Grey’s Anatomy Spinoff Set in Texas Coming to ABC

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The cowboys are scrubbing in.

Shonda Rhimes and Meg Marinis, the creators of Grey’s Anatomy, are developing a new spinoff series set in the South, according to TopMob News.

ABC describes the upcoming series as a gripping drama centered around a medical team in a remote West Texas town, offering vital care to those with nowhere else to turn.

We don’t yet know how the doctors from Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital in Seattle will connect with those in the Texas-based series, but showrunner Marinis promises lots of new characters will be introduced who perform the same kind of high-stakes emergency medicine fans enjoy in the original show, which is coming back for its 23rd season later this year.

She announced on May 19th that she’s thrilled to build on the world of Grey’s Anatomy. She explained that this new project will introduce fresh characters and storylines with the same emotional depth and strong relationships that fans have enjoyed in Grey’s for over twenty years, and it will be set in her home state of Texas.

Krista Vernoff, the showrunner for the last three seasons of Grey’s Anatomy, expressed her gratitude to Shonda Rhimes for creating the show and for the opportunity to work on it.

This new hour-long show is the fourth series to come from the popular franchise, joining hits like Private Practice and Station 19.

The announcement comes amid some major changes in Grey’s Anatomy‘s hospital staff.

After almost 20 years on the show, Kevin McKidd and Kim Raver—who play Dr. Owen Hunt and Dr. Teddy Altman—left the series in the season 22 finale earlier this month.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been following the drama on set, and it’s been quite a ride! It looks like the future of Harry Shum Jr.’s character, Dr. Benson Kwan, is uncertain after a surprising turn of events towards the end of season 22. Interestingly, Harry himself was actually looking forward to diving into the challenges his character was facing, even if it meant some professional setbacks for Dr. Kwan. It’s always fascinating to see actors embrace those complex storylines!

Okay, so I was reading TopMob News, and Shum Jr. totally gets it. He said it’s important to call out doctors when they mess up, even if they meant well. And honestly, it wasn’t just about them being clumsy or anything! He really emphasized that it wasn’t just about incompetence, which, like, YES! It’s so good to see someone finally say that!

So, has the surgical resident scrubbed out of the Operating Room for good?

He confessed he doesn’t know if he’ll be back for season 23, saying he’s just as unsure as the viewers are. He explained his return depends on whether audiences want to see his character continue or if they’d prefer to see him return to the hospital setting.

While everyone eagerly awaits news about the new Grey’s Anatomy spin-off, here are some surprising behind-the-scenes facts about the original series.

When Shonda Rhimes was envisioning the character of Meredith Grey, a driven and lovable surgical intern, she pictured a young woman similar to the one from the film Moonlight Mile.

Oh my gosh, I was reading Shonda Rhimes talk about how, after ages of searching, someone FINALLY pointed out that the girl in that movie with Jake Gyllenhaal – you guys, it was Ellen Pompeo! I nearly screamed! And get this – she already had a development deal with ABC at the time, which is just…fate! I knew she was destined for greatness even back then, seriously!

The main problem was that Pompeo felt stressed by the topic, while Rhimes, who loved watching medical dramas, was fascinated by it.

Ellen Pompeo admitted in 2013 to Parade magazine that she’s never been a fan of medical dramas. Despite ER being hugely popular with her generation and running for many years, she’d never watched a single episode. She also told The Hollywood Reporter that she didn’t want to be committed to a medical show for an extended period, like five years.

But after meeting Rhimes, she told EW, “It was like, ‘I want to do the show.'”

Before Patrick Dempsey became known as the beloved Dr. Derek Shepherd on Grey’s Anatomy, the network originally considered Rob Lowe for the role, much to the surprise of some.

According to Peter Horton, an executive producer on Grey’s Anatomy, the actor had to choose between appearing on their show or Dr. Vegas for CBS. He ultimately decided to do Dr. Vegas, as detailed in Lynette Rice’s 2021 book, How to Save a Life: The Inside Story of Grey’s Anatomy.

