It's hard to believe that "Grey's Anatomy," ABC's long-running medical drama, will be entering its 13th season this fall, and for fans who have been with the show since the beginning, it probably feels like an entirely different series, with so many deaths and departures decimating the original ensemble. Only four cast members who've been there since the beginning remain -- Ellen Pompeo (Meredith), Justin Chambers (Alex), Chandra Wilson (Bailey), and James Pickens Jr. (Richard) -- and they're due for some extra time in the spotlight this season.

That's the word from TV Guide, which spoke to "Grey's" star Kelly McCreary about what viewers can expect when the show returns this fall. According to the actress, those four aforementioned actors are poised for some big moments.

"After such a long period of time and so many new people coming in and out, they remain the foundational characters of the show," McCreary explained to TV Guide of Mer, Karev, Bailey, and Webber. "We're gonna be spending time with them to check in with where they are ... all these years later, the changes they've gone through."

According to TV Guide, that means Meredith and McCreary's character, Maggie, dealing with Mer hooking up with Riggs (Martin Henderson), and how the half sisters cope with living alone together. Bailey's storyline will focus on the ups and downs of her marriage to Ben (Jason George), while Alex will tend to the fallout surrounding Jo's (Camilla Luddington) revelation that she's already married, and hiding from an abusive husband. It remains to be seen what's in store for Webber, though we agree with TV Guide's note that "he's due" for a meaty storyline.

"One of the things I'm looking forward to most is the focus on ... those old, established relationships and those characters," McCreary told TV Guide. "Those characters are so rich and they have so much meaning for our audience. I think it will be wonderful to spend some more time with them."

We couldn't agree more.

Season 13 of "Grey's Anatomy" debuts on ABC on September 22.

[via: TV Guide]