Grey’s Anatomy Expected to Return for Season 23, But Fans May Feel the Pinch

It’s hard to believe that Grey’s Anatomy continues to secure renewals on ABC, especially as the once-groundbreaking medical drama increasingly resembles a daytime soap and is less of the cultural force it once was.

Everything about the show feels smaller these days, and if Grey’s Anatomy Season 23 is official, it’s expected to be even smaller.

According to Deadline, the cast and creatives have been told that the series is bracing for another budget cut.

(Disney/Anne Marie Fox)

But this time, the cuts may be so deep that the series will have a smaller episode order.

The show has been scaled back quite a bit in recent years, clocking in at 18 episodes the past two seasons.

If it goes lower, the likely number would be in the 13-15 episode range, which naturally means that there won’t be enough time for some stories to be told.

With ABC‘s sporadic scheduling over the last few years, I wouldn’t be surprised if it tried to spread those episodes throughout an entire season and just air encores in between.

That would make the show feel like an afterthought.

(Disney/Anne Marie Fox)

Series star Ellen Pompeo has long buoyed Grey’s Anatomy, but Meredith Grey is no longer the constant presence she once was.

Budget cuts won’t affect only the episode order; many cast members are expected to be cut as the series navigates another round of cost-saving measures.

Grey’s Anatomy Remains a Hit — Just Not on ABC

The sad thing is that Grey’s Anatomy is a streaming powerhouse and remains one of the most-watched series in the world, so it’s a shame that some of that streaming money doesn’t funnel down to production.

The funds are there to put on a good show that’s reminiscent of the good old days, but Disney is slowly killing it with constant belt-tightening.

(Disney/Anne Marie Fox)

Obviously, Grey’s Anatomy has had some big cast changes over the years, but it’s deviating so far from what it used to be that it’s becoming more of a chore to keep up with.

Beyond nostalgia hits like Kate Walsh returning as Addison, what are we doing here?

There’s still so much potential, but the storylines just aren’t hitting the way they once did, and maybe it’s the budget, which leads to my next point.

Would it be so bad to end the show on ABC and kick off a streaming-exclusive sequel that allows the budget to be a bit less constrained and have a more focused plot?

(Disney/Anne Marie Fox)

Sadly, logic is generally not something we expect from TV executives when it comes to beloved fan favorites.

Just look at 9-1-1’s handling of Peter Krause’s exit.

That was a straight-up budget cut, no matter how often those associated with the series try to frame it as a creative choice.

There’s every reason to believe that Grey’s Anatomy will remain in business for the foreseeable future, but are the trade-offs worth it at this point?

I think not, because why keep the show going if it’s forgetting what made Grey’s Anatomy so hot in the first place?

(Disney/Anne Marie Fox)

What are your thoughts on budget cuts and Grey’s Anatomy Season 23 moving forward?

Do you think there’s a way that the creatives can make the show work, or do you believe that it’s time to put the show out to pasture?

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