‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Season 9 Picks Up Tina Majorino, ‘True Blood’s Loss

The gods of TV never show a vampire the true death without sending someone to medical school, or however that old expression goes.  Mixed metaphors aside, those who were sad to see 'Napoleon Dynamite' and 'Veronica Mars' star Tina Majorino leave behind 'True Blood' will be relieved to see her pop up later this fall on the ninth season of 'Grey's Anatomy!'  But will her character be as loveable as Tina Majorino herself?  Of course.  Of course she will.

Tina Majorino fans rejoice, Mac will not be absent your screens for too long.  After coming to an abrupt end this past Sunday night as part of 'True Blood's "Gone, Gone, Gone," the former Veronica Mars star will next be seen in 'Grey's Anatomy season 9.  According to TVGuide, Majorino will play an intern named Heather who works at Seattle Grace, or as Zap2It observes, possibly another hospital given that 'Grey's Anatomy' season 8 saw several of the Seattle doctors looking to transfer to other locations.

Majorino is one of several new faces popping up on 'Grey's' this year, including 'Friday Night Lights' star Gaius Charles and Majorino's fellow 'True Blood' cast-mate Camilla Luddington.  However, show-runner Shonda Rhimes was quick to point out that the guest actors aren't intended as replacements for departing series regulars Chyler Leigh and Kim Raver, or soon-to-be-exiting Eric Dane.  She tells TVGuide:

It's really interesting that everybody seems to think we've hired new series regulars.  It's not. We hired some really lovely guest stars who are doing some really lovely guest-star stuff. It boils down to the fact that all our doctors are attendings and one of the things that I want to see our attendings doing is teach, so that's what we're seeing.

'Grey's Anatomy' season 9 debuts Thursday, Septempber 27 on ABC, but in the meantime what do you think?  Are you happy to have Tina Majorino back on TV so soon, or do you wish she could stay longer?  Do you think this will be the final year for 'Grey's Anatomy?'  Give us your thoughts in the comments below!