We’ve got good news and bad news for Grey’s Anatomy fans. Let’s start with the good news first, because I always prefer leading with the good news vs the bad news.
The good news is that Grey’s Anatomy season 23 is looking incredibly likely! While ABC has not yet handed out an official renewal, all signs are pointing towards a renewal coming for the long-running medical drama. This isn’t at all surprising as Grey’s Anatomy continues to rank as one of the most streamed shows, and the show’s streaming success is incredibly valuable to ABC.
It’s of little surprise that ABC is looking to renew Grey’s Anatomy as the show shows little signs of slowing down or losing popularity. What is perhaps of surprise is that the show’s renewal could come with some major cuts, both to the cast and also to the episode count.
According to Deadline, Grey’s Anatomy is facing yet another budget cut with its looming renewal and this one could result in some cast exits and a shortened season order.
As budget conversations unfold, ABC is exploring multiple options which include cutting back on the episode count for season 23 and cast shakeups. According to Deadline, with so many “long-tenured cast members who are among the highest-paid actors on broadcast television,” there is a real chance that cast departures are possible.
This is a common practice many long-running shows have been forced to face. A great example is NBC’s One Chicago franchise which has undergone a lot of cast shake-ups over the years. In fact, just this season, Chicago Fire bid farewell to two series regulars as well as a key recurring actor. With such a large cast, it’s not surprising that ABC would be considering making some changes to the ensemble when it comes to the veteran cast, but it’s certainly a reason for concern.
It seems likely we’ll bid farewell to an actor or two, but it’s also a strong possibility that those who do return will continue to appear in a more limited capacity in season 23. We’ve already seen veteran cast members’ episode count reduced to 14 out of season 22’s 18 episodes as part of cost-cutting. There is a chance that the show could up that number in season 23 to save additional funds.
Cast shakeups aren’t the only thing on the table, though. It seems there are also conversations about whether season 23 will have a reduced episode count. Gone are the days when Grey’s Anatomy is handed 20+ episode season orders with the most recent seasons coming in at 18 episodes each. That number could be decreasing in season 23 with reports that ABC is considering cutting the episode order even further.
Depending on the final episode count, season 23 could end up being one of the shortest seasons in the history of the show as only three seasons have come in under 18 episodes. The first season of the show was only nine episodes due to its nature as a midseason replacement, season 4 came in at 17 episodes due to the WGA strike, and season 17 was only 17 episodes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Should ABC hand out an order that is less than 17 episodes, season 23 would become the second shortest season of Grey’s Anatomy in the show’s history, which would be truly concerning. While we know the days of 20+ episode seasons are behind us, the idea of getting less than 18 episodes of Grey’s Anatomy in a season is certainly disappointing.
Thankfully, nothing is set in stone just yet, so hopefully ABC will avoid making changes that are too crazy. However, it seems fans might want to start bracing themselves for the possibility that a renewal will lead to some cast exits and a shortened season order.