From Gabrielle and Harry, writers of "Band-aid covers the bullet hole"

Original Airdate: 3-12-06

Hello, everyone!

This is Gabrielle writing.  We hope you enjoyed the episode.  We had a great time writing it. And a great time casting it.  We were so excited to get such amazing guest stars.  Who knew Natalie Cole would let us put a fork in her neck!  A prosthetic fork actually, but it looked very real, even in person.  We were joking that she should leave it in and go out to dinner that evening.  “Excuse me waiter, but I seem to have misplaced my fork…”

Natalie was really lovely in real life and we were super impressed with her performance.   If only we had known when we were writing the script that Natalie was going to be our Sylvia.  We would’ve written in a couple songs for her to sing.  How cool would that have been?

We were also excited to get Teddy Dunn to play Heath our overly enthusiastic hockey player.  When he left after his audition, I turned to Peter Horton and said, “Oh, My God.  He plays Duncan Cain, Veronica’s boyfriend on Veronica Mars. I love him!”  Peter looked at me like I was nuts, but Harry and I watch that show religiously and think Teddy is an amazing actor.  I love his expression when he tells George he cut off his own finger.   I tried very hard not to stalk him around the set for VM nuggets. 

I loved shooting all the stuff with Cristina and Bailey’s baby.  The sad truth is I didn’t have to dig very deep to write those scenes.  I am terrible with babies.   I have no experience with them and am always convinced I’m going to drop them.  I’m especially terrified when they’re super-super small.  I’m afraid I’m going to hold them wrong and their little head is going to just snap off and roll away.  How do I explain that to their parents?   Just this weekend, my sister Lexie was in town with her six week old baby daughter, Zuzu.   I was holding Zuzu, and doing pretty well I thought, until Lexie turned to me and said, “Why are you holding her like she’s going to explode or something?”   I guess I’ll stick with my dog.

Finally, I hope everyone thought the “Burke and George’s All-Star Band” was as hilarious as we did.  Isaiah plays the trumpet in real life.,. but T.R. worked really hard to get the finger moves down for his clarinet playing.  Maybe we should get them to play at Joe’s Bar sometime.  Natalie could sing!

Cheers, Gabrielle.

P.S. Harry, here.  So even though “Grey’s” is set in Seattle, it doesn’t mean that we’re Seattle sports fans, well at least not me.  If I can just say… the Pittsburgh Steelers are world champions. 

Shonda threw a fabulous Super Bowl party so everyone could watch the bomb in the chest/Super Bowl episode, and, believe it or not, there were a few of us (all boys) there to actually watch the game before the episode aired. 

Shonda gave us sports watchers our own dedicated viewing room, with a HUGE plasma TV.  I sat across from Steve Bailey, Joe the Bartender, who is as big a Seahawk fan as I am a Steeler fan.  There was good natured and rather spirited cheering throughout the game that ended in a hug of mutual respect post-game. 

Then Shonda saw something she said she’d never seen before – “man weeping” as I watched the Steelers hoist the Lombardi Trophy.  One for the thumb.

Comments

[mel]

For some reason, I didn't really think this episode was as strong as earlier episodes. It might be that it was more subtle with the character moments, I'm not really sure. All in all, though, I loved it and thought you two did a really great job. Can't wait for next week!

[Kari]

Thanks for a brilliant episode. I loved it, even though parts of it absolutely broke my heart! Derek's face when Meredith told him about her mistake with George... ugh. It was painful. All I could think when Derek admitted his fault in their marital problems to Addison, was "HOW can she not tell him the truth about her relationship with Mark now? She has to be feeling some major guilt..." or so one would hope. When Sylvia's husband was talking to Derek about "settling" in a marriage, I was really hoping the light bulb would come on and he would realize that that's what his marriage has become. He seems to be "settling" in staying with Addison when his heart is with Meredith. Unfortunately, no such luck. Still, if it's meant to be, it will be, and I'm loving every minute of watching it unfold. Thanks again!! :)

[Polter-Cow]

You guys love Veronica Mars too? Wow, I think everyone working in television right now is a fan! There seem to be a lot of VM fans who watch Grey's Anatomy, too.

[Karen]

I loved the jam scene with Burke and George.

Question though-is that Chandra Wilson's real baby? I've heard a rumor that it is, but that seems unlikely.

I love this show. I am waiting for a Pleasantville type experience with my remote to zap me into Seattle Grace.

I am getting really, really tired of waiting for Meredith and Derek to get back together. We know it is going to happen-can you just put us all out of our misery?

