Debora Cahn on "Scars and Souvenirs"...

Original airdate: 3-15-07

Izzie and George sleep together.

Izzie and George sleep together.

And what does sleep mean, really, it could mean anything, which is what you figure’s going through Izzie’s head when she pulls up the sheet to check if she’s wearing anything, and the answer is, “No.  Nothing at all.  You’re naked in a bed with your best friend, and it sure as hell looks like he’s naked too.  Everybody’s naked and in the bed and have been for a while and they have bed head and are naked.”   So sleep could just mean sleep, but probably doesn’t.

The moments you wait for, in a job like this, are ones like when Shonda calls you into the writer’s room and says, “You know how we talked about how maybe George and Izzie sleep together?  Put that in your episode.”  That’s when you smile, and try to be cool, and say, “Oh, sure, I can find room for that.” And then you leave the writer’s room and do the biggest happy dance you’ve ever done, and it goes on for a while, until you realize somebody from the script department is standing nearby and watching and now thinks you’re epileptic. 

Izzie and George sleep together.

Well it was bound to happen, right?  Best friends.  They get each other like nobody else gets them.  They share everything.  It’s easy.  It’s natural.  It’s like gravity, how can you fight it?  How can you not fall?  Okay, there’s a way to not fall.  Lots of people don’t sleep with their best friend.  In fact, I’d like to take this opportunity to assure my husband that I’ve never slept with any of my best friends, and I don’t plan to start any time soon.  But it makes sense, in a way, right?  Isn’t that the fantasy?  That the guy and the best friend can be the same person?  That Izzie and George, who have shared every minute of the most intense time in their lives, turned to each other in every success and every failure and every breakup and every triumph, with every piece of gossip and every bit of pain, should share…everything?  Share their hearts and their souls and… all their other parts?  It makes sense, right?  Right up to the “he’s married” part.  That’s where it all kind of falls apart.

Oh Callie.  Callie gets a pretty raw deal around here.  She’s tough.  Which is good.  She needs to be.  But she gets a pretty raw deal.  More on that later.

Back to sleeping with your best friend… We’ve spent some time here today wondering if this is going to encourage a whole bunch of people deciding to sleep with their best friends.  And who knows what would come of that.  All I’ll say is, if your best friend’s married, I don’t recommend it.  But if your best friend’s single, and so are you, and you always kind of thought of them as the guy you go to for advice about guys, maybe you should tilt your head to the side and see if they look a little different.  Roll the dice.  Who knows?  Maybe the best relationship you’ll ever have…you’re already having.  Let us know how that works out. 

But George is married.  So there’s not really a way this can work out well.

Oh Callie. 

Now, to be fair, Callie is not some innocent, trod-upon martyr.  She lied.  About something kind of big.  And then flew off the handle when she found out George told his friends.  And she flies off the handle at George a lot.  The whole, “Why am I always the dog getting whopped on the nose with the newspaper” thing?  I think he’s really got a point there.  Callie was into the relationship first, and pissed that George wasn’t there faster.  Callie was in love first, and pissed that George wasn’t there faster.  There’s a lot of Callie being pissed for George having feelings different than hers, and he’s allowed to have his own feelings.  She doesn’t have to enjoy it, but she can’t really blame him for it, and she does.  A lot.  He’s apologizing, a lot.  And that’s just got to be exhausting.

Still shouldn’t turn around and sleep with his best friend, though.  That’s not cool either.

Izzie and George. 

I’m not going to get into the Meredith, and the Derek, and the dinner, and the father, and Cristina and Burke and Colin, who we love, not just for his dashing British accent, but it certainly doesn’t hurt, and Alex, and the tragically deformed Jane Doe, because I rambled endlessly about all that on the podcast I did with Betsy yesterday and I don’t want to repeat myself. (My first podcast.  Very intimidating.  Kind of horrifying, really, though Betsy is just masterful, and I think in a few years will have her own talk show.)  And because I’ve now taken up about all the real estate they want to give me on the Izzie and George.  But I’m okay with that, in the end.  I think I am.  Because… you know… Izzie slept with George.

Comments

[Alyssa]

Yes! First comment! This was some pretty crazy stuff, but I really enjoyed tonight's episode. I'm eager to find out what happens next!

