T.R. Knight Describes Final Grey's Anatomy Scene
As we reported last week, the final scene in Grey's Anatomy's fifth season finale was supposed to feature Jeffrey Dean Morgan's Denny Duquette, who was seen throughout the season, as Izzie's heavenly escort as the ailing resident's life hung in the balance.
However, series creator and executive Shonda Rhimes had an epiphany and decided to use T.R. Knight's George O'Malley in the parting shot-cliffhanger instead
According to Entertainment Weekly, having wrapped filming for the season, T.R. Knight went ahead and shaved his head, believing he was done for the summer.
That posed a new problem - but ultimately a solution - for Rhimes.
"[Director] Rob Corn calls me up and goes, 'What do we do?'" Rhimes said, before she remembered George enlisted in the Army right before being struck by a bus.
Luckily, the workaround quickly came to Rhimes when she thought of that fact. "I said, 'I know. Put him in a military uniform!' It wasn't a big amazing plan I had."
The climactic, season-ending scene, which left the two characters literally in limbo and viewers on the edge of their seats, left Knight with a bag of emotions as well.
"It was brilliant of Shonda to put George in the dress blues," said Knight, who will not be returning to Grey's Anatomy next season. "It was such a powerful image."
Katherine Heigl, who plays Izzie, was in Atlanta shooting a film and was not present for the big re-shoot. So to ensure Heigl and Knight's expressions were in sync, T.R. Knight picked his BFF's brain over the phone before stepping in front of the camera.
"I was like, 'What did you do in that scene?'" the Grey's Anatomy actor said, laughing. "It's nice when you've worked with someone for five years. There's a shorthand."
Katherine Heigl was worried over whether the switcheroo could be pulled off.
"Katie called me and was like, 'Are my expressions going to match his? Is it going to work?" Rhimes said. "And I was like, 'I promise you it's going to be perfect.'"
It was.
Steve Marsi is the Managing Editor of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Google+ or email him here.
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Lexie: Mark, I'm dying. Please tell Meredith I love her and that she is a good sister.
October 17th, 2009 7:28 PM
Sad to see him leaving the show. I'll miss his character.
September 17th, 2009 10:41 PM
I really didn't want George to go. He is my favorite in the entire story line. But someone eventually had to die, and it couldn't be Merideth. I think we all will regret this. T.R. is masterful at his art. -Lani
August 2nd, 2009 12:01 PM
It was the perfect shot of George. He looked perfect
I'm going to miss him to bits.... I wish he could stay back
July 27th, 2009 9:35 PM
Please keep the character of George. Let the character have facial reconstruction surgery and bring in a hot guy to spice up the storyline. That will be great.
July 27th, 2009 10:51 AM
TR is so professional. He had left the show and he didn't have to come back to shoot that scene. I love how he took the time to call Katie so to make the last scene perfect. He was a professional to the end. I can,t believe he's acting against nobody but his face is so expressive.
TR is really amazing, is he?
July 27th, 2009 10:41 AM
I just want to say something pertaining to KH--I think her phone call to Shonda about the final scene really shows her commitment to the quality of the show. She's gotten a lot of bad press but it's very obvious to me that she takes a great deal of pride in her work and it really comes through on-screen. She's a huge part of what makes Grey's such a great show!
July 25th, 2009 9:47 AM
Ace writes:
"It's also interesting to note that the expressions from KH as Izzie were for JDM as Denny; it really speaks of TR's talent how he was able to emote so much and didn't have KH's reactions to play-off of.
It's very reminiscient of season 3's closet-scene when Izzie and George said nothing to each other yet their actions and non-verbal communications somehow was able to resonate volumes.
The elevator shot, like the closet-scene, is hauntingly beautiful. "
Very well said, Ace. Couldn't have said it better myself. TR is so incredibly talented. :)
~ Cindy
July 23rd, 2009 8:58 AM
Wow, TR came out explaining why he left, and he does blame the show :
http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2009/07/23/2009-07-23_tr_knight_reveals_why_he_left_greys_anatomy.html
July 23rd, 2009 12:07 AM
I agree, Ace. That elevator scene shows TR's pure talent. I hope he finds someone that can really use it to its full potential. Grey ahsn't in a long time, but TR still always shined even when he had 2 seconds on screen.
July 23rd, 2009 12:06 AM
I'm so sad we were robbed of our last moments with George. It was his last season, and Shonda seemed to know it, and she refused to give us George scenes all for a cliffhanger at the end.
I hate that. I feel robbed.