Can 'Grey's Anatomy' revive its Emmy hopes

On last night's episode of "Grey's Anatomy," it was bridesmaid Izzie (Katherine Heigl) who ended up walking down the aisle, rather than bride-to-be Meredith (Ellen Pompeo). This was doubly surprising as many of the medical drama's devout fans had expected Heigl to be walking the plank following her dismissal of the quality of the show's writing last year when Gold Derby asked her why she didn't submit her name for Emmy consideration.
In 2007, Katherine Heigl won the second of only two Emmy Awards to go to this drama series over its first four years in contention; the other was a 2006 casting prize. In total, the show has amassed 25 nominations and competed for best drama series for its first full season in 2006 (losing to "24") and again the following year ("The Sopranos" won for its farewell season). Last year, the show did not number among the final six series nominees, but it did make the top 10 runoff.

Two years ago, Heigl had prevailed over two of her cast mates (Sandra Oh, Chandra Wilson) as well as "The Sopranos" stars Lorraine Bracco and Aida Turturro, and Rachel Griffith from "Brothers and Sisters" to win the supporting actress Emmy Award. So it was quite the surprise last June when we saw that Heigl had not listed herself on the preliminary Emmy list. When asked why, she responded: "I did not feel that I was given the material this season to warrant an Emmy nomination."
This year, the nominating process has been revised to eliminate the juried runoff and the contenders will be determined solely by popular ballot. That "Grey's Anatomy" ranks 14th so far this season in TV's Nielsen ratings should help its cause. Up against ratings powerhouse "CSI," the show's average audience is 12.5 million (about half the number of who tune in to "American Idol") And last night's much-hyped 100th episode was up substantially from that with an estimated audience of 15.3 million.
On "Grey's Anatomy" this season, Izzie has been stricken with cancer that has spread to her brain and caused her to hallucinate. In an emotional moment last night, she asked her late love Denny to leave her in peace so that she could be with her new husband, Alex (Justin Chambers). Such socko material should make Heigl happy enough to submit her name for Emmy consideration this season.

Can 'Grey's Anatomy' revive its Emmy hopes

On last night's episode of "Grey's Anatomy," it was bridesmaid Izzie (Katherine Heigl) who ended up walking down the aisle, rather than bride-to-be Meredith (Ellen Pompeo). This was doubly surprising as many of the medical drama's devout fans had expected Heigl to be walking the plank following her dismissal of the quality of the show's writing last year when Gold Derby asked her why she didn't submit her name for Emmy consideration.
In 2007, Katherine Heigl won the second of only two Emmy Awards to go to this drama series over its first four years in contention; the other was a 2006 casting prize. In total, the show has amassed 25 nominations and competed for best drama series for its first full season in 2006 (losing to "24") and again the following year ("The Sopranos" won for its farewell season). Last year, the show did not number among the final six series nominees, but it did make the top 10 runoff.
This year, the nominating process has been revised to eliminate the juried runoff and the contenders will be determined solely by popular ballot. That "Grey's Anatomy" ranks 14th so far this season in TV's Nielsen ratings should help its cause. Up against ratings powerhouse "CSI," the show's average audience is 12.5 million (about half the number of who tune in to "American Idol") And last night's much-hyped 100th episode was up substantially from that with an estimated audience of 15.3 million.
On "Grey's Anatomy" this season, Izzie has been stricken with cancer that has spread to her brain and caused her to hallucinate. In an emotional moment last night, she asked her late love Denny to leave her in peace so that she could be with her new husband, Alex (Justin Chambers). Such socko material should make Heigl happy enough to submit her name for Emmy consideration this season.
Two years ago, Heigl had prevailed over two of her cast mates (Sandra Oh, Chandra Wilson) as well as "The Sopranos" stars Lorraine Bracco and Aida Turturro, and Rachel Griffith from "Brothers and Sisters" to win the supporting actress Emmy Award. So it was quite the surprise last June when we saw that Heigl had not listed herself on the preliminary Emmy list. When asked why, she responded: "I did not feel that I was given the material this season to warrant an Emmy nomination."

Grey's Anatomy Bailey Teases a Catastrophic Finale

As if Izzie's cancer, Mer and Der's (theoretical) wedding and George actually getting a storyline weren't enough for the season finale of Grey's Anatomy, Chandra Wilson tells us there is still a medical disaster that'll call for all hands on deck at Seattle Grace.
We caught up with Chandra at the Prism Awards this weekend, where she teased the fifth season finale and whether Bailey will even survive what could very well to be the most thrilling Grey's finale ever.
Chandra tells us, "In [the finale], we do ultimately find out what [happens with] George (T.R. Knight)—he does make a big decision in that episode. Izzie has a lot of medical [issues] in that episode. And then we have our normal ER catastrophe that goes on. It's got to be something bad going on where all the doctors have to assemble. That much I know."
Speaking of George's big decision, there's a rumor he ends up as a trauma surgeon in the army, following in Owen's footsteps. "Is that right? That's coming up too? Lord, I need to read the script that you're reading!" jokes Chandra.
Though Chandra is tight-lipped on the rest of the season, she says Bailey continues with pediatric surgery despite the ramifications it has for her marriage. "Everything that I'm doing right now is still working with the kids; it's still trying to potentially go into that fellowship. I do know that my husband is not happy about that—about spending two more years doing the same kind of hours. But when you get a calling, sometimes you have to do your calling." Sounds like Bailey's marriage is in trouble again...
BOB D'AMICO / ABC Also, with the Chief (James Pickens Jr.) stepping over the line in this week's episode, it seems we're inching closer to the day when he finally retires and takes his leave, but could Bailey really take his place? According to Chandra, "I know that's the Chief's goal, but I think she's spent enough seasons worrying about everybody else and getting distracted by everybody else. She needed to go back and prove the kind of doctor that she really is, and so she did get a chance this season to really concentrate on the medical [side]. She was very successful medically, so to do that and then also venture into pediatrics, she's just competent all over the place right now."
It also seems as though someone may have forgotten to give Chandra the message that Grey's Anatomy has been picked up for another season. "Thank you for giving me that piece of information, because you never know. That's really nice. Now I just need my letter, and I need the rest of the pages for [the final] episode! It will be good." As long as Bailey doesn't die in the finale, fans will be all right! "We can't have that. Please. Send out a letter! Start petitioning. Because you know, it could be a nice plot twist. They'll say, ‘You know, we think Bailey's going to get hit by a bus. [It'll] be a nice six-episode arc. America will cry, and you'll be out of a job!' You never know."
What do you think of another large-scale emergency in the finale? Too much? Also, save Bailey from getting hit by a bus by leaving a comment, will ya?!