment, etc. section) reading and joining in on a TOPIC you like.