It’s Official: Katherine Heigl to Remain on Grey’s Anatomy
June 19, 2009 by Ingrid Diaz
On the heels of the tragic news that T.R. Knight is leaving Seattle Grace (probably for good), comes the really great news that Katherine Heigl is staying on. What does this mean for season six? Well, there’s no guarantees of anything when it comes to the storyline and what happens to the characters, but actors leaving and staying on is usually a good indication about what happens to their fictional counterparts.
The way things are looking: George dies, Izzie lives.
As saddened as I am that any of them has to die, I think I would’ve been more surprised if the outcome had been any different. But I know a lot of you were thinking/hoping that George would be the one to survive and Izzie would head through the exit doors.
This is a pretty major development for the series. When season six airs, we’ll be missing one of the core characters that made Grey’s Anatomy the show it is today. Do you think that T.R. Knight/George being gone from the show will mean the end of the series as we know it? Will you stop watching all together or is Izzie’s survival enough to keep you glued to the screen?
Drop your thoughts in the comments!
Via | TV Guide
Image: Newscom
It has not been any single character that makes Grey’s great. It is the immense talent of every last one of the ensemble and their combined chemistry (not only romantically) that makes this one of the most satisfying TV shows I have ever watched. TR’s departure is realistic – we all lose loved ones and sometimes in real life unexpected things happen. I cannot wait to see how this loss will affect the rest of the ensemble and how it will play out in their stories.
I’m very disappoined that George’s characer is being eliminated. It should have been Callie. I won’t find Grey’s nearly as enjoyable but I will continue to watch it because of Mer/Der, Christina, and Mark. Enough about Callie, it’s beyond boring and somewhat painful to watch at times. I like Arizona though.
I agree with the above post. TR’s character was a great balance to the others. However life will go on at Seattle Grace. Look at ER and the departure of George Clooney. The show went on for another 6 years.
Greys’ is a combination of great acting and writing. I do look forward on how this will play out.
I do wish TR the best and look forward to watching him in his next endeavor.
He is not the first central character to leave this series and I am sure he won’t be the last. No one actor makes this show work. It is the combined efforts and talents of all that make this show so popular.
I’m relieved that Izzie will still be around but, if someone had to leave, I’d rather have kept George and ditched Callie… “Hero” would’ve definitely been a new spin for “007!”
Regards,
Kathy
Houston TX
Hi,
I am terribly upset about T.R. Knight leaving. I have not had internet for about 3 weeks now, so I haven’t been up-to-date on anything. Someone told me yesterday that Katherine heigl was coming back and I was very excited. However, they also mentioned that T.R. was leaving and I didn’t believe them! I just now was able to see for myself that, in fact, he truly is leaving. T.R. will be missed by a huge group of fans. We have watched him grow and become the character that he is today. Plus, some of might have just had a little-bitty crush on him! : ) It only made it that much easier to see him every week and that much harder to only see him once a week!
At least he is still in the first 5 seasons. Also, a huge GOOD LUCK to T.R. Knight and his future endevors.
Hannah
Like the person above stated, life doesn’t keep the same “characters” so why should we expect the show to keep them all. There are many others that I will turn in to see how their lives will go. I will miss T.R. Knight, he was one of my favorite characters on the show. There’s too many story lines open to stop watching.
Izzie Stevens means hope on the series…she must saty. Accually it is sad that TR wanna go.m Both should stay, but let`s face the truth, George was lost in the last season. The caracter lost everything, the importance, the sweeteness…I do not know why writers do this kind of thing.
I definitly agree. George was wonderful but to think the show will fall apart without him. I don’t think so. Maybe Izzie will fall apart, but I dunno.
Oh God, that is such a releaf that Izzie stays alive! It’s a shame about George thou.
T.R. Knight is leaving but is George dying? I’m thinking that he will live but that they’re recasting the roll.
I think Izzy brings something to the show that none of the others have and to have lost that character would have made me so sad. I think TR’s character could be replaced by anyone. He was likable, but forgettable.