[hated it]

God, I continue to be disappointed. I think I'm supposed to love these interns no matter what they do. Sorry. I ADORE Callie and I don't care if George slept with Izzie or was too drunk to do it..he BETRAYED her tonight by laughing at his wife with Izzie, by discussing his wife's supposed insecurities with Izzie. That was a complete betrayal. I don't even care about the sex.

Callie deserves a better mate. Or she deserves to join Addie on the spin-off. Please please please. Their friendship is better than this relationship with George.

Love Cristina and Burke and understand both sides.

Love the residents screaming matches.

Love Alex. Please don't put him back with Izzie and please give him and Addie proper closure. Don't act like nothing happened between them.

Meredith and Thatch - snoozefest - don't care.

Meredith and Cristina..cute.

Derek and his patient? ZZZZZZZZZZZZ

[Lynn Grant]

That's it for me! After three years of loving this show, I won't be watching any longer. How does a leading show, with a very loyal fan base, stretch out a three part show, where one of the most popular characters, nearly dies in the arms of the most popular character...and then, just freak'in move onto something else....without including at least five minutes of intimacy and debriefing between them. This was such a good episode that left me screaming at the television for the lack of the above. The fans keep asking for depth between Mer and Der and the writers continue to include their relationship minimally. Very disappointing. I am in my forties, not a twenty-one year old....and in my opinion, the first six episodes of this series, the Pilot, continue to be the best shows ever written.

[dazed and confused]

I feel like someone punched me in the gut. I mean really..George and Izzie? Izzie and George? That scene had to be one of the most self-destructing ever. I'm still pondering whether or not I'm going to continue watching this show. You guys made me fall in love with George and Callie. You pushed time and again how much Callie is the right person for George on both podcasts and blogs. Now we get this. What was the point of making us fall in love with Callie to begin with. To see her become a whipping post and laughing stock for George and Izzie. It wasn't enough that the scene in which Callie and George are arguing he basically says he is just settling with her because Izzie was out of his league. And to top it off he goes and sleeps with said friend who was supposedly out of his league and in the process has a good laugh with her about his wife being insecure. I really am in shock right now. George always had Callie to pick up the pieces. Who's going to be there for Callie? I guess since she's tough she'll be okay right? Even the strongest person breaks sometimes. This will break Callie like nothing has before. I'm glad Shonda was excited for this to happen. Instead of Grey's Anatomy it should be called Whore's Anatomy. Everyone seems to solve all their problems by sleeping with someone else. After this betrayal there is no way in hell Callie would ever take him back. That way a clean slate can be had in her life and George ad Izzie can have one less person to rip out their heart and stomp on it. I really expected more from this show. Guess I was wrong. Oh well, CSI is always on.

[Sarah]

Izzie and George? Seriously?

Not your best story line.

I understood Denny dying. I even understood Adele not taking Richard back. But Izzie and George? Bad writing. Sorry.

[Rebecca]

omg OMG omg i am soooo happy that izzie and george slept together like you have nOOOOO IDEA! This was THE best episode of my whole life. Merideth and christina are soo cute and i love how you made them cuddle at night! OH my god this is such a good episode i love it! Izzie is my favourite, ahhh izzie and george slept together!! How will callie react omg what if she finds out omg omg omg! I LOVE THIS EPISODE!! Great JOB!

[Cameron]

I have one question:

What is up with you guys and the cheating spouses? I am starting to think that you have a fixation on that subject. As a married person, I am astounded by how often you take that road. Is that how you people live? Screwing everyone? Even your married friends? If so, for shame! For shame on you for breaking up another marriage just for the sake of doing so. This fan is sadly disappointed.

[BELLA]

I am happy that you had a lvoed this eppy and that is great. But all I want is my Grey's back..I hate to be the girl who only has bad thing to say about the show I have never been before. I always find something I can love but not this show in fact he last three shows. This pains me to write it becasue I love Grey's I feel like it is an extended family I watch every thursday night and know I dislike alot of my family.

Callie si not as bad as you make her seem she is a great person who has put up with all of Izzie and co. Bs because she loves george. If he did not love her then why marry her? he was so mad at Mer for hurting him when hurts Callie at every turn.

So I Can hopefully have a show to watch again that I can love and not start to cringe when someone I use to love like Yang says she might not want to marry Burke or George basically tells his WIFE that he would never be with his Best Friend becasue she is soo much hotter then him which translates to but I will make do with you and your looks which as a latina really piss me off.

