There's just no stopping Grey's Anatomy and by extension its spinoff, Station 19. It has been announced that ABC has renewed the long-running medical drama for season 18 while Station 19 earned a season 5 renewal.
Grey's Anatomy is television's longest-running medical drama and it should be noted that the season 18 renewal was not designated as its final season. That will be determined at a later date. The renewal really came down to new deals. Krista Vernoff, the woman who integrated the Grey's Anatomy-Station 19 universe & orchestrated the return of old cast favorites this season, closed a big overall deal with ABC in March & that began a complex effort to bring the show back for another season. Original cast stars like Ellen Pompeo, Chandra Wilson, & James Pickens Jr., whose current contracts were up this season, also needed new deals. Pompeo closed a new one-year deal first after very lengthy negotiations. Wilson & Pickens Jr. reportedly came down to the wire but they eventually signed new contracts.
Grey's Anatomy ranks as the No. 1 entertainment series among Adults 18-49 & as ABC's No. 1 show in both total viewers (8.3 million) and the 18-49 demo (2.0/12). Some may wonder why the show is still on but, despite going into its 18th season, the show continues to perform well for ABC and it also still does killer business on Netflix where it frequently ranks in the top half of the most-streamed series. Honestly, the only thing that will end Grey's Anatomy is if Ellen Pompeo, who plays Meredith Grey, decides to hang up her scrubs for good.
Station 19, thanks in large part to its frequent crossovers with Grey's Anatomy, ranks as the No. 1 program in the Thursday 8:00 PM hour this season among total viewers (7.2 million) & as the highest-rated entertainment series in the hour among the 18-49 demo (1.3/8). Reports say Station 19's renewal was tied to Grey's Anatomy returning but the network has been very happy with Its performance. Some fans have called some of the crossovers forced in order to make sure that Station 19 stays afloat but the crossovers typically perform very well in the ratings and the show has been able to find its own footing with the stories not tied to Grey's Anatomy. Station 19 focuses on the lives of the men and women at Seattle Fire Station 19. The show stars Jaina Lee Ortiz, Jason George, Grey Damon, Barrett Doss, Alberto Frezza, Jay Hayden, Okieriete Onaodowan, Danielle Savre, Boris Kodjoe, Stefania Spampinato, and Miguel Sandoval.
Are YOU happy to see Grey's Anatomy and Station 19 return?