Entertainment
Nancy Guthrie Missing: Everything to Know About the Ongoing Search
Questions still remain after Today show host Savannah Guthrie‘s mother, Nancy Guthrie, was reported missing.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the news on Sunday, February 1, sharing a missing person report via X. Nancy was described as a “vulnerable adult” who was last seen “at her residence” within Arizona’s Catalina Foothills area on the evening of Saturday, January 31. The report noted that it is “unknown what clothing she may be wearing.”
In additional coverage from local news station KOLD, it was revealed that a family member grew concerned about Nancy. (Along with Savannah, Nancy shared daughter Annie and son Camron with late husband Charles, who died at age 49 from a heart attack.)
According to Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, “concerning circumstances found” at Nancy’s home led to homicide detectives getting involved in the search. Savannah’s family confirmed in a statement that they are “working closely with local law enforcement.”
Along with her incredible success as the cohost of Today, Savannah Guthrie has also had her fair share of hardships throughout the years. Guthrie — who shares daughter Vale and son Charley, named after her father, with husband Michael Feldman — has been candid about the pregnancy loss she suffered after giving birth to Vale […]
Keep scrolling for everything to know about the search for Nancy Guthrie:
When Did Nancy Guthrie Go Missing?
A family member called 911 to report Nancy was missing after she was last seen on January 31. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department later referred to Nancy as a “vulnerable adult.”
The sheriff later noted in a press conference that Nancy has “no cognitive issues at all.”
“She’s very alert, she’s of good, sound mind,” he said, adding Nancy is “not in good” physical health. “I hope we find her safe and sound, but we can’t ignore what’s in front of us.”
It was later revealed that Nancy takes daily medication and that missing a dose could be fatal.
When asked during a press conference on February 3 whether authorities were looking for someone who is “still alive,” Nanos replied, “We hope we are.”
Do Authorities Suspect Foul Play?
Nanos acknowledged there were “some concerns” about what was found at Nancy’s home. When asked whether foul play was suspected in Nancy’s disappearance, Nanos clarified that he was “not ruling it out.”
“We’ve pretty much just thrown everything at this that we can,” Nanos added as search and rescue and criminal investigation teams were called in to help. Drones, dogs and a helicopter were also being used to search for Nancy.
In a second press conference, authorities said they could tell Nancy “didn’t leave on her own” and they “don’t see this as a search mission as much” as a crime scene. “She couldn’t walk 50 yards by herself,” they added.
Today viewers are rallying around Savannah Guthrie and her family. News broke on Sunday, February 1, that Savannah’s mother, Nancy Guthrie, was reported missing in Arizona. The following morning, Savannah was absent from the Today show but released a statement on behalf of her family. “On behalf of our family, I want to thank everyone […]
Has Savannah Guthrie Addressed Her Mom’s Disappearance?
Savannah did not appear on the Today show on Monday, February 2, amid the search for her mother. Cohosts Sheinelle Jones and Craig Melvin shared a statement on Savannah’s behalf.
“We want to get right to what is a deeply personal story for us,” Melvin said. “Nancy Guthrie, Savannah’s beloved mother, has been reported missing in Arizona.”
Savannah’s statement noted: “On behalf of our family, I want to thank everyone for the thoughts, prayers, and messages of support. Right now, our focus remains on the safe return of our dear mom. We thank law enforcement for their hard work on this case and encourage anyone with information to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.”
Savannah later took to Instagram with a message asking fans for their prayers.
“We believe in prayer. we believe in voices raised in unison, in love, in hope. we believe in goodness. we believe in humanity. above all, we believe in Him,” Savannah wrote alongside a “Please Pray” graphic. “Thank you for lifting your prayers with ours for our beloved mom, our dearest Nancy, a woman of deep conviction, a good and faithful servant. Raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment.”
Savannah then added a bible verse, writing, “We need you. ‘He will keep in perfect peace those whose hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.’ a verse of Isaiah for all time for all of us.”
The NBC personality concluded, “Bring her home.”
