Almost 20 years after it aired, Katherine Heigl and Jeffrey Dean Morgan are getting candid about one of the controversial and bewildering storylines on “Gray’s Anatomy“: the “Ghost Denny” arc.
In line with Katherine Heigl and Jeffrey Dean Morgan, filming these scenes was simply as complicated as watching them.
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Jeffrey Dean Morgan Admits ‘Gray’s Anatomy’ Ghost Romance ‘Wasn’t Working’
“It’s humorous as a result of I don’t bear in mind a lot of that season as a result of it simply… I don’t know that anyone thought that was working once we have been doing it,” Morgan admitted in a brand new joint interview with Entertainment Weekly.
The storyline, which dominated Season 5, centered round Heigl’s character, Dr. Izzie Stevens, hallucinating romantic and intimate encounters along with her late fiancé, Denny Duquette (performed by Morgan).
Whereas Izzie was unknowingly battling a mind tumor, she started seeing Denny in more and more vivid moments, together with in scenes that had her fellow characters appearing as if he wasn’t there.
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‘Gray’s Anatomy’ Stars Replicate On Weird Ghost Denny Storyline

Heigl acknowledged the storyline’s enchantment to a sure portion of the fanbase however did not draw back from calling it what it was. “I think about that it was to provide the followers a little bit of this want achievement, however yeah, it was awkward, not the scenes, however the idea,” she mentioned.
Morgan echoed the surreal nature of the expertise. “She may by no means acknowledge me,” he defined of how his ghostly character interacted with Izzie. “And I bear in mind I used to be yelling at her whereas all people else was giving her physician info. And it was throwing all people off.”
One second, particularly, stands out for Heigl, and never in a great way.
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“There’s one explicit scene that I cannot watch with my youngsters ever. I don’t care how previous they’re. I don’t care in the event that they’re 60, I’m not watching this with them,” she mentioned. “And it was a scene the place you’re within the room, however I’m making an attempt to be like, ‘You aren’t right here, you’re not right here.’ And Alex [Justin Chambers] and Izzie begin messing round and he goes down on her. And also you’re simply standing there. And I used to be simply kind of on the time like, ‘That is what the cash’s for, proper?’”
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Morgan And Heigl Replicate On Controversial Denny Return

Regardless of the weird course of the storyline, Morgan admitted he was completely happy to return to the present following Denny’s tragic dying on the finish of Season 2.
“But it surely was nice to be again, I’ll say that,” he mentioned. “The work is at all times nice. It’s like Katie mentioned, I don’t know that the story caught. It was a tough one for the viewers as a result of it was so type of out of the realm of ‘Gray’s Anatomy.’ And I believe by the point we… It began airing whereas we have been nonetheless capturing the story, and we knew that the viewers response wasn’t that enthusiastic about, ‘What? She’s seeing a useless man? What the f-ck is occurring?’”
Heigl understood the fan confusion but additionally admitted that part of her embraced it emotionally.
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“For me, I cherished Izzie and I needed her to get to have that with Denny. And so there was a part of me that cherished it and needed to do it, and needed to see her have that, even when it was only a fantasy,” she mentioned. “However yeah, as a result of there was this supernatural side of it, such as you’re saying, it wasn’t essentially within the realm of ‘Gray’s Anatomy.’”
The Unimaginable Success Of ‘Gray’s Anatomy’

When “Gray’s Anatomy” premiered on ABC on March 27, 2005, nobody may have predicted that it will develop into one of the iconic and longest-running exhibits in tv historical past.
Created by Shonda Rhimes, the medical drama rapidly rose to prominence, not just for its gripping storylines but additionally for its influence on popular culture, illustration in media, and community tv itself.
With greater than 20 seasons beneath its belt, “Gray’s Anatomy” holds the title of the longest-running primetime medical drama ever. It surpassed the legendary “ER” and continues to air new episodes, sustaining a loyal fanbase whilst tv tendencies evolve. The present’s skill to remain related and emotionally resonant yr after yr is a feat few others have completed.
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A Pop Tradition Powerhouse

From its earliest seasons, “Gray’s Anatomy” turned a cultural touchstone.
It launched the world to now-iconic nicknames like “McDreamy” and “McSteamy” and gave followers unforgettable traces like, “Choose me, select me, love me.”
In its prime, “Gray’s Anatomy” averaged over 20 million viewers per episode. Whereas general community TV viewership has declined over time, the present stays one in every of ABC’s highest-rated collection, particularly among the many coveted 18–49 demographic.