Debora Cahn on "Sometimes a Fantasy"

Original Airdate:  10-5-06

So I’m one of the new kids.  There are some new writers on Grey’s this year, and at the beginning, being the new kid felt alarmingly like it did when I was nine and went to sleep-away camp with a bunch of girls who had Jordache jeans and I didn’t have Jordache jeans and I was really convinced it was going to be the end for me.  Everyone here on the staff was incredibly sweet and welcoming, and yet still I had major “What the hell do I wear today” anxieties, and “Oh my god, I just spoke a sentence that used the word ‘like’ fourteen times” anxieties, and… all the anxieties really.  I had them all.  You’d think that past age 30 you kind of get that crap under control.  Apparently not.  So be patient with my blog, because it’s my first blog, and I don’t know what I’m doing.

The nervous condition came and went over the first weeks on the job, but I think I officially got over it dealing with Cristina and the chicken.  Cristina’s decided she’s going to help Burke get back on the horse after his hand surgery, (so sweet, so generous, so unexpected from Cristina) and she’s going to do it by having him practice operating on dead chickens.  So when it came time to shoot the episode, there were long conversations with the fantastic production team about the hacking of the chicken.  Was it just a chicken breast?  Was it a whole fryer?  The folks from sets and props had to design a cutting board that could be built into Burke’s counter top, so it wouldn’t fly off the counter, as there was a lot of concern about Sandra Oh getting hit in the face with either a meat cleaver or a chicken.  The conversation continued when we hit the stage to rehearse the move with Sandra.  Could she get through the bird in one hack or would it take two?  (I thought it should be one.  It was important to me.  I don’t know why.)  We had rehearsal chickens. We had stunt chickens.  We discovered that the stunt chickens, which had balloons inside them instead of bones, emitted some sort of evil stinky salmonella gas that threatened to kill Sandra on the spot.  It was scary.  In the end, she made it through in one incredibly satisfying hack.  The whole thing just made me really happy.

That and the threesome, which was pretty happy-making too.  I think if I was having a dream about being in bed with Derek Shepherd and Finn Dandridge, and my roommate woke me up, I’d come at him with a salmonella-coated meat cleaver.  The dream scene, which turned out so beautifully, was a riot on the stage.  Ellen and Chris and Patrick couldn’t stop laughing.  Not for a minute.   And yet it came out looking so dreamy and idyllic.  And even after the dream, Meredith is so optimistic, so idyllically happy about the prospect of dating two men at the same time.  It never worked for me – dating more than one guy at a time.  I’m married now, and so I look back fondly on my playing the field days, but it was always a nightmare when there was more than one person in the mix.  I couldn’t keep it all straight.  I couldn’t remember what I said to whom, and who had told me the story about putting a dead cat in their freezer.  It wasn’t dreamy and idyllic, it was stressful.  And yet Meredith seems to handle it so well.  Better than the guys, certainly, who get so wrapped up in the competition, they can’t seem to focus on the girl.   

And then there’s George, who’s so focused on the girl he can’t think straight.  But not in a good way.  She’s in his space.  It’s one of those you-don’t-have-a-place-to-live-and-we-sleep-together-half-the-time-anyway-so-why-don’t-you-move-in-with-me impulse moves that are always a terrible idea.  Terrible.  And yet it happens all the time.  Particularly in places like New York, where the rent is through the roof, and so it seems totally reasonable to ditch your crappy 6th floor walk-up that you share with three friends and somebody’s unemployed cousin Waldo and move in with your new dude, even though you’ve only had three dates, and you’re not sure what his last name is.  I’ve been there. It’s a crappy idea.  It never would have occurred to George and Callie to shack up that early in the relationship.  But she was homeless and it seemed like the polite thing to do, and suddenly he’s made the offer and backing out of it seems rude and horribly cruel, and yet he can’t handle this.   And so he’s a basket case all day.  TR’s performance of “Robin, he just marches into the Batcave, like, here I am, give me some tights, I’m gonna borrow your towel” could not have been more fabulous.

And how about Supergirl?  First of all, I still can’t believe we landed Little Miss Sunshine.  Abigail Breslin may be the best actor I’ve ever seen.  She’s ten, or nine, or some young age where she shouldn’t be the best actor anyone’s ever seen and yet she’s amazing.  And how adorable is Alex with her?  Just when you thought you couldn’t fall any more in love with him in, suddenly he’s being nice to children and it’s all over.   

