Ellen Pompeo Challenges Media Following ‘Red Table Talk’ About Race

Grey’s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo visited Jada Pinkett Smith’s groundbreaking Facebook series, Red Table Talk, for an honest conversation about raising bi-racial children. Toward the end of that extremely important talk, Pompeo was asked fishbowl questions, one of which was about her current relationship with former series star Patrick Dempsey. True to form, that one soundbite was picked up by the media, including The Today show, and Pompeo rightfully objected.

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Ellen Pompeo Finally Talks About Katherine Heigl Drama

greys-anatomyThere’s a fine line between trash-talking and being honest, and in an interview with The New York Post, Ellen Pompeo mastered that delicate dance. When asked about Katherine Heigl’s much-talked-about exit, Pompeo said, “When Katie left, it was tough. You could understand why she wanted to go — when you’re offered $12 million a movie and you’re only 26. But Katie’s problem is that she should not have renewed her contract. She re-upped, took a big raise and then tried to get off the show. And then her movie career did not take off.” Pompeo’s insight is especially unique, given that she’s never talked about the controversy. As for Heigl, she’s still a victim of the backlash associated with her much maligned motormouth.

Grey’s Anatomy Finale: My Review

I confess that I’ve been picking on Shonda Rhimes a lot lately for being too dark.  But if there is anything I’m able to do, it’s admit when I’m wrong.  This Thursday’s finale was extremely dark, but still enjoyable, and it ties the series finale of ‘Six Feet Under’ as one of the best episodes of television that I’ve ever seen in my life.  I’ll also let you in on a little secret: I read the spoilers before watching the show.  Why?  Because I wanted to know who died before I saw it (I was scared of Shonda Rhimes scarring me for life).  Throughout the episode I kept asking myself who deserves an Emmy.  There were so many stand-out performances that I can’t pick just one.  Here’s my list of Emmy worthy scenes:
Sandra Oh: Cristina telling Meredith that she can’t enter the operating room while she operates on Derek. 

Ellen Pompeo: Meredith’s plea for the shooter to kill her instead of Derek, followed by her collapse to the floor when she believed that Cristina let him die (per the shooter’s wishes).
Chandra Wilson: Dr. Miranda Bailey’s freak-out realization that Percy would die, followed by the strength of pulling it together for him.

Sarah Drew: Her monologue to the shooter about being “somebody’s daughter” was gut-wrenchingly good.  She also navigated the freak-outs without getting annoyingly over the top.  She’s actually getting mixed reviews on the internet for her performance, much like Katherine Heigl did when she cut Denny’s LVAD wire.  I think she’s on her way to some very great opportunities.

Michael O’Neill: Ah, the evil shooter.  He clearly wins the entire episode.  Whoever the casting director is that found this guy and decided he’d be right for this role, deserves a huge raise and promotion.  When I first saw him on the show I knew he was a decent actor, but who knew he was capable of this?

Ellen Pompeo May Leave ‘Greys Anatomy’

Ellen Pompeo said in a recent interview that she will likely leave ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ when her contract expires in 2012.  I understand that eight seasons is a long run, but if it were me I would ride that gravy train for all it’s worth.  Pompeo should go for coffee with a soap opera star.  Soap actors stay on those shows for 30 years sometimes.  The work may not be artistically fantastic, but the pay sure is great.  To each his own, I suppose.