The search to find Savannah Guthrie’s missing mother, Nancy Guthrie, is “a race against time,” according to Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos. Nanos appeared during the Tuesday, February 3, broadcast of the Today show and said he hopes “that window hasn’t closed” as the investigation into 84-year-old Nancy’s disappearance continues. “We took some samples that […]
What Has Savannah Guthrie Said About Her Mom on ‘Today’?
Savannah has often spoken about her mother — who even appeared in a segment on a November 2025 episode — on the NBC morning show.
“She’s lived a life of integrity and loyalty,” Savannah said about Nancy in 2022. “She is a consistent doer of the right thing and the hard thing. She’s a truth teller, whether you really want to hear the truth or not. She’s quick and she’s smart, she’s well-read, she’s curious about everything.”
Is There a Motive for Nancy Guthrie’s Disappearance?
In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly, Nanos said the authorities have not identified a motive, such as ransom, for Nancy’s disappearance.
“No, there’s not, we’ve not heard anything like that,” he said. “I wish somebody would call us and say, ‘Hey,’ because that’s what the family wants. They just want her back. ‘Hey, no questions asked, call us where to come and get her,’ And we’ll do that.”
Savannah Guthrie’s family faced an unimaginable situation when they learned that their matriarch, 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, was reported missing in Arizona in February 2026. As police have become involved in the investigation and the case has unraveled, many people are curious about the timeline of events that went down before and after Nancy disappeared. “On […]
Was Nancy Guthrie’s Disappearance Targeted?
“I think everybody, rightfully so, understands that her daughter Savannah is a national figure out there at least within the news media, and that’s always a possibility,” Nanos told Us. “But we’re not getting that sense, and we keep working with Savannah and her security team to understand any kind of threat or potential threat that they may have been working and we’re just not there.”
Was Blood Found in Nancy Guthrie’s Home After Her Disappearance?
Law enforcement sources told the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday, February 3, that blood had been found in Nancy’s home after she went missing. However, Nanos later clarified that this was not true.
“No, I’m not sure where that came from,” he said during a press conference. “Maybe I said something, and trust me, I’ve said a lot, talked to a lot of people. And some of those comments — on my fault, not the media — may have been distorted or taken out of context.”
Nanos continued, “We’re not confirming whether there was blood in the home or any of that. What we’re saying is we do have evidence that we submitted to DNA labs, actually, through other sources that we use, and they have confirmed that the DNA that we found was in fact, belonged to Nancy, Savannah’s mom, which we were hopeful that it would give us a different profile than just hers, but that’s where we’re at with the DNA. We have other items that we submit for DNA research and see what that comes up, but that was the first submittal we’ve got back, and we’ll continue to wait for lab results, see if we find something else.”
Despite previously denying that blood was found at the scene, Nanos confirmed in a February 5 press conference that blood found on the porch of Nancy’s home “came back” to her after being analyzed.
Nanos denied that there was evidence of forced entry at Nancy’s home.
Authorities Believe Nancy Guthrie Is in ‘Danger’
“We don’t want anybody to lose hope,” Nanos told Us. “But in the same sense, just as there’s hope, there’s also things that point to us that say, ‘This lady’s in danger.’”
Nanos continued, “It does have to do with what was described to us about the scene. I’ve been doing this for 50 years. When something doesn’t sit well, it doesn’t sit well. Something unusual at that house occurred that made us go, ‘Wow … something’s wrong here. Something doesn’t fit.’”
Is There a Reward for Information Related to Nancy Guthrie’s Disappearance?
“Reward up to $2,500 for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons involved in the disappearance,” a statement from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department read on Facebook. “The Pima County Sheriff’s Department is seeking the public’s assistance with any information related to the disappearance of Mrs. Nancy Guthrie. She was last seen at her home near Skyline and Campbell around 9:30 p.m. Saturday, January 31, 2026.”
The statement concluded, “Any video and photograph information is strongly requested for evaluation and analysis of evidentiary value.”
Special agent Heith Janke later revealed during the press conference on February 5 that a $50,000 reward is being offered.
Savannah Guthrie Withdraws From Winter Olympics Coverage Amid Mom’s Disappearance
Savannah is no longer set to host the 2026 Winter Olympics ceremony amid mom Nancy’s disappearance.
