Grey’s Anatomy winter premiere preview reveals the date of Ellen Pompeo’s last episode as a regular

After the fall finale of Grey’s Anatomy on Thursday night, ABC released a short promo revealing the winter premiere date…the final episode Ellen Pompeo will be a regular series.

It was reported in August by Deadline that Pompeo, 53, would only appear in eight episodes of the 19th season, after she had a role in Hulu’s Orphan limited series.

The preview reveals that Pompeo’s Meredith Gray is leaving Seattle during the winter premiere, which airs Thursday, February 23.

Gray’s departure was planned in last week’s episode when the doctor decided to move to Boston after Jackson Avery (Jesse Williams) offered her to work on Alzheimer’s research, and her daughter Zola (Anelia Gumbs) wanted to go to school there. .

She announced her decision to move in an email to hospital staff, which upset Nick (Scott Speedman) that she had made the switch without consulting him.

The episode also revealed that Meredith’s house went up in flames, and all that was left was the post-it with Meredith and Derek’s vows.

Pompeo starred in the first six episodes of season 19, and her seventh will be the winter premiere and her eighth is expected to be the season finale.

The preview shows Meredith walking through Gray Sloan Memorial Hospital happily saying, “My last day!”

The footage also shows her co-workers throwing her a surprising farewell party, which Meredith is somewhat conflicted with.

“This is very thoughtful…and ridiculous,” Meredith says, as an annoyed Dr. Owen Hunt approaches and says, “For God’s sake, Grey, will you just let us have a toast to you?”

Meredith is seen raising a glass of champagne to her colleagues as the teaser draws to a close.

The first half of the season introduced a new group of interns, in lieu of Meredith’s departure, all of which have been well received by fans.

Pompeo signed on as the star and executive producer of Hulu’s Orphan project in early August, based on an incredible true story.

The series follows an adoptive Midwestern couple who they learn is a young girl with dwarfism… who they soon suspect is an adult dwarf.

The family eventually rented an apartment for their adopted daughter and moved to Canada, though they were accused of abandoning their adopted child despite constantly claiming she was an adult.