Blogging the TCA

Steve McPherson weighed in on Heigl-gate Wednesday, and he made this much clear: Katherine Heigl is sticking with “Grey’s Anatomy.”

“She's absolutely staying with the show,” ABC’s entertainment boss said. “There's an unbelievable storyline for her this year, which is really central to everything that's going to go on this season.”

Mr. McPherson, showing off his talent relations chops, called Ms. Heigl a “fantastically talented actress.” But he also offered a subtle defense of the producers of “Grey’s,” who came under attack from Ms. Heigl when she blamed them for not giving her character a better storyline last season.

Ms. Heigl cited the allegedly weak storyline when announcing her decision not to submit her name for Emmy consideration.

“I think it's unfortunate when there's any kind of turmoil on a show,” Mr. McPherson said. “There's so many people who work so unbelievably hard to make that show the No. 1 show in the country. … Everyone from the grips to the writers to the EPs, I think, deserves an enormous amount of credit. And I never like to see when any of them are in any way taken lightly.”

—Josef Adalian