How should Izzy (Katherine Heigl) die? You decide!

"Grey's Anatomy" star Katherine Heigl's decision to withdraw from the 2008 Emmy Race because she didn't feel she'd been given the scripted material worthy of an award this season, probably hasn't exactly endeared her to the show's producers or stars.

However, the show's creator, Shondra Rhimes, insists all is forgiven.

"I didn’t log on to a website," Rhimes said when asked how she heard about it and what her reaction was. "I didn’t see it that way. But when I was told about it, I have to say that my reaction was that I thought it was surprising. I have a really wonderful working relationship with Katherine. And I love and respect her as an actress. And everyone knows that Izzie is one of my favorite characters. So, for me, it was surprising, but Katie is an outspoken person and I think we all know that already."

Read the transcript to the press conference here.

But rumors persist throughout the blogosphere that the writers may be coming up with ways to kill off Heigl's character, possibly with a brain tumor.

"It's their way of screwing with her," the source recently told Us Weekly. "She won't know whether she's going to live or die."

Brain tumor? Triple yawn.

C'mon guys. Surely you can come up with something better than that. How about a rare and mysterious disease, maybe something that could only be solved by Hugh Laurie's irrascible junkie-doc on Fox network's medical series "House"? (Think cross-network pollination.) Now that could be fun.

House could keep running all kinds of diagnostic tests on Izzy, ones that oh, I don't know, might permanently damage her brain, and other vital organs and possibly could turn her into a vegetable.

Then Heigl would know what it feels like to REALLY not be given the material for an Emmy. No expressions, no movements, no lines at all!

Oh, wouldn't that be sweet revenge?

What do you think? Post your ideas for How to Kill Izzy!

Or, if you must, please submit your reasons for Why Izzy Should Live!

And it has to be for some other reason other than the fact that Heigl always looks so gorgeous on the Emmy, Globes and Screen Actors Guild red carpets.

Photo credit: WireImage

Comments

[anonymous]

Give it a rest already - Heigl has done nothing to deserve this kind of treatment from the press. To quote the guy from Enterainment Weekly anyone would think she had beaten up Dakota Fanning. At least she has an opinion and is not afraid to say what she thinks, even when it gets twisted and blow out of proprtion by publications like your own. I'd actually prefer to see her off of Grey's Anatomy purely because if she is given material like last season she can do a lot better in film. She is too talented an actress to be wasted rescuing dead deer. How about she could die by lethal injection after running amok with an AK47 at the offices of the Los Angeles Times? We can but hope.

[Helen]

It never ceases to amaze me that someone who has reached sucess in what is probably the most difficult of professions, can't appreciate what luck has brought their way...

[ICY]

I hope they do kill her off, she has been nothing but annoying since all the drama...she should be grateful for everythgin she has everyday and instead she is just a BRAT. Grow up Ms. Heigl and use your stardrom and temper tantrums for better causes not just your own.

[Sheldon]

I think it would be appropriate for Ms Rhimes & Co. to write Ms Heigl into every Grey's Anatomy ep until her contract is up - what make it a form of justice would be if she got fewer than a dozen lines an ep.

But that's my evil side speaking - I'd like her to get lots of juicy arcs because the character is so engaging... and that would be better for the show.

[Betty]

Katherine Hiegl made a personal decision and people should stop harassing her for it. She is acting based on her beliefs, and I agree that the writing did not give Izzie much this season. Maybe she withdrew in order to give Chandra Wilson (Bailey) a better shot at winning, as Katherine has already won. Personally, I think everyone is overreacting to this. Also, if one is going to write an article, they should at least double check and make sure they spell the character's name right. Which it is not in this article. Izzie, not Izzy.

[Kristina]

What she is saying here is that the whole Izzy-George relationship didn't work at all...is this news?

[Carly]

I don't see the big deal. The writing stunk and Katherine was honest. The media needs to give it a rest.

[SeaShark]

I've been a Katherine Heigl fan since MY FATHER, THE HERO and UNDER SEIGE 2. Katherine also made a memorable appearance on the TONIGHT SHOW while promoting US 2; she dazzled Jay Leno and the studio audience with her beauty, style, sexy Marilyn body and vivacious personality. And "The Lawnmower" dance!

I hope that Katherine isn't the arrogant, occasionally obnoxious diva off set that she is occasionally said to be. I admire Katherine, however, for the tenacious way she protects and fights for her GREY'S ANATOMY character. Shondra Rhimes and the writers made a serious mistake having Izzy and George hit the sheets; Izzy devolved and became irrelevant.

I believe that Izzy deserves a heroic death if Rhimes decides that Katherine must leave the show. Izzy would step in front of a bullet to save a patient's life. I can see Izzy fearlessly confronting an armed, abusive husband who storms into a Seattle Grace hospital room to murder the wife that he terrorized and assaulted earlier in the day.

Katherine Heigl's career will flourish after GREY'S ANATOMY. Assuming, of course, she chooses projects with more believable stories and scripts than KNOCKED UP! Sheesh.

I do hope, though, that GREY'S can recapture the magic of the first two seasons, with or without Katherine. The ensemble cast is terrific, and there are still worthwhile stories to tell. Good luck to all.