But my favorite thing might be Addison slapping Mark.  It was Shonda’s idea.  I thought she was insane.  I said, “She’s trying to let him down easy, he just flew across the country to scratch her itch, she’s buried her about-to-be-divorcee devastation in his very well defined chest, he’s proclaiming his true love, she can’t slap him in the face.”  And Shonda replied, “Yes.  She can.”  And so it went in the script, and sure enough, Shonda was right.  It was amazing.  Kate Walsh pulled it off brilliantly.  She’s as surprised as he is, when it happens.  It’s a panic move.  She smacks him because if she doesn’t, she’ll just kiss him again, and then her clothes’ll be off again, right there on the floor of Joe’s Bar, and she can’t have that, she has to get on with her life. 

Izzie’s trying to get on with her life too, in an incredibly valiant way.  But she can’t.  It was heartbreaking, watching her standing outside that hospital all day.  It was 95 degrees out when we shot it, and she’s wearing Denny’s sweater, so on top of the emotional devastation, we were a little worried Katie Heigl was going to pass out.  Katie was fine.  But Izzie was wrecked.  She thought that she could take back her life, through sheer force of will, but it’s too much.  We all wanted her to walk through that door.  We all wanted to believe that she could bounce back.  Still be a doctor.  Be a superhero.  Step out of the wreckage, brush herself off, and walk on.  But she can’t.

It was incredible to watch, and incredible to be a part of.  I’m still nervous most of the time, convinced that at any moment they’re going to turn to me and say “You, you don’t belong here, away with you.”  But until that happens, it’s a great ride. 

Comments

[A.]

INCREDIBLE episode...my favorite of the season so far.

[Tee]

Awesome episode! This my first time writing commenting on a episode. I think the writing was brilliant! Oh, the threesome? Absol-freakin-lutely genius! I love what Meredith said in the end! She says precisely what every girl wants in her dream date! I love this episode. SO freaking awesome.

[Kryss]

I love that this comes up the same night as the episode airs!!!

I'll tell ya, as great as it is to watch McD and McVet battle, it's hard to watch while being a single girl as I just want to yell at Meredith for hogging two great guys when so many of us have none.

Cristina is the best, I adore the way she's finding her way with Burke almost as much as I loved the way Alex was with the kid and with Iz.

Best of all is George, who I'd want to move in with too, even just for a week or two. Can't wait till his hair grows back out!

And as for Addison, Callie, and Bailey all going off on their guys? Perfecto.

[A Writer...]

As I said in a previous post, if you keep doing moments between good friends (being supportive and caring when the person is less than perfect) then you can get away with all the steamy, sexy, irreverant, can't-believe-they're so callous- stuff. Just keep those moments and the show will continue. That's what Desperate Housewives lost and I can't believe they can't see it. It's those moments that everyone can relate to either having or wanting. The rest is just frosting. VERY GOOD frosting mind you!

[Evelyn]

Loved todays episode!! You guys did a fantastic job.. The chicken part was great.. it's amazing to find out how much work goes behind one thing like chickens.. I loved Addison and Mark.. cant wait to find out what happens next..

[amanda]

what? thats all we get on the finn/mer/derek issue!! i was looking forward to ALOT more, im a die hard fan, i dont think I am going to make it through without a little more information...

[BennyandoneJet]

Loved the episode... Have to say though...I can't help feeling bad for Callie! I love her this season-and Sara Ramirez ROCKS! Just hope George snaps out of it!!!

[Zoe]

Loved it! Awesome! Welcome to the club! And yes, you belong.

Besides, Jordache jeans were for lemmings...you have something more important: style!

[Krissy]

This wasnt an eppy to write home about :(

You had alot of funny stuff, and Derek was a freaking crack up this week and I can't stop having a laugh up on him... He is dreamy sexy and such as I like to call it ****olish Dream boat... I mean, THE LUNCH was great and then Mer and Der holding hands in the end, with MCCREEPY walking up... Why have him so creepy??

Addison, WELL she is a little wench, I hate to break it to everyone what she did was wrong.. She got the entire ball a rolling with Derek and Mark... YET she went all crazy on Meredith... Makes me to see her think Meredith might be preggers next week.... BUT I KNOW SHONDA WONT LET THAT HAPPEN!!!!!!

George... I freaking loved the way you wrote him.. He wrote him strong and sexy so unlike last season... He was a freaking coward last season, this season he is a stud and I almost wish i was his Calli.. LOVED THE MCBAT BOY comment had my mother and I in tears!!

Calli- UH HELLLO..... You make her almost stalkerish and not in a good way... She is going to scare him away!!

Mark- I wish i could be in the middle on him and Mcdreamy.. TOLD about MCSANDWICH!!!

Yang/Burke- GO YANG, TELL HIM WHO IS BOSS.. Loved Burke reading the star

Mc Crreepy- I saved him for last because I HATE the ground that creepy man walks on... I hope next week is his last eppy.. ONE more week of Mc Creepy is all i can take.. MR i pop out of the flowe garden with ice cream that my PT owner made... HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAH OMG that was great...

Although it was a funny EPPY it just didnt keep me in tune and caught myself seeing the other things that where on.... And I dont like that.. Im a hard core Grey's fan..PLEASE Dont loose the EDGE...

P.S. SHONDA keep Grey's HOT and STEAMY and what it has always been!!

Your Number one Grey's Fan (along with Nikki and Tracy)

Krissy

[Vienna]

I rather liked Mark getting slapped in the face. It is such a pity his clothes were on. (At least shirtless...maybe he ran to the bar !!!! )

Loved the fantasy scene. Loved the boys undermining each others dates even more.

I hate Alex and then I love Alex....pick one already.....

Oh but my favorite scene was the 3 roommates sharing ice cream. That says family.

Oh by the way...my doctor told me his internship was nothing like your show.

keep up the good work !!!!

[Annie]

could alex get any better? i can't help but love him... and Izzie in denny's sweater was amazing and i know now that it leaked that the little girl won't end up being Izzie's daughter but oh man wouldn't she be amazing

[Shonna]

Great episode and great blog - not at all bad for a first time ;) Your best scene: The last few minutes with Meredith, Izzie and George sharing Finn's ice cream - it was a beautiful moment and Izzie even smiled - seemed like old times and it was SO nice to see.
Thank you for that.

[Leslie]

So why can't Addison go back to New York with Mark? Why does she need to stay in Seattle (other than the fact that we all love her character!)? She isn't going to KEEP trying to win Derek back is she? Surely not... that would be old and ridiculous. I would like to see even more closure to their marriage... official divorce papers finalized...

I loved George in this episode... he has always been my secret favorite!

Regarding Izzy... having lost someone really close to me (my daughter), I am just starting to question her fanaticism over Denny... I mean, I understand how true love can hit you... and I know how devastating it is to lose it... but he wasn't her child... or her husband of many years... or even someone she knew very well... don't get me wrong, I loved Denny and I loved Denny and Izzy... but at some point one has to ask why she is acting like her only child just died...

...just some thoughts... :-)

Great job with the episode, Debora!

[SLC]

It was FABULOUS! You have my invitation to stick around! We laughed out loud! We cried! We cackled at the slap. Alex just gets better and better and that dream scene... well, I've watched it four times already! Keep up the great work!

SLC~

[Sharla]

Great episode.

I, for one, was devastated by George's actions towards Callie. It felt like there was such a breakthrough with them last week and now he's just ... I'm dispointed. I hope she doesn't forgive him right off the bat. He was just mean to her and the things he said about her? Ugh. Bad George.

Also, *why* must Callie constantly get naked in front of everyone? It doesn't enhance her character. Sara Ramirez is beautiful and hot and I think that she's incredible, but WHY does she need to keep getting naked in front of everyone? It's just WEIRD.

But it was a good episode. I look forward to seeing more from you.

[Laura]

You aren't going anywhere! I couldn't wait to log on and see who wrote tonight's episode.

EXCELLENT! Thank you!!!!

[Vivian]

Thank you-
You may be a newbie, but this episode was great. Although i think that Finn popping out of the bushes was a little stalkerish in my opinon. I also think the pregnancy card has been played too many times. I loved Mark-where's Addison's head lol who wouldnt want to bury their sorrows in McSteamy.
I think the love triangle needs to end, and soon please. It was said it wouldn't be dragged out that long but now it is and I'm growing impatient.
I love Christina too, she has become compassionate under all her layers of wretched bitterness. Speaking of compassion, what happened to George's? Wanting to kick Callie out was way rude-especially since he invited her.
Can we delve more into the Cheif's situation? We never really saw how he ended up in the hotel.
Please give Izzie some strength.
Make McVet go away.
And keep up the good work-this may have been this best episode I have ever seen. Loved it!!

