Katherine Heigl’s curious comment about dropping out of this year’s Emmy race (“I did not feel I was given the material…to warrant a nomination”) was construed by many as an opening salvo in an effort to leave Grey’s Anatomy, the ABC drama that garnered her a statuette last year and made her a star. The idea isn’t so far-fetched, since her stock as a movie actress continues to rise: Her asking price hovers around $6 million, she helped Knocked Up reach $149 million last year, and her name recognition propelled 27 Dresses to a $23 million opening weekend in January. Next up is a role opposite 300 star Gerard Butler in the romantic comedy The Ugly Truth. But here’s where it gets interesting: This wouldn’t be the first time she’s tried to ditch a show before her contract expires. Heigl and her agent rallied to release her from the sci-fi drama Roswell when it moved from The WB to UPN in 2001, according to two insiders familiar with the talks, but the request was denied. Heigl’s rep couldn’t be reached for comment, though a source close to the actress insists there was “no hidden message” in her remarks, and that she’ll continue as Izzie Stevens on Grey’s. If its writers are a vengeful bunch, you have to wonder what’s in store for her.
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I think she should be fired for disrespecting her writers like that. Even if it was true that she didn’t submit herself cause she didn’t think her material was worth it (not likely) she STILL shouldn’t have said it. I hope Shonda whoops her ass!
She said what most of us were thinking. Seriously? Izzie shocked a deer in the back of a pick up truck. Her much hyped relationship with George was dusted under the rug without any real closure. The writers have made Izzie very unlikeable. I would be pissed too.
And I don’t know why the producers are making such a fuss. Grey’s ratings have consistently gone down this season. Heigl was given awful lines. Why should her career fall with Grey’s? Since this show is over blotted with new cast members, what’s the problem letting her go? Seriously.
of course, naturally, people are missing the point.
A TRULY TALENTED ACTOR CAN MAKE DO WITH WHATEVER THEY ARE GIVEN. A truly classy, respectful actor would never passive aggressively throw their writers under the bus because of poor writing. Yes Grey’s sucked this year and last but there are more tactful ways to say so.
Steve Carell is a zillion times bigger and more in demand than KH and he has said a dozen times he will HONOR HIS CONTRACT at THe Office until the end. He will not bite the hand that feeds him. Kind of like how George Clooney was a class act and honored his contract with ER, even as they let him film movies during the hiatus. One of the reasons why Clooney is still so respected to day.
KH should “let her career go down with Grey’s” because she signed a contract and much like those wedding vows she took, that means something.
Could she be ANY more annoying!!?
she got a couple of hits in theaters and now she’s got a big head. NEVER got into her character. b!tch is overrated anyway. …but that’s just me.
“A TRULY TALENTED ACTOR CAN MAKE DO WITH WHATEVER THEY ARE GIVEN”
Have you seen De Niro in Rocky & Bullwinkle? Or Pacino in S1MONE?
Even the most talented of actors can’t make do with an awful script. And the best thing going for her this year was the dear episode. Which is really sad.
I’m not exactly defending her, just sayin’ that, yes, this was an horrible season for Grey’s, and probably more for her than the other cast members.
Don’t think she’s a great actress, but every actor should allowed to demand more of the show their working on. They have contracts that keep them in it for so many years… If the writers are screwing all up, she should have the right to say so and ask for better material.
“If the writers are screwing all up, she should have the right to say so and ask for better material.”
You’re right. She absolutely has the right to say so and ask for better material. What she probably doesn’t (or shouldn’t) have the right to do is publicly call out the writing staff of the show that made her a star. She, or any other actor who has a problem with the material, should meet with the writers and producers in private. What good is it to embarrass your writers in public?
I’m sure she’s not the only one who’s unhappy with her material. In fact, we KNOW she’s not the only one. Patrick Dempsey and Ellen Pompeo have been critical about their characters in the past. The difference with Heigl is that, when you add in the “Knocked Up” comments, there appears to a pattern here.
