Writers News

You've watched "Kung Fu Fighting" and shared your thoughts with us, as well as with fellow fans, via comments and forum topics. Now it's time to read what the episode's head writer had to say about this "extended" Grey's Anatomy event.

On the show's writers blog, Stacy McKee posted some thoughts on "Kung Fu Fighting." Follow the link at the bottom for her full entry. Excerpts below...

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Let's talk about Meredith. She ended the last episode by finally putting her mother to rest by washing Ellis' ashes down a scrub sink.

And now she's reeling a little bit. Starting to reevaluate why she is where she is, why she's being haunted by her past, why - after experiencing death and coming back - she's still too scared to really move forward, to go after what she really wants ...

Meredith wants nothing more than to be strong and brave and... hardcore. And, in this episode, she comes so close. She's lying there in Derek's arms, and she starts to open up, to let him in. And, you can see it in Derek's eyes. You can almost hear what he's thinking in that moment, that this is it.

He put himself out there two episodes ago, told her that he wants a future - a real future - and wants it with her... And finally, Meredith is about to answer him. With something other than sex in an on-call room. She's about to let him in and admit life is short, so short. She wants that same future with him too. And yet…

She doesn't. She stops short of actually letting Derek in and - as usual - shuts down. Just shy of really putting herself out there. Almost hardcore, but not quite. He knows it. She knows it. Which is why she's so messed up in the end.

Ah, the end. When Meredith opens the door to find Alex and Lexie getting sexy in the hallway. Love it. In fact, I pretty much always love  - whether he's heckling George or stifling laughter as they all watch the skydiver video. Alex is kind of the epitome of hardcore - he's a bad ass without even trying. He was with Ava last episode, he's with Lexie in this one... and he makes no apologies.

He calls it like it is - Alex couldn't have been more clear. Lexie may get laid, but she isn't getting a boyfriend. Not from him. Which she is okay with...

... At least she must think she's okay with it. Lexie Grey is struggling to be hardcore herself. I don't know if I'd go so far as to say, perhaps, this kind of struggle must run in the family, but... Okay. Fine. It must run in the family, because Lexie, though she's very different from Meredith in many ways, seems exactly alike in this case.

Meredith and Lexie both want to succeed. They want to be strong. They want to feel normal. They want, so much, to be whole. But it's a struggle â€" a genuine struggle for them. Being hardcore doesn't come naturally. Sometimes, they have to fake it.

Which, in Lexie's case, means getting sexy with Alex.

Follow the link to continue reading Stacy McKee's blog ...

You've watched "Haunt You Every Day" and shared your thoughts with us, as well as with fellow fans, via comments and forum topics. Now it's time to read what Krista Vernoff has to say about the fifth Grey's Anatomy episode of the fall.

On the show's writers blog, Krista posted some thoughts on "Haunt You Every Day." Follow the link at the bottom for her full entry. Excerpts below...

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I love Halloween (you can't believe how excited I am to dress my 7-month-old in a monkey costume and carry her around the neighborhood, no one can tell me I'm too old for that!!) I'm ranting, as usual, but my point is... Meredith.

That moment where she tells Mark that Ellis never got Halloween together and didn't approve of knocking on doors, begging for food... that moment explains so so so much to me about our lovely, broken Meredith.

That her first experience trick or treating is taking an earless boy around the hospital to make his pro-bono surgery happen, I find it heartbreaking.

And I love that Mark points out to her that she fell pretty far from the Ellis tree. I think it was critically important to Meredith to hear those words, because Mer is feeling the fear that she will die alone like her Mom. Because Derek said he might find someone else before she's ready. And she doesn't know how to get ready.

Meredith is an emotional cripple who's unwilling or unable to lay her ass down on a therapist's couch for the many years it takes to work through issues like she has.

Meredith Grey's version of therapy - her very best idea - is to bring her mother's ashes to work. Y'know, in a strange way it makes sense.

She understands she's been sticking her mom in the back of her closet, literally and metaphorically - and that if she doesn't start to look at this stuff (i.e.: herself) she's in danger of dying alone (i.e.; losing Derek forever). Life is hard isn't it?

But I love and applaud Meredith's willingness to try - as she explains to Derek, when his hands are covered in mommy dust and he's looking at her like maybe, just maybe he should escort her up to the psych ward, "This is me trying."
Follow the link to continue reading Krista Vernoff's blog ...