[sarah]

great episode, but just in case you were wondering: nobody likes finn. so please, make meredith get back together with derek before we all have seizures.

[Alicia]

Welcome to the show! And you did a great job! Honestly, I knew there was new writers this year and was wondering if we were going to be able to tell the difference, and I couldn't at all. It was an amazing episode! Completely loved it!

My favourite part had to be Derek (which well I am biased, my fave part is always Derek) I adored the cocky attitude, it's so the way he was first season. And Patrick is so good at pulling it off in a way that makes it so likeable and charming instead of just obnoxious.

And you are right, Alex was just amazing this episode. Love him. Adore him.

And I need to ask . . .is Finn supposed to be creepy? With the showing up everywhere and anywhere completely unexpected, and the constantly wearing green, and the taking Meredith on a date at the hospital, and the ice cream that would melt. Because well general consensus amongst the fans is that he's creepy. Just wanted you to know.

And that's besides the point, as Meredith can NOT pick him. I mean she's all smiles when Derek's around, even when he's being all aarogant in that sexy way. And she just looks awkward around Finn. The chemistry is just completely different. She has to pick Derek.

Okay, done rambling. Can't wait till next Thursday!

[huntfamily]

Welcome to the block =) Thanks for the insights into your episode!

[Katherine]

Don't worry about being the "new kid", Debora! You did a great job!

I think my favorite part of the entiiiiiire episode was Meredith's "Treat me like a lady" speech. I rewound that thing a hundred times, I swear! (Thank the Lord God Almighty for TiVo) And seeing George and Izzie and Mere all on the bed together? Like the old days? It made my soul giggle. It melted my heart. I also really loved Callie telling George that if he would have just "used his words", she wouldn't have stayed at his place. I'm a daycare teacher, so it I find myself saying that all the time. Oh, and Izzie! Oh, my poor Izzie! I just love her so much and I'm so sad and heartbroken for her. When Alex asked "Where does it hurt?" I just nearly broke down. Oh, Izzie. Oh, and Addie! And McSteamy! How much chemistry do those two have?!?! Seriously, you could cut the sexual tension with a knife! I looove it! And the McDreamy/McVet/McMeredith threesome...I'm lovin' it. Brilliance, I tell you. Brilliance. Aaaaand Little Miss Superhero! Abigail Breslin is an amazing actress. And so cute! I wanted to stick her in my pocket and take her home with me. She's adorable.

Anyways, this is getting long and I'm sounding a little obsessed, so I'll wrap it up. You did good; it was a great episode. I hope to see more from you soon!

[missyb]

Once again the show amazes me. All of the actors were given the opportunity to show a new facet of their personality. You all just keep getting better and better...Who needs explosions and gun shots when you can show characters develop like this?

Can't wait for more!

[SuperSad Lauren in So Cal]

I am about to cry...not because I have just witnessed yet another hour of incredible television that comes in the form of Grey's, but because my TiVo DIDN'T RECORD!!!!! Oh, I am just so depressed I may go lie down on my bathroom floor for a few days in a pretty dress...(Sigh)...

[b-new orleans]

seriously i did not think that it could get any better than last week....but this episode was absolutely fabulous...seriously i mean it...the scene where derek interupts the date is one of the funniest television scenes i have EVER seen...and i watch a LOT of TV....keep up the amazing work

[Sarah M.]

"he smacks him because if she doesn’t, she’ll just kiss him again, and then her clothes’ll be off again, right there on the floor of Joe’s Bar"

ummm. CHYEA! And it totally should have happened! Why? Cause it would have been like, the hottest thing EVER!

I loved this episode. Def. the best one so far! Nice job, and good post, cause you mentioned Addison when no one else seems to have. All the scenes with Addi were brilliant, but really, it could have a shot of Addi sleeping and I would think it was brilliant.
But the other really good part of this episode is the Burke/Christina thing. They each have their problems at certain times and I think it's a true testament to the power of their love that they are able to step up to the plate when they need each other. It's important and very necessary. Nice scene!
Alex wins in my book! I love seeing the softer, non-sleeping with the older patient in a bar bathroom, Alex, it's nice. But then again, so it the other Alex too. Just in small doses!
Lastly, I don't care at all about the Finn/Meredith/Derek triangle. Never have, never will. Just thought I'd throw that in there to let you know that not everyone out here follows their route!
Good job and nice post! You'll do well here!
-Sarah