Is 'Grey's Anatomy' Season 17 the last season? Here's what Patrick Dempsey has to say

In a cryptic interview, Patrick Dempsey hinted that ABC's hugely popular medical drama could soon be coming to its end
UPDATED FEB 19, 2021
Patrick Dempsey, the former star of 'Grey's Anatomy', who is also appearing on the show's latest season hints that the show may soon be coming to an end (Getty Images)
Patrick Dempsey, the former star of 'Grey's Anatomy', who is also appearing on the show's latest season hints that the show may soon be coming to an end (Getty Images)

Patrick Dempsey just can't seem to stop surprising us. First with his surprise reappearance on 'Grey's Anatomy' and now with a rather cryptic interview, he recently gave to ET Canada. When asked about the show beyond Season 17, Patrick gave a mysterious answer, "It will be interesting to see what happens in the next few months."



 

RELATED ARTICLES 

Ellen Pompeo and Patrick Dempsey have not been in touch or spoken since his exit from 'Grey's Anatomy'

'Grey's Anatomy' Season 17 Episode 1: Is Meredith going to die? Derek's return leaves fans emotional

This has got fans in quite a flurry, especially coming on the heels of an interview that Ellen Pompeo who plays Meredith Grey on the show gave to 'Variety' earlier saying, "We don’t know when the show is really ending yet, But the truth is, this year could be it. I mean, this is the last year of my contract right now. I don’t know that this is the last year? But it very well could be."

But are the numbers are just too good for ABC to bring the show to an end? In delayed multiplatform viewing, Season 16 of 'Grey's Anatomy' averaged 15 million viewers.

Interestingly even though 'Grey's Anatomy' has so much more competition for the public imagination now than when it first started, 'Grey's Anatomy' still ranks as the No.1 drama among 18 to 34-year-olds and No. 2 among adults 18 to 49-year-olds. These numbers sound too good to bring to an end and it seems that ABC for the moment agrees. ABC Entertainment President Karey Burke in an interview to Deadline said "Grey’s Anatomy will live as long as Ellen is interested in playing Meredith Grey. We will let her lead the pace on that."

Ellen Pompeo star of 'Grey's Anatomy' had also earlier hinted that Season 17 could be the last (Getty Images)

But surely nothing that happens anywhere escapes Dr Bailey! Chandra Wilson, who plays the tough and all-seeing Dr Miranda Bailey on the show, doesn't think the end is near thankfully!

In an interview to Entertainment Tonight Wilson said, "I know from a creative standpoint there have been many 'This is how the season would end' conversations and then they all end up [not happening] because of a myriad of reasons. Because the network's not ready, the studio's not ready, the fanbase isn't ready, the numbers are too good, all of those things. Collectively, they've decided we're not going to put an end on it. We're just going to wait and see."

Chandra Wilson stars in 'Grey's Anatomy' (Getty Images)

Grey's Anatomy Season 17 returns to ABC on March 11, 2021 with a special crossover event with the show 'Station 19'. Check out the trailer below and see what is in store for characters Ben Warren, Andrew and Carina DeLuca, and of course, Meredith Grey as she battles Covid.



 

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Season 2 of ‘Your Friends & Neighbors’ deals with darker themes as Coop continues to push his luck, and Jon Hamm gives a major update.
2 hours ago
While no official date has been set for 'The Pitt' Season 3, reports suggest that it will premiere next year, without this fan-favorite character.
3 hours ago
'The Pitt' has already been renewed for a third season by HBO Max and is currently in the writing stage.
5 hours ago
Raj Dar and Mir Dar's fortunes took a turn for the worse following the death of the criminal mastermind father, Baba Dar.
7 hours ago
The Russos return for one last fight, but with Alex missing and time running out, the final season sets up a battle that could change everything.
7 hours ago
Dr. Robby had previously offered his best protege the chance to house-sit for him while he was away on his sabbatical.
7 hours ago
‘The Pitt’ Season 2 Episode 13 showcases Robby's conflict over leaving staff and patients alone to handle the stress and chaos as he takes time off.
8 hours ago
Kitty checks off every dream on her list, but that airport confession changes everything, and now the show’s future feels wide open.
8 hours ago
Season 2 of the medical drama series has been dropping hints all season that Dr. Samira Mohan's (Supriya Ganesh) time is up in 'The Pitt.'
8 hours ago
A new Shelby rises in post-war Birmingham, but his quiet stare hints at something darker brewing beneath the surface.
8 hours ago