You've watched the episode and shared your thoughts with our site, as well as with fellow fans, via comments and forum discussions. Now it's time to read what writer Allan Heinberg has to say about the newest Grey's Anatomy drama.

On the show's official writers blog, Allan has posted his thoughts on "The Heart of the Matter." Follow the link at the bottom for the full column. Excerpts below...

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Not long ago, one of my smartest and most soulful friends found herself in the middle of a brutal divorce at exactly the same time my own ten-year relationship imploded. We were both wrecked, but we got through it by convincing ourselves and each other that with time and therapy, we'd be able to let go and move on.

A year and a half later, it still wasn't happening.

I mean, even if I was able to let go of all my anger and be grateful for the 10 years we had together, how was I supposed to get in touch with him after 16 months of terrible silence and say, "I forgive you"? What the hell does he care if I've forgiven him. He's probably already moved on and doesn't feel he needs it.

So what did I do? I did what most television writers do when they need the answer to one of life's unanswerable questions: I wrote a Grey's Anatomy episode about forgiveness and hoped to learn something along the way.

George cheated on Callie. He did. He didn't mean to, exactly. George has proven himself to be a principled, loving person in the past. But in a moment of angry, drunken weakness, he fell into bed with his best friend and apparently fell in love with her, too. Then George lied to Callie about it. For a long time.

When he did finally tell Callie about his infidelity, he didn't say he was in love with Izzie. He told her he'd slept with her. Maybe because he didn't want to hurt Callie any more than he already had. Or perhaps because he was hoping she'd be the one to end the marriage so he wouldn't have to?

Instead, George got a response he'd never considered. Callie forgave him. For Callie, that's what you do - especially when you've made a lifelong commitment to someone - you forgive him. No matter what. That's what love's about, right?

So Callie forgave George. And George suddenly found himself paralyzed - unable to move - until it became clear that Callie, in fact, did not forgive George.

In spite of her best efforts, she'd been hurt, betrayed, and humiliated to the point where forgiveness was impossible. And she had no forgiveness for Izzie - even if Izzie seems to have finally realized that, while she and George may be the heroes of their own love story, in Callie's story, they're the bad guys.

Follow the link to continue reading Allan Heinberg's blog ...

Many fans have noted that throughout Season 3, a grieving Isobel Stevens has been without makeup, and wearing the same sweater.

While it hasn't been explicitly stated on any Grey's Anatomy episodes this fall, it is widely rumored that the sweater she's wearing belonged to Denny (one fan observes she said it smells like him), and represents a part of Izzie's life that is gone, but not forgotten.

It turns out this is true, according to one of the show's writers, Debora Cahn, who confirms it in the show's official blog. She also offers some anecdotes about the scenes in which Katherine Heigl (who plays Izzie) was forced to stand outside all day long.

In Seattle, this might not have been a big deal. But in Los Angeles, where most of Grey's Anatomy is filmed, it's considerably hotter. Below is Cahn's take on both the lovely Katherine and her struggling intern character:

"Izzie’s trying to get on with her life too, in an incredibly valiant way.  But she can’t. It was heartbreaking, watching her standing outside that hospital all day. It was 95 degrees out when we shot it, and she’s wearing Denny’s sweater, so on top of the emotional devastation, we were a little worried Katie Heigl was going to pass out.

Katie was fine. But Izzie was wrecked. She thought that she could take back her life, through sheer force of will, but it’s too much. We all wanted her to walk through that door. We all wanted to believe that she could bounce back. Still be a doctor. Be a superhero. Step out of the wreckage, brush herself off, and walk on. But she can’t."

At least not yet. Maybe after her empowering visit with Denny Duquette, Sr., during last week's "What I Am," she'll finally summon the courage needed to walk through those doors. 

Thursday night's episode, "I Am a Tree," was a stellar one, marking the return of the Grey's Anatomy we know and love. We thought you'd like to read an excerpt from episode's writer, Krista Vernoff, who talks about it on the show's official writers blog.

Specifically, we were fascinated by the fact that the episode's memorable, brutally honest brain tumor patient, Benjamin, was played by Peter Paige (pictured below), one of Krista's best friends in life. Peter is also directing a new play written by Krista. See below!

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Finally, I have to take a moment to write to you about Benjamin. Oh my God, he broke my heart -- and not just because the actor who played him, the brilliant and multi-talented Peter Paige -- has been one of my very best friends for the last 20 years.

When they had to shock his heart on the table, I burst into tears -- and not just cause I’m four months pregnant and everything makes me cry and it almost killed me to see my Peter looking like he was maybe dying.