[Lauren]

Are you gonna tie in the fact that although Burke and George's little band looked like a good old time, Cristina was not happy? Are you gonna comment at all on the fact that Burke appears to be getting an emotional connection with George that he can't get from Cristina cause clearly something in her life has made her the emotionally stunted person she has become? Are you gonna comment on the fact that Burke complimenting George on his bedside manner and ability to bond with an infant right in front of Cristina affected her and made her feel like a failure? Even if Burke did not realize how deeply his comment cut her. Or, are you just leaving that observation up to us, cause you guys never seem to comment in the blogs on the psychological stuff that I know I see going on with Cristina and how it affects her relationship with Burke, her difficutly in forming attachments in general.

I did NOT just see the comedy in the baby scenes. The comedy was there, it was needed and I loved it as always; but for some reason I don't think it was just written for comedic purposes. I think you might have been trying to show me something a bit deeper with those baby scenes. I got that Bailey appeared to be having some identity issues, struggling with career and being new mommy and how to balance the two. She looked desperate to get back to the Bailey she was before she became a mother, she had to get back into that OR, she just had to.
But, I sure hope Cristina's scenes with little Tuck were written with a deeper purpose or message in mind. I sure hope so, especially with Meredith's voice over and the title/theme for last night's episode.

Thanks for reading,

Lauren

[bethp]

"this is why some species eat their young" and "it takes two to make a stupid sexual decision..Good episode again,so thanks!

[Annie]

I'm a huge, huge Veronica Mars fan and I was so excited to see Teddy Dunn/Duncan Kane again. What a great surprise!

http://randomactsoftelevision.blogspot.com

[Jennifer]

I don't know how you guys do it! How do you get a big Der/Mer fan to actually *choke* root for Addison in this episode??!!! You guys are great-love the show!

[:) Ange]

Very enjoyable episode... and great acting all around.

I have an observation that isn't really linked to this epidode in particular but as a Canadian it's hard for me to get a grip on exactly how patients like Denny for example could hope to pay for all the treatment they require. In Denny's case, he will now have to live in the hospital until he either dies or gets a transplant. Wouldn't most people simply NOT be able to afford that kind of care? or is there some kind of medical insurance options that Americans have instead of National Health Care? I'm just surprised that no characters mention the COST factor (except the one show involving Joe the Bartender of course).

[Allison]

Where's the insight and layers of meaning. WE NEED MORE!!!! Hello? McDreamy was dreamy with his wife for the first time we've ever seen. MUST HAVE MORE INFO!!!

[Nancy]

Okay enough jerking us around! I am tired of the Derek/Addison "marriage". You put Meredith and Derek together originally and now you insist on torturing us for the rest of our lives? I want Derek and meredith to be happy for once! You keep telling us to have patience, but mine is quickly running out!

[Angie]

I'm a little disappointed in the blog too. I've waited all day to read it just for the insight as to WHY you people write the episodes you do and all I get is what wonderful guests you had on. Yes, Natalie Cole was GREAT as was the Veronica Mars dude, but I have questions. Love the show - hate this week's blog.

[Pete]

I really loved the ending to the show with Addison and Derek. Someone posted last week about the effort to have the show be real and the complexity of that Addison/Derek/Meredith issue is really, really well written.

I loved that Derek is making an effort and there was a real, honest moment between the two of them that was just nice to watch. I realize that the moment was created from the fallout of Meredith confessing, but hey...there's a certain amount of reality with that too.

Good story!

--pete

[Delilah]

Sorry, Chelsea G., but though I agree with you about the superiority of the Seahawks, I have to object to the grammar.
Yes, it's the internet, and yes, it's informal... but there is just never an appropriate forum for "could not have even went."
Also, "lose" is the opposite of "win," while "Loose" is the opposite of "tight." (And yes, I know that's diction, not grammar.)

We should all have more respect for people who write for a living. Congratulations to everyone who works on Grey's for being fabulous.

[MJ]

I have what I call a 'heavy" about Grey's Anatomy these days. A heavy is a feeling that I get when I can't quite put my fingers on my emotions. I started watching your show from its inception and have not missed one single minute of every episode. I can't help but comment that this show has taken some sort of strange direction from its inception of over a year ago -- it is become way too complicated. I along with numerous viewers count down the days/hours/minutes until a new episode. I slowly feel that anticipation being replaced with this "heavy" feeling -- similar to Desperate Housewives -- in that I couldn't wait to see it and now I don't care about watching it this season. I just hope that you get this show back on track -- and remember the show that everyone fell in love with last season. If not -- I fear that Grey's will become just another show on television and lose the spark and anticipation that sucks so many viewers in on Sunday nights!

[SeahawksWere Robbed]

Ummm, yeah, and...what about Meredith? Derek? Addison? Did you purposely not mention them in order to get everyone even more riled up than they already are? Have you seen any boards since last night?!? I would certainly hope that it was “just an oversight” and that you weren’t jerking GA fans around. Perhaps Harry could have commented on them instead of the Superbowl that happened over a MONTH ago. Come on – we aren’t that naive!

