TCA: Katherine Heigl is staying put on 'Grey's Anatomy'

Katherine Heigl is not going anywhere.

That was the message this morning from ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson, who was asked to address the kerfuffle that erupted recently when the “Grey’s Anatomy” star opted not to submit an entry for Emmy consideration

That immediately stirred speculation that Heigl was preparing to exit the popular series.

Not so, said McPherson.

“She’s absolutely staying with the show,” he said. “There’s a unbelievable story line for her this year, which is really essential to everything that’s going to go on this year. We’re really excited about that. [Creator] Shonda Rhimes is really excited about that and is the one who actually crafted that.”

McPherson sought to calm the waters, calling Heigl “a fantastically talented actress" and adding that “it’s unfortunate when there’s any kind of turmoil on a show.”

He seemed to gently chide Heigl for her criticism, saying that it was “really unfortunate.”

“There’s so many people who work so unbelievably hard to make that show the No. 1 show in the country,” McPherson said. “I think it’s a beautifully written, beautifully acted, beautifully produced show. Everyone from the grips to the writers to the EPs, I think, deserves an enormous amount of credit. And I never like to see any of them in any way taken lightly.”

-- Matea Gold