Josh Lowe jokingly said his casting choice was great! However, he clarified that he actually had a really good meeting with CBS and ultimately chose to go with his gut feeling about the people involved, rather than focusing on the script itself.

According to Rice, Pompeo said it was clear from the start that she and Patrick Dempsey had the strongest connection when considering potential romantic interests for her character, mentioning she ‘read’ with five actors who could have been her on-screen love interest.

The show was initially considered to be called Complications because ABC President Steve McPherson disliked the title Grey’s Anatomy, according to producer Harry Werksman. ABC also explored adapting Atul Gawande’s book, Complications: A Surgeon’s Notes on an Imperfect Science, as a possible project.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve always been fascinated by the behind-the-scenes stories of iconic shows. It’s funny to learn that Grey’s Anatomy almost had a completely different name! Kate Burton, who beautifully portrayed Meredith’s mother, Ellis Grey, shared that the script first came to her manager under the working title Surgeons. Writer Eric Buchman even remembered someone suggesting Miss Diagnosis, but Shonda Rhimes apparently didn’t love it at all! And Chandra Wilson, who is just amazing, originally thought she was joining an untitled Shonda Rhimes project that might not even get off the ground. Can you imagine if it hadn’t? It just goes to show you never know what will become a cultural phenomenon!

Buchman said he couldn’t remember “who made the call to go back to Grey’s Anatomy.”

McPherson didn’t like the show’s title and initially had a very strong, negative reaction to the first episodes he saw – something he now laughs about. He explained to Rice that a lot of improvement was needed, but Shonda Rhimes listened to the feedback, made the necessary changes, and the show was on its way to success.

If you think about the music from Grey’s Anatomy, songs like “How to Save a Life” by The Fray, Snow Patrol’s “Chasing Cars,” or even The Postal Service’s “Such Great Heights” might come to mind, instantly reminding you of Seattle Grace. However, the show’s original theme song for its first two seasons was actually “Cosy in the Rocket” by Psapp, and you can still hear an instrumental version of it during the closing credits.

Psapp singer Galia Durant told The Guardian in 2007 that they almost didn’t release the song that became their breakout hit. “We weren’t very enthusiastic about it,” she explained. However, a few months later, their manager played the track to a music supervisor for Grey’s Anatomy, who immediately wanted to use it. “We were happy to let her,” Durant said, “as we didn’t plan on releasing it ourselves.”

In a 2024 interview with Shondaland, bandmate Carim Clasmann explained that they didn’t realize the significance of having their song, “Grey’s,” featured on the show. They were so focused on making music that they didn’t fully understand the impact it would have.

The pilot episode was filmed at an old, unused veterans hospital in Northridge, California. As former showrunner Stacy McKee recalls, the writers actually worked in what used to be hospital rooms. According to Rice, the windows were boarded up because the building had previously been a psychiatric ward.

Although most of the show is filmed in Los Angeles, the exterior shots of the fictional Seattle Grace Hospital are actually of KOMO Plaza in Seattle. The hospital’s design was influenced by the real Harborview Medical Center, also located in Seattle.

Costume designer Mimi Melgaard faced a unique challenge: making sure the actors’ outfits were perfect without overshadowing their performances. While getting the clothing right was important, she needed to ensure it didn’t distract from the story.

She told Rice she wanted to minimize everything visually. Even during surgery, things like the color of scrub caps or anything else visible could pull focus. She specifically wanted people to concentrate on the surgeons’ eyes.

Melgaard also pointed out that the scrubs didn’t fit well and needed tailoring to look realistic on screen without being unattractive.

Makeup artist Norman Leavitt shared with Rice that he also felt a responsibility to avoid making the actors look unnatural. The producer, Horton, preferred a rugged, authentic appearance, aiming for realism. However, Shonda Rhimes, ABC, and others desired a touch more polish and glamour in the makeup.

