Shonda Rhimes on “Time Has Come Today” and other things…

Welcome to Season Three!!!

We here at Grey’s are all really excited about the new season and dear God, I hope you are too.  I personally was itching to get back to work.  I’m not a vacation kind of girl.  I’m also clearly not a girl who exists well outside the four walls of Seattle Grace Hospital.  I was missing George and the gang.   So coming back to work was all about joy.  But right now, this minute, today?  I’m also kinda nervous. 

About Thursday nights. 

I wasn’t.  I was fine.  I didn’t even feel a twinge.  Seriously (sorry for the unwarranted usage of “seriously” this early in the season).   But --- seriously.  I was feeling no pressure, no pain.  What a fun job!  I love it!  I am a stress-free, happy-go-lucky, glass half full freak of nature!  I mean, I was.  The head of ABC Steve McPherson (seriously, would it surprise you to know that I secretly call him McFee?) was all, “Shonda, we’re moving you to Thursday” and I was all, “Whoo-hoo!”  And I got really super excited.  Because Thursday?  Is a rocking night for television.  I did some dances of joy. 

Then I woke up this morning and, out of nowhere, found myself FREAKED OUT.  Because Thursdays?  Is a rocking night for television.  And McFee’s a smart man, a brilliant man, a man who has plans (very McVet of him to have plans, right?) and I trust him because…hello?  He has done pretty damn well by our show thus far.  So I trust him.  But still…do me a favor and set your VCRs and your Tivos and most important, plant your heinies in front of the TV Thursday night at 9 pm and watch.  Okay?  So I don’t burst a blood vessel in my brain from the stress?   Because I really love Mer and Der and Burktina and Iz and Alex and George and Callie and Addison and the Chief and Bailey and I’m like this worried Mama whose kid starts a new school and maybe won’t make any friends.

Enough about the freaking and the Thursdays.  Let’s discuss the thing you guys wanna know about.  Which is what’s gonna happen in the first episode.  Ready?

???

Okay, yeah, I can’t tell you anything.  Not anything in detail.  Cause that takes the fun out of watching.  But I’ve noticed that a lot of you in the comments section and over on the message boards seem to be dissecting the promos for clues.  And all I have to say is…we are going places you can’t imagine.  Or maybe you can imagine but you don’t expect.  And I want to tell you, really I do but…well, I’m trying to keep it to myself.

The first episode is going to take place pretty much where the end of Season Two left off.  Because I don’t believe in jumping ahead three months and leaving people scratching their heads and muttering, “Dude…what happened while we were away?”  I feel like SO much happened at the end of last season that I owe it to the characters to have them deal with the aftermath.  And I owe it to you to let you watch the aftermath.  Cause Denny died (yeah, I’m still not over that – I saw Jeff Dean Morgan a week ago at the DVD release party and almost burst into tears of joy and hugged him for about ten minutes because it was like Denny was back and alive and in my arms…but alas, it was just JDM who is super-cute and incredibly talented and has grown this adorably sexy scruffy stubble but is, in fact, not actually Denny anymore because Denny is dead) and Burke got shot and Meredith lost her panties…

Those panties…dude, those panties play a big part in the first couple of episodes.  Those panties are key.  Cause Meredith never put them back on.  She rushed out to deal with Izzie and left Derek who was asking “Meredith, what does this mean?” and she never had a chance to put those panties back on.   So watch for the panties – and I don’t just mean the shot in the promos that has them on the bulletin board in the hospital.

The first episode (which is called “Time Has Come Today”) deals with, not just the aftermath, but also with the past.  I encourage you to watch the original very first episode of Grey’s Anatomy from Season One because, if you pay attention to the dialogue and the details, you will be rewarded in this premiere episode with some (hopefully) very interesting tidbits.  And I hate the word “tidbits” but it does describe what I mean perfectly.  This first episode of Season Three is meant to reward hardcore fans -- it’s also meant to bring us to a place where we can say goodbye to Denny as well as deal with the Mer/Der/Finn of it all.  Just remember that nothing is ever wrapped up easily on this show.  Because things aren’t neat and clean in real life.

Here I should stop.  I shouldn’t say anything more.  Because I don’t want to tell you too much.  Cause I don’t want to ruin it for you.

Watch.

Thursday night.

9 pm (8 pm if you live in the midWest).

Watch and let me know what you think…

Comments

[jp]

I, too, am obsessed with GA. I've been watching the repeats all summer both on Sunday and Thursday. I even watched McDreamy as a nerdy kid in "Can't Buy me Love" twice this weekend just to see him. I can't wait for the new season to start. I'm so glad for the new blog. I've been checking the website two and three times daily for it. Seriously! That is now my screen saver at work! Seriously!

[Teresa]

I CAN'T WAIT!! This has been possibly the longest summer of my life. Now, I have about 44 hours until the new episode, and I am freaking out! The promos have been killing me, and I have been watching the season 2 DVD mindlessly. Needless to say, I love you, and your show, and Patrick Dempsey, and I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!

[Carissa]

OW MY GOD SHONDRA YOU KNOW HOW LONG I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU TO WRITE SOMETHING I'VE CHECKED THIS PAGE FOR LIKE THREE MONTH SERIOUSLY. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING WE ALL LOVE THIS SHOW AND IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THEY PUT YOU ON SATURDAY AT 9:00PM WE WILL FOLLOW YOU.. THANKS FOR GIVING US OBSESSIVE PEOPLE SOMETHING TO HOLD ON TO..WE ALL MISS "DENNY" BUT WE'RE ALL EXCITED TO SEE WHAT YOU HAVE IN STORE FOR US.. WELCOME BACK!!!

[Cathy]

Shonda- I do know for a fact that you will have 2 new viewers this season. I've lent out my Season 1 and 2 DVDs to my mom and aunt and told them they had to have them done by Thursday night in order to be ready!!
Also, I don't know how you did it but I LOVE LOVE LOVE having the season finale on itunes. Now I can get my GA fix anytime!!!

Thanks,
Cathy

[Kristen]

Thanks for the post Shonda! I always love them. You bet I'll be watching you on Thursdays! CSI? What's that? I'm excited to hear that you will be rewarding the hardcore fans out there...thanks a bunch and keep up the good work!

[Julie]

Shonda - I have checked this site nearly EVERY day all summer waiting to hear from you! I was thrilled that we got to hear from you again! We missed you! I am SO ready for Thursday night!! I can hardly function in anticipation. I've reminded everyone I know - I've gotten friends and family hooked with the DVD's and we're all ready! I think your "children" will certainly find many friends on Thursday nights. We cannot wait!!! I have spent the last week re-watching season two and laughing and crying and enjoying each episode. You are a miracle of a talent that I hope continues to entertain us for many years to come!

[Erin]

I feel the need to tell you Shonda that you will have SEVERAL people watching on Thursday nights. My entire dorm room is filled every week with about 12 college students who will be running back from classes, rehersals and getting dinners to go just to sit in the World of Seattle Grace for one hour! Once in the room, no one is allowed to speak when the intro music starts, commericals are clear freak out periods and no one leaves for atleast 20 mins after the episode is over so we can discuss what we just saw in complete detail! There are also other friends who have gotten jobs after graduation and moved away who will be calling afterward to join in on the excitment! The DVD's are playing constantly, The wall above our tv is litered with Grey's posters and cutouts from magazine and newspaper articles and we refer to our favorite characters by first names as if they were actual, real people that we interact with on a daily basis.

So as you can see, your fanbase here is a fanbase to reckoned with! Can't wait to see what happens on Thursday!!!

PS: Thanks for keeping your secrets about the episodes! I for one love the surprises!!!

[dana]

I can't even describe how excited I am that the new season is *finally* beginning. Oh man. Seriously. (see I can't even help it.) yay!

[Dianne]

All I can say is "THANK YOU". I was seriously hoping you would blog again and just give us something. I am having a hard time waiting for Thursday night. It just seems like the summer was sooo long and now it's almost over. The wait is almost over, so close, but still 2 days away!! And I have drama practice for church on Thursdays, but I have told them I will be leaving at 830 and not a moment after so I will be home by 900. Can't wait for Thursday,,, I guess I'll go back and watch S1 E1 now. I have watched the season finale over and over since last Tuesday when it came out.Thanks for the update again.

[dana]

I can't even describe how excited I am that the new season is *finally* beginning. Oh man. Seriously. (see I can't even help it.) yay!

[Cristina]

YAY! Another year of Greys, another year of blogs, and another year of: "OMG...SHONDA, WHY? WHAT? ARGH. I LOVE YOU!"

See you on Thursday!

P.S. Can you please call FYE and explain to them that when you pre-order a dvd set, it should arrive on time? Meaning, "before the show starts again." Kthx.

[Sam]

Ok, that blog entry was almost as good as the promo, maybe even better.

Can't wait for season 3. I have been watching season 2 over on DVD (love my DVD), just to catch up and have everything fresh. Never thought to re-watch season one. Ok now you all know what I am going to do for the next 2 nights.

Seriously!

[Tommy]

yes Season three!!!!!!
but shonda you've never updated the character bios wich you promised in the FAQ, so please do that because i've gotta read something about GA like every hour... seriously!!!!

[a.b. long]

I'm a recent Yale grad and a huge fan of your show. I would love to intern or work for the show as member of the development. Who should I contact? Please respond to my e-mail address

Thanks, big fan

[Jeanne]

Yeahhhhhhhhh!!! What a week! The writer's blog is back AND the show starts the new season! I don't know which I'm more excited about. Now, when I see your names on the screen, I feel like I know you. I'm glad you don't like spoilers because neither do I. I don't want to see anything coming - the bigger the surprise, the better! Good luck with the new season! Yippeeeeeeee!

[Shari]

Hey Shonda. Love the show. Just wanna know why, if Denny is so great and was near death for 8 consequtive episodes - why did no one come visit him? No family. No friends. No one. Soooo weird, IMO. Can't wait for Thursday!!!!

[Daniela]

Can't wait!!

[Sarah]

Dear Shonda:
Thank you for a great show!!!! So you do read the boards. That's awesome, but I must tell you that the boards are dominated by Merideth-Derek fans. They got there first and all of us (like me) who fell in love with the show when Addison got there are scared stiff to say anything Pro-Addison&Derek for fear of being called horrible names. So please don't listen to the boards to much. I loved the extended version of the ferry scene and all of the Addison-Derek scenes. Addi is this baby-loving sensitive delicate feminine female who loves her husband. She's mature and I can relate to that. I can't relate to tequila drinking Merideth. And I can't relate o Derek when he ids loving Merideth with such force after what a few months of knowing her?!? I am married (8 years)and I have been through seperation and infideliy and let me tell you(no we did not divorce we went to marriage counseling and stuck together), its not that easy to easy to break off that kind of history and your emotions don't turn off like McDreamy's emotions did after a 2-6 month fling. So please don't make this show soo mer-der heavy. It kills the show for me. Personally, I agree with those on the board that have said Addison getting pregnant with Derek's child would be fun (if we saw some real feeling between these 2) which should be there unless Derek's anger is blocking his feelings.

Well, thanks again.

[Dana]

Thanks so much for the post! I am so excited I can hardly see straight. I actually scheduled my classes at school around Thursday nights. There's no way I'm missing it! Know that I appreciate all the work you put into the show...and I can't even begin to tell you how addicted I am. :)

[Kim]

Thursday nights are going to ROCK!!! Thanks for the update and for working so hard to make this such a fantastic show.

[Amanda]

YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!! Oh how I have been craving Grey's the last few months!!!! My season 0ne DVD is nearly worn out and I am in the process of doing the same with Season 2!!!
Don't worry about Thursdays........we will follow this show anywhere!!! (CSI be damned....lol)

[Jennifer]

I've been waiting for this week for what seems like forever! We are each counting down the days, hours and minutes.

THANK YOU SHONDA FOR GIVING US GA!!!!

[Lisa]

You could have moved to Mondays at 2 in the morning and still rocked the ratings better than most shows out there! Do not worry about Thursday nights! I've also been recruiting for you, watching re-runs, explaining story lines to the newbies. We are ready for you, BRING IT ON!

[Midwest gal]

Shonda, you are the greatest! Don't be nervous about the new night. Thursday nights are good. I am so excited about the new season that I am actually, in the middle of the day, sitting in my home office watching the entire season 2. Now, of course, after reading your post I will have to watch season 1 as well. I work at home and I have never, ever watched anything during the day. Only for your show would this happpen.

I might have to get TiVO as well, because in the midwest Grey's Anatomy starts at 8 pm and my kids are no where near bed at that time. Grey's Anatomy is the only television show I watch and I treasure my time alone with the marvelous world you created.

Thank you. Again. Seriously.

[Emily]

You are genious. Thats all I can say. You have us waiting us the edge of our seats and I know it is going to be so worth the wait we have had.

Love you Shonda!!