“Savannah will not be joining us at the Olympics as she focuses on being with her family during this difficult time. Our hearts are with her and the entire Guthrie family as the search continues for their mother,” a spokesperson for NBC Sports told Us Weekly in a statement on February 3. “We will share additional information about our Opening Ceremony coverage plans soon.”
FBI Reviews Ransom Note in Nancy Guthrie’s Disappearance Case
Nanos told CBS News on February 3 that investigators have analyzed an alleged ransom note sent to a local news station in Arizona.
“It’s like any piece of evidence,” Nanos continued. “You give it to us, you give us a lead, we’re going to look at every aspect of that lead.”
The FBI shared the note with Savannah, according to the sheriff.
NBC News correspondent Liz Kreutz reported on February 4 that the sheriff’s department is aware of “unsubstantiated” ransom notes.
Janke confirmed that the FBI is aware of the ransom letter sent to news outlets, noting that “any action taken on any ransom is ultimately decided by the family.” He also revealed that the FBI arrested an “imposter” trying to “profit” off of the case with a separate, fake ransom note.
Janke noted that the alleged ransom note had an initial deadline of 5 p.m. on February 5. If that deadline was missed, the note offered February 9 as a second option.
Police Deny Having a Suspect in Nancy Guthrie’s Disappearance
An unverified report from former NewsNation host Ashleigh Banfield stated that Savannah’s brother-in-law and Annie’s husband, Tommaso Cioni, had been identified as a possible person of interest in the case. However, a statement from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department denied having any suspects.
“At this point, investigators have not identified a suspect or person of interest in this case. Detectives continue to speak with anyone who may have had contact with Mrs. Guthrie,” the statement read. “Detectives are working closely with the Guthrie family. While we appreciate the public’s concern, the sharing of unverified accusations or false information is irresponsible and does not assist the investigation.”
The statement concluded, “No suspect or person of interest has been identified at this time.”
Sheriff Believes Nancy Guthrie Is ‘Alive’ Amid Disappearance
Authorities remain hopeful that Nancy will be found alive.
“We have nothing else to go on but the belief that she is here,” Nanos told NBC’s Liz Kreutz in an interview aired on Today on February 4. “She’s present. She’s alive, and we want to save her.”
Nanos added, “The leads we’ve got coming in are critical to us. They’re valuable, and we’re sharing those with the FBI and others.”
What Has the Guthrie Family Said About the Alleged Ransom Note?
Savannah Guthrie and her siblings, Annie and Camron, broke their silence on the reports of an alleged random note.
“We too have heard the reports about a ransom letter in the media,” Savannah said in the clip. “As a family, we are doing everything that we can. We are ready to talk. However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated. We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen. Please, reach out to us.”
Sheriff Provides New Details About Timeline of Nancy Guthrie’s Disappearance
On January 31, Nancy traveled to a family dinner via an Uber around 5:32 p.m. local time, Nanos revealed on February 5. She was later dropped off by family at her home at 9:48 p.m. Authorities confirmed that the garage door closed at 9:50 p.m.
At 1:57 a.m. on February 1, Nancy’s doorbell camera was disconnected. Later, at 2:12 a.m., software detected something on camera, but footage is not available. Nanos stated that the movement may have been an animal.
Around 2:28 a.m., Nancy’s pacemaker app showed that the device had been disconnected from her phone.
Nancy’s family placed a 911 call around 12:03 p.m. on February 1. Shortly after, police arrived and began search-and-rescue protocol.
FBI Addresses ‘New Message’ Received From Alleged Kidnappers
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI released a joint statement on February 7, 2026, addressing a new message regarding Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance. Arizona station 13 News initially received the message and then forwarded it to law enforcement.
“The FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department are aware of a new message regarding Nancy Guthrie,” Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said in a statement. “Investigators are actively inspecting the information provided in the message for its authenticity.”
Nanos went on, “While this is one new piece of information, the FBI and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department are still asking anyone with tips to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI. The FBI continues to offer a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the recovery of Nancy Guthrie and/or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.”
