Coming from the weirdest of sources - the creators of Lost - is an interview in which they say that ABC is planning a two-hour finale of Grey's!

We are writing it as a two hour but they want to air it as two different hours because on May 22nd, which is essentially the last day of the season, they have a two hour Grey's [Anatomy] finale which going to run from 8 to 10, and that is only going to leave an hour for us. - Damon Lindelof

So, now the question is whether or not the two hours counts as "two of the five remaining episodes," or just one. Considering that they say the season finale will be May 22, it seems as though it will be counted as one, but nevertheless, this is very exciting news, and we'll be sure to keep you updated!

After that scintillating interview with Entertainment Weekly, Shonda Rhimes has now spoken to TV Guide, detailing that Meredith and Derek will be together - for good - by the end of this season. She won't divulge whether or not they'll get married or be engaged, but she does say that no one will be wearing "eveningwear" in the season finale. Apparently, they've got more information coming up in their next issue, so we'll be here to report it to you.
Also, after hearing the debunked rumors about Katie Heigl leaving Grey's, Kristin at E! Online has dug up some information, saying that Katherine did, in fact, ask to be let go from Grey's Anatomy, but the producers won't let her. However, beyond this season, it isn't sure what will happen. In my personal opinion, I don't think the show will be the same if Katie leaves (and I really hope she doesn't). And how many times has an actor left an incredibly successful television show to pursue movies...only to regret it? Thoughts? Post below!
[UPDATE: Apparently, Kristin at E! was wrong, and Ausiello was right about the rumors being wrong, as Katie's rep has gone to OK! Magazine and denied everything. Thanks to those of you who posted that in the talk back section!]

OK, so maybe not this very minute. However, those amazing people over at EW.com (Entertainment Weekly) have dug up some information (well...a quote) from Shonda saying that Meredith and Derek will be together. Finally. Forever. And the storylines will be about trying to make it work and exploring relationships, etc. Which is what we've always wanted. Her reason for the change? The strike, which she says put it all into perspective. The reason this won't happen this very minute, though, is because apparently Rose (aka, The Plant) is sticking around for the final five episodes. (On a side note, Ava/Rebecca/Jane Doe/Elizabeth Reaser will be back for three, and Kate Walsh for one.) Plus, the first episode back picks up a few months later...at the end of one of Derek and Rose's dates (or so the rumors say). Nevertheless, this is amazing news. Stick around for more as it comes it.
(And on a totally unrelated note, rumors are flying that the first two episodes back is a two-parter, entitled "New York, New York." Stay tuned for updates.)

Apparently they aren't true. Read on for the details from Mr. Michael Ausiello at TVGuide.com:

Maybe it's the show's impending post-strike return. Maybe it's the success of that mediocre movie with the dresses. Or maybe it's that recent National Enquirer story. Whatever the reason, rumors that Katherine Heigl's Grey's days are numbered have staged a Hillary-type resurgence this week. But does the prattle have any basis in reality? A well-placed Seattle Grace insider, who, it should be noted, has never steered me wrong before, insists that Heigl remains "under contract" and adds that there are "no plans or discussions" for her to exit the series. End of story. At least until the end of her next contract cycle. Of course, Heigl wanting to leave Grey's and actually leaving Grey's are two very different things. That's not to suggest she wants to leave. Just that the two things are different. I want to be very clear about that. All this talk about Heigl not leaving Grey's has me wondering: Could the show survive without Izzie? Gizzie, yes. But Izzie? Thoughts below please.

According to our affiliate, SpoilerTV, episode 409 Crash Into Me is part one of two, and is airing on Thanksgiving (despite rumors Grey's would be in repeats that Thursday). Now, ABC hasn't issued a press release yet, so this isn't confirmed. So, take it with a grain of salt. Here's what they've got:

Part 1 of 2. Meredith and the Chief struggle to save paramedics injured in an ambulance crash; Bailey treats a patient who refuses her help; Ava (Elizabeth Reaser) returns to see Alex---and meets his new girlfriend.

