Grey’s Anatomy is going through not only cast changes this season but episode reductions as well.
During a recent appearance on the “Chicks in the Office” podcast, star Chandra Wilson confirmed there would be 13 episodes in season 23. The ABC series previously had a wide range of episode counts from 17 to 27.
The lowest count was in the first season (nine episodes) and season 20, which was shortened to 10 episodes in the aftermath of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. The shift in season 23 comes as Grey’s Anatomy adjusts to some changes behind the scenes.
It was confirmed in September that Sarah Levy, Martin Martinez and Trevor Tordjman are joining the long-running series in guest-starring roles. One season prior, Kevin McKidd and Kim Raver departed the show, which came as a shock to viewers who had grown attached to Teddy (Raver) and Owen’s (McKidd) story lines.
“Grey’s Anatomy has been a huge chapter of my life, creatively and personally, and I’m deeply grateful for everything the show has given me over the years,” McKidd, 53, said in a March statement. “Playing Dr. Owen Hunt and directing on the show have both shaped me enormously, and I’ve had the privilege of working with an extraordinary group of people throughout that time. I’m particularly thankful to Shonda Rhimes for creating Owen, and for the encouragement she gave me as I stepped into directing.”
He continued: “As that chapter comes to a close, I’m looking forward to what’s ahead — building new work, telling new stories and taking everything I’ve learned into the next phase of my career.”
Raver, 57, broke her silence at the time in a statement of her own.
“Playing Dr. Teddy Altman will always hold a dear and special place in my heart. Sixteen years ago, I had the incredible privilege of stepping into this role thanks to the vision of Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers,” she wrote. “Since that day, it has been a true gift to bring the iconic words of Shonda and our brilliant team of writers to life. … To the fans — your unwavering devotion and support are the reason this show remains such a force. Thank you for making this set my place of magic and my home.”
Season 22 of Grey’s Anatomy also experienced shakeups when the show reduced the minimum guarantees for its veteran cast members to 14 out of its 18 episodes per season.
Executive producer Meg Marinis recently was asked whether any former cast members might find a way to return this season despite the major changes.
“I hope so! We love bringing former cast [members] back when they’re available and it makes sense story-wise,” she told The Hollywood Reporter in October. “We have some ideas percolating, so I’m hopeful we’ll have some fun nostalgic surprises for fans this season.”
Grey’s Anatomy airs on ABC Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET before streaming the next day on Hulu.