Savannah Guthrie and Siblings Respond to New Message
One day after law enforcement received a new message allegedly related to Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, her children Savannah, Camron and Annie Guthrie offered to pay to bring their mother home.
“We received your message and we understand,” Savannah said in a new video shared via her Instagram on February 7, 2026, while holding hands with her siblings.
The Today host added, “We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us and we will pay.”
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Jeff Probst explains why “Survivor 50” will 'forever change how players embrace uncertainty'
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Some will lean in… and others will not.
Camille Kostek
Tom Brady’s Not Rooting For Pats?!?
… I Know His Heart
Published
TMZSports.com
Tom Brady claims he doesn’t have “a dog in the fight” in this year’s Super Bowl matchup … but Camille Kostek isn’t convinced … ’cause she tells TMZ Sports she believes deep down, TB12 is pulling for his old squad!!
We caught up with Kostek outside the Tight Ends and Friends shindig in San Francisco Thursday night, where we asked her about Brady’s comments, which have caught some heat from some former New England Patriots.
August 2025
New England Patriots
“I thought that was a little bizarre,” Kostek said.
“Tom, Patriots Nation loves you. We have a bronze statue of you back at Gillette [Stadium].”
Kostek, who’s been dating TB12’s former tight end Rob Gronkowski for the last 10 years, said no matter what the GOAT is claiming, “he’s a Patriots fan for life.”
“He’s a Patriots fan through and through. He is a Patriot. In his heart he’s rooting Patriots. I don’t know, but yes.”
When we chatted with the 33-year-old … it was not long after a bunch of NFL WAGs hit the beach for Sports Illustrated’s new digital feature dubbed “new era of WAGs.”
It included the likes of Brittany Mahomes, Normani, Christen Goff, Ronika Love, Haley Cavinder and Claire Kittle. So we asked Kostek … who would she love to grace the cover next?
Keeping with the Patriots mindset … Kostek said she would love to see Drake Maye‘s wife, Ann Michael Maye, get the nod next!!
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The visual is connected to Swift’s most recent appearance on “The Graham Norton Show.”
Heading into awards season, Renate Reinsve seemed like a lock for a Best Actress nomination for her performance in the Danish-Norwegian drama, Sentimental Value, which was also primed for major Oscar consideration in numerous categories. No matter how strong her performance was, she was due for a nomination after being rudely snubbed in 2021 for her revelatory performance in The Worst Person in the World, her previous collaboration with Sentimental Value writer-director, Joachim Trier. Receiving critical acclaim and nominations for Best Original Screenplay and Best International Feature at the Oscars upon release, Trier’s coming-of-age dramedy announced Reinsve as a seminal actor of her generation, giving a tour-de-force performance as a young woman stuck in the aimless pit known as everyday life. The Worst Person in the World will be wholly relatable, if not painfully true-to-life, for most viewers, and Reinsve portrays the perfect avatar of twentysomething disillusionment.
Renate Reinsve Gave Her Breakthrough Performance in ‘The Worst Person in the World’
Reinsve and Trier have proven to be one of the signature actor-director pairs of their respective era, with the two first teaming up in Oslo, August 31st, the actor’s feature film debut. Being two artists drawn to sympathetic but searing depictions of intimacy and melancholy set against the backdrop of art, the pair’s special touch has produced cinematic gold, but they’ve only been properly recognized by the Academy for Sentimental Value. However, with Jessie Buckley from Hamnet standing as the prohibitive favorite for Best Actress, it seems that Reinsve will have to wait her turn for the statuette. She is one of four acting nominees for Sentimental Value, alongside Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Elle Fanning, and Stellan Skarsgård.
The Worst Person in the World follows Julie (Reinsve), a medical student in Oslo who jumps from major to major and partner to partner, unable to lock down her direction in life. Pivoting from medicine to psychology, then eventually photography, she aspires for something more life-fulfilling and imaginative, and this is the same for her romantic life. Joachim Trier’s films tend to have one foot in the closely observed real world and another in the realm of a surrealist fantasy. While Sentimental Value is icier in tone and grounded in its scope, The Worst Person in the World reaches for the sky, indulging in outright fantastical sequences. The film’s tonal shifting mirrors the day-to-day life of Julie, who can go from elated to defeated in minutes. Julie is, while maybe not idyllic, a heightened superstar version of the average undergraduate with incredible knowledge but lacking in the judgment and stability department.