Airs: 22nd November 2007

Source: SpoilerTV

In a new interview, Sara Ramirez has eluded to Callie dealing with George & Izzie's affair in a "shocking and empowering" way...which equals sex. But...sex with who? Alex, as has been rumored? Or, could it be Mark - again? We'll just have to wait and see.
On another note, in the same interview, Sara says this about the new season, which sounds incredibly promising:

"You know a lot of people last year had complaints about the direction of the show. It was dark. It was much darker than the previous two seasons and as a fan of the show myself I felt compelled at times to speak up and say, 'No no no! Put Derek and Meredith in the bed until they fix this!' or 'Stop with the cheating!', but if everything was perfect then that would be a happy ending and the story would be complete. So, I'm in it as a fan and an actor and I can honestly tell you that this new season is funnier, lighter, and several of the characters wake up. There's an awakening and it leads to new couples, new friends, and new paths. And those paths are very interesting."

There's exactly one month to go until the all-new season of Grey's Anatomy will be thrust upon us, and to celebrate this occasion, we've (well...technically Kristin) has some wonderfully delicious scoop for you. According to Kristin, the one line that made her heart jump in the premiere episode A Change is Gonna Come is "I Love You Too." We don't who said it to who, but...it's got to be George and Izzie...right? And if it is...then what's with all the rumors about their relationship ending? I guess we'll have to wait and see...
And stay tuned, because Kristin's spoiler chat is tonight, so we'll return later with any other information she might possibly (and probably will) have.

Here's an interesting tidbit of news that I ran across when reading either People or InTouch this morning: according to the magazine, Shonda Rhimes is actually really good friends with Isaiah Washington, and fought for his job on the show. I can believe that to an extent. What I can't believe is this next part: Shonda is contemplating creating a show just for Isaiah. And...that was the extent of the article. Can I just say that Shonda's already got enough under her belt with one hit show, another show premiering in the fall, and yet another show placed on the backburner (where it's been for...years)? Plus, she'd have to travel to a different network for this show, because Lord knows ABC won't work with Isaiah again, and vice versa. I'm hoping that this magazine is, well, wrong.
Here's the more exciting news: the anticipated return date for Grey's is September 27. This isn't confirmed and could be changed (and I wouldn't be surprised...it seems really late - however, a late start means less re-runs). The show goes back into production sometime this month, so details surrounding the new season (including the title of the premiere, air date, promotional photos and videos) should begin surfacing within the next six weeks, so stay tuned!

OK, guys, this is getting to be ridiculous. Thanks to TVGuide.com for this story:

Isaiah Washington's latest interview — this time given to Newsweek — has the disgraced former Grey's Anatomy star saying that racism (also?) factored into his firing. "It didn't help me on the set that I was a black man who wasn't a mush-mouth Negro walking around with his head in his hands all the time," the actor tells the mag. "Someone heard the booming voice of a black man and got really scared, and that was the beginning of the end for me."

Washington even claims that a person in ABC human resources once told him "that 'some people' were afraid of me. I asked her why, because I'm a 6-foot-1 black man... who doesn't go around saying, 'Yessah, massa sir' and 'No sir, massa' to everyone?"

ABC declined comment on this latest beat in the sordid story.

This upcoming Monday, July 2, Isaiah Washington will have his first post-firing interview on CNN's Larry King Live, where he will talk about how he is upset about being fired and how
TR Knight is the one causing all of the problems on set. Larry will probably also ask him about the new film he is working on (which is apparently why it took him this long to do an interview) and how NBC is now courting him for a new series on their network (good luck to them with that).
I find it interesting that now that Washington has been fired, he is passing all of the blame onto someone else and still causing issues even though he is no longer on the set. There's also the fact that everything he's saying contradicts what everyone else still on the show is saying. Poor TR; poor cast. Hopefully they can make it through this - I'm sure they can.

There are rumors floating around the web that Tiffani Thiessen (from ABC's now-defunct What About Brian) will be joining Grey's next season for a multi-episode arc as a psychiatrist. But, keep in mind, Rebecca/Ava/Jane Doe was also supposed to be a psychiatrist following her drowning-episode arc...and she turned out not being one. So, who knows?

