14 DAY TRIAL // Katherine Heigl and ABC, which is producing and airing the highly successful medical drama where she also has a lead role, “Grey’s Anatomy,” have not always seen eye to eye, proof of that being the spat earlier this year that followed Heigl’s complaining of long working hours. Still, when it comes to accommodating its stars, there are few things that ABC wouldn’t do and, according to Michael Ausiello of The Ausiello Files, granting her a leave of absence is not among them.
Heigl needs some time off to shoot for a romantic comedy called “Life as We Know It,” because work on this project overlaps with “Grey’s.” ABC has granted small favors to Heigl before, as far as schedules go and working their way around them, but, as Ausiello also points out, this is the first time ever the bosses at the network agree that she leave for such an extended period of time. Heigl will be gone for five “Grey’s” episodes, but it is not yet known how producers will explain her absence on screen.
“I’m told Heigl’s absence will be explained on screen, although it’s not clear what prompts Izzie to take off. (Marital trouble with Alex? A trip home to see mom? A Denny sighting in the Caribbean?) […] Also, Heigl’s departure – which starts this month and will kick in on screen around November – will almost certainly overlap with co-star Ellen Pompeo’s maternity leave. Translation: ‘Grey’s; will be without Izzie and Meredith at the same time!” Ausiello writes, citing sources well placed within ABC.
Izzie’s absence might be explained by her getting fired, E! Online says, citing sources also familiar with the production. According to these, producers are thinking of a merger between Seattle Grace and crosstown rival Mercy West, which would mean more doctors than needed. Among the first to go would be Izzie, who will thus fall into the background for five episodes, until she gets called back and is offered her old job again.
Of course, this is just speculation at this point. As Shonda Rhimes was saying a while back, this season of “Grey’s” would usher in plenty of changes. “Eventually, everybody is going to leave the show. So we’re looking at [ways] we can mess with the structure now… Season 6 is about finding the longevity of the show and figuring out if there is a future for this show beyond these characters.” Rhimes was telling Ausiello sometime this summer, in the wake of T.R. Knight’s departure from the show.