‘The Worst Person in the World’ Tackles the Absurdity and Harshness of Figuring Out What To Do in Life
Before playing a stage actor reckoning with a surprise visit from her absent father in Sentimental Value, Renate Reinsve confronted the most lofty mysteries about humanity in The Worst Person in the World. Trier’s films deal with weighty subjects involving life, death, and purpose, but he makes them feel tangible to the viewer, interpreting our enduring crises through literal imagery and allegory. Most of all, Reinsve’s performance, which earned her the Best Actress prize at Cannes in 2021, is a stunning feat of internal modulation. In scenes with her two romantic interests, Aksel (Anders Danielsen Lie) and Eivind (Herbert Nordrum), and while she’s roaming parties and the streets of Oslo without a care in the world, Reinsve conveys so much through subtle facial gestures.
This invaluable trait of hers paid dividends in Sentimental Value, a film centered around a generation’s worth of reticence. In The Worst Person in the World, she adds grave pathos to the plight of this age demographic, one that relates to a global audience, but particularly Americans amid our current economic distress, by appearing inscrutable, to the point that showing indifference is the only solution. Whether in reality or fantastical mode, Reinsve holds her own as her character embarks on a rollicking and oftentimes unsettling odyssey.
Renate Reinsve’s grace and sheer magnitude resulted in an all-encompassing performance that will make you laugh, cry, and reflect on your own place in the world simultaneously. The role of Julie is the kind of part actors dream of playing, and Joachim Trier’s literary writing and shrewd character dynamics are responsible for his films consistently featuring earth-shattering performances. His love for Julie, and, by proxy, Reinsve herself, translates on the screen, as the film is an elegiac tribute to a period of free-spirited youth and vigor that filmmakers are always trying to channel. Sure, Julie may be selfish, and even a complete mess half the time, but weren’t we all at one point? If this performance didn’t demand an Academy Award, then who knows what does.
The Worst Person in the World is available to stream on Tubi in the U.S.
- Release Date
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October 13, 2021
- Runtime
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127 minutes
- Director
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Joachim Trier
- Writers
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Joachim Trier, Eskil Vogt
- Producers
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Thomas Robsahm, Tom Kjeseth, Andrea Berentsen Ottmar
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Anders Danielson Lie
Julie
Atlanta Falcons linebacker James Pearce Jr. is facing a battery charge — as well as other offenses — after an alleged domestic incident with Los Angeles Sparks star Rickea Jackson.
Doral, Florida, Police Chief Edwin Lopez told local station Channel 10 News that Pearce, 22, was in custody after crashing his vehicle during a chase with officers on Saturday, February 7. He is facing charges for the aforementioned two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, plus fleeing or eluding police with lights or siren and aggravated stalking.
A spokesperson for the Atlanta Falcons told Us Weekly on Saturday, “We are aware of an incident involving James Pearce Jr. in Miami. We are in the process of gathering more information and will not have any further comment on an open legal matter at this time.”
Pearce reportedly fled the scene of an altercation with Jackson, 24, when police responded to a report of a dispute between a male and a female. Chief Lopez confirmed to Channel 10 News that the woman involved was Jackson.
UPDATE — 4/30/25, 2:48 p.m. ET: The National Football League has levied fines to the Atlanta Falcons and Falcons defensive coordinator, Jeff Ulbrich, over a prank phone call made to Shedeur Sanders during the 2025 NFL draft. The Falcons were fined $250,000 and Ulbrich, 48, was fined $100,000 for the leak of Sanders’ phone number. […]
After allegedly fleeing, the football star crashed his car near Northwest 103rd Avenue and 66th Street in Doral before he was taken into custody. He was booked into Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami, with no bond immediately set.
Us has reached out to Doral police for comment and has also contacted the Sparks.
