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It was oddly ironic that Shonda Rhimes, the creator and executive producer of "Grey's Anatomy," had to face a room full of 200 TV critics on the day when Emmy nominations came out, considering that the biggest off-season story with the show were Katherine Heigl's comments a few weeks ago that the writers didn't provide her with material that was worthy of Emmy consideration.

Rhimes said she considers Heigl a very close friend and admitted that she was surprised by the statement.

"I have a really wonderful working relationship with Katherine, so, for me, it was surprising," Rhimes said. "But I think Katie is an outspoken person, and I think we all know that."

Rhimes, who is a writer on the show, disagreed with the characterization that Heigl was insulting the writers.

"I don't necessarily know that she was insulting the writers, per se," Rhimes said. "She had a strong storyline with George for the first half of the season, then she asked me personally to write her light so she could work on her movie. I didn't feel insulted."

[Spoiler alert!] Heigl will have one of the season's pivotal storylines in the upcoming season. US Weekly reported this week that inside sources say Heigl's character, Dr. Izzy Stevens, will get a brain tumor that will trigger visions of her lost love, Denny Duquette.

During a panel that included all of ABC's show runners, "Ugly Betty" creator Silvio Horta quipped, "I'd put her in a coma."

Marc Cherry, who created "Desperate Housewives," recalled dealing with his own firestorm three years ago when the stars of his show had a highly publicized feud on the set of a Vanity Fair photo shoot. He shared his philosophy about dealing with such media flurries when cast members cause a stir.

"Usually the best way to deal with actors is that you pretend that they're real people and you talk to them," Cherry said. "For me, when we had that disastrous photo shoot thing, the writer (of the story) saw it from one perspective. I ultimately solved it by hugging a sobbing actress in her trailer for a half an hour and telling her, 'This, too, shall pass.'"

*** What do you think? Do actors get an unfair shake when these controversies pop up? Are you looking forward to seeing Izzy's story this season? Click here to comment!

****** Victor Balta and Tracy Phillips are blogging live from the TV critics press tour. What do you want to know about your favorite shows? Let us know. Click here to ask about your favorite TV shows!

More from the TV critics press tour:

• ABC Boss: Heigl in, Kimmel in, Leno Is a Maybe
  
• William Petersen Leaving 'CSI'
• 'Lost' Creator Even Confused Himself
  
• Fox Programming on the 'Fringe'
  
• PBS Takes on God, the Bible

Message Edited by Victor_Balta on 07-17-2008 07:23 PM