The sixteenth season of the American television medical drama Grey's Anatomy was ordered on May 10, 2019, by American Broadcasting Company (ABC). The season premiered on September 26, 2019. The season is produced by ABC Studios, in association with Shondaland Production Company and Entertainment One Television; the showrunner being Krista Vernoff.
The season's main storylines include the recently fired Dr. Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo)'s impending trial to fight for her medical license and her on-off again love-life with surgical resident, Andrew DeLuca (Giacomo Gianniotti), who begins to spiral into bipolar mania. Alex Karev (Justin Chambers) and Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.) also begin working at Pac-North after being fired by Chief Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson). Other storylines include Teddy Altman (Kim Raver)'s affair with Tom Koracick (Greg Germann) in the wake of her engagement to Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd); Amelia Shepherd (Caterina Scorsone)'s surprise pregnancy, with the baby's paternity brought into question; Jackson Avery (Jesse Williams) and Maggie Pierce (Kelly McCreary)'s break up; Miranda Bailey's miscarriage; and Jo Karev (Camilla Luddington)'s emergence from the psychiatric ward after treatment.
This is the final season to feature Dr. Alex Karev, portrayed by Justin Chambers as a series-regular, whose announced departure was made in January 2020. His final physical appearance was the milestone 350th episode "My Shot" in November 2019. Following this, he abruptly left the series. However, Vernoff was able to bring him back for voice-over in a farewell episode, explaining where the character ended up. This episode "Leave a Light On" became the season's most-discussed and analyzed episode, with Chambers' character's departure after 16 years receiving a polarizing response from audiences. However, it drew a ratings upswing, shooting up its best ratings in 6 weeks since its mid-season premiere. It also re-visited Katherine Heigl's character, Izzie Stevens who departed mid-way through the sixth season.
On March 12, 2020, the production of the sixteenth season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. 21 out of the original 25 episode order were completed before production was suspended. On March 27, 2020, it was announced that the twenty-first episode would serve as the season finale. The season finale, which aired on April 9, 2020, ended with 7.33 million viewers, an improvement from the previous season's 5.99 million viewership, and became the first season to not end in May in all of its 15 years.
The website Screen Rant ranked the season #16 on their 2023 ranking of the 19 Grey's Anatomy seasons.
Episodes
The number in the "No. overall" column refers to the episode's number within the overall series, whereas the number in the "No. in season" column refers to the episode's number within this particular season. "U.S. viewers in millions" refers to the number of Americans in millions who watched the episodes live. Each episode of this season is named after a song.
Cast and characters
Main Ellen Pompeo as Dr. Meredith Grey Justin Chambers as Dr. Alex Karev Chandra Wilson as Dr. Miranda Bailey James Pickens Jr. as Dr. Richard Webber Kevin McKidd as Dr. Owen Hunt Jesse Williams as Dr. Jackson Avery Caterina Scorsone as Dr. Amelia Shepherd Camilla Luddington as Dr. Jo Karev Kelly McCreary as Dr. Maggie Pierce Giacomo Gianniotti as Dr. Andrew DeLuca Kim Raver as Dr. Teddy Altman Greg Germann as Dr. Tom Koracick Jake Borelli as Dr. Levi Schmitt Chris Carmack as Dr. Atticus "Link" Lincoln
Recurring Jason George as Dr. Ben Warren Richard Flood as Dr. Cormac Hayes Debbie Allen as Dr. Catherine Fox Stefania Spampinato as Dr. Carina DeLuca Alex Blue Davis as Dr. Casey Parker Jaicy Elliot as Dr. Taryn Helm Sophia Ali as Dr. Dahlia Qadri Alex Landi as Dr. Nico Kim Jaina Lee Ortiz as Lt. Andrea "Andy" Herrera Cleo King as Robin Devika Parikh as Nancy Klein Barrett Doss as Victoria "Vic" Hughes Devin Way as Dr. Blake Simms Vivian Nixon as Dr. Hannah Brody Jasmine Guy as Gemma Larson Noah Alexander Gerry as Joey Phillips Sarah Rafferty as Suzanne Lindy Booth as Hadley Shoshannah Stern as Dr. Lauren Riley
Notable guests Anthony Hill as Dr. Winston Ndugu Holly Marie Combs as Heidi Peterson Alyssa Milano as Haylee Peterson Hal Linden as Bertram Hollister Lisa Ann Walter as Shirley Gregory Granville Ames as Eric Lincoln Bess Armstrong as Maureen Lincoln Skyler Shaye as Katie Bryce Robin Pearson Rose as Patricia Murphy Rachel Bay Jones as Carly Miguel Sandoval as Captain Pruitt Herrera Okieriete Onaodowan as Dean Miller Grey Damon as LT Jack Gibson Danielle Savre as Captain Maya Bishop James Saito as Hershel Roberts Denise Dowse as Lorraine Simms Isidora Goreshter as Paula Beanie Feldstein as Tess Anderson George Gerdes as Norman Sholman Debra Jo Rupp as Jo's Therapist Jonathan Cake as Griffin Ford Crystal McCreary as Sabrina Webber Zaiver Sinnett as Dr. Zander Perez Sherri Saum as Allison Brown Debra Mooney as Evelyn Hunt Amanda Payton as Dr. Daphne Lopez
Production The sixteenth season of Grey's Anatomy was the last season of the show to be produced by ABC Studios before the company was renamed ABC Signature.
Casting On May 10, 2019, with the renewal announcement it was revealed that Chris Carmack, Greg Germann and Jake Borelli had been promoted to series-regulars. In October 2019, it was announced that Richard Flood had been cast as the new head of Pediatric Surgery at Grey Sloan, replacing Karev, who was fired in the previous season. On January 10, 2020, it was announced that Justin Chambers would be leaving the series, with his last episode being the 350th.
Ratings
References
External links