Pearce was chosen by the Atlanta Falcons as the 26th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft and ultimately played in 17 games with 26 combined tackles and 10.5 sacks last season, per Sports Illustrated. He previously played three seasons with the Tennessee Volunteers at the collegiate level before turning pro.
Jackson played small forward for the Lady Volunteers after transferring from Mississippi State in 2022. She was drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks as the fourth overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft.
A romance between the two athletes was rumored dating back to their college days in Tennessee. Jackson finally went public with the relationship when she sat next to Pearce at his NFL Draft party in April 2024.
Fans quickly pointed out the couple’s hard launch via social media, with Jackson playfully responding via X, “Soooo I have a doppelganger. Wow.”
Rickea Jackson in April 2024. Sarah Stier/Getty Images
In June 2025, Jackson shut down pregnancy rumors after she missed two Sparks games due to personal reasons. The pregnancy speculation started when she posted a selfie showing her holding a basketball in front of her stomach.
When a fan criticized Jackson’s friends for “implying that you’re pregnant,” she clarified, “1. My friends don’t use twitter. Yall gotta stop linking people because of a follow😩. 2. Yall come to conclusions everyday it’s hilarious, but I’m a ‘rich auntie’ typa gallll.”
Jackson returned to practice on June 3, 2025, where she complained to reporters about all of the speculation about her absence.
“You’ve just got to be realistic with yourself. Like, at the end of the day, media isn’t about facts anymore,” she told the media. “So that’s just the media. Just taking it with a grain of salt, and not being gullible.”
“Whatever sounds the juiciest, that’s what people want to go with,” she went on. “Like, I’m pregnant, apparently.”
The Atlanta Falcons revealed its upcoming NFL schedule — with a subtle dig at former league coach Bill Belichick’s now-viral CBS interview. The Georgia-based football team made a Mario Kart-themed video to reveal which other teams they would be playing in the fall, sharing it via social media on Wednesday, May 14. While teasing the […]
At the time, Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts sought to downplay social media insinuations that Jackson’s absence was due to dissatisfaction with the WNBA franchise.
“In regards to Rickea, Rickea is a big part of our organization and our team,” Roberts, 50, said. “She is taking personal time and we support her. And we’re excited to get her back when she is ready to come back.”
Jackson returned to the court after a two-game absence and even played through a leg injury later in the 2025 season.
Entertainment
Get an exclusive (and nostalgic) look at how NBC is celebrating 100 years of 'must see moments'
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Two new TV spots reveal the NBC100 logo and “A Century Together” campaign, featuring hits like “Friends,” “The Office,” “Star Trek,” and more.
Entertainment
“The View”'s Sunny Hostin calls out Kid Rock lyrics about liking underage girls amid his Bad Bunny criticism
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“Kid Rock is a very average artist who’s gone past his prime,” Alyssa Farah Griffin later added.
The longest-running primetime medical drama Grey’s Anatomy has been airing for 22 seasons now. Fans who were there during the first years claim the show went downhill after Cristina’s (Sandra Oh) exit or Derek’s (Patrick Dempsey) death. Even with the new batch of interns taking the spotlight, newer fans see the latest seasons as underwhelming at best. Arguments can be made with respect to the show’s quality over time, but the truth is newer seasons have featured notable highlights.
Ever since Krista Vernoff returned to join Shonda Rhimes as co-showrunner in Season 14, Grey’s Anatomy went through a reinvention that produced thoroughly engaging storylines. But there’s a specific point in which the show produced one of the best seasons of its modern era. In Season 17, Grey Sloan Memorial had to face head-on the COVID-19 pandemic. Though at the time, it might have hit too close to home, it gave Grey’s Anatomy a new meaning and purpose in the ever-changing landscape of medical TV dramas.
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Felt Relevant Once Again in Season 17
The COVID-19 pandemic turned the world upside down. Shutting everything down to prevent the spread of this new and deadly disease, humanity had to adapt to face this new reality. In entertainment, this meant shutting down productions of movies and TV shows – thus paralyzing the industry for the foreseeable future. When Grey’s Anatomy was able to resume production, the big questions of what the doctors of Grey Sloan should do and how they should proceed were answered swiftly – tackle the pandemic head-on.
