Ellen Pompeo is being urged by producers to return to her role on "Grey's Anatomy" for many episodes, since the show is at risk of declining without her presence. Entertainment sources revealed that this move may result in Ellen being perceived as having an inflated ego.
In May, the formerly very successful show suffered from poor ratings, only managing to garner 2.75 million viewers, making it the lowest-performing broadcast of the month. The current number is significantly down compared to the 25 million viewers who watched the Season 3 premiere in 2006.
Ellen, in her role as surgeon Meredith Grey, was given an emotional farewell on screen last year. However, despite this, the 54-year-old still has the highest position in the show's opening credits and remains as an executive producer and the narrator of the series.
However, insiders claimed that the highly-paid celebrity, who used to earn more than $20 million per year as the highest-paid actress on television, has agreed to appear in a minimum of seven out of the planned 18 episodes of “Grey's Anatomy” Season 21, which will premiere in September.
“Ellen made Grey’s what it is — and she knows it. So it’s got to be satisfying that it never achieved the same success after she stopped her regular onscreen appearances. But some people are now wondering if her oversized ego will explode even more!” a tipster told The National Enquirer.
Ellen, who also serves as an executive producer for Grey's Anatomy and has a comprehensive agreement with ABC Signature, will maintain her position as the principal narrator for the show.
The announcement is a positive development for fans of the enduring primetime medical series, as Ellen's presence has been inconsistent in the past two seasons. She made appearances in eight episodes of Season 19 and just four episodes of Season 20, which was curtailed as a result of the writers and actors strikes in 2023.
The Hollywood Reporter stated that Ellen transitioned from being a regular cast member to appearing in the series on a recurrent basis, as she made a commitment to both produce and take on a leading role in a limited series for Hulu in 2022.
The series, called “Natalia,” which draws inspiration from the real-life story of Natalia Grace, will conclude filming prior to the commencement of production on “Grey's Anatomy.” This allows Ellen the opportunity to potentially make appearances in more than the originally scheduled seven episodes.
In the Season 19 winter opener titled "I'll Follow the Sun," Meredith, played by Ellen, temporarily bid farewell to Grey Sloan Memorial after being the lead character on “Grey's Anatomy” for almost twenty years and appearing in over 400 episodes. This departure was prompted by her family's relocation to Boston.
Despite her absence onscreen, Ellen continued to serve as the show's narration after returning for the two-part finale of that season, titled "Wedding Bell Blues/Happily Ever After."
In Season 20, the finale concluded with a favorable outcome for Meredith and Nick (Scott Speedman). Following the prevention of a possible career disaster caused by Catherine Fox's attempt to claim ownership of the Alzheimer's research conducted by Meredith and her sister Amelia, Meredith informed Nick that she made an offer on a house near Boston for the two of them and her children to live in.
Creator Rhimes has often emphasized that “Grey's Anatomy” would not exist without the character of Meredith Grey, and the creative team has reiterated that the possibility of Ellen's return is still on the table.
