How Many New Docs Will Scrub Into Grey's? Zero, Says Rhimes
Grey's Anatomy
Seattle Grace lost a few doctors in the wake of a deranged widower on a rampage last season, but Grey's Anatomy executive producer Shonda Rhimes tells TVGuide.com there are no plans to add anymore series regulars into the fold.
Grey's Anatomy's Ellen Pompeo: Meredith becomes the caretaker in Season 7
"We're full up," she says.
Last season saw many additions to the regular cast: There was Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw) and Teddy Altman (Kim Raver). There was also the group of rough-around-the-edges doctors who invaded Seattle Grace during the merger, though only April Kepner (Sarah Drew) and Jackson Avery (Jesse Williams) made it out of the tragic shooting alive. They have since been added as series regulars.
Audiences will get to know Jackson and April much better once they move in with Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) this season. Pompeo says Meredith and April, whose crush on Derek (Patrick Dempsey) proved nearly fatal, will bond this season — which may help audiences change their feelings toward April.
Shonda Rhimes: Grey's Anatomy docs all grown up in new season
"Meredith will accept April in order to get the audience to accept her," says Pompeo, who hopes Mer will be there to guide the new docs through their surgical residency.
"I feel like Meredith and Cristina [Sandra Oh] are much further along in their careers than April and Jackson," she continues. "The audience hasn't seen them go through as much training as they've seen us go through. I would love there to be a teaching element as opposed to them being our contemporaries."
Grey's Anatomy returns for its seventh season Thursday, Sept. 23 at 9/8c on ABC.