By covering this delicate topic, Season 17 of Grey’s Anatomy made the show feel relevant once again. Whereas there was a long-standing tradition of showcasing catastrophe episodes every year, the entirety of Season 17 covered a real and global crisis that the doctors seemed powerless to face. The stakes felt real once again, as the hospital had to adapt to new sanitary measures, while trying to keep its patients and staff safe. Still, when the topic was gloomy, the later episodes of the season managed to end on a high note, flashing forward to the introduction of the vaccines and finally being able to recover the sense of normalcy we live with today.
Meredith’s Beach Featured the Return of Several ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Fan-Favorites
Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) will never be exempt from catastrophes in her life. Whether personal or professional, she has always been on the brink of figurative or literal death. In Season 17, she was one of the early cases of COVID-19 the hospital had to treat. This brought the controversial beach into the show’s narrative. Love it or hate it, this metaphysical space was an escape from the dark reality both the audience and the hospital were facing at the time. This became our safe space – a maskless and bright place where happy reunions simply happened.
Thus, Season 17 featured fan-favorite and long-awaited returns in one of the few ways that made sense in the show’s narrative. This was the precise moment to bring back Chyler Leigh’s Lexie for one final heartfelt chat with her sister. Lexie’s comeback also brought Eric Dane’s Mark, as a sign that they had found a happy ending after all. T.R. Knight’s George strolled by to talk about how his death affected Meredith’s life. Last, but not least, Meredith saw Derek once again at this fateful moment. Seeing the power couple reunited was a tender callback to their better times. All of them encourage Meredith to keep fighting and return to her family. And though they were constructs of her own comatose mind, their appearances felt like a hug in the direst of times.
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Season 17 Features the Last Impactful Deaths the Show Has Seen
Grey’s Anatomy’s tradition of featuring impactful deaths practically stopped with Season 17. It makes sense, considering it’d be hard to top their emotional punch. The first was Elena Bailey (Bianca F. Taylor), Miranda’s (Chandra Wilson) mother. After becoming infected with COVID-19 at her nursing home, Elena’s chances of survival were minimal, because the elderly were at higher risk. Grey’s Anatomy faithfully depicted the frustrating protocols that this catastrophe brought forth. The people who represented our support system were fated to die in isolation during this harrowing time. By showing this through Miranda’s resignation and Elena’s final moments, the series honored the victims of the pandemic.
The 15 Most Hated ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Characters, Ranked
While these doctors saved lives, they also made some poor decisions.
The second victim that this season claimed was Giacomo Gianniotti’s Andrew DeLuca. He died a hero, because he was responsible for the apprehension of a human trafficker, and his goodbye was one of the most heartfelt and heartbreaking moments in the modern era of Grey’s Anatomy. Meeting Meredith at her beach, he thanked her for the time they shared and for pushing him to get to know himself. The ambivalence of having to “choose” between life and death is elevated by DeLuca’s reunion with his mother. His bittersweet farewell represents an ideal welcome to the afterlife – and not everyone has gotten this courtesy in Grey’s Anatomy.
In retrospect, Season 17 of Grey’s Anatomy has quietly become one of the best of its modern era. More recent outings have struggled to recapture the emotional impact that this season had. With Pompeo’s departure as a regular in Season 19, this could also be considered the last time Meredith was front-and-center as the main focus of the show. Since the series is nowhere near its end, hopefully it will recapture this gut-wrenching feeling once again.
- Release Date
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March 27, 2005
- Directors
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Rob Corn, Kevin McKidd, Debbie Allen, Chandra Wilson, Allison Liddi-Brown, Jeannot Szwarc, Tony Phelan
- Writers
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Shonda Rhimes, Julie Wong, Jen Klein, Tameson Duffy, Meg Marinis
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Chandra Wilson
Dr. Miranda Bailey
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The actor, best known for playing Smitty the bartender in the NBC sitcom, died on Jan. 19
Entertainment
White House tries to defend Trump's racist mockery of Barack and Michelle Obama as “The Lion King” parody
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A video posted and deleted on Trump’s Truth Social account depicted the former president and first lady as apes, set to the Tokens’ “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”
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