Delicate Surgery on 'Grey's Anatomy'

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The Wall Street Journal

Delicate Surgery on 'Grey's Anatomy'
ABC Explores a Spinoff In a Now-Uncommon Move To Exploit Hit Show's Power
By BROOKS BARNES
February 21, 2007; Page B1

ABC is surgically removing part of "Grey's Anatomy" to see if it can survive on its own. In a bold move that could bring in millions of dollars in new advertising income if it's successful, ABC has decided to pursue a spinoff of the hugely successful medical drama. Departing "Grey's Anatomy" to anchor the new show would be one of its most popular characters: Dr. Addison Montgomery-Shepherd, a sexy neonatal-surgeon played by Kate Walsh.

The general plot is still a work in progress and "Grey's Anatomy" creator Shonda Rhimes hasn't settled on a title, says a spokeswoman for ABC, a unit of Walt Disney Co. But Ms. Rhimes recently told the cast about the project and agreed to write a special two-hour episode that will serve as a pilot for the new series. ABC is likely to air the special in May -- in time for the network to decide whether to pick up the spinoff before unveiling its fall schedule to advertisers and media buyers. ABC President of Entertainment Stephen McPherson declined to comment. A spokeswoman for the ABC Television Studio, which produces the series, confirmed it has inked a deal with Ms. Walsh, but said Ms. Rhimes and Ms. Walsh both were unavailable.

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In many ways, spinning off a show from "Grey's Anatomy" would mark a departure for the modern TV industry. True spinoffs -- where ancillary characters leave an established show to become the leads of a new one -- are less common today than in decades past. A big reason: There are fewer smash hits, particularly comedies, to spin off. The TV schedule is replete with strong dramas, but shows such as "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" tend to spawn new franchises with entirely new casts of characters, notes TV historian Tim Brooks, author of "The Complete Guide to Prime Time."

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But with "Grey's Anatomy," ABC has a white-hot hit, fueled by complex story lines and charismatic characters. Despite moving to highly competitive Thursday from Sunday last fall, "Grey's Anatomy" is notching some of its best ratings ever. Last week, 26 million people tuned in to watch the doctors and medical students at Seattle Grace Hospital cope with the fallout of a ferry crash. At the same time, the ensemble show, now in its third season, has an abundance of strong characters, including Ellen Pompeo as Dr. Meredith Grey and Patrick Dempsey as Dr. Derek Shepherd. Indeed, Ms. Rhimes recently told a gathering of TV critics that it was difficult fitting all 12 "Grey's Anatomy" regulars into storylines. She wants to be intimately involved in the potential spinoff and, to free up her schedule, has tabled another pilot about a group of female journalists, says a person familiar with the matter.

Ms. Walsh's Dr. Montgomery-Shepherd joined the show in May 2005, appearing in the last few minutes of the season-one finale. She abruptly shows up at the Seattle hospital looking for her estranged neurosurgeon husband, Dr. Shepherd, and discovers he has a girlfriend. Ms. Walsh confronts her with a pointed -- and explicit -- remark. Although Ms. Rhimes and ABC executives think Ms. Walsh's character can continue evolving on "Grey's Anatomy," it became clear in recent months that her position in the show was changing, say people familiar with the matter. After all, now divorced from the neurosurgeon and friendly with the girlfriend, Dr. Montgomery-Shepherd has had fewer spats to keep her busy -- and fewer fireworks to entertain viewers.

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