Upfronts continued today, and today was the big day - ABC's day! As predicted, there wasn't much surprising news - Grey's Anatomy is sticking to its highly successful Thursdays-at-9 timeslot, while Private Practice is indeed going to Wednesdays-at-9. The one confusing thing here, however, is that Lost will be returning mid-season, still on Wednesdays, but not in its current Wednesdays-at-10 timeslot. ABC wants to move it up an hour or two. So, what does this mean for Private Practice? We don't know just yet.
Also, Grey's Anatomy will be getting a new show airing after it, entitled Big Shots. Here is the description for Big Shots from TVGuide.com:

This is the story of four friends at the top of their game... until the women in their lives enter the room. Lines between boardroom and bedroom blur when these competitive but dysfunctional CEOs take refuge in their friendship, discussing business, confiding secrets, seeking advice and supporting each other through life's surprising twists and turns. Starring: Michael Vartan, Dylan McDermott, Christopher Titus, Joshua Malina, Nia Long, Paige Turco, Peyton List, Wendy Moniz, Jessica Collins, and Amy Sloan.

Ugly Betty will stay in the pre-Grey's timeslot. Two new shows are going to be airing pre- and post-Private Practice. For information on those, check out The Red Report.
However, the biggest news of the morning was the answers given to the question of it someone will be leaving Grey's this/next season. Here's what Kristin at E! Online reports:

As reporters met with McPherson at ABC headquarters this a.m., the most asked question was about Grey's Anatomy's on-set scandal, and whether Isaiah Washington or T.R. Knight might be leaving the show. The answers ranged from "At this point, nothing's been decided" to "The show will return intact next season" to "Most of the cast will return." Call it a hunch, but something tells me a main castmember may indeed be leaving—or at the very least, left cliff-hanging at the end of the season.

So, if someone is leaving, we'll definitley find out either Thursday during the season finale, Didn't We Almost Have It All?, or by the season premiere this fall. Stay tuned for more information on this, and stick with us the rest of the week as we weigh-in on the rest of the networks' upfronts!
Also, you better check out the post below which explains how the season finale is now 15 minutes longer than a normal episode!

Here's the newest scoop from Ausiello at TVGuide.com:

So, let's go ahead and get the depressing news out of the way: Shonda is not writing the finale Didn't We Almost Have It All? I know, I know. It totally sucks. But she isn't. Instead, the writers of last year's amazing Deterioration of the Fight or Flight Response are writing it - Tony Phelan & Joan Rater.
Now, let's go ahead and get these depressing rumors out of the way: These are the same rumors we've heard before, but now they're getting bigger coverage because some of them are true. According to an article in the National Enquirer, Isaiah Washington AND TR Knight are BOTH leaving Grey's. In the finale, Burke is said to get passed over as chief and leave Cristina at the altar, paving the way for him to leave. George is said to have failed his boards and doesn't want to re-do his internships, paving his way off Grey's. Derek is said to not be sure about his relationship with Meredith, because there "might be another woman." And Jane Doe's husband arrives. According to Michael Ausiello, some of those are true. But he won't say which ones. Hopefully, only the one about Jane Doe is true. However, I could see the IW one being true, although I really hope that doesn't happen.
Alright, depressing news is over. On to some happy things! We were all disappointed at the fact that this year's finale would only be an hour, but, in fact, it is a little longer. Not one-and-a-half or two. But, it is a 67-minute finale...a little bit longer!
Also, the description has been released for Didn't We Almost Have It All? which can be read right here.

As for now, that's all. More news will come later as more things develop.

This article from TVGuide.com sheds some more light on the rumor of whether or not Sara Ramirez (Callie O'Malley) will be leaving Grey's Anatomy after this season or not:

Although her lips are sealed about [her CD's] sound, Ramirez — who has already inked a contract with Universal Music Group — did reveal that she’d spend her summer break from Grey’s in the studio recording the album.

But the Mexico native did let a few details slip about the love triangle brewing between George, Callie and Izzie. “Callie is just showing up doing her job, oblivious to everything,” says Ramirez. So will she call it quits after discovering George slept with ex-model Izzie? “I think she knows her relationship with George is in sort of a delicate place,” she hints. “But she’s a strong lady. She knows what she wants so I’m sure she’ll go to any lengths to get it!”

Hopefully, this means we’ll see more of Callie next season — but Ramirez isn’t talking just yet. “Am I back next season?” she asks with a laugh. “Maybe. This character’s just been so much fun to play. Acting with this group of people has been a master class in episodic television. For now, I’m just enjoying the ride.”

Kristin from E! Online brings you the scoop that debunks the rumor that TR Knight (George) and Isaiah Washington (Burke) were leaving Grey's Anatomy. Here it is:

If you happen to be a fan of Grey's Anatomy and also read the National Enquirer report that Isaiah Washington and T.R. Knight would be leaving the show, I have two words for you: ¡Calmate, tigre! (Translation: Settle down, putty tat.)

From what I'm hearing, there is no reason to panic.

Sources close to the show tell me that unless this is the most guarded secret ever regarding Grey's Anatomy (these sources are so inside they knew about Denny's death months before it happened), the rumors of T.R. and Isaiah's departure are completely bunk.

According to Grey's insiders, both T.R. (George) and Isaiah (Burke) are under contract for next season and expected to return. And while Isaiah's rep declined comment (saying, "We’re going to do our business in private and not in the media"), T.R.'s rep says the rumors are "completely untrue."

Of course, what departure rumor is true is that Kate Walsh (Addison) is leaving Grey's Anatomy next month, assuming her pilot, Private Practice, is picked up by ABC. And sources at the Alphabet net tell me it is looking promising for a green light.

But before she leaves, you'll never guess (or, okay, maybe you will) what long-awaited, tongue-wag-worthy ac-shun we're gonna get.

[Don't read if you don't want to know.]

Addison and Alex! Or so it certainly seems from this promo clip on YouTube.

Bless you, Shonda Rhimes. Bless you.

Now, if I could just get over the sinking sensation that Sara Ramirez will be leaving the show, all would be bright in my Grey world.

OK, so, this is from Star magazine, so I don't believe it one bit, but who knows? Sometimes the tabloids can be right. However, click here to check out the magazine scan from our affiliate SpoilerTV and read the article stating how KH's bosses were quite upset with her after the contract negociations and are apparently going to try and work her out of the show.

But, like I said, this is from Star. Take it with a grain - no, less than a grain - of salt.

Take this with a grain of salt as this was posted as a comment on GreysAnatomyNews.com and has not been confirmed anywhere else, but apparently, Eric Dane [Mark] has been given the option to return next season for eleven seasons and Sara Ramirez [Callie] has not been approached. Plus, she's signed up to star in a movie that would shoot in Canada during December 2007, when Grey's would be shooting in Los Angeles. Here's the full comment, posted by Madison:

Our sources have confirmed that Eric Dane was given an eleven episode option next season which may or may not be extended for storyline purposes.

Sara Ramirez, however, has not received any offers from Shonda Rhimes and Company. Her agent Ray Moheet, confirmed via telephone, that there is a movie in Ramirez’s future. Quite telling is the fact that he confirmed the dates of the filming (which takes place in Canada) for late 2007 (Sept-Dec). If Ramirez had been asked to continue playing Calliope Torres on the hit show, she would be required to be on set in Los Angeles, California during those dates.

According to numerous rumors all over the web, the next episode - My Favorite Mistake - which was originally supposed to air on March 29, may actually air on March 22 - this upcoming Thursday! According to these reports, ABC wants to keep the Grey's lead-in on October Road, since it did MUCH better than Six Degrees when it premiered. However, nothing yet has been confirmed by ABC. Although the official website says it is airing on the 22nd, ABC Media Net is still reporting it's airdate as the 29th. Stay tuned for more updates on this!
(Also - My Favorite Mistake is not the spin-off episode as previously reported. That episode, which has yet to be titled, will be two hours long and is currently set to air on May 10th.)

UPDATE [6:54 PM]: A source on the ABC Message Boards e-mailed ABC to ask them, and here's the reply they got back -

The episode was originally scheduled to air March 29, but it should air on the 22nd now.

Best,
Amy Astley
ABC Media Relations

So, there you have it. My Favorite Mistake will be airing on March 22, 2007.

According to this website, Lisa Kudrow (of Friends fame) is slated to star in the Grey's Anatomy spin-off. This hasn't been reported anywhere else, and may just be a rumor. All the article says is that she is supposed to star alongside Kate Walsh in the new series. More information as it comes in.

UPDATE [03/16/07]: According to Mike Ausiello at TVGuide.com, Kudrow is not joining the cast:

Lisa Kudrow is not — let me repeat, not — joining the cast of Grey's 2.0. As one ABC source flatly puts it, "All of the roles have been cast."