[aleena]

well, I don't really know what to say. I feel sick watching derek/addison scenes. she is annoying, she's not the right person for him and it couldn't be any bit his fault for being cheated on. I agreed with someone posting above with the pointless tries to make us feel bad for Addison, she doesn't deserve anything. she needs to peaceout.

[Jo]

Seriously? Nobody cares about the guest stars. Yes, they're talented, and yes, they make us laugh and cry, and yes, they help propel the plot. But the fact of the matter is, Natalie Cole and Mr. Veronica Mars are just Patients of the Week. And while I get that they're important, what I really want to hear about are the ten main characters that we've all come to know and love. Something to keep in mind.

[Caitlen]

Hi Guys :)

Well, unfortunately I was not able to wrest control of the remote in the common TV room of the hostel for the first half of the episode last night (so sad... *sniff* so not fair) but I did manage to monopolize the TV after 9:25pm! YAY!

I was happy to see in this episode a bit of healing going on. And I was so glad to see it. I think George has grown a marvellous back bone, and although it might need to be reinforced a little, which I'm sure will happen (especially living with Burke, let's face it - Go Burke & George's All Star Band!!! Yay for musical interaction in Grey's!!), I'm happy to see his character developing a bit more. I also missed him cutting his hair - but it looks GREAT!! But can I just say - that is SUCH a girl thing for him to do!!! *grin*

I also liked the interaction between McDreamy & Mer, and then McDreamy & Addison. I like that he finally realised, and admitted to himself and then Addison, that he was absent in his relationship with her, before it went all sour. Now, I'm a McDreamy/Meredith shippy kinda girl, but I was glad to see this sort of relationship patching up. It showed us that although Addison might have made the last big tear in the marriage, that made McDreamy move to Seattle, there were problems before hand, and it shows that McDreamy is confronting his issues, not just recognising them.

I like that Derrick is trying to be a friend to Meredith. We saw him extend the olive branch to her, and she was so hestitant to take it, but realised that she could. I think we saw him find it every hard to deal with what she had done, and give her impartial/good friend advice, but HE DID IT. So proud :) Lots of Derrick Development here people :)

I'd say something about Cristina and the baby, but I didn't see so much, and just LOVED it when George took him and he settled right down, and Burke came and coo'ed a bit at the baby too - took Cristina completely away from the baby that she was finding so hard to comprehend.

Thanks guys :) Another great episode! Vancouver's still great :) Still looking for work and somewhere to live - but Still loving it!!!

at gmail

[Shaneka]

This blog was a bit disappointing. There was no good insights on the characters. I realllllly wanted to know why you decided to have Meredith tell Derek about George with no explanation on how it happened or why she did it.

I love the writers of the show totally, but this blog was awful. I mean seriously, the super bowl was a month and a half ago.

[Jackie]

Seriously? Seriously. that's all we get. Ya know, we invest and invest in this show, and that episode was a far cry from your previous eps. I am sick and tired of this triangle. Listen to your fans guys--we keep you on the air. We want this triangle to be solved. It's been what, almost a year now since Addison came into the picture? Either Derek needs to get over Meredith (since she obviously is getting over him) or he needs to break it off with Addison and go after Meredith, or just forget both of them all together. Because I am getting sick and tired of it. 20 episodes later and the triangle still isn't finished. It's getting old.

[anonymous]

This blog wasn't as good as it usually is...no insight into the story lines...no reasoning as to why things were written the way the were...no subtle hints as to what may happen. All in all, it was a let down.

[Stephanie]

I love George- and I hate him. But Hey- he has a right to be upset. Granted Merideth didn't mean to hurt him- but I think he deserves a little "angry" time. His heart was just shattered and he is just supposed to turn around and be OK with it? I don't think so. Give the man a break!!
Denny- I hate to love him. Because I adore Alex. He is cute and arrogant but he REALLY cares about Izzy. And while Denny is adorable and he has the whole fighting for his life thing going for him- I don't think Izzy would be paying this much attention to him after finally being back with Alex if it weren't for the fact that he is in her face- right there- and he might die. I think she is treating Alex like crap- although he does deserve it a little bit- I think she is fooling herself.
Now that I am done telling you what YOUR characters are thinking, I will tell you that I loved this episode- and I hate Addison. That is all!
:-)

[nikka]

I think we are avoiding the big elephant in the room meaning the mer/derek/addi storyline....

[Nadine]

I wish I would have watched Big Love instead! I used to never miss an episode of Grey's Anatomy but I am getting bored with it already. It has turned into Desperate Housewives, a great first season and a mediocre second season. The intrigue of McDreamy and Meredith is getting old and boring. Who really cares now, it has been overdone! I will find myself hard-pressed to change the channel afer The Sopranos.