Grey’s Anatomy season 17 likely won’t premiere until November 2020

Grey’s Anatomy season 17 delayed, likely won’t premiere until November 2020

ABC’s Thursday nights are going to look slightly different this fall, as the network has confirmed Grey’s Anatomy season 17 will not be returning as part of its initial fall line-up.

Due to production delays, ABC, like all other broadcast networks, has had to shake up its usual fall scheduling plans due to the simple fact that its scripted favorites have only just started returning to or are still waiting to begin production. As a result, ABC will look to fill its fall schedule with many non-scripted programs including Dancing with the Stars, The Bachelorette and a handful of game shows.

As confirmed by ABC, beginning Sept. 24, its Thursday night will be comprised of new episodes of Celebrity Family, Press Your Luck and Match Game which will hold down the fort until Grey’s Anatomy season 17, Station 19 season 4 and A Million Little Things season 3 are ready.

While ABC did not offer any direct update in announcing its fall schedule, Deadline is reporting the ABC’s various scripted series are not expected to premiere until October or November. So just when might Grey’s Anatomy season 17 premiere?

Grey’s Anatomy season 17 premiere date

Although no particular timeline for Grey’s Anatomy season 17 has been confirmed, it seems safe to assume Grey’s Anatomy will be among the batch of scripted series held until November.

As mentioned above, ABC will look to use a trio of game shows to fill its Thursday night schedule until our favorite scripted series will return with new seasons. In past years, ABC has handed out 10-11 episode orders to Celebrity Family Feud which typically airs during the summer months.

Before pulling the series from its summer schedule, ABC aired five episodes of season 7 meaning there are up to six episodes still in the bag for ABC to air. Assuming ABC airs the episodes without interruption, the final episode should air on Thursday, Oct. 29.

With this timeline in mind, it would seem safe to assume the earliest Grey’s Anatomy season 17 could premiere would be Thursday, Nov. 5 — as we can’t imagine ABC displacing its game shows for one or even two weeks.

The only way we’ll likely get new episodes of Grey’s Anatomy arrive before November is if season 7 of Celebrity Family Feud happens to be a 10-episode season and not at an 11-episode season. If season 7 is only 10 episodes, that would mean the finale would air Oct. 22 which could allow Grey’s Anatomy season 17 to sneak back onto ABC’s fall schedule with an Oct. 29 premiere.

As we await official confirmation on Grey’s Anatomy season 17’s premiere, we’ll just take comfort in streaming seasons 1-16 of Grey’s Anatomy on Netflix as we await new episodes!