Why 'Grey's Anatomy' Just Changed Its Return Episode Title to a Phone Number

"Grey's Anatomy" Season 14 is putting its title where its promotion has been.

Yeah, that's a strange way to put it, but when the ABC show returns from winter break next Thursday, Jan. 18, it's going to pick up right from Jo Wilson's (Camilla Luddington) shocked and unwelcome reunion with her abusive estranged husband, Paul Stadler (Matthew Morrison).

Co-showrunner Krista Vernoff has talked about the show diving right into that domestic abuse storyline. She meant it so much, the show changed the 2018 return episode title from "Four Seasons in One Day" to "1-800-799-7233."

If you call that title number, you hear this message:

"Thank you for calling the National Domestic Violence Hotline. You will now be connected with an advocate."

So "Grey's" is doing the same thing as that Logic/Alessia Cara/Khalid song, "1-800-273-8255," which is the phone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. What better way to promote a message of hope for domestic abuse victims than to put the lifeline right in the episode title?

Vernoff tweeted that it was actually DeLuca actor Giacomo Gianniotti who suggested the title change, which was just put in place this week:

Giving credit where it's due: this title change was pitched to me by @GiacomoKG

Brilliant idea. Important. Thank you! https://t.co/lXQwARf1ZS

— Krista Vernoff (@KristaVernoff) January 12, 2018

Thank you @KristaVernoff glad it made the cut! Very honoured to be apart of this story. https://t.co/OPQ8r9XOAp

— Giacomo Gianniotti (@GiacomoKG) January 12, 2018

"Grey's Anatomy" Season 14, Episode 9, now called "1-800-799-7233," airs Thursday, Jan. 18 at 8 p.m. on ABC.

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