[ang]

There is no way in hell you can turn this around on Callie. Izzie has been a shrill beyotch since she met Callie. She has a right to expect her husband not to tell the person who hates her most every single thing about their life.

[Violet]

this is the exact epi (18) that a: mark shows up b: mer and george sleep together last season- post super bowl. interesting.

anyway, i feel bad about gizzie, just because it will make callie mad and i love callie. oh, sure, people hate her, but that french toast scene? adorable.

i love that alex doesn't want izzie. he wants addison. duh.

anyway, cool ep. gizzie im upset about, tho

[Robyn]

Ok first off let me say how disappointed I am that you went there with George and Izzie. They are more than just best friends, they are brother and sister. Its not believable, its random, and its kind of gross and/or disgusting to watch.

That being said, I also am not liking where the rest of the characters are going. Seems as if all the ships are gone, or going to be very soon. Lexzie's gone, MerDer's not too far behind, Burktina just needs to admit it.

[Amanda]

Ew Ew Ew! Did you think we actually wanted to see Izzie and George together? The majority of us are thoroughly grossed out by the thought of Gizzie. There has been absolutely no buildup or reason for them to get together, never any attraction towards one another. Romantically they are just horrible together, and it doesn't sit well with me at all. George was cruel tonight, and I side with Callie. Thank you for officially making me hate George (my former favorite character) and hate this show.

[Krisie]

THANK YOU DEBORA!!!!!!!
I absolutely love this episode!! IT felt like the old GREY's ANatomy!!!!!! I'm so happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and the whole drunk scene with Izzie and George.....I COULDNT STOP LAUGHING!!!!!! it was so great, thank you thank you thank you a million times!!!!!!!!!

[Vonrene]

WOW. I was expecting it...yet i was really hoping it was not going to go down that road. George....you have now slept with two of your best friends. The sweet sweet George i once knew is now gone like the bottle of cheap whiskey...sigh.

I still love you though :o)

[Layne]

This is where I propose marriage to you. Thank you for being an open George/Izzie fan.

The writing staff has my eternal gratitude for making George tell Callie exactly what she deserved to hear. She’s been on my last nerve since… well the moment she arrived on the scene. Thank you for doing the right thing versus what all these raving lunatics want from you. George/Izzie has been McObvious since the first episode and I was beginning to wonder if I was ever going to see it happen. Thank you so much for fulfilling this Grey’s fans hopes and dreams.

I also think that you should explain incest in your podcast so that these oblivious fools can get it. You might need to draw them a diagram though. They’re a little slow on the uptake. And I apologize if I sound a smidge snarky. It’s because I’ve had to put up with their denial all week and I’m glad to finally be right. Boy does it feel good.

I just hope that this is not a one night stand. The feelings are obvious but there are so many ways that you could go with this. George is a moral guy. I see him feeling a bit of guilt. Do what you must but do not end this series without George and Izzie finally being able to be together.

For that matter, if you have any interest in the amazing and wonderful mass of George/Izzie fans and our opinions, you can find us at ostevens on aol chat on Thursday nights. Because everyone else seems to think it is all about what they want, let me put it plain and simple. It’s all about what we want. I’m not serious. I’m mocking them. I’m enjoying every moment of it too.

I love you and I love your show. You do what you want to do with you show and I will continue to watch it. We did come up with a genius idea. How about a Halloween episode? We want hot vampire George. We want to see him take a nice big bite out of our beloved Izzie’s neck. It’s perfectly acceptable if the McTerrible wife saw it and made her way right on over to the Addison Montgomery happy hour show. Oh I really hope Izzie is pregnant with George’s child by the end of this season.

George/Izzie is my heroin and you provided me with the good stuff tonight. You’ve got me addicted and you can’t stop now. I will require a good shot of it right into my blood stream every new episode from here on out. Failure to provide may cause me serious pain.

[Diana]

The story just keep getting better and better. I am glad that Mer and her father and step mother had dinner. McDreamy was wonderful with Mer and her father. I can't believe George and Izzy sleeping together. Burke and Christina....well she needs to let him in. Great episode! I understand totally why Grey sweeps the award shows.

[JESSiKAH]

i think i may be one of the few people who are actually glad to see that izzie and george slept together.
because i know that in the end it will work in in the grey's-esque way it always does.
and you've already proven nothing is more disasterous then george and meredith sleeping together.

