ABC/Ed HerreraStation 19, a series spinoff of ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, follows a group of firefighters who take Seattle by storm via rescue calls that burn with action and drama. Shonda Rhimes serves as executive producer, helming potentially her last project for ABC since her move to Netflix. “[Station 19] worked hand-in-hand with Grey’s and was similar in both tone and intensity, and humor and heart, but there’s also an added element to this show that a hospital setting doesn’t allow,” says Stacy McKee, another executive producer. “There’s a certain level of adrenaline and energy that comes with that that you don’t necessarily find in the same way at Grey’s.”
McKee confirms there will be “a lot of potential for cross‑pollination” between the two shows, starting with the spinoff’s lead character: Ben Warren, the doctor turned firefighter portrayed by Jason George. “I’ve been playing [Ben] for the last eight years or so,” George says. “Just like Ben was, I personally was caught more emotional than I expected about leaving the Grey’s family.”
In his character’s case, that family isn’t just metaphorical. Ben’s wife, Dr. Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson), will remain a series regular on Grey’s Anatomy, leading fans to question whether their relationship will survive his career change. Ironically, George believes that Bailey inspired his character’s new outlook. “Ben started off as an anesthesiologist, and the joke Bailey says — you know, ‘You knock the people out and clutch your bags of money and roll home in your fancy sports car’ — that is one of the things at first that woke Ben up and started making him realize, ‘Let me do something that actually counts, that challenges me, that makes a change.’”
Station 19 premieres on ABC Thursday, March 22, at 9pm ET/PT.
Before #GreysAnatomy can save them, these firefighters have to rescue them. #Station19 premieres TOMORROW at 9|8c on ABC. https://t.co/ymUK4DzTUA
— Station 19 (@Station19) March 21, 2018