I love Benjamin because he makes me laugh. And he really made me think, just like he made Meredith think, about how much we should really run around all day controlling every impulse we have in favor of being "polite."

I mean, life is short, people die. If your hair conditioner isn’t working, don’t you want some to tell you? I know my Peter Paige tells me, which is why he’s my best friend.

Finally, I’m going to take this opportunity for a moment of unadulterated self-promotion. A play I wrote, "Me, My Guitar and Don Henley" is opening in New York on October 7 in a tiny little theatre in the East Village.

If you are an East Coast dwelling theatre-goer and you like my episodes of Grey’s Anatomy and you like my rambling and over-sharing, I think you will like my play, which is, coincidentally, directed by Peter Paige and includes a large amount of over-sharing.

If you don’t like my rambling and over sharing? Like, if you’re about to write to me and go, "Stupid Krista! Why do you think we CARE about you and your stupid life? GEEZ -- we wanna hear more about Meredith cause you’re stupid, you dummy" -- then you probably shouldn’t come see my play.

NOTE: If you do, here's the link.

Filming on the new pilot from Grey's Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes (right) has been put off until the end of this year or early next year, says Grey's executive producer Peter Horton.

Horton, who is slated to work on the new project alongside Rhimes, is quoted in the New York Post saying that the upcoming pilot would have a similar feel to Grey's Anatomy, but in the world of broadcast journalism.

"That's a nut that TV has been trying to crack for quite a long time. If anyone can do it, it's Shonda. She has a really good sensibility for these different worlds that could be compatible with a mass audience," Horton said.

Once her the project, which will reportedly include memorable Grey's guest star Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Denny Duquette) in its cast, kicks into gear, Rhimes will be splitting her duties between that and Grey's.

"That's one of the challenges. She'd have to do both [shows], because every script has to eventually go through her typewriter. She's got a lot more help this year on Grey's... which is allowing Shonda the freedom to do [the pilot]. So, yes, she'll be in volved in both shows," Horton said.

An executive producer of Grey's Anatomy is will be lending a hand to the new series ABC plans to air after the hit medical drama this fall.

According to industry sources, Peter Horton (left), a leader among the top-notch Grey's Anatomy directing / producing team, will be working in conjunction with the writers and producers of Six Degrees for the next month and be credited as a consulting producer.

Six Degrees, which focuses on six New Yorkers whose lives are intertwined, despite the fact that they don't know one another, hopes to build success on the coattails of Grey's Anatomy this fall. It was created by writers Stu Zicherman and Raven Metzner, and executive produced by J.J. Abrams (Lost, Alias).

Rumors have it that ABC is somewhat concerned about the much-touted show's direction in its early episodes. Production stopped for a week earlier this month, a co-exec producer and director has reportedly left the series.

A former star of thirtysomething, Horton has been with Grey's Anatomy from the beginning, directing the show's first two episodes (and several others) while serving as executive producer alongside creator Shonda Rhimes.

The 53-year-old is also working with Rhimes on her forthcoming pilot about a group of female journalists, which will feature former Grey's guest star Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Horton's directing credits also include The Shield, Line of Fire and Once and Again.

Six Degrees is slated to premiere Thursday, September 21, following the season premiere of Grey's Anatomy.

Krista Vernoff, one of the driving, creative forces behind Grey's Anatomy, has signed a two-year deal with Touchstone Television. The respected writer/producer was given a seven-figure pact, as well as a promotion to executive producer of the ABC medical drama.

The deal replaces Vernoff's existing deal with the studio, and will involve her developing new projects in addition to working alongside creator/executive producer Shonda Rhimes (who has been given a contract extension herself) on Grey's Anatomy.

“Krista has really stepped up on Grey’s Anatomy and earned a spot as part of the leadership team. We’ve also had a great experience with her in development and look forward to working with her again on her next creation,” said Touchstone TV's Executive V.P., Julia Franz.

Prior to making her mark on the show we know and love, Vernoff contributed to a number of shows, most notably Charmed, where made her way up from story editor to a co-producer by the end of her tenure (2000-2004). She also served as producer of Wonderfalls in 2004 and has an episode of Law & Order to her credit.

She has written five Grey's Anatomy episodes exclusively, including some of the young series' best-known: "Make Me Lose Control," "Into You Like A Train," "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer," "Yesterday" and "If Tomorrow Never Comes." We're glad that Krista remains on board and look forward to more stellar efforts this fall.