Marti Noxon on "Sometimes a Miracle"

Original airdate: 2-22-07

A few months ago, I got a call from Shonda and Betsy Beers.  I was lying on the floor when they called.  I had my computer in front of me, so I was “writing”.   I’d recently had lunch with Shonda and Betsy, and a few other meals with Shonda before that.  So we’d hung out .  We’d dined.  We’d complained about…  things only lucky TV people complain about.  Things related to actually having jobs.  Things which, by real world standards, barely even qualify as problems.  But that’s why we need each other.  Because we get each other, man 

When the call came, despite previous eating and complaining, I was intimidated.  Shonda and Betsy had created this monster hit, this highly-entertaining medical drama that millions of people watched and adored.  Including me.  I mean, Shonda’s kind of eerily talented -- and she knows Oprah. 

But, honestly, I needed a good call.  I was working on a soon-to-be Ill-fated pilot. Before that it was a brief and ill-fated stay on an otherwise successful ABC show.  And before that I launched a brief and ill-fated series for Fox.  And before that I worked on a…  brief and ill-fated series for Fox.

We see a pattern. 

Buffy was good.  Can we talk about Buffy? 

Problem is – Buffy was a long time ago.  She lives on –- Season 8 soon to be in comic book form…  But, in my nightmares, I’m 90 at a Buffy convention, and nobody wants my autograph.  They’re all in line to see virtual Joss, who has invented a way to put his brain in a jar on a floaty thing, live forever and be funnier and more prolific than everybody for THE REST OF ALL TIME.  I love Joss, but it’s hard being his friend. 

Like I was saying.  I needed a good call.  And it came.  Would I like to “come hang out” on Grey’s for a while?  I’ll skip the part where I hung up and cried and called my agent and he cried and we all cried because, try as I might, it would be hard for me, personally, to turn Grey’s into an “ill-fated” show.  Especially since I was to have a vague job title, no authority and non-specific duties.

So I hung out.  For a few days it was all Christmas baskets and trying to make Shonda laugh (she was dying from iron deficiency and was too weak to lift the corners of her mouth – nobody knew that yet, so I danced like a little monkey.  But more on that later).  I also got to hang with the aforementioned Shonda and Betsy (so great at her job and so funny she makes me laugh until things come out of my nose); the amazing Krista Vernoff (amazing and pregnant and beautiful and able to write many fabulous pages in a single bound); Allan Heinberg -- Joss-like in his smartness and multi-talentedness; the warm, funny and ridiculously “on-it” in-every-way Tony and Joan Phelan; The Hammer – Mark Wilding – a great writer and The Godfather around here;  fantastic (also lovely and pregnant) Debora, whose writing made me laugh and cry and all that other envy-inducing stuff; Stacy who can produce both wonderful scripts and amazing portraits of people made entirely of pipe cleaners…  Not to mention the always enchanting Kip and Caro …    Zoanne and Elizabeth, great writers and the people who actually know what doctors do and say.   Every one of them was welcoming and seriously funny and dedicated.   Also -- Kern, Eric, Darren, Jim, Chris, Sonay – assistants today – our bosses tomorrow.  Tremendously funny and talented in their own right.

Finally – a special mention of Meg, the Writer’s PA, who we all adore – in the way that only creatures in captivity can love the person who brings them food.  I’ve worked quite a few places, and I can honestly say that the single greatest benefit of working on a hit show is that Meg appears, at lunch time, with hot food and everything is as ordered. This may seem like a small thing, but for some reason in has proved impossible everywhere but here.  And when lunch doesn’t come, writers get cranky and they stop working.  They start talking about Nascar and our ex-whatevers, shopping, musicals and what we ate yesterday.  (Okay, not Nascar – but I’m doing what I can to butch up the writer image here.)   So thank God for Meg, who is great at many other things – but basically keeps Grey’s Anatomy up and running.

But I digress.  I figured I had some time.  I was just around to do… what exactly?  Nobody knew.  This is the truth about the “consulting” title.  Nobody knows what it is.  I think it has something to do with lunch.

But Shonda and company had other ideas.   Shonda’s first part of a two-part episode became a two-parter itself – Ferry Hell, one and two. The ones in which Meredith goes into the water and dies.  So Shonda suddenly had all this work to do and it turned out she had no IRON in her blood.  And very little blood in her blood.  Shonda needed help.  From a doctor most of all – but a little help from me on the side.  Which is how I came to co-write this episode of Grey's.   