Finally, the thing that offends me the most personally is that she takes no personal responsibility for a subpar year. No mention of her work in her comments – it’s all the writers’ faults.
After seeing the semi-finalist this year I’m thankful Heigl had the balls to do what she did. There was a big chance that Heigl would have gone due to the popular vote. What she did was right, and she didn’t say the writing was “bad”. Just that it wasn’t “Emmy worthy” which is true. She said what many people have been saying all season long. Due to her we have some wildcards in the semi-finalist.
Grey’s Anatomy isn’t that great any longer, and furthermore you want to see slamming you guys need to read interviews by Patrick Dempsey and Ellen Pompeo. I read so much arrogant crap from Dempsey during his Maid of Honor promotion I wasn’t surprised it didn’t hit the headlines because she is a woman. What Heigl did was right and honest. If writers are mean to her, then they need a wake-up call on their own snobby. GA sucks now, and it will never be like it was.
Yeah, let her go. Who cares? She’s not the star of Grey’s, and it’s a big ensemble.
The show suffered losing Kate Walsh, but I don’t think I’d even notice if Heigl left.
I see both sides. On one hand, she has had a decent amount of success in movies, but at the same time, Izzie and the show, haven’t been that great since the second season. It’s been good, and there have been bits and pieces here and there that have been awesome, but as far as an overall season, the third and fourth seasons were sub par compared to the second (or the first, for that matter).
As a hardcore lover of Roswell. LOVED that show, love the DVDs – watch them often. It’s legendary that KH was a pill at Roswell. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was trying to get away from Grey’s Anatomy to do movies. But she’s gotta know her rep can be damaged if it’s a bad movie. Why not stay with the show until her contract ends or gets old enough to leave. I don’t think any of those movies mentioned was a success ONLY because of Katherine. It was more the premise; other actors. I think she needs to honor her contract then rethink. But this public campaign to piss off her bosses will not go well. Although I do know what she meant about the Emmy nomination, but it came out bad and only brought her bad PR as a result. Sometimes bad PR can ruin a rep and cause you lack of work. But time will tell what will happen in the future. But because of her past with Roswell; nothing surprises me about Katherine.
Stacey, I”m also a big fan of Roswell but what you said was false about Katherine Heigl on the show. It was actually Jason Behr, Shiri Appleby, and Brendan that were the pills. What you are talking about is idle gossip about Heigl when in fact it was so three that caused the most havoc on the show behind the scenes. Furthermore, it was well known ALL THE CASTMEMBERS during season three wanted off the show. Did you ever read Majandra’s interviews? Man she just tore Roswell up when she was on the show. She wanted off the show to do her music and etc. So please there wasn’t anything “pill” like with what Heigl did.
And you need to read up on your movies. The exit polls to her movies made her one of the biggest draws to those movies. Over 50% of people saw those movies due to Heigl. Again read up on your facts instead of outlandish speculations.
Of course she wanted to leave Roswell. The show was losing ratings and then it movied to UPN. I liked that show, but the writers never knew what to do with it. Funny thing now, if you look at the series dvd set, Heigl is pretty much billed first.
I don’t think Heigl meant any ill will with her statement. Perhaps the writers aren’t listening to her or respecting her opinions. I wouldn’t be surprised because it looks like majority of the cast rebels in some fashion through their interviews. Most noteable Dempsey, Pompeo, and Heigl. Knight is currently implyingh is discontent with how Gizzie ended, and how Gexie is beginning. We are talking about writers and a creator that do not admit their mistakes.
Plus from what I know about Roswell, avid watcher and fan, a lot of stuff was made up during that time about Heigl being a pill due to the competition in the fandom. It is well known that almost all of the castmembers on the show wanted off it. They expressed it through interviews and actions. You’ll be surprised what Jason and Brendan did. I thought those two were the most unprofessional of the bunch. In the end I don’t think this will hurt her due to her production company with two projects with best-selling books.