“Imagine Being That Guy”: Grey’s Anatomy Was Almost Canceled Before It Even Aired

Longtime Grey's Anatomy lead Ellen Pompeo reveals why the revered medical drama was nearly canceled ahead of its 2005 premiere on ABC.

Taylor CunninghamJune 7, 2023

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Grey’s Anatomy lead Ellen Pompeo reveals that the record-breaking medical drama almost never made it onto the air. Created by prolific television writer and producer Shonda Rhimes, the popular ABC series starred Pompeo as Doctor Meredith Grey for 19 seasons from 2005 to 2023 while becoming the longest-running primetime medical drama in history. Pompeo ended her long-running tenure as the show’s namesake character in its season 19 episode “I’ll Follow the Sun.”

Although ABC has confirmed that Grey’s Anatomy will return for season 20, while speaking with her former co-star Katherine Heigl for Variety, Pompeo has revealed the surprising reason Grey’s Anatomy was nearly canceled ahead of its 2005 premiere on ABC. Possibly alluding to the president of ABC Entertainment at the time, Stephen McPherson, who was against the show when it first began production, Pompeo shares that the lack of faith in Rhimes’ abundant talent led to the show not making it to air. See what she had to say below:

“We’ll be very nice and not name the executive who almost took a nap on Shonda Rhimes. I’m not saying it, but he almost slept on Shonda Rhimes — almost didn’t air that pilot! You can do your research and find out who it was. Imagine being that guy.”

Grey’s Anatomy’s Enduring Success Explained

Despite initial apprehension from studio heads, the consistent success that Grey’s Anatomy has seen in its 20-year run is undeniable. The show has not only launched the careers of many notable actors and writers, but has also maintained high ratings and prevalence despite the overall decrease in viewership across broadcast television amid the rise of streaming platforms. As the series approaches the start of production on season 20 with first-time showrunner Meg Marinis replacing Krista Vernoff, appreciation for the longevity of the series’ seemingly inimitable success is at an all-time high.

Pompeo’s critically acclaimed portrayal of Meredith Grey has remained at the heart of the show since its debut, making her involvement key to its success. Additionally, Rhimes’ fully developed and diverse ensemble cast placed in the emotionally heightened and fast-paced environment of a hospital has offered a wealth of storylines that range from deeply touching to totally unexpected. In fact, Rhimes’ early commitment to the series helped to create such a rich world that ratings did not waver even after she stepped away to focus on her Netflix shows.

While many are left wondering what to expect from a full season of Grey’s Anatomy without Pompeo, the show has continued to thrive in the face of drastic changes before. Most notably, Patrick Demsey’s departure as Derek Shepard in season 11 came as an immense shock to viewers, with many voicing that his character getting killed off would ruin the show. Still, despite initial doubts and those that have followed the show’s status as a hit, Grey’s Anatomy continues to find a way to surprise and captivate audiences.