Better story than THIS in '08? We hope...
Tieless but not exactly wordless, ABC Entertainment chief Steve McPherson offered a few choice ones for the sassy and increasingly annoying Katherine Heigl, who pulled herself outta the Emmys a month ago because her '07 "GA" storyline just wasn't good enough, dammit.
Asked about the public slap against the Show That Made Her Famous -- which of course led to speculation that she was on the way out -- McPherson came about as close as he could in a packed and very public forum to rebuking her without sounding like he was rebuking her. "It's unfortunate when anyone says something," he said sharply during this morning's "executive sesh" at TCA in BH. He went on to praise the show as "beautifully produced" and said that everyone on the show, from grips to producers, had created a splendid season.
Translation: She's full of beans.
Rebuke delivered, he then quickly added that "she's absolutely central to the show," and that she "will stay" on "Grey's Anatomy." (He didn't say how long...) One more thing: "She has an unbelievable story line this season."
Jay Leno was the other headline from Big Mac:
In one off the truly inspired moments of the 2008 TCAs, ABC planted Jimmy Kimmel in the army of critics and reporters, and Mac called on him first. Jimmy stood up, introduced himself as so-and-so from the Sarasota, Fla., such-and-such newspaper (I think Sarasota), and then proceeded to ask about the Jay Leno rumors. "I want to ask about Jay Leno ... is your name McPherson or McFOURson ... "I don't feel comfortable talking" about the Leno situation, Mac deadpanned. Asked Kimmel/reporter: "Aren't you afraid if you do replace Jimmy Kimmel he'll do something crazy to your car?"
Then it got kinda serious, sorta. Of Leno, Mac said, "I can't believe they're gonna let this guy go out at the top of his game [but] if they do, Jimmy will be part of the discussions."
Jay to A? JK will have something to say about that...(ABC, NBC Photos)