ABC chief Paul Lee isn't worried about the cast shakeup on Grey's Anatomy, and with showrunner Shonda Rhimes, he's exploring options to continue Private Practice without star Kate Walsh.

Asked by The Hollywood Reporter if he's concerned about Grey's -- ABC's top drama -- following the overhaul that will see three (and potentially more) castmembers depart, the network executive expressed confidence in the series.

"If you look at what Shonda has done, the season that show is in, she has maintained the critical dynamic, the creative dynamism for such a long time," he told reporters following his session Friday at the Television Critics Association's summer press tour in Beverly Hills. "I love to see her taking risks and reinventing the show ever year."

The season-eight finale in May featured the death of castmember Chyler Leigh's Lexie Grey and the departure of Kim Raver's Teddy. Rhimes confirmed that both actresses are moving on from the medical drama. In addition, co-star Eric Dane, who has played Mark "McSteamy" Slone since season two, announced this week that he is leaving after wrapping his storyline in a handful of episodes in the ninth season.

"I think you've seen the major moves," Lee said of whether there could be additional castmembers departing following the plane crash in the season finale that left Mark, Arizona (Jessica Capshaw), Derek (Patrick Dempsey), Cristina (Sandra Oh) and Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) stranded and, for some, clinging to life.

"We had a great cliffhanger last year, and we're excited with where she's going with that show," Lee noted. "[Rhimes is] ambitious about Grey's Anatomy … I'm fully supportive, and I love what she does."

Co-stars Justin Chambers, Chandra Wilson, James Pickens Jr., Oh, Dempsey and Pompeo inked two-year deals to return to the medical drama. The season finale left the door open for other actors to exit, either to other hospitals as their characters move on, or as victims of the crash.

As for the future of Rhimes' Private Practice -- the second of her three series on ABC, joining second-year drama Scandal -- Lee reaffirmed that the series could continue beyond its 13-episode order, with star Walsh (Addison) confirming her departure after the initial run.

"Private Practice is a great show," he told reporters. "We did the flip from Thursday to Tuesday, and it actually increased ratings on both time slots. We think that's got a lot of energy; we'd like to see that continue." "We're looking at various options as we go through that," Lee said of plans for the series post-Walsh.

Grey's Anatomy returns Sept. 27, Private Practice on Sept. 25.

沪江娱乐快讯:当《好莱坞记者报》(The Hollywood Reporter)问起《实习医生格蕾》——这部ABC台最受欢迎的剧集目前已经送别了剧中三名演员(可能还会更多)这一情况是否会影响剧情发展时,这位ABC电视台的高层说自己对此剧依然充满信心。

在今年五月播出的第八季最后一集中,莱西·格蕾(Lexie Grey)不幸离世,泰迪(Teddy)也黯然离开。莱姆斯也确认了这是凯乐·利(Chyler Leigh)与金姆·瑞维(Kim Raver)最后一次在剧中亮相。此外,于第二季加盟《实习医生格蕾》的埃里克·迪恩(Eric Dane)本周宣布他拍完“惹火先生”(McSteamy)马克·斯隆(Mark Slone)在第九季里为数不多的几集戏份后就会告别本剧。

“我相信观众们都看到了一些重大变化已经悄然发生了。”谈到还会不会有演员因为第八季季末那场造成马克(Mark),亚利桑那(Arizona),德里克(Derek),克里斯汀娜(Cristina)以及梅尔迪斯(Meredith)一行人被困荒野,并且生命垂危的空难而离开时,李如是说。关于莱姆斯的《私人诊所》和《丑闻》(Scandal)这两部剧集中《私人诊所》的未来发展,李重申尽管女主角凯特·沃什的离开已成定局,但这部剧仍将继续播出第六季。

《实习医生格蕾》将在9月27日与观众见面,《私人诊所》则定于9月25日回归荧屏。