'Grey's Anatomy' Season 7 Scoop: James Tupper Joins the Cast

The halls of Seattle Grace are about to get even more crowded. Following the news that Grey's Anatomy newcomers Sarah Drew and Jesse Williams have been promoted to series regulars for season 7 comes word that James Tupper (of that other medical drama, Mercy, which was recently canceled) is joining the cast as well.

Tupper will play the recurring role of Dr. Andrew Perkins, a trauma counselor who is brought in to help the doctors deal with issues stemming from the mad gunman murder spree that took place in the Grey's Anatomy season finale. Now, before fan starts wondering how the already-bloated show will be able to accommodate yet another main character, take a deep sigh of relief: Tupper is only joining the cast as a recurring character. While the exact total number of episodes he will appear in remains unclear, Tupper is confirmed for at least two episodes in season 7, starting with the season premiere.

Interestingly enough, Grey's Anatomy already had a trauma counselor on staff, Dr. Wyatt, played by Amy Madigan. Dr. Wyatt helped Meredith with her post-drowning issues and Dr. Hunt (Kevin McKidd) with his PTSD and relationship with Cristina (Sandra Oh). With recent news that Amy Madigan was cast in a recurring role on the sci-fi drama Fringe, Grey's Anatomy obviously felt they needed a replacement.

Despite a stellar season finale, Grey's Anatomy has suffered stiff criticism lately for its inability to service the enormous numbers of characters the show has billed as series regulars. While certain characters, such as Meredith, Lexie, and Izzie were put on the back burner last season (Ellen Pompeo and Chyler Leigh were dealing with real-life pregnancies, and Katherine Heigl ultimately left the show), no actors are scheduled to be MIA this season.

In an attempt to weed out the overabundance of new characters cluttering the storylines, Grey's Anatomy writers executed a white-knuckle season finale for season 6, in which the husband of an ex-patient goes on a shooting rampage in the hospital. Recurring characters Dr. Adamson (Nora Zehtner) and Dr. Percy (Robert Baker) perished in the shoot-out. In the weeks leading up to the season 7 premiere, however, it seems that the show has taken the opposite path as it gears up for the new season. By promoting previously recurring characters Drew and Williams to series regulars, and also promoting another newcomer, Kim Raver (Teddy), to series regular status in the middle of season 6, the show is beginning season 7 with more main characters than it did in the beginning of season 6.

Still, fans of the show should be cautious in welcoming big-name recurring roles onto the show. Grey's Anatomy staple actors Kate Walsh, Kim Raver, Kevin McKidd, and Jessica Capshaw all began their runs on the show as recurring characters before finally being promoted to series regulars.

Until further information comes in, one can only guess what trouble Tupper's character will find himself in on the show (and who he'll ultimately sleep with). With his character being a trauma counselor, he immediately has a connection with fellow trauma surgeon Teddy. But I am personally thinking the show might throw us a curve-ball and pair him with April, one of the doctors who definitely suffered the most psychologically during the shootings. Until the season premiere, one can only hope that Tupper does not become a more permanent addition to the ever-expanding cast. Adding more characters was definitely not one of my suggestions in my previous article, "5 Ways To Fix Grey's Anatomy Season 7."

Grey's Anatomy Season 7 will premiere Sept. 23 on ABC.

Sources:

Michael Ausellio, Entertainment Weekly, http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/07/02/fringe-amy-madigan-olivias-mom/

http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/07/15/greys-anatomy-james-tupper/

Parry Strain, Associated Content, http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/3005558/5_ways_to_fix_greys_anatomy_season.html?cat=39

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5474200/greys_anatomy_casting_scoop_jesse_williams.html?cat=49