Season 23 of Grey’s Anatomy shouldn’t be the last, but…
After more than 20 years on the air, the medical series must deal with increasingly severe budgetary constraints. Its showrunner Meg Marinis recognizes that each new season is now a gift…
Here we go again for Seattle doctors.
But for how much longer? While season 23 of Grey’s Anatomy has just started in the United States, the future of the series remains uncertain.
Interviewed by Variety, its showrunner Meg Marinis recognizes that production must face increasingly difficult financial decisions, in a context which weakens the entire television industry.
Asked how many episodes this new season will have, Marinis responds: “This has not yet been confirmed.”
An uncertainty which says a lot about the difficulties encountered by the series, despite its exceptional longevity and audiences which remain solid.
Producing Grey’s Anatomy is expensive. The series is based on one of the largest casts on American television and must juggle the constraints of a rapidly changing audiovisual landscape. The characters thus appear less often on screen, while the number of episodes could also be reduced.
“All series feel these difficulties. We even see it when we develop a new series, when we discover the means at our disposal. I had unprecedented exchanges during the launch of the new spin-off of Grey’s in Texas. So when we reach the 23rd season, each episode is a gift; it’s a feeling shared by many here. Perhaps we will go until the 50th season, but it’s unlikely. With each episode, we examine the budget by asking ourselves questions: can I shoot outdoors? Is it possible or not? Do I have the means to integrate visual effects? Can we avoid the use of a green screen?
However, Meg Marinis assures that no one told her the end of Grey’s Anatomy. However, she remains aware that the question could arise at any time, given the evolution of the sector.
“No one told me the end was coming, and I’m grateful for that. I figure, given everything this show has accomplished, I’ll have some advance notice. But it’s always in the back of my mind, given what’s going on in the industry. We know every year that this could be the last. For now, we’re moving on, and they’re letting us shoot these episodes.”
The showrunner also says she is prepared to accept a shorter order if necessary, preferring to remember how far she has come rather than worrying about what might happen.
Launched in 2005, Grey’s Anatomy has already spanned several generations of doctors, notable departures and upheavals at Gray Sloan Memorial Hospital. Season 23 is therefore not officially the last, but Meg Marinis’ comments show that the possibility of a conclusion is now part of the team’s thoughts.