Personally, T.R. Knight is right when he said he did not get a lot of air time. Any viewer will admit that recently his appearances have been gradually decreased to the point that many forgot about George until his news that he wanted to join the Army.
If izzy left, then the show would be left with a huge hole from which they may not recover since she affects another large part of the show-alex, and has had both a lot of airtime and plot surrounding her character. So if she died, the show would most likely flounder in her absence.
I think the symbolism of their outfits at the end of season five is clear.
O’Malley is dressed in Army Uniform because he did Sacrifice his life to save another, as he would have done in the army- which shows his true character.
Izzy was in the outfit that she lost denny in because she cognitively knew that denny “came for her” so it would make sense that she would revert to the outfit she was in when she found he had died. That also marked a significant time with Alex as her grief over his death brought them closer together. Another reason for this, is, this is the outfit she wore when she found denny, someone close to her, died. And now she is finding out that O’Malley, someone close to her, has died.
And for some people who have asked- why is 007 significant for george. On his first surgery as an intern, an appendectimy, the patient died because of an error he made in the ER. Which dubbed him the name 007- license to kill.
sooo happy that they’re killing george. wish they’d kill izzie too
sooo glad george is dying. wish izzie would die too.
Im delighted Izzie lives.. I was seriously thinking about giving up Greys anatomy if she were to die.. She s my favourite..Poor George.. I will miss him but glad Izzie lives!!
yay izzy is staying i loved her in roswell, when that ended i felt depressed i need izzy to stay put lol. she is better than merideth
i have just watched the finale of series 5 in the uk, where they have left it hanging if george and izzy die or not. i tink i agree with donna whitman above, they have mutilate his face so much that he has to have reconstructive surgery and hence can still be george but with a new character to play him.
im glad they have kept most of the original line up as it just wouldnt be same with out them in it but it was good that they brought in some fresh characters such as lexie and arizona etc adds a bit extra to it.
i am just trying to find out when series 6 will be aired in the uk, any ideas?
Grey’s anatmoy is great, glad Izzie will live to see another day. George is alas a figure with diminished traction in terms of story line. He had to go. Other characters much stronger and inter connected. Now Alex very interesting re-invention!
I Think I’ll Be More Upset If Izzy Leaves.. George Isn’t In It Much These Days Anyway… Theres Nothing Interesting Happening To Him… But Izzy Is One Of My Favourite Characters, If Not My Favourite
Hi, I have just watched the end of series 5 in the UK, I absolutely love Greys Anatomy, the writing of each episode is superb, the humour is brillient. I am heartbroken to hear George is being killed off, but I am glad at least Izzy is staying. I am not sure when we will see Series six in the UK but I hope it wont be long Im totally addicted and I am already having withdrawal symptoms. The cast are all brillent and I wish T R Knight all the best for the future.
Oh crap. I don’t want George to leave. Ugh. Stupid writers. He balances the whole show out, you know? If you get what I mean. Well, it’s been 5 years.. sooooo.
Hello lads,
I am happy to hear that Izzie is staying. That first.
I belive Grey’s Anatomy is an amazing serie, one of my fav. and even though George is leaving, i still think show will/can be gr8 again for some more seasons.
But, George will be missed. He was one of my fav. character in this show.
Will see what happens. Have Faith in Greys anatomy lads!
This truely SUCKS!! With any of the characters leaving the show just won’t be the same. I know main characters have left in the past but none i feel changed the show for the worst. If show continuing with just Mer, Alex, christina and Izzy will suck. If the rumos I’ve been hearing about some other actor playing George’s character well that is just not right if T.R leaves the show then so should George. I’m happy that Izzy is staying but wish they could both stay. All i can say is this really sucks.
I am SO glad that Izzie will live. The character has a lot more growing to do. She and Alex are married now. How will that play out? Will she continue to practice medicine (she better)? Are kids in their futures? I absolutely adore Izzie! She’s my favorite and the show just would not be the same without her.
