NEWSEllen Pompeo And Richard Flood Return To 'Grey's Anatomy' Set After Coronavirus Shutdown
Paging doctors Meredith Grey and Cormac Hayes!
Ellen Pompeo and Richard Flood returned to the set of Grey’s Anatomy after filming was shut down back in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“First time back in my scrubs,” the actress wrote as she shared a masked-up selfie with her costar via Instagram.
The 50-year-old, who has starred on the medical drama since 2005, also gave a shoutout to the real health workers on the frontline of the global health crisis.
“Since we shut down filming, 7000 healthcare workers have died from Covid. I dedicate my season 17 to all who have fallen and to every one of you who by the grace of God is still standing,” she added. “This season is for you with humility and a bit of humor to get us through and endless amounts of gratitude. I hope we do you proud @greysabc #seasonseventeen @richardfloodofficial.”
The comments section of Ellen's Instagram was quickly flooded with reactions to the good news.
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“We’re Baaaaaccckkk,” wrote her costar Debbie Allen, celebrating the show's return.
"I’m having champagne in your honor ??♀️?❤️" added celeb choreographer Yanis Marshall.
Will & Grace actress Debra Messing also chimed in, writing: "Welcome back.?? Stay safe sweets. ?"
CELEBRITIES WHO HAVE HAD CORONAVIRUS - STARS EXPLAIN THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH THE COVID-19
Before Grey’s Anatomy‘s was forced to halt production, 21 episodes of the show's 16th season were filmed, with just four episodes remaining. On September 3, the team returned for a virtual table read.
As to whether the real-life coronavirus would inspire future storylines on the hit drama, showrunner Krista Vernoff told The Hollywood Reporter back in August she was initially not interested.
“I spent the whole hiatus kicking it around, and I came into the writers room thinking that I had made the decision that we were not going to do it,” the 46-year-old said.
But not all of her writing staff seemed to agree and eventually convinced her that ignoring the reality of COVID-19 would be careless.
“To be kind of the biggest medical show and ignore the biggest medical story of the century felt irresponsible to them to the medical community,” she explained. “We have to tell this story, and so the conversation became, how do we tell this very painful, brutal story that has hit our medical community so intensely — and as they keep saying, permanently changed medicine? How do we do that and provide some escapism? How do we do that and create romance, and comedy, and joy, and fun?”