And the fact that there are dead people in it is just a coincidence.  For those of you who fear I’m whispering in Shonda’s ear about the dark side and alternate realities and stuff – this was her thing, okay?  I’m here to write MEDICINE, people.  And sex.  And sexy medicine.

I was again – intimidated. It was a challenge to write and shoot for so many reasons.  Not in a digital-ferry-crashing-into-a-digital-dock way, but still…  This, again, wasn’t a typical Grey’s.  Half of it takes place…  where?  In Meredith’s head?  In Heaven?  We decided, for obvious reasons, not to get too specific.  And we knew Meredith had to go on a journey.  But, get it wrong and it’s “Touched by an Icy Blue Surgeon.” And Denny and Dylan?  I’m supposed to touch the sacredness of Denny and Dylan?  I think not.  All will agree that I basically punted that stuff.

But you know, Denny and Izzie at the end.  Shonda’s been talking about that since she pitched me the episode.  It was heart-breaking then, in my office with bad lighting…  So on it’s feet -- awesome.  But  I’ll let Shonda weigh in more on that favorite moment.

Back in Seattle Grace we struggled with going to such a dark place and finding the funny.  Not that we found a lot of funny.  If there’s a theme here – besides the search for Miracles -- it’s “death sucks.” 

For me, what emerged were the love stories.  Not just between Derek and Meredith, but between Cristina and Meredith.   That essential friendship.  Cristina walking out was something that was hotly debated here.  Apparently – that’s not good doctoring (I’m new!)  But it felt right.  If not now, when?  Meredith is Cristina’s person.  And Richard and Ellis…   That love coming to a definitive end.   There’s a lot of grief in all of this, but there’s great hope too.  It’s the lesson from “the other place” too.  We are who we love.

In any case - Shonda did all the heavy lifting.  She found the moments that sing for me,  that pull it all together.  I was still running around asking dumb things like “what’s an Attending?”  Then Adam Arkin, a wonderful actor in his own right, did an amazing job directing it.  And, as you’ll see – all the actors are in stunningly good form.  But aren’t they always?

Oh yeah – they are really that pretty.  That’s fun. 

So.  Thanks for letting me blog.  It really was a good call to get – “come hang at Grey’s.”  The people here are tremendous, and the show’s pretty damn fun to write when it isn’t trying to kill us all.  I hope to stick around, at least until somebody tells me what an Attending is. 

***and the agent weeps***

Comments

[Melissa Bourgeois]

Welcome back to the world of writing for wonderful TV shows, Marti Noxon. For some reason all I can think of is Marti Noxon singing in that Buffy episode now... Anywho, terrific writer whom I loved at the helm of Buffy and I'm sure I will continue to love on Grey's.

[TIFFANY]

loved the episode, especially the izzie and denny ending.

thanks for not letting meredith die. i dont' think i would've survived if meredith died. she is the grey in grey's anatomy.

great way to end the 3-ep.

[Fatima]

Perfect. I cried the whole way through.

[Casey]

Wonderful Wonderful Episode:
I love how you affirmed the "family" that is the interns. Also, thank you for making Burke the importance of Cristina's "person" to Cristina as a character.

Thank you SOOO much for reopening the Mark/Addison relationship. I know that there are many Alex/Addison fans, but Mark/Addison have so much potential - as Addison said, "it would be a shame to throw all the history away." No matter who wins the bet, please, please leave the door open for Mark and Addison no matter where Addison goes!

Thank you so much for making this show amazing week-in and week-out!

[Anna]

Derek telling off Ellis,
Cristina's walking away,
Derek breaking down, and Meredith choosing to go back because she needed more than a whiff of them was beautiful and the final scene of Meredith and Derek curled up in her bed together had me in tears.

Then it just got worse after the Izzy and Derek scene.

Beautiful and moving.

[Amanda]

Congrats on an amazing episode Marti! The relationships between Mer and McDreamy and Mer and Christina were very touching tonight. Also please let Shonda know that I want Izzie and Alex to get back together, Izzie to find her biological daughter, George and Callie to have a baby ( i LOVE them as a couple!)

[Stacie]

Great Episode loved seeing Denny. I'm glad George stuck to what he said in a previous episode that Callie was the most important person in his life and if they pushed her away he was gone to. I'm glad he chose Callie over Izzy. Maybe now that Izzy realizes he will chose Callie she will try to get to know Callie and not hate her for a reason most of us can't figure out.
I like how Alex is finally connecting to a patient.The relationship between Christina and Merideth was nice to see as well. I hope we can see more of Callie and George together in future episodes.

