‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Season 13 Renewed, Cast Demands Higher Salary After Season 12 Ratings Skyrocket


Grey’s Anatomy will be returning for Season 13. Months before the Season 12 finale even aired, ABC confirmed that the hit Shonda Rhimes series has been renewed, together with Scandal(renewed for Season 6) and How To Get Away With Murder(renewed for Season 3).

TV Line previously reported that ABC picked up Grey’s Anatomy for another season. The renewal came in March while the series was just midway through Season 12. While news of the renewal is definitely exciting for Grey’s fans, multiple reports hinted that not everyone will be returning for Season 13.

Back in April, Sara Ramirez, who plays Callie Torres in the hit medical drama, posted a cryptic message on Twitter, that made fans wonder about her fate in the series.

Ramirez’s contract, along with some of her co-stars, will expire in June. While the post could be nothing but the actress celebrating her last day of filming for Grey’s Anatomy Season 12, some cannot help but read between the lines. TV Line also pointed out that Ramirez may just be looking to increase her negotiations leverage. Given that the tweet received a lot of comments from netizens, with most asking her to stay, it could definitely bode well for the actress as a bargaining tactic.

If, however, Ramirez decided to end her contract, this will not be the first time that a major cast member decided to leave the series. Among others, Katherine Heigl (Izzie Stevens) and Sandra Oh left the show after Season 6 and Season 10, respectively. While Patrick Dempsey renewed his contract, his character was killed off in Season 11.

According to Entertainment Weekly, several Grey’s Anatomy cast members will be negotiating their contract for Season 13 in June. This includes Ellen Pompeo (Meredith Grey), Chandra Wilson (Miranda Bailey), Sandra Ramirez (Callie Torres), Kevin McKidd (Owen Hunt), Justin Chambers (Alex Karev) and James Pickens (Richard Webber).

As Grey’s Anatomy experienced quite a resurgence in Season 12, the publication predicted that the cast will use this as a leverage to ask for higher salaries. The last negotiation was done in 2014 for most of them and clearly a lot of things has happened since then.

When Shonda Rhimes decided to kill Patrick Dempsey’s Derek Shepherd in Season 11, many thought that this would be the end for the show. Without Meredith and Derek’s story, many just could not be see how the series could go on. Interestingly, McDreamy’s death seemed to have revived some of the lost interest in the show.

ABC Studios head Patrick Moran told the outlet that there was definitely “some anxiety” on how Grey’s Anatomy will progress without Dempsey.

“I give Shonda Rhimes and her creative team enormous credit for deftly figuring out tonally how to move Meredith forward.”

Entertainment Weekly reported that Grey’s Anatomy Season 12 has performed incredibly well in the ratings game. Including video on demand and online viewing, it is up for six percent (18-49), and 11 percent (18-34) in comparison to Season 11.

Interestingly, Grey’s also continued to attract new and younger viewers. ABC held that the viewership of their pilot episode, “A Hard Day’s Night,” has more than doubled in the past five years because of the younger audience’s interest on the show.

Tell us! What are you looking forward to seeing in Grey’s Anatomy Season 13? Do you think Sandra Ramirez will leave after Season 12? Let us know in the comments below.

[Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images]

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