Krista Vernoff News

Krista Vernoff, Grey's Anatomy executive producer and the head writer on last week's episode, "Holidaze" has posted some thoughts on the episode on the show's official writers' blog.

Below are excerpts, with a link at the bottom to the full entry ...

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Can we talk about the hot hot hot HOT Owen Cristina kissing??? Oh my God, I’m like a fan girl, I can’t help it. And how about the scene where Owen whispered into Teddy’s mouth, “I’m in love with Cristina.” I wrote it. I pictured it. But when I saw it?

I seriously threw up a little in my mouth.

It was SO brutal – and what was so brutal is that Owen didn’t mean to be brutal. He clearly loves them both. Which is impossible. And devastating. I mean it – how could Teddy not love him? Playing guitar one minute, torturedly whispering into her mouth the next.

There’s so much more in this episode – Mark Sloan becoming the sexiest Grandpa on TV and Meredith making a deal with the devil and Arizona and Derek and Mark paying their own hard-earned money to save the life of a very sick little boy.

It made my heart happy, that story. And so did the story of the woman living without a heart for all that time and surviving. Both of those stories were our little gift to you, to send you into this holiday season with a little more hope and optimism.

Follow the link for the entirety of Krista's blog ...

These two did everything to save their patient. Even pay for his treatment.

"Good Mourning" and "Goodbye" made for a powerful re-entry into the Grey's Anatomy universe last night. For a unique take on the episode from the woman who brought it all to life, we've posted some excerpts from the show's official writers blog below.

Here's what executive producer Krista Vernoff, who's responsible for the episodes we watched last night, had to say about them. Specifically, what she thinks about ...

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George: I think the reason I don’t want to spend any time writing about these episodes is not just that I’m lazy but that it makes me sad. Watching them made me sad, writing them made me sad and now writing about them will make me sad because, as Cristina finally acknowledges 40 days after the event, “George O’Malley died." It’s heartbreaking.

I fell in love with George, like many of you did, Season One.

The first episode of Grey’s Anatomy that I got to write was the one where George is kind to Annie, the lady with the 60 lb tumor. In an attempt to comfort her about her procrastination in seeing a doctor, George talks to her about his love for Meredith and how he has yet to confess it.

And Annie says something like, “Seriously? You’re equating your love life with my record-breaking tumor?? Seriously??” I loved George O'Malley because he was doing that; because his love for Meredith was as big as that tumor; because, like Izzie, George led with his heart.   

The funeral scene: I have to admit that this is one of my very favorite scenes ever ... they came together fresh-faced kids and now one of them has cancer and one of them is dead and damn, life is freakin’ like that, y’know? Growing up is crazy hard.

Friends get sick and friends die and marriages begin and end. It’s so complicated and so beautiful and so painful and the best any of us can hope for, I think, is to have friends who will stick by us and laugh with us and cry with us and just be with us through it all.

Callie: Sara was so beautiful in every frame of these episodes. She always drops my jaw – but when she’s wailing to Mark, “... and Arizona keeps bringing me doooooooonuts,” I just loved her even more. And as for Callie, here’s the big question:

If faced with having to decide what to do with your brain-dead ex-husband’s organs, would you rise above and turn to his ex-mistress for help?

Derek and the Chief: This is a thing that won’t be going away any time soon. Derek was pretty freakin’ noble. So noble! Cause you KNOW how much he wants that job. It was a promise of the Chiefdom that brought him to Seattle from NYC to begin with. Okay, that and his love for ferry boats. Oh, and the Mark/Addison messiness but y’know, mostly, it was becoming Chief.

And right here, the job was his for the taking. And out of loyalty and friendship, he went to the Chief and warned him. So what is up with the Chief that in response, he completely shut Derek out? Pride. He’s all proud and hurt and threatened. Really, really threatened.

And people are flawed. Even the Chief, whom I adore, is deeply flawed.  

Cristina, Owen and Dr. Wyatt: How brilliant are the actors in that scene???? Seriously – how freakin’ good are all three of them? If I could hand some kind of award to Kevin McKidd and Sandra Oh and Amy Madigan today, I would. Y’know what? I just might.

When I was nominated for an Emmy and didn’t win, my best friends made me an Emmy out of tinfoil. I might do something like that – that’s how good they all are. Here’s what you don’t know ... I handed them that scene 20 MINUTES BEFORE CAMERAS ROLLED. Swear to God.

The scene was totally different. It was a funny scene until the last minute.

I had been desperate to find humor anywhere I could in these two hours and because Sandra is a pretty reliable source for comedy, I had leaned on the funny. And I got a call from the set after they rehearsed the scene. Sandra and Kevin had smart questions – and what became crystal clear to me instantly is that this storyline could not be resolved in a humorous way.

It had earned weight. Indeed, it required weight.

Follow the link for the entirety of Krista's blog ...

Michael Ausiello of Entertainment Weekly has some good quotes from Grey's Anatomy executive producer Krista Vernoff in his spoiler Q&A this morning, shedding some light on what's to come from the show's signature couple since day one, Meredith and Derek.

Here's what Michael and Krista have to say in response to a fan inquiry ...

Q: Grey’s Anatomy fans are buzzing about a possible Derek and Meredith break-up this season. Please tell me it isn’t true.

