Televisionista: "Grey's Anatomy" Spoilers & Pics: Will Meredith's Mom Die?

According to an official press release from the ABC network, Meredith's Alzheimer's-stricken mother, Ellis, experiences a change in her medical condition in the February 1 episode of "Grey's Anatomy". Is that the death that prattle masters have been buzzing about for weeks?

Also in the episode entitled "Wishin' and Hopin'" (the title refers to a Dusty Springfield song), the race for the Chiefs position is on. Apparently those rumors about Chief's departure that start circulating a week earlier (January 25 episode "Great Expectations") will be true.

Also, a surgical patient will endanger the lives of those around her. And that is about all that Shonda Rhimes, who is known to be particularly stingy about spoiling upcoming storylines, has agreed to share with the viewers. Apart from Kate Burton who plays Ellis Grey, the episode guest cast also remains a mystery.

Now, as far as some of my earlier Grey's stories, Shonda Rhimes has just disclosed to TV Guide at the Golden Globes that Elizabeth Reaser who has recently been cast will not appear on the show as a psychiatrist, but rather a patient who will change the lives of several interns on the show and in fact impact all the doctors in the hospital.

The actress will not join the show on a permanent basis, but she will have a multi-episode arc.

Also, when earlier this week I posted those candid images of Patrick Dempsey taken from the ferryboat disaster episode, I mistakingly stated it was going to be the February 8 episode "Walk on Water".

Although we do not have an official description of that episode, it is now clear the disaster actually takes place a week or two later.

The images in this post are taken from the episode "Wishin and Hopin'", scheduled for February 1. Here is the schedule of upcoming episodes of "Grey's Anatomy":

Tonight: "Six Days - Part 2" (#312)
January 25: "Great Expectations" (#313)
February 1: "Wishin' and Hopin'" (#314)
February 8: "Walk on Water" (#315)

At least one or two more first-run episodes are expected to air in February. A total of 23 episodes have been ordered for this season and the final episode should be a 2-hour event bringing the season total to 24.There should however be at least 6 reruns/pre-emptions during March and April.