[Loyal Fan]

Or did she......I am hoping for not and this is just more brilliant writing. Or that if she did and is awake first will sneak out of bed and pretend to have slept on the couch. That of course would lead to much more brilliant writing, like her be-friending Callie out of guilt and of course next season when it comes out and all the drama that would create.

[Caroline]

My friends tell me that the house I live in is like the Grey's Anatomy house because of what it looks like, and because of this they think I somehow channel Grey's insight. Even so, they did not believe me when I was sure that Izzie and George would sleep together before the end of this season - so THANK YOU for making that happen!! Even if we didn't even get to see them making out or anything.... Great blog, I look forward to hearing about everyone else on the podcast!

PS please make Alex and Addison sleep together before she goes to Grey's 2.0!!!!!

[Marissa]

Thank you for ruining George's character past the point of no return.

Thank you for driving home why I dislike Izzie so much.

Thank you for ripping apart Callie and making her the butt of the joke. (hahah, she's so insecure... hahaha, it must be because she's "curvy" which we all know is a nice way of saying 'fat')

Thank you for illustrating that every guy fantasizes about the hot blond supermodel while the rest of us 'normal' girls are totally just CONVENIENT. Really, it feels great to know that.

Thank you for building a George/Callie relationship for SO LONG and taking up valuable screen time in order to do so ... only to demolish it this way. Really, I enjoy taking the long ride and then crashing into a brick wall. I'm sure I'll lick my wounds for days, but forgive me if I don't say thank you for that.

Thank you for taking my favorite show on television and making me dread new episodes. I never thought I'd say it, but I'm so over it. I'm just over it. I feel the need to divorce Grey's Anatomy. There's drama and then there's crap.

This, while well written and well acted, was crap.

Maybe March 15, 2007 should live in infamy as the day that Grey's Anatomy crossed to the dark side.

And never came back.

[MMMMMMMMMMARYYYYYYY]

i thought this episode was pretty good. it was refreshing to not SOB in an episode for once.

still, i think you guys aren't quite up to the level of last season. i don't know how to put it, but something just isn't there. the storylines this week weren't very emotional or interesting and well..george and izzie happened. which is kind of gross.

buttt, i'm just pretty content to not have yet another three arc story that will change the lives of everyone. that was tiring.

still, i recommend you all watch some episodes from 2nd season. i can't explain it, but it had this spark that i feel is lacking this season.

oh, and you gave mark + addison + bailey about 45 seconds of air time. that was disappointing...

[jen]

You know, I was really excited for this episode. It seemed like after the ridiculously over the top, ignore all details and just go for soap opera craziness of the ferry boat trilogy, Grey's was going to get back to the slow burn of life. Funny and moving and smart and fun. Remember the slow burn of Derek and Meredith getting together in Season One? But with this season, it's like you guys just can't slow down and let us enjoy the characters a little. I would like to see Izzy and George actually dealing with what's going on in their friendship, instead of just leaping into sex. Didn't we already have this with Meredith and George? A discovery of a possible change in feelings is a powerful thing. It doesn't have to be all ferry boat disasters and bombs in body cavities and wrong wrong sex. Give us a second to breathe, please.

On that note, thank you for giving us that with Christina and Meredith and Derek and Alex and Jane Doe and Mark and Addison and the Chief. These were beautifully realized relationships and characters. We could have used more Bailey, though.

Absolutely gorgeous scenes with Derek and his friend. They were the best of the episode.

And finally, if you're in fact still reading this, I'm all for Meredith taking positive steps, but I couldn't agree more with Susan, who said, "it's okay to get angry." I kept waiting for someone, anyone, to let Thatcher have it. No one has ever let Thatcher have it. Meredith needs to do that. Regardless of the beast that Ellis was, Thatcher abandoned his daughter and kept his family a secret from her. Derek handles him with kid gloves and tells him Meredith is worth the effort? Guess what, we all know that Meredith is worth the effort. The real question is, is Thatcher? And please don't misunderstand me, the journey Meredith and Thatcher can go on is one I want to see, but you need to stop making it so easy for him. He abandoned his daughter. Remember the scene in the stairwell in season 2 when Meredith let Derek have it. I am waiting for that moment with Thatcher.

I appreciate you taking the time to read my comments.
thank you.

[Toni Mