‘Grey’s Anatomy’ minus Meredith?

By Michael Ausiello

updated 3:37 p.m. ET July 23, 2009

Question: Hey, do you have any “Grey's Anatomy” news that doesn't involve George or Izzie? — Salma

Ausiello: Yes — the entire cast will be following T.R. Knight out the door. At least series creator Shonda Rhimes is braced for them to. Eventually. She got to thinking about it both because of Knight's exit and Ellen Pompeo's impending maternity leave. “It's going to be tricky,” Rhimes acknowledges. “Ellen is incredibly optimistic and somehow thinks she'll be back and ready to rock 'n' roll. [But] I have a child, so I know that that's not true. [So] we have a lovely story [on deck] that will take us into her maternity leave. And we have plans for some really interesting stand-alone episodes for [while she's gone]. But we're heading towards the future of the show and eventually, unless we're really lucky, everybody's going to go. That's what the end of season 5 taught me. So we're looking at, How do we mess with that structure now while we have everybody and figure out ways in which, 'What would we do without Ellen? What would we do if we had an episode without Patrick Dempsey?' So season 6 is important. A lot of shows don't make it through season 6 because they don't know how to transition."

Can Rhimes envision "Grey's" someday going on with Pompeo (and Mer) completely out of the picture?! "I don't know" she hedges. "I clearly want Mer Grey on the show for as long as Ellen Pompeo wants to be on the show; that's not even a question. But I think that there's a possibility of [her leaving for good at some point]. I haven't even thought that far. That's the one blank spot I have in my head. I can't really picture Mer Grey not on the show. But [at least] we have Lexie Grey. There is another Grey if we really needed one." But would anyone watch Lexie Grey's Anatomy? Would you?

Question: Will Ellen Pompeo's pregnancy be written into “Grey’s Anatomy”? — John

Ausiello: No. "Ellen is pregnant, but Meredith is not," Rhimes tells me. "Meredith wouldn't be pregnant [right now]."

Question: Now that “Grey’s Anatomy” has finally started production, you got anything? And I really mean anything. — Dana

Ausiello: Look for Owen's PTSD to possibly flare up in the Sept. 24 opener. I say this because my Grey's mole tells me that Seattle Grace's go-to shrink, Amy Madigan, will appear in the second hour of the two-hour premiere.

Question: So, what exactly will you be doing during your virgin Comic-Con voyage? —Damon

Ausiello: You mean when I'm not riding around the convention floor in the Pope's bulletproof jitney? I'll be holed up in Entertainment Weekly's ultra swanky (or so they tell me!) suite interviewing lots of famous TV people on camera. The resulting video will then be quickly uploaded my blog, so check back often. But first do me a solid and send me some really smart questions to ask the folks listed below via .

Kristen Bell
Michael C. Hall/“Dexter”
Lucy Lawless/“Spartacus”
Jim Caviezel/“The Prisoner”
Joss Whedon and Eliza Dushku/“Dollhouse”
David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel/“Bones”
“The Big Bang Theory” cast
“24” cast
“Stargate Universe” cast
“True Blood” cast
“V” cast
“Vampire Diaries” cast
“Chuck” cast

Question: I have a need for Speed! So will we be seeing Speed(le) in the flashback episode of “CSI:Miami,” or did Rory Cochrane turn it down? — Kristine

Ausiello: Believe it or not, Rory Cochrane turned 'em down. I kid you not. Methinks someone's still a little peeved about getting killed off.

Question: Please more “CSI: Miami” scoop! — Jordan

Ausiello: The aforementioned flashback episode will reveal how Tripp lost all his hair — and it wasn't because he was late to the Propecia party. As exec producer Ann Donahue explains, "We'll see Tripp with a combover and Calleigh says something like, 'You know, bald men are really sexy.' And then the next time we see him he's shaved his head."

Question: Will Grissom be joining Sara back on “CSI” early in the season? — Lois

Ausiello: No, but some old friends of his will be. Exec producer Carol Mendelsohn reveals to me exclusively that “CSI” will be bringing back a few members of the infamous Millander clan in this season's second episode. "The last time we saw [serial killer] Paul Millander was in season 2 when Grissom had dinner at [his alter ego] Judge Mason's house, because, if you remember Paul lived a double life as a judge. And we met Mrs. Mason and their young son, Craig. Well, Paul's dead, but Mrs. Mason and Craig live on. And we will see them in episode 2." Why? Keep reading for a possible clue...

Question: The season premiere of “CSI” is only two months away. I'm sure that you've gotten some kind of spoiler or tidbit to throw to us! — Andy and Rebecca

Ausiello: You can drop the "or." I've got a spoiler and a tidbit, courtesy of exec producer Naren Shankar. First the tidbit: "You're going to get an explanation for that ring Langston (Laurence Fishburne) still has on his finger in [episode 2]." Now for the spoiler: "We're going to launch a new season-long serial killer arc. Starting at the end of our premiere, a brand new nemesis [will emerge] who has a very unique way of killing." More unique than that whole miniature thing? "This time, the crime scene is always the body," Shankar teases. "We're calling him Dr. Jekyl."

Question: Will David Ramsey (Anton) be back for the fourth season of “Dexter”? — Katya

Ausiello: Yes

Question: Any info on “Bones”? — Grace

Ausiello: The show is looking for an actress in her late teens to play Cam's adopted daughter Michelle. I know what you're thinking: "We've already met Cam's adopted daughter Michelle!" Do I have to draw you a picture? Obviously, we're going to learn that Cam's got another adopted daughter around the same age and with the same name. Duh.

Question: Regarding the controversial hookup that Dan partakes in on “Gossip Girl” — is the show finally following the books and exploring Dan's bisexuality? — Michael

Ausiello: That's a negative. His controversial hookup is with a girl.

Question: Okay, I'm ready for another clue about the lead character getting shot multiple times. At least eliminate a show from the list. — Bruce

Ausiello: It's not “Mad Men.”

Question: Any scoop on “Nurse Jackie”? — Soomi

Ausiello: Peter Facinelli's Coop kisses a dude in the season finale.

Question: Out of all the fall pilots you've seen, which are your three favorite broadcast comedies and dramas? — Conor

Ausiello: “Modern Family,” “Cougar Town,” and “Community” are tops among comedies, while “Parenthood,” “Vampire Diaries,” and “The Good Wife” rate best among dramas. But I still have a bunch more to watch, including “Flash Forward.”

Question: What does ABC plan to do to reestablish “Ugly Betty” as a force again? — Dave

Ausiello: You mean aside from moving it to red-hot Friday nights? Well, it looks like the musical episode is finally going to happen in the spring. And they just hired Meadow Soprano to play Daniel's new assistant. Oh, and “Rescue Me’s” Adam Ferrera is guest starring as a Queens contractor who crosses paths with Hilda. That's all I got at the moment.

Question: I'm sad Kirk Acevedo is leaving “Fringe,” but what I really want to know is if Ari Graynor is coming back for season 2. She and the niece added something special to the show, and showed us a different side of Olivia. — Tim

Ausiello: Yes, Graynor's Rachel returns in the season premiere. Her involvement beyond that is TBD.

Question: Do you have any information on Barney and Robin on the next season of “How I Met Your Mother”? — Lynn

Ausiello: Their relationship will be one of two major focal points of season 5, per exec producer Craig Thomas. "Barney's feelings for Robin are out there, and it seems like Robin might have feelings for Barney herself," he says. "And it's so much fun to write for two people who are emotionally illiterate like the two of them are." (For the record, the other major season 5 story is the Mother being one of Ted's students.)

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