As we posted a few weeks back, one of Grey's Anatomy Insider's loyal readers, Shannon Gilmartin (a.k.a. marriedmymcdreamy), took part in the Dempsey Challenge in Lewiston, Maine.

For those unfamiliar, the event is a charity bike race put together by Grey's Anatomy star Patrick Dempsey to benefit the Dempsey Center for cancer research in his home state.

Well, thanks in part to some donations from fellow Grey's Anatomy Insider readers, Shannon not only raised the most money ($10,130), but brought in the most donors (170)!

Because she raised the most money, Shannon got to go on a semi private ride the day before the October 4 Dempsey Challenge, riding in a group that included Patrick Dempsey himself and pro cyclists Ted King, George Hincapie and Dave Zabriskie (pictured below) ...

We're happy to have played a small role in helping a participant in such a neat event.

Moreover, we're happy that Patrick Dempsey is a guy who uses his popularity to do good things in this world, raising more than a million dollars for cancer research in a single day.

Congratulations to Shannon and to all the participants who made the first annual race so successful, and here's hoping the 2010 Dempsey Challenge is an even bigger success.

"Invasion."

It's an ominous title for an episode, but it appears apt. Tonight, Seattle Grace and Mercy West merge and the landscape of Grey's Anatomy as we know it will be altered. Forever.

As evidenced by the previews, pictures and Grey's Anatomy spoilers we've posted this week, the tension is rising, the stakes are high, and the battle lines are clearly drawn.

All we can do is sit back, watch, and hope.

Is Izzie really going to get fired? If not her, who will? Will any new residents be a pleasant surprise? What else do you think and hope will happen on tonight's Grey's Anatomy?

Discuss tonight's Grey's Anatomy by leaving comments below and chatting with fellow fans in our Grey's Anatomy forum! It's easy and fun to join and partake!

As we're all well aware, Seattle Grace as we know it will be rocked to its core tonight.

That's because the merger with Mercy West Hospital isn't just on the horizon, it's really happening. And as the sneak previews showed, it's worse than our favorite docs thought.

One of the new doctors bringing the drama. Young redhead Reed (Nora Zehetner).

TV Guide caught up with the 28-year-old Zehetner (Brick, Heroes) to get the scoop on what's coming up. Expect a lot of fighting, new relationships and much more ...

Q: Did you have fun taking on this persona unlike anything you've played before?

Nora Zehetner: Yeah, it's different. It's probably the most grown-up role I've had.

My friends laugh whenever I tell them I'm playing a doctor. The doctor stuff is really hard, not just the medical terminology, actually the multitasking. Doing surgeries or medical procedures while saying lines, it's like rubbing your head and patting your tummy at the same time.

Q: Isn't it rubbing your tummy and patting your head?

Nora Zehetner: [Laughs] You can see I would not be very good at the multitasking if I can't even get the expression right.

Q: So tell us about Reed and the other doctors coming into Seattle Grace.

Nora Zehetner: It's like going to a new school. It's like two schools being merged together and you're trying to figure out where do I fit in? You want to be the best and do the best job. We're worried about our jobs. Reed's very feisty and a very hardworking doctor. She's maybe a little overeager, trying really hard.

Q: Which Seattle Grace doc would you say is similar to Reed?

Nora Zehetner: Maybe a bit like Cristina [Sandra Oh], maybe a bit like Karev [Justin Chambers]. In terms of how motivated she is, maybe Cristina. I definitely butt heads with quite a few of the characters. It's kind of in her nature; she can be a little abrasive.

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Michael Ausiello of EW answers several Grey's Anatomy-related questions in his spoiler mailbag today, and the topics vary widely, from layoffs to MerDer to Burke.

Here's what he has to say about ...

Q: Is it at all possible that Shonda Rhimes would bring Isaiah Washington back to Grey’s Anatomy for even one episode now that T.R. Knight has left the show?

A: Listen to me very carefully, because I’m only going to say this once: Never. Gonna. Happen. But Washington kinda-sorta gets a shout-out in this week’s episode when Owen-lovin’ Cristina utters three shocking words: “I miss Burke.”

Q: Sounds like you’ve already seen this week’s episode of Grey’s Anatomy, so I’ve got a good Q: Any good Meredith-Derek scenes?

A: Nothing stands out on the Mer-Der front, but there’s a memorable Mer-Cristina-Alex scene at the end that will have you crying and laughing (and in that order).

Q: Any Grey’s Anatomy scoop?

A: You already know that someone gets fired in this week’s episode. But what you may not know is that someone gets fired next week, too!

On tomorrow night's Grey's Anatomy, the "Invasion" is underway.

The episode title is an appropriate one, given the swarm of highly suspicious new doctors from Mercy West descending on Seattle Grace. The merger is in full, awkward swing.

In the first sneak preview, Meredith talks about the evil, invading "others" who have come to take their jobs, and how the Seattle Gracers are not going to be pushed around!

She's been watching a little too much TV while stuck in bed ...

Follow the jump for six - six! - more clips from "Invasion." Another, wholly unrelated invader is also arriving - Callie's dad. She is pissed. Arizona oddly tells Callie to cool it.

Also, our gang interacts and does passive-aggressive battle with the newcomers, including guest stars Sarah Drew and Nora Zehetner. Watch, enjoy, and comment below ...

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Sorry for these being added a little later than we usually do, but we've been playing catch-up. Below is a sampling of Grey's Anatomy quotes from last week's terrific episode.

Follow the link above for the Insider's list of quotes from "Tainted Obligation" and every episode in our favorite show's six-season history. It's the biggest library anywhere!