A: It isn’t true. Here’s what is true: The Mer-Der relationship, as we could have expected, will be written a little lighter during the first half of the season as a result of Ellen Pompeo’s pregnancy and subsequent maternity leave in real life, which will limit her work.

“I think we would be irresponsible writers if we didn’t give a woman who’s seven-months pregnant a little less time on her feet,” says exec producer Krista Vernoff.

“She’s waddling around seven-months pregnant about to push a baby out of herself. We have a responsibility to alleviate [Ellen Pompeo's] screen time a little bit.”

That said, Vernoff insists Mer-Der are at no risk of losing their title as Seattle Grace’s reigning super couple, promising fans that: “It would be false to say that Mer and Der are no longer the focus of the series. Derek and Mer will always be a focus of the series.”

Last week, we posted a photo of Sara Ramirez that Shonda Rhimes Tweeted as the cast of Grey's Anatomy returned for their first week of filming the upcoming Season Six.

Today, we're happy to provide you with a similarly Twittered image of the show's leading man, Patrick Dempsey, courtesy of writer and executive producer Krista Vernoff.

Krista posted the photo below, with the caption: "Dear Fans, I am sitting here with Patrick. He says he loves you too. :-)" Aww. How nice of him. Here's the man in action:

Patrick Dempsey looks handsome, even in full surgical gear.

Thanks to marriedmymcdreamy for the heads up on this! Here's hoping that as filming progresses we get to see more fun Tweets from Shonda, Krista et al.

The award-winning Grey's Anatomy writer and producer who authored last night's episode, Krista Vernoff, has posted some of her impressions on the terrific "No Good at Saying Sorry (One More Chance)" on the show's official writers' blog.

Here's an excerpt about the relationship between Meredith and Richard, with reactions from the writer herself, and a link to the full column at the bottom ...

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I LOVE what Richard says to Meredith. I wrote it, so, y’know, I should love it – but I don’t always love everything I write – and man, do I LOVE that scene.

I sat on set while the brilliant Tom Verica shot that scene and while the luminous Ellen Pompeo and the wonderful Jim Pickens acted it. And I cried.

Every take. I just sat there crying take after take after take. 

I cried for Meredith Grey, mostly, because finally, FINALLY one of the adults in her life is taking responsibility for what happened to her.

Finally, she’s hearing the words that she needed and didn’t even know she needed. People have tried to apologize before.

Thatcher has tried. Richard has even tried. And it’s not that Meredith is hard-hearted. It’s not that she can’t forgive. It’s just that no one ever got it right before. She was a baby.

She was a little kid. She couldn’t stand up for herself.

And here were all these adults running around acting like children and failing, every day, to fight for her. She was neglected and she was abused.

Her mother, for those who may have forgotten, attempted suicide IN FRONT OF HER. This was an emotionally unstable woman, Ellis Grey. 

Richard saw that – and he did nothing. And Thatcher, her freaking FATHER, who not only saw it, he lived it WITH HER, did less than nothing. 

To make an amends is not  just to apologize. It’s to make a thing right. And Thatcher’s little scripted apology can’t do that for Meredith. It can’t make it right. Her pain runs too deep. Her abandonment was too complete.

And so when Richard finally truly takes responsibility?

It breaks down a wall in Meredith’s heart that I truly believe she didn’t even know was there. I think she’s as shocked by her tears as anyone.

And I think there is real and profound healing in that moment.

Continue reading Krista's blog here ...

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 ...

ABC's Grey's Anatomy makes it's way back September 27 with a bunch of changes. The season premiere is titled "A Change is Gonna Come," in fact.

Indeed, Kate Walsh is off to an ABC spin-off called Private Practice and gone is Isaiah Washington to Bionic Woman (and eventually his own series) with NBC.

So what's up with Grey's Anatomy? Us Weekly reports that executive producer Krista Vernoff says expect loads of drama. For one, she dishes on an intern that will be under Meredith Grey's tutelage this season.

Follow the jump for a picture of Mer's new intern ...

Continue Reading...

We've received multiple emails regarding the message appearing before the end credits of "Six Days (Part II)," which read "In Memory of Bob Verne."

This man is not the actor who played Harold O'Malley, whose name is George Dzundza (pictured, with T.R. Knight). It is the father of Krista Vernoff, executive producer of Grey's Anatomy and one of its principal writers. In writing the two-part "Six Days" story line, Vernoff drew upon her own experience with her dad's short, losing battle with esophageal cancer.

Bob Verne's story is told through Harold O'Malley, and Krista's grief is shown, in part, through George. Here's what Vernoff has to say about it on her official blog about the episode:

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The card at the end [of "Six Days"] was a tribute to my father. He died six years ago at the age of 56 after a very short battle with esophageal cancer. He called me one day at my office at Charmed and told me he thought he had the flu. A week after that he had surgery on a massive tumor at the base of his esophagus.

Before the surgery he was laughing and celebrating with family. He had a profoundly positive attitude. After the surgery, he had a massive scar down his belly and was intubated and pale, and upon seeing him, I, who thought of myself as quite strong and educated and capable of handling that moment, started to shake and then hyperventilate and had to be helped out of the room.

Continue Reading...

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.

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.