“Grey’s Anatomy” underwent one of its biggest changes since Ellen Pompeo’s final episode as a series that aired in February. Still, longtime cast member Jake Borelli says working on the long-running ABC medical drama feels like business as usual.
The actor, whose Dr. Levi Schmidt first appeared on the series in season 14 and then became a series regular the following season, said the show’s 19th season served as a rebirth for “Greys.” The series introduced a new class of interns – Dr. Simone Griffin (Alexis Floyd), Dr. Lucas Adams (Nico Terro), Dr. Mika Yasuda (Midori Francis) and Dr. Benson Kwan (Harry Shum Jr.) – and Levi He is now in charge of teaching and supervising them as chief resident.
Despite the spotlight shining on a new set of Doctors alongside plenty of other familiar faces within the cast, Borelli said this reset feels like just another day on the show.
“‘Greys’ always did this cycle of seeing interns grow up to be residents, then attendants, and then, you know, they either leave the hospital or become chief and then new interns come in. The show is really structured that way,” Borelli told TheWrap. “It’s always felt like an ensemble show to me.”
Pompeo’s Meredith Gray begins season 19 as the hospital’s interim chief of surgery and later decides to move to Boston to help her daughter get an education at a high-profile institution — and a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. In finding to focus your research. The episode airing on February 23 featured Meredith saying a lukewarm goodbye to Seattle and the hospital where she began her career, with a promise to return (Pompeo continues to narrate the episode’s opening and closing monologues). is, and is set to return to screens in the season 19 finale this spring.)
With Pompeo still continuing her work as an executive producer on the show, along with its sibling series “Station 19,” it’s almost like she hasn’t really left.
“Ellen’s never really gone, you know; He’s still here, his trailer is still here. She herself said she might come back, so it doesn’t seem like everyone is calling it goodbye,” Borelli said.
Meredith’s on-screen absence nonetheless feels like a monumental adjustment for fans of the show. And more changes are on the horizon for the series, as showrunner Krista Vernoff previously announced she would be stepping down from both “Greys” and “Station 19” at the end of their current seasons.
“The last time I left ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ I’d been gone for seven seasons and the show was still running when Shonda called me to run it,” she said in a statement in January. “So I’m not saying goodbye because that would be too bittersweet. I’m saying ‘see you in seven seasons.'”
The show has yet to be renewed for a 20th season, although it is almost certain to happen. Borelli said he would be on “Grey’s Anatomy” for as many seasons as ABC and fans would keep him.
“I don’t want this show to end. I think it’s incredible, and we’re still telling really amazing real stories and we’re still pushing the dial in terms of representation. I want to keep the show going.” Would love,” Borelli said. “I’m definitely looking forward to a Season 20 pickup. It would be great if this show ran for a full two decades and more. ,
Grey’s Anatomy airs new episodes Thursdays at 9 PM ET/PT on ABC.
