How Many More Seasons Will Grey's Anatomy Run?

Grey's Anatomy's Season 6 finale was one of its most gripping episodes in a long time, and its ratings proved the medical drama can still deliver in that department as well.

But how long will the show keep going? We've debated at length whether its best is behind it already, and there is the major issue of keeping a large, talented cast intact.

Ellen Pompeo recently said that "when my contract is up after Season Eight [in two years], I would probably not renew. I think the world has had a lot of Meredith Grey."

Could the show continue post-Meredith Grey if Ellen were indeed serious? Do other original cast members share that view? Who would be irreplaceable and who wouldn't?

Perhaps more significantly, is there enough material to sustain Grey's Anatomy at a high level? Based on its fans and staying power, two more seasons seem reasonable.

Could Grey's Anatomy survive without ... well, Grey?

Beyond that, though, is a different story. Few shows make it this long, let alone a ninth season. Between cast turnover and dwindling story lines, it's simply a tall order.

This gets us thinking - should the show pull the plug on itself, a la Lost, and announce an end date now? Lost was slated to go off the air this month way back in 2007.

The idea behind this was to cut out filler episodes while giving producers time to plan an appropriate end (although whether they accomplished this is highly debatable).

Might it help give Grey's Anatomy the best possible direction to have an end date in mind, though? Might we get the best possible story lines from the best characters?

Or would you like to see the show follow the lead of ER, with more single character-centric episodes and a large, diverse cast that can withstand high-profile departures?

Note that there is no talk of this happening - it's just us throwing it out there for debate. We can see definite merits of both angles, but are curious what you all think.

Should Grey's Anatomy set an end date?