Introduction to Grey's Anatomy - Radio Times, April 2006

Features

Introduction to Grey's Anatomy - Radio Times, April 2006

Kim Newson outlines all you need to know about soapy new US medical drama Grey's Anatomy.

• The series revolves around the lives and loves of five surgical interns at a Seattle hospital: Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo); Izzie (Katherine Heigl); Cristina (Sandra Oh); George (TR Knight); and Alex (Justin Chambers).

• It was created by Shonda Rhimes, whose writing credits include the terrible Britney Spears movie, Crossroads. We say no more.

• The title plays on the textbook Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body by Henry Gray, first published in London in 1858.

• Song titles loom large as episode titles - the first is A Hard Day's Night and the second The First Cut Is the Deepest. There's also a trendy soundtrack featuring bands such as Keane, the Cardigans and Interpol.

• Ellen Pompeo didn't get her start in showbiz until the age of 26. She was actually "working as a waitress in a cocktail bar" when an agent approached her and asked if she wanted to be in a commercial.

• Meredith's boss, "Dr McDreamy" Derek Shepherd is played by Patrick Dempsey. A star of teen movies such as 1987's Can't Buy Me Love, he once had dreams of going to clown college.

• Is it doing well Stateside? You bet. A "three-way lesbian" episode that went out after this year's Super Bowl attracted 38.1 million viewers. It normally has an audience of 20 million, is a regular in the top five highest-rated shows, and at times it out-performs Desperate Housewives.

**

Now take a look at our full Grey's Anatomy guide.

Advertiser link