By Blair Thill, Gavel Blogger -

The drama on the primetime version of Grey’s Anatomy has been rather abysmal for the past two seasons. What started as one of the most talked about shows on television has become a revolving door of ridiculous – from the romantic Rubik’s cube for mostly every character to the medical cases we honestly couldn’t care less about. Shonda Rhimes has recently released that Meredith and Derek are going to discuss the b-word by the end of the season – no, not the usual “brain hemorrhage” but “baby.” If this proves to be vaguely interesting, I vote for another Grey’s Anatomy spin off featuring a newly parenting Mer and Der moving back to his home in New York City. Shonda, I expect some sort of credit in creating this idea when you actually sell it to ABC.

So yes, drama isn’t coming easy these days on America’s former favorite primetime show. The drama off the set of Seattle Grace in the past few years, however, is a completely different story, though that too has finally come to a close. It all started with good old Isaiah Washington – remember him? Remember when he stupidly decided to use the f-word with regard to costar T.R. Knight … twice? The cast banded together around Knight after that incident, and Isaiah was promptly shuttled off the show. We all thought that’d be the end, right?

Wrong. It was just the beginning. The most outspoken of all the Grey’s castmates in Isaiahgate was, let’s all say it together now, Katherine Heigl. She formally derided Washington to anyone who would listen, and was heralded for her zero tolerance attitude. In this week’s Entertainment Weekly cover story, Heigl even admits that the support she garnered for those comments was both a blessing and a curse – a curse because it opened her own floodgates to think she could say whatever she wants, whenever she wants.

Wrong again. After rightfully winning an Emmy for her stunning work as a grieving almost-widow, Heigl’s outspoken ways started getting her into trouble. In keeping with the motif, Emmygate struck the following year when Heigl refused to submit her Season 4 work for an Emmy, saying the material she was given wasn’t worthy enough for any level of accolade. Then there was the comment she made to David Letterman about the horrible 17-hour work days on the show that made her career… Man, she has been a busy woman.

But the complaints should finally come to a close now that it has been confirmed Heigl will not be returning to Grey’s Anatomy even for one more second. After roughly three seasons of fighting her way out of a contract, Katie is a free woman. I feel a bit cheated that we don’t get to bid Izzie Stevens a proper good-bye, as her character has provided some of the most gripping storylines of all six seasons. But man, did this conflict need to end. Will you join me in a resounding chorus of “Hallelujah?”

I will be very interested to see what happens to Heigl now that she’s gotten ridden of the old ball and chain (not you, Josh Kelley). Her film career in relatively new, but also on its way to being successful as long as she sticks to the likes of 27 Dresses and Knocked Up rom-coms instead of the aptly titled The Ugly Truth. Given her efforts to branch out in future projects, most notably with the adaptation of Janet Evanovich’s One for the Money, I’d say there’s a good chance she can become an even more bankable actress. With the caveat that this EW interview is the last time she says anything about Grey’s Anatomy. Move on, Katherine Heigl. Leave the diva comments to the likes of Mariah Carey and Kate Gosselin.