Now here are some of the Grey's Anatomy quotes from Thursday night that we liked most. Which was your favorite line? Thanks so much to Maddie O for help with these ...

Lexie: Oh, you're awake. How's your pain? Is your mouth dry? There's water if you're thirsty.
Meredith: Um, have you been sleeping on me all night?
Lexie: Yes. Moving between you and dad. Who's doing good.
Meredith: Good. Good, that's good. Lexie?
Lexie: Yeah?
Meredith: You're on my IV.
Lexie: Oh, sorry. | permalink

Callie: Chief. Are you ok?
Richard: I have responsibilities. To make this hospital the best medical facility it could be. To repair what I have broken, even if it was 20 years ago. If I am now the bad guy, if I am now the villain here. Well, so be it.
Callie: This must be so hard for you.
Richard: Thanks Torres.
Callie: I was, I was gonna... I was... But, I'm gonna go. So, you take care ok.
Richard: Torres.
Callie: Sir?
Richard: Go see HR tomorrow. Tell them you're an attending at Seattle Grace Hospital and you want a new badge. | permalink

Bailey: I had 5 interns. 4 of you have been on this table. One of you has cancer, one of you died. You'd better not pull anything funny on me Grey. | permalink

Mark: If it's bad news, I don't wanna wake her.
Bailey: Wake her. | permalink

Alex: Since when did you become a marriage counselor?
Cristina: I guess when you save someone's life you kinda want it not to suck. | permalink

Izzie: Are you gonna get tested Mer?
Meredith: No. I barely know the guy.
Cristina: You might as well just get tested.
Alex: You could regret it if you don't do it.
Cristina: He may be a drunk deadbeat, but he gave you the ultimate gift.
Alex: The gift of life.
Izzie: You guys are sick. You really are, you're sick. Don't listen to them, Mer. They just want a surgery.
Cristina: Mama needs to cut. | permalink

Derek: He brought us down here to make himself feel good.
Mark: At least he sprung for good danish.
Derek: Do you know how many nurses got fired for that danish? | permalink

Izzie: Are you sure it was a bear and not a deer? There's a lot of deer in those woods. Bucks can get pretty big.
Alex: I think I know the difference between a bear and a deer.
Izzie: (to patient) Rest, ice and elevate. Ok?
Alex: You know... You know how I got the the car? I had to throw a raw steak and run for my life!
Izzie: That was a 10 ounce fillet, I'd been marinating it for 3 days.
Alex: We have to move! | permalink

Here's a little excerpt from E!'s spoiler Q&A today regarding Chandra Wilson. It's nothing we don't already know after her interview yesterday, but here goes anyway:

Q: So excited to see Bailey on Private Practice this week, but does she cross over from Grey's Anatomy for personal or professional reasons?

A: According to Grey's Anatomy star Chandra Wilson herself, "[Bailey]'s being overprotective of a patient, so it starts on Grey's Anatomy, and of course, the surgery can only be done in L.A. at St. Ambrose, so she ends up there with a patient."

Paul Adelstein (Cooper on Private Practice) adds, "[Bailey] takes us to task. She's a truth teller, and her writing is truth telling, so she comes in and busts us all down to size pretty good."

Chandra Wilson (Miranda Bailey) visits Private Practice this week. We're psyched!

You don’t have to be a brain surgeon to following all the comings, goings, crossovers, new jobs and new deliveries happening both on and off screen at Grey's Anatomy.

But it would help.

Fortunately, Grey's Anatomy cast members Chandra Wilson and Sara Ramirez chatted with TV Guide and offered up a special diagnosis for this week's episode and beyond.

First up, Wilson’s Dr. Miranda Bailey will be headed to Los Angeles for sun and apparently some fun when she crosses over to Private Practice, ABC's sister show, this week.

“I’m being overprotective of a patient I have that of course their care has to happen in L.A. at St. Ambrose – because that’s the only place it can be in the world,” she said.

“So I’m heading over to Private Practice!”

Grey's Anatomy leading ladies Chandra Wilson, left, and Sara Ramirez.

“You know, Taye Diggs’ character is single now!” Sara Ramirez reminded her co-star, nodding to a recently teased smooch between Bailey and Diggs' Dr. Sam Bennett.

But Wilson won't bite. “I don’t share stories,” she insisted, chuckling.

Despite Bailey’s interlude in SoCal, the rest of Seattle Grace is about to feel a chill as the result of the merger with Mercy West, which will put some docs' jobs in jeopardy.

“Not everyone at Seattle Grace is safe,” hinted Sara Ramirez, and Wilson took it even further: “Next week is a jaw-dropper. It’s not going to work out for some people.”

Wilson will also be stepping behind the camera as the director of the seventh episode of Grey’s Anatomy's sixth season, airing toward the end of October (the plotline is apparently Patrick Dempsey-centric – “all Derek all the time,” she teases).

Ramirez says Wilson’s directorial style is far from iron-fisted.

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Below is a photo gallery from this week's episode of Grey's Anatomy, "Invasion." It looks like a pretty intense episode, with the new residents merging with Seattle Grace's finest.

It also appears as if Dr. Izzie Stevens may be in for a really rough go of it, from the looks of a couple of the pictures below. She's feuding with those newbies and with the Chief.

Meanwhile, Callie's dad is back, and he looks far from pleased. Guy still thinks he can "turn" her. This won't end well. Click to enlarge the images below and see what you think ...

Below is another promo for this week's all-new episode of Grey's Anatomy, "Invasion."

It's from Canada's CTV, and some clips shown in the half-minute preview are different than those played in the first ABC promo, so it's worth a look despite the mediocre quality.

Longer sneak peeks to come soon hopefully!