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Ellen Pompeo reveals her 'Grey's Anatomy' contract expires this year, casts doubt on show's future

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ABC/Mike Rosenthal(LOS ANGELES) — Grey’s Anatomy, the longest running medical drama in television history with a whopping 17 seasons, might be hanging up the scrubs sometime soon as hinted by star Ellen Pompeo.

The actress, who plays the titular Doctor Meredith Grey, spoke openly about the hit show and indicated that the series might come to an end sooner than fans think.

“We don’t know when the show is really ending yet,” Pomeo admitted to Variety on Wednesday. “But the truth is, this year could be it.”

The 50-year-old actress further hinted about her own future on the medical drama, adding, “I mean, this is the last year of my contract right now. I don’t know that this is the last year? But it could very well could be.”

However, Pompeo understands that, should she leave, it might be difficult for the show to continue.

“I don’t take the decision lightly [about leaving,]” she confessed, “We employ a lot of people, and we have a huge platform. And I’m very grateful for it.”

Pompeo assured that, despite the slight chance that Grey’s Anatomy is in its final season, the show’s quality will remain intact.

“I’m constantly fighting for the show as a whole to be as good as it can be,” she revealed. “As a producer, I feel like I have permission to be able to do that.”

Pompeo, who has been with Grey’s since the pilot episode aired in 2005, is one of the last remaining original cast members.  Only two other actors have stayed with the show since the beginning, Chandra Wilson and James Pickens Jr., who play Doctor Miranda Bailey and Doctor Richard Webber, respectively.

Season 17 of Grey’s Anatomy premieres November 17 on ABC and will feature the doctors adjusting to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

By Megan Stone
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The 54th CMA Awards head to Music City Center, with Reba and Darius leading a night of star-studded moments

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ABC/Alysse GafkjenFor the first time ever, this year’s CMA Awards will move from its usual home at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena to nearby Music City Center. 

Hosts Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker will anchor the night of star-studded performances fans have come to expect from Country Music’s Biggest Night. The two will do a tribute performance together, while Reba will team up with Thomas Rhett, Hillary Scott and Chris Tomlin for “Be a Light,” TR’s number-one, nominated song. Lady A will also join Darius for his hit, “Beers & Sunshine.”

Pop star Charlie Puth will make his CMA debut for his first chance to perform “I Hope” with its creator, Gabby Barrett. 

The superstar moments continue from there, with Eric Church set to do “Hell of a View,” Luke Combs on board for “Cold as You,” and Florida Georgia Line on deck for “Long Live.” 

Miranda Lambert will be “Settling Down,” while Ashley McBryde‘s sticking to “One Night Standards.” Maren Morris digs up “The Bones,” while Rascal Flatts will “Bless the Broken Road.” 

Look for more talent to be announced leading up to the premiere of the 54th Annual CMA Awards, which air live on Wednesday, November 11, starting at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

By Stephen Hubbard
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Elizabeth Banks reveals why it's a "fabulous feeling" to host 'Press Your Luck'

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ABC/Eric McCandless(LOS ANGELES) — No whammies – stop! New episodes of Press Your Luck hosted by Elizabeth Banks are back tonight on ABC.

The game show features contestants collecting spins by answering trivia questions. They can later use the spins to win cash and prizes, which Banks tells ABC Audio is her favorite part of the job “hands down.” 

“I get to give away life changing money, and it’s not my money,” she admits. “It’s a fabulous feeling.”

Banks is one of at least seven women hosting TV game shows — a job that, up until recently, was dominated by men. She says she’s glad the industry’s changing.

“I’m thrilled by the numbers and, it’s just one of these weird traditions that just needed to be broken. You know, there’s no real rhyme or reason for it. It’s kind of just how the world worked,” she says.

“I think we are all realizing that how the world works didn’t always work for everybody. Like ladies didn’t get to host game shows. And there used to be this thing like, well, ‘we didn’t know maybe if you wanted to host it.’ It’s like we did. We always want to do all of it. We want to do it,” she adds.

Even so, Banks reveals that hosting a game show wasn’t something she necessarily dreamed of doing as a little girl, but she sure loved watching them. 

“I honestly had never thought about hosting a game show when I was a kid,” she shares. “I thought about being on game shows when was a kid, for sure.”

“We used to make fake like Plinko boards from The Price is Right. And be at the grocery store and we love Supermarket Sweep when I was little too,”  she recalls. “And we loved Press Your Luck. Loved the Whammy.”

By Danielle Long and Jason Nathanson
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Lady A's "Champagne Night" turned out to be the unexpected hit that's perfect for a pandemic

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Dove Shore

2020 will go down as a year that held plenty of surprises for everybody, including Lady A.

In January, they were honored for their work with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, and by February, they were celebrating their most recent number one, “What If I Never Get Over You,” and preparing for the Ocean cut, “What I’m Leaving For,” to be their next hit.

But an April appearance on an NBC songwriting competition and the non-album track, “Champagne Night,” changed all that.

“It was funny,” Charles Kelley recalls. “We were on that show, Songland, and the reaction to the song was just so amazing that we were like, ‘Gosh, let’s just put this out.'”

“I mean, we live in a day and age where everything is moving so fast,” he reflects. “And it’s like, ‘Listen, if the fans are reacting to this, let’s put it out.'”

“And we had a tour obviously lined up and it was gonna be our show opener,” he laughs. “It would’ve been a great live show song, and it still will be next year.”

As it turns out, the effervescent “Champagne Night” is better suited for life during the COVID-19 pandemic than the emotional longing of “What I’m Leaving For” anyway.

“I think during these times, you need some lighthearted songs, too,” Charles tells ABC Audio. “People don’t wanna be reminded so much about all the heaviness.”

“I think it’s nice to have some songs like that,” he continues. “Like Luke Bryan‘s [“One Margarita”], I just sometimes, I just wanna turn the radio on and just listen to something fun. So I’m glad people are liking it.”  

Friday, Lady A adds four new songs to their Christmas album, to deliver On This Winter’s Night Deluxe just in time for the holidays. 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-urw9c82EA&w=640&h=360]

By Stephen Hubbard
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.