[leah]

dont you think this article was a bit rude? brute? heartless at the same time?
come to think of it guys izzie's character in GA is perfect, she's been the life and spice of GA. killing her personality will be like killing the drama. it would be unfair for her and for the GA viewer's to do that. Katherine not izzie was also human bound also to make a mistake...i am sure that her comment was an honest and yes a bit careless opinion but it was not intended to harm or insult the people responsible for her fame right now. Of what benefit will she extract from it? Money? More Fame? come on guys i dont think she's that stupid enough to throw a public insult.
So before you judge her, analyze the comment first...be sensible, be mature, be a responsible reader...i believe that how you perceive the comment sumhow reflects your personality. Be loathsome or be understanding? its your choice......

[Lee]

Katherine's character was not one of my favorites. I think she should be killed off, but quickly. By gunshot or an accident.

[cat]

well i think if the writer kill of izzy the show will suffer alot i think she bring in a great deal of viewer to the show. GA is perfect the way it i even my dad like the show the writer shouldn't try to change it

[shi]

we are all special.. like our moms used to say, so i believe she needs to climb down off her high horse. She is rude, selfish, and inconsiderate!

I think she should leave the hospital after getting off work and get into an accident. After being rushed to the hospital her colleagues are paged only to find it will be izzy that needs a heart transplant or something ironic.

[Lulubelle]

It should be really intense and dramatic. Since McDreamy is a brain surgeon he gets to operate on her and she dies on the operating table, or maybe some lunatic breaks into the hospital looking to finish off his wife or something takes her hostage and she dies...

[Gina]

Katherine's character jumped the shark when she started seeing/talking to/having sex with the dead fiance.

[chip]

However she dies, I hope it's quick and doesn't allow time time to whine. I'm sick and tired of her whining. I quit watching because of her and TJ. Now perhaps I'll watch again.

[Makayla]

Aw. Poor Alex Karev! =( Personally, I like Izzy Stevens and I would rather have her live. Although, how would that work? She just can't step off the show like Erica Hahn did. BORING. That only leaves one thing: (as much as it pains me to say it) Izzy must die. From what I've heard, Anemia (Izzy's condition) is common in pregnant women. Well, Izzy could be pregnant, and the baby could come early, envoking a c-section. Izzy could die during the operation, along with the baby, unless if preferred that the baby lives, and Karev takes on the responsibility of raising the child.

[katie]

izzie stephens is my favorite character and i think that killing her off the show will really screw the show over. she's the optimistic, fun, beauty on the show that contradicts the intense emotional problems of merideth grey. izzie's attitude is what really contributes to the show's popularity, and i can speak for myself and many others when i say that grey's anatomy will get less viewers if izzie stevens is killed off. also, she is finally happy with alex karev, what will happen to him? and george her best friend? her death will leave too many loop holes in the show that it won't be fun to watch anymore. you saw how sulky and devastated izzie was after denny duquette was killed. realistically, if izzie is killed, the entire cast will have to have the same attitude, which makes for a boring show. my advice to ABC networking--let Izzie live, or ruin the show

[Paul]

If Izzie is killed off, I will not continue to watch.

[teresa faulkner]

I will quit watching the show if izzie is killed off! I just started watching two seasons ago and the thing that made me continue to watch was izzie and the loss of her love! She needs to be seen through different eyes maybe, they still treat her as a child! Give her more roles that she can be happy with and us too! I personally havn't watch in the last few weeks since I heard that you maybe are killing her off! I DON'T WANT TO WATCH KILL IZZIE AND THE SHOW! SO YOU NEED TO READ THESE BLOGS TO SAVE YOUR SHOW!
HANG IN IZZIE YOUR FANS WANT YOU TO LIVE!!!

[jester]

Oh, my, that slot made a circle and returned to Alex?!?
The character is absolutely unrealistic or the fantasy of screenwriters has deteriorated completely - firs it was just completely boring and non-existent in real life Meredith, the Izzie, being first alive and real became a moronic slot...
well, I quit watching at that time.
Looks like nothing has changed, except really interesting characters have left - first Addison, then Erica.

[Lorrie]

If Izzy dies, I wont watch Greys anymore. Its been going downhill with the Denny ghost Addison leaving already. I am also SO sick of Meridith's games, just break it off McDreamy.

[Fama]

Izzie was never a favourite character of mine..shes a little annoying ..but i must say that she should remain on the show because she does create half the drama on the show! ;)

[crstna]

i think izzy should stay for alex's sake...alex has had too much heartache and he deserves to finally be happy... if that means ms heigl has to finish out her contract, then that's the way it should be...but alex doesnt deserve this!

[Amy]

I know that it is hard to not get caught up the in the Izzie and Alex and George and Meredith and to not want someone to leave but if there are issues with Katherine and the writers or if she just wants to pursue other interests... Grey's will survive. Look how many great people left ER and look how long it lasted. Not everyone is going to stay with the show the entire time because of their real life things going on. I have to say I would hate to see George or Izzie go but there will be someone else that comes along and will be added to the Grey's cast and maybe we will love them just as much (or close).
Don't get me wrong, I don't want them to leave but if they are leaving, I hope they both find what they are looking for and are happy where ever they end up. I would watch what they were in just because it was them.

[brenda]

I love Izzy and Gorge Alex needs her if she dies Alex will be messed up for life you cant do that to him. she is the heart of the hospital if she dies the heart is dead grays needs her.. as for Georg he is the soft spoken Dr. with compashion. he could turn out to be the next trauma Dr. he has lots of potential. oo7 has to stay