On the other hand, although I’d pick Izzie to stay over George, I am very sad to see him go! He’s so likeable, sweet, caring, etc. I can’t help but to think about how his mother will take the news (after losing his father in season 3). I’m kind of obsessed…I get that…
Am I the only person that thinks there are way too many story lines going on? Cristina/Owen, Mer/Der, Mer/Cristina, Lexi/Sloan, Izzie/Alex, Callie/Arizona, Bailey/Tucker…plus all the wedding stuff…just seems like a lot to me. Of course if I had my way, Izzie would be the lead!
To the poster that commented on George being called “007″: I don’t think the patient that he operated on died…Burke stepped in and finished, after calling him a “pansy ass idiot!” The other interns dubbed him “007″ because he messed up during the surgery.
Tosha
While I’ve enjoyed TR as George, the fact that he’s leaving will not affect my viewership. It’s an ensemble cast and he will not be the first to leave, nor the last. It’s a great show…..but hey if you’re letting characters go, how about getting rid of Callie. Although I think the actress is great, the character is ridiculous.
well actually am more of a fan of izzie than george but am really sad if hes leaving the show…i wont be the same!!never!! but every body moves on!! i think that the best is that bouth of them survive because they are important part of the show and u will lose a lot of fans because of that!..
I’m with Donna on this; the fact that George’s face was so messed up by the accident and he will have to undergo major plastic surgery should he survive means it’s ripe for a recasting, and this has been done before.
As to if he does die, well the show must go on, and it is an ensemble piece after all, so I don’t think it would be too big of a miss – George did not have much airtime anyway during season 5.
I was kinda hoping Izzie would die and George would live. George has always been the glue that held the show together. He was the one link that connected everyone. Meredith and Christina had no real connection to izzie and alex other than through george. George was also the link that helped lexie develope as a character. When anyone was confused they always babbled to george for a few minutes until the answer finally came to them. George has always been the one in the middle of everything being a mediator of sorts. even though he hasn’t had a decent storyline since he was involved in the worst on-screen relationship in history, he is still a vital part. I don’t think people quite realize how different the show will be without him.
and laura, on the 007 thing- the patient didn’t die, Burke saved them. George almost killed the patient.
i’m really happy that izzie lives, but i can’t believe what happends GEORGE, he was a very important character
i am soo happy that izzy is still on the show, i think that she and alax could really make it and the show just wouldnt be the same without her… i am sad george is leavin show but izzy leavin would hav been a lot worse! we will miss ya george
Omg. Both Izzi and George are my favorites.. I’m so sad George died but at the same time I’m soo happy about Izzie living
She is what makes me so passionate about Grey’s Anatomy. But as others said, i would prefer that someone like Callie or Arizona had died.. i don’t know.. they just dont bring anything to the whole story.
I think George and Izzie are the sentimental part of the show their essence is to be the emotionals and its possible that one of them will be eliminated but not both because the two of them will mean eliminate a part of the show that is a part of what is Greys Anatomy.
I think that George isn’t going to die….we know he requested to be released from his contract so I think Izzie and George both live….however the catch is I think since George was so mangled in his accident….they are going to bring on a new George character because his plastic surgery will allow him to look different and maybe even his voicebox was so badly damaged that his voice isn’t the same either….which would allow for a George to remain on Grey’s Anatomy but at the same time releasing MR. KNIGHT. I don’t think it is a very good idea because George is well…he’s George and I love him that way (As Mr. Knight) but I guess we will just have to see.
I haven’t liked Katherine Heigl at all this season. Once she started to talk to dead people and have sex with Dennie… that was enough for me and her horrible acting. So much to the point that I did’nt want to watch the show at all. (My friends talked me into watching the rest of the season) I love George. But if Knightly wants to do broadway then let him sing! It is a shame that the show is losing him and The fact the Izzie is staying… well.. maybe I will watch the 1st episode than quit the show all together.
it is sad for george but i have this feeling that they might just recast george to add a twist but i am not fixed on this idea …….. i love how izzie lives as it gives that hope needed that i thought got lost in the show a bit. I cannot wait to see wot happens to the others as well cause it was left so open again! but thats the best part really xx