Shonda Rhimes and her new BFFs

By Rick Porter

July 17, 2008 5:02 PM

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Shonda Rhimes should totally Facebook friend her fellow ABC showrunners, because they did what friends do at an entertaining and sometimes informative press tour session Thursday.

The creator of Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice was no doubt prepared to face some questions about the Katherine Heigl Emmy Situation (which, thankfully, may have about run its course now that ABC's time is winding down). And while we got a diplomatic if not terribly unexpected answer to the question from her, her fellow producers -- Greg Berlanti (Dirty Sexy Money et al.), Silvio Horta (Ugly Betty), Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse (Lost) and especially Marc Cherry (Desperate Housewives) -- repeatedly broke the room up with jokes about the situation.

"I didn't see this one coming," Lindelof cracked when the first Heigl-related query -- about the "unbelievable storyline" for Heigl's character Izzie that ABC chief Steve McPherson teased on Wednesday -- came a couple minutes into the session.

"Story-wise, we have a really great story that we're all excited about. And things are going fine" on set, according to Rhimes, despite reports of unease between Heigl and the show's writers.

Quietly, but enough into his microphone that most of the room heard it, Horta added, "I'd put her in a coma."

Rhimes does admit to being surprised at Heigl's statement that she didn't submit her name for Emmy consideration because she didn't think she was given Emmy-worthy material to play. But Rhimes also says she has a "wonderful working relationship" with the actress and that Izzie is one of her favorite characters.

And as for the mechanics of the material Heigl did get? "Two things: The George-and-Izzie storyline in the first half of the season played out a lot more comedically than what she'd done in the past," Rhimes says. "And in the back half of the season she asked me personally to write her light so she could do her movie."

And for the record, she "didn't feel insulted" by Heigl's statement.

Cherry also got into the conversation, noting that while reporters may get aspects of stories like this one correct, there are often more sides to things than what gets published. So what, someone asked, is the other side to this one?

"She was drunk!" Cherry pronounced. (Kidding again, obviously.)

He also commented on how he manages on-set crises. "Usually the best way to deal with actors is to pretend like they're real people and talk to them," he says. "It's show business, it's not real life."

in Grey's Anatomy , Press Tour

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Comments

I say Katherine Heigl spoke the truth. She was given crap this year. I hated her this season.

Tierra | Jul 17, 2008 5:43:41 PM | #

I personally stopped watching last season. They got rid of a great actor. Rehab my butt!

katie | Jul 17, 2008 8:49:07 PM | #

Whether her storyline this season was good or not, there was a better way at approaching the situation better than what she did. I love Katherine Heigl and Izzie Stevens, but that's like biting the hand that fed her. I'm shocked at how people are saying she was right. I mean, really, would you talk badly about the person who sort of cosign your checks? Especially in Hollywood? It's one thing to take a stand for something, but it's another when you are being out right disrespectful. Sure, the media or her publicist might have worded her statement wrong, but thats where SHE should come in and correct her name and not let others do it for her. No hiding behind the publicist or the studio head. If you gonna be real about how you fell then you need to stick to it and own up to your stance and not coward in the shadows. That's real talk.

Mark O. Estes | Jul 17, 2008 11:49:16 PM | #

I meant to say "how you feel"... Sorry about the double post.

Mark O. Estes | Jul 17, 2008 11:50:20 PM | #

Agreed. It would have been more tactful for her to approach the writers in private rather than make it into one big, public event. If the writers could write her character 'light' so that she could go off to film her movie, she should have at least showed the same amount of respect to the writers.

Zen | Jul 18, 2008 12:31:36 AM | #

If it's a legitimate greivence that Katherine had this year about the writing for her character, then she should have done like many others before her have done. Brought it up in private, between her and the writers. She should not have bitten the hand that feeds her. She should not have publically dissed the very folks that have taken her from a no-name one in a million television actress and put her on the map. Because of exposure from Grey's, Katherine Heigl is now a sought after star for major movies.

I really enjoy Katherine Heigl. I've followed her career for a very long time. But in my opinion, what she's doing isn't anything more than a ploy to be let out of her contract early. She knows what she wants to do, and if you ask her behind closed doors I bet it ain't Grey's.

We've seen other stars before her cause trouble, just because it's easier to let them go rather then put up with their stuff.

Kevin Blanco | Jul 18, 2008 2:13:16 AM | #

Bring back Isaih Washington!!

Anthony | Jul 18, 2008 8:13:48 AM | #

She got Isaih Washington fired I say fire her also.

| Jul 18, 2008 10:50:24 AM | #

I don't care about Izzie or Katherine Heigl. She is on one of the top rated shows on TV and she whines about her storylines. I can't believe people think she is much sought after when she has only made two movies and both of them were pretty much garbage.

Personal note - I'm also sick of the paps following her around with a cigarette in her face. We don't care.

I say put her in a coma and then forget about her.

I'm also so over Denny. Let it go.

Mel | Jul 18, 2008 3:43:17 PM | #