Shonda Rhimes was concerned that Grey’s Anatomy might be canceled after Isaiah Washington was fired in 2007. This followed an incident in October 2006 where he used a homophobic slur during an on-set argument with T.R. Knight.

Shonda Rhimes explained to The Hollywood Reporter in March 2025 that a difficult early experience on Grey’s Anatomy – something that ‘burst the bubble of joy’ – and the lack of support in dealing with it, significantly influenced the show’s future direction.

She explained that the actors from Grey’s Anatomy who experienced that particular incident are still deeply affected by it, and it’s something people continue to discuss even now.

Washington initially tried to clarify he hadn’t used a particular word with the intention of being homophobic, and then he apologized. However, he used the same word again while offstage at the 2007 Golden Globes, prompting another apology. He stated that a simple apology wouldn’t be enough and that he would demonstrate his genuine remorse through his future behavior.

Despite any past disagreements, the desire to create a believable storyline took priority. Former cast member Preston Burke (played by Isaiah Washington) recently revealed that Sandra Oh was instrumental in his return to Grey’s Anatomy in 2014, just before his character Cristina Yang’s departure. He shared on X (formerly Twitter) in April that she insisted he come back, and ultimately succeeded in convincing the show’s producers.

Shonda Rhimes shared that she originally planned for Izzie to die off-screen. Izzie had previously battled a brain tumor and was written out of the show mid-season six when Katherine Heigl’s contract ended. However, Rhimes decided that killing off Izzie would have been too harsh for Alex Karev, played by Justin Chambers.

After Chambers departed the series after ten seasons, Alex and Izzie reunited and happily welcomed twins, completing their story.

In 2020, showrunner Krista Vernoff explained to TVLine that the team had three options for Alex’s fate: kill him off-screen, have him alive and happily married to Jo (Camilla Luddington) but never show him again, or reunite him with Izzie.

According to Vernoff, the decision to give Alex and Jo a new beginning wasn’t really a difficult one for the writing team – it felt like the obvious and correct path to take.

Katherine Heigl, an Emmy winner in 2007, faced criticism after publicly stating that the movie Knocked Up had some sexist elements. She also explained in another interview that she chose not to submit her work for an Emmy in 2008 because she didn’t believe her character’s storyline on Grey’s Anatomy was strong enough to warrant consideration.

In a 2016 interview with Howard Stern, Katherine Heigl said she apologized to Shonda Rhimes for her comments about the Emmys. However, the negative reaction she received for speaking honestly made her feel terrible about herself. She described feeling like a worthless person and struggled with not taking the criticism personally, and with questioning whether she had done something fundamentally wrong.

Okay, so Katherine Heigl talked about therapy, and it totally makes sense to me now! She said she realized she needed it because she was so afraid of losing herself. She didn’t want to get to the point where she just nodded and smiled and did whatever everyone else wanted, like a total robot! She wanted to stay her, you know? To be able to speak her mind and not feel like she had to compromise everything she believed in. It’s like, she was fighting to keep her soul, and therapy helped her do that. I get it, I really get it!

Katherine Heigl sparked some controversy in 2009 when she appeared on The Late Show With David Letterman and described the long workdays on Grey’s Anatomy – often lasting 17 hours – as “cruel and mean.”

In a 2022 podcast episode, Ellen Pompeo reflected on Katherine Heigl’s past comments, stating that if Heigl had made the same points today, she’d be praised as a hero. Pompeo felt Heigl was unfairly criticized for speaking out about the show’s demanding work hours, calling it a double standard to label her ungrateful when she was simply being truthful and courageous.

In 2015, Shonda Rhimes hinted on The Nightly Show With Larry Wilmore that she had removed an actor from her shows—the ‘Shondaverse’—because she didn’t like them. This immediately led fans to believe the character was Derek Shepherd, played by Patrick Dempsey, who had a long-running romantic storyline with Meredith and was unexpectedly killed off at the end of season 11.