[Ange]

Sorry, hated the entire Meh dies arc. Glad it's over.

Addie had moved on from Mark. On what basis is she dragged back into his orbit. Let her leave all the dead wood behind. I'd love to have Callie and Alex go with her but I know that is wishful thinking. JUST NO MARK PLEASE!

[Rachel]

The first two episodes were AmAZING...but this last one drag on far too long. And what happened to Meredith and Derek!?!? He saved her from the water and there was hardly any air time for them! Seriously!! Please please just listen to your fans and please just let us have some actual MerDer relationship focus scenes...not just cuddling but full on scenes about them talking or doing the nasty or whatever...just please get back that amazing chemistry that you wrote for them in season 1 and 2 cause it seems to have disappeared this season due to no screen time. Please please more MerDer. This episode was okay...I personally don't like heaven/after-death stuff because it always comes out corny but you did the best you could. I don't know it didn't end quite as powerful and amazing and the first episode in this trilogy but it was still good. Just seriously I am begging you for some MerDer here...please!!!!

[Tox]

Sorry but what the hell was this? Kingdom Hospital? Six Feet Under?

Buffy?

Failed in all aspects. Except maybe on the Cris/Mer deal, because they rock. As does Addie, but PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF MY SANITY stop making her an afterthought to MerDer. Granted the cat's out of the bag that she's being booted after this season as it is. Meh, dig your own grave.

[Audrey]

I admit, I was a bit disappointed with tonight's episode. It just did not tug my heartstrings. During part II, my throat went dry and I grasped for breath as I witnessed Derek's helpless expression. But this week only felt draggy. Worse, it actually did not add depth to Meredith's character. We know she has been struggling to find her place, her identity, her extraordinary-ness. But, the three parts only managed to finally have Meredith delivered: I want more than this (or something along those lines). That's... that's not insightful enough. That doesn't require a life-death experience to perceive. Nonetheless, I did have two favorite scenes. Meredith waking up to Cristina's telling of her engagement with Burke was just priceless. I love these girls. And the very ending where Denny and Izzie stood in one place... Amazing! And oh, the same adjective could apply to Dempsey's acting (though he did not get as much screentime in this ep).

[WHOA part 2]

Best line of the night came from Addison. Along the lines of: "Who would I possibly have sex with?"

Cut to: ALEX.

haha =)

[Michelle]

Great show. Predictable ending but still great. The ending definitely wasn't as good as the built-up.

[Kayla Shinae]

That was such a wonderful episode. I cried and cried. Wonderful writing and all the actors were so amazing. It's definitely the best and most touching episode yet. Well done.

[Miss M]

I'm all cried out. In brief:

LOVED the Denny stuff, was really worried that it would be lame but it was all worth that moment at the end. Swoon!

HATE the story with Alex and the pregnant lady. Didn't seem like the real Alex, it seemed stupid and forced.

LOVED EVERYthing with Cristina. Oh. My. God. I loved Burke again in this episode, so thanks for that.

Lastly, I wanted to hear more about this storyline in the blog... is Shonda going to say something, too? She kpet putting us off til the end!

well i think you did a phenomenal job! keep doing whatever it is your not doing!

[V]

Ok, is it just me or recently do the blogs talk more about the writer's personal stuff than the actual episode? I personally would like to hear about the episode from Shondra herself. There were some heavy issues in the episodes that can only be addressed by her--since the characters are her creations after all. Please get back to the way the blogs used to be and address the storylines and address the characters, and cut out how giddy you all are over writing for the show. It's a fantastic show. Yes, you are amazingly lucky to be a part of it, but what about the story itself?

[grumpygirl]

OK, welcome and everything Marti, but just so ya know, you're supposed to pretty much talk about the show when you blog here.
I really hope Shonda is planning to give us some inside scoop.
I must say that I enjoyed the episode -- unrealistic dead people and all -- and I look forward to a blog about it.

[Angie in NJ]

First off, I have to say I called this ending! I don't usually like to brag, but I get the chance to do so rarely. So in this instance please excuse me while I boast! ;)

So so sooooo happy Mer is alive and kicking! Even though I pretty much guessed how things would ultimately pan out, watching it all unfold was a trip. Once again, the acting was fabulous. PD, EP and SO never cease to amaze me with their talent.

So many great scenes, but Cristina in the dollar store and then showing off her wares to Joe in the bar ~ hysterical! Astounding how you can make us laugh amidst the intensity of Mer's troubles. Also, truly a beautiful scene between Mer and Cristina when Mer is waking up.

Gosh it's 1am and I'm tired.....what else do I want to say?

Oh yeah, I really feel sorry for Izzie. I don't agree w/what she said to George or Callie, but still, I feel sorry for her. Callie was harsh, so was George. He's so damned self-righteous sometimes. It's all or nothing with him. The way he totally blew her off in the locker room was uncalled for. Can't he for one second put himself in Izzie's shoes and see that she's trying to hold onto him for dear life because he's all she has left? Denny died, Mer's with Derek, and now George is married and moved out. She doesn't have and closeness really w/Cristina or w/her family for that matter. She needs some reassurance from George that he will still be there for her. I'm not sure he's going to give it though.

So my prediction is that Izzie will seek her solace along another route. Since Alex is otherwise occupied with Jane Doe right now, I believe Izzie and Mark will hook up. Especially since he is ripe for the picking after agreeing to abstinence with Addison. The two of them getting together will be the catalyst for Addison deciding to leave Seattle. (Since we have been informed that Kate Walsh is getting her own show.) Hmmmmmmm.....could happen!

Can't wait for our next new Grey's. Two weeks is a lifetime!

[McDark&Twisty]

The afterlife scenes were really interesting, I loved it when Denny and Dylan would bicker. And Doc was there! Yet another nice add on to the ep. And the last one with Ellis, oh my gosh... that was just perfect. I liked how her mom didn't get too sweet and didn't get all "oh, I'm so sorry for everything blahblahblah..." but she still told Meredith what she needed to hear.

Meredith did a lot of growing through this. That was nice to see.

Izzie is still being a bitch! And that is making me mad! Ugh.

Addison, as always, totally rocked. I love her... and it'll be interesting to see how this whole no-sex thing with Mark goes. I loved when right after she said "who am I going to have sex with?" the cameras cut to right to Alex... that made me giggle a bit

Cristina was so completely amazing in tonight. Everything she did was just so Cristina. She's not used to having to face her emotions and deal with them, and she had to learn how to tonight. The 99 cent store stuff... man that was funny It was so great how she was finally able to go back and then she was yelling at them to try again. So perfectly like an emotional Cristina would be.

And that last scene... so completely utterly beautiful. And brilliant. Yet so heartbreaking.

I don't think this was jumping the shark at all. It was wonderful. Nice ending to the three episide arc. You totally rock, guys. Now don't mess it up.

[Cassie - SBYCK Fan]

Good job, Marti! The Denny/Dylan sacredness, WONDERFUL!!! You get it, so you'll probably stick. Some folks here don't get it, so they don't really get Grey's? This is probably where they come to vent due to their sucky lives, try to take their misery out on Shonda and the gang. When all they need to do is recognize the Denny/Dylan sacredness. Just ignore them. They really and truly suck. I like how you put that though, Denny/Dylan sacredness, because that is exactly what it is, for those of us who get Grey's.

[Andi]

I love the show but I have to spill this because it's killing me! Derek finding love with Mer was special for me in season 1 but the fact that he was married for 11 years and seems to have no concern for his ex wife makes him not so Dreamy in my eyes. Not in love with Addison I get that but he's too cold which really has me feeling not so warm and fuzzy for him. I loved the Christina and Mer scene it made me want to cry! I also loved the Chief's confession to Ellis about the dye and his little smile. I have to ask why is Denny "stuck in between?" Will we ever know that? I really wanted him to say something about the Tub of Butter, I have no idea why. You guys are the best, Thanks for making my Thursdays.

[PJ]

Wow, I'm reading the comments and I can't beleive how different some of the views are. I adored all 3 episodes, they were brilliant and I've watched every single episode from the beginning. When Meredith saw her mom and she told her that she wasn't a disappointment? Had the biggest lump in my throat....and when Denny passed by Izzie at the end, genius. Keep up the great work everybody....I have 3 boys and NOONE is allowed to talk to me when Greys is on!!

[Chanel...the OC Girl]

The ending was my absolute favorite! Denny...he felt Izzie and I'd like to believe that in that instant, every GA couple had that sense of love. Brilliant.

(Shonda, you go girl.)

[marga]

First time poster...but have never missed an episode or blog.

This was my favorite episode of all time.

Ouch.

And Ellis' death. I cried for my mom, about her mom's dimentia and death.

And Izzy/Denny passing through one another. Peace and pain.

As I am sobbing my tears, I now choke from the laughter "I'm getting married."

Best one ever.

MT in OR