‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ ‘How to Get Away with Murder’ will not have #TGIT label this fall

When “Grey’s Anatomy” and “How to Get Away with Murder” return with new episodes on ABC this fall, there is one clear thing that is going to be missing from the equation: The famed #TGIT label that has defined the network for the past couple of years.

What’s going on here? It’s really just a matter of scheduling. Network programming head Channing Dungey told reports Thursday morning at the Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour that it didn’t feel appropriate to give the lineup the name without “Scandal” being a part of it. The Kerry Washington series is on hiatus due to her real-life pregnancy, and will return at some point in 2017. Presumably, the label will return then, as well.

Do we think that this is the right or necessary move? To be frank, far from it. While “Scandal” is a super-entertaining show to many and one of the core parts of the #TGIT brand, the implication is that “Notorious” (which is taking its place) is somehow not worthy of the “Thank God It’s Thursday” label. Meanwhile, it also suggests that there is less of a reason to be thankful for “Grey’s Anatomy” and “How to Get Away with Murder” than usual. We understand that “Notorious” is not a Shonda Rhimes series, but we always felt it right to associate the label with a schedule rather than a producer. After all, Rhimes is not the showrunner for either “How to Get Away with Murder” or “The Catch,” which qualified for the #TGIT label when it premiered earlier this year.

To draw another comparison, let’s say that NBC dropped its must-see TV label for a time because a specific sitcom was off the air. Wouldn’t you feel a little bummed out if you were the replacing show and no longer had that designation.

Maybe we’re making too big a deal out of this, but we want to hear your thoughts in the comments below! Meanwhile, sign up over here to score some other TV news on all we cover, sent right over to you via our official CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: ABC.)