When asked about the show’s controversial ending, Dempsey told Entertainment Weekly that Shonda Rhimes enjoys creating discussion, and that’s perfectly acceptable for her as a creator. He praised her as a remarkably talented and productive woman, adding that she’s skilled at managing public perception and knows exactly what to say to get the reaction she wants.

According to the book How to Save a Life, there was a lot of tension on set between Patrick Dempsey, Shonda Rhimes, and the cast. Former executive producer James D. Parriott explained that cast members were deeply affected by past experiences while working with Dempsey. However, Parriott also stated that Dempsey had simply lost interest in continuing with the show.

According to former executive producer Jeannine Renshaw, as detailed in the book, Mike Pompeo often became frustrated when he felt he wasn’t contributing enough. Renshaw also noted that Pompeo strongly believed in fairness.

Despite any injuries he may have had, Dempsey was well enough to appear in Meredith’s dream during season 17.

As a long-time follower of Grey’s Anatomy, it’s amazing to see how some faces have remained consistent throughout the years. While Pompeo scaled back her appearances in 2022, she, along with Ellen Pompeo and James Pickens Jr., are true originals – they’ve been with the show since the very beginning, all the way from season one and are still going strong as of season 22!

In April 2025, Pompeo stated to El País that it wouldn’t be logical—either emotionally or financially—for her to stop appearing on the show.

She explained that the show was streamed over a billion times last year. The companies behind it profit from her image, voice, and likeness, and she feels she deserves to share in that success after 20 years of work. Leaving completely would mean others benefit from her efforts without her receiving any compensation. Beyond the financial aspect, she also values the show’s emotional impact on viewers and wants to maintain a positive relationship with it.

In 2017, Pompeo secured a deal worth over $20 million annually, including $575,000 per episode, a substantial signing bonus, and a share of the show’s profits potentially worth over $6 million, according to The Hollywood Reporter. She also became a producer on the series, with an office at the Disney studio in Burbank for her production company, Calamity Jane.

I remember hearing about this years ago, and it really stuck with me. Apparently, when she asked for an extra $5,000 per episode – just because she felt it was the right thing to do, a matter of principle – and the network said no, that’s when things changed for her. She actually called it a turning point in the negotiations, a moment that really shaped how everything played out with the show.

Without him on the show, they couldn’t use his popular character to create drama with hers. Inspired by Shonda Rhimes’ successful deals, Pompeo decided to negotiate for a better contract and the compensation she believed she earned.

In 2018, she told The Hollywood Reporter that after being the face and voice of a project that earned a major corporation $3 billion, she began to feel she was entitled to a share of the profits.

Wilson thought her IRL pregnancy during season one would precipitate her exit from the show.

Initially, I planned to call Shonda and thank her for letting me play Dr. Bailey during the first season, assuming I’d be leaving after that. I told Good Morning America in October 2025, just before season 22 started, that she responded by saying she had no idea what I was talking about and thought I was being silly. I was so relieved to hear that!

When developing storylines, we consistently ask ourselves, ‘What challenges are doctors facing right now?’” explained showrunner Meg Marinis to the Los Angeles Times in March 2025. “For example, when we depicted the COVID pandemic, we focused entirely on the doctors’ experiences—how it impacted them, and the feelings of isolation and loneliness they endured. We avoided political debates and simply showed the human cost. We plan to approach future relevant events in the same way, focusing on the doctors’ perspectives.”

Do any of the doctors from Grey’s Anatomy seem like they’d actually know how to handle a real-life medical emergency, like applying a tourniquet?

Pompeo acknowledged she’d grown increasingly interested in medicine, though she hesitated to say she was actually learning anything new from it.

Oh my gosh, she actually said it! She told Parade that being a doctor is literally the hardest job EVER. Twelve years of school – can you even imagine?! And it’s not just the school, it’s all the drugs they have to learn about, every part of the human body, and all that crazy Latin! The amount they have to remember is insane. Honestly, she said doctors are like total rock stars, and I completely agree! I wouldn’t even pretend to know a fraction of what they do. They’re just…amazing.

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2026-05-19 20:19