‘Grey’s Anatomy’: Debbie Allen Reveals That Richard and Catherine Are Still at Odds This Season (Exclusive)
Is there hope for Richard Webber and his estranged wife, Catherine Fox, this season on Grey’s Anatomy?
Executive producer Debbie Allen teased plenty of drama for season 17 as the series plans to begin shooting the second week of September. Viewers were left hanging as the couple almost reunited only to end the last season at odds again. “All I know is that Catherine and Richard are at odds honey,” Allen dished with Showbiz Cheat Sheet.
“We were in battle when we stopped and that’s how we start,” she added. “So I don’t need to tell you more, but it’s going to be a nice season to see where we land and how we land. Everyone wants us to get back together. Jim [Pickens Jr.] and I are like, ‘We want to kiss again!’ We want you all to see real love on screen and how mature people play a love scene.”
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ will weave the pandemic into the storyline
There was no way the medical drama could avoid facing COVID-19 head-on. But Allen isn’t sure if the virus will take center stage. “I can only say I’ve read two scripts and those are the first two I’m directing,” Allen shared. “So I’m not totally sure where we are going, but this will fall into place once we are moving forward. But we are dealing with COVID, that’s for sure.”
The series has touched on newsworthy topics in the past and Allen says addressing racial injustice on the show could be interesting. “I would like to see it discussed because you know part of the beauty of Grey’s is that we never really dealt with a lot of racial issues,” Allen said. “Because diversity is normal for us here. Richard Webber is Black. Miranda Bailey is Black.”
“We have Asian doctors,” she continued. “We have a mixture of people. But I think this might be a different time. And I’m looking forward to seeing how we address it.”
Production will proceed cautiously
Allen was on her way to a table read when she spoke with Showbiz Cheat Sheet. While the pandemic shutdown will impact when the new fall season begins, Allen wasn’t sure when new programming will air. “Honestly, nobody knows,” she admitted. “We’re all going forward with the right intent to air on a certain day, but anything could happen. Anything could stop and pull us back.”
“Hopefully we’re doing it right and everyone has integrity and is truthful about their health,” she continued. “Because you rely on people’s integrity to tell you if they have symptoms [of COVID-19]. You rely on people’s integrity to tell you if they’ve been exposed to someone who has COVID.” She added that production will include plenty of masking and carefully followed protocols.
Allen has stayed positive and healthy during the pandemic by re-imagining her dance school, the Debbie Allen Dance Academy into a virtual environment. She’s also cherished spending time with her family and granddaughter. Allen partnered with Aspercreme® to launch the “Love is Grand” campaign that celebrates active grandparents.
She encourages families to engage in the campaign by sharing a photo that celebrates modern grandparents. Use the hashtag #LoveIsGrand to celebrate Grandparents Day on Sunday, Sept. 13. For every photo shared, Aspercreme will donate $1 up to $50,000 to Generations United, a non-profit organization that supports seniors’ wellbeing.
