<P> For the first time in the show 's history , many cast changes occur , seeing the first departure of two main cast members . Despite garnering several awards and nominations for the cast members and the production team , the season received a mixed response from critics and fans . Show creator Shonda Rhimes heavily contributed to the production of the season , writing five out of the seventeen episodes . The highest - rated episode was the season premiere , which was watched by 20.93 million viewers . The season was interrupted by the 2007 -- 2008 Writers Guild of America strike , which resulted in the production of only seventeen episodes , instead of twenty - three originally planned . </P>
<P> For the first time in the show 's history , many cast changes occur , seeing the first departure of two main cast members . Despite garnering several awards and nominations for the cast members and the production team , the season received a mixed response from critics and fans . Show creator Shonda Rhimes heavily contributed to the production of the season , writing five out of the seventeen episodes . The highest - rated episode was the season premiere , which was watched by 20.93 million viewers . The season was interrupted by the 2007 -- 2008 Writers Guild of America strike , which resulted in the production of only seventeen episodes , instead of twenty - three originally planned . </P>
why are there only 17 episodes in season 4 of grey 's anatomy
why are there only 17 episodes in season 4 of grey 's anatomy
The season was interrupted by the 2007 -- 2008 Writers Guild of America strike
The season was interrupted by the 2007 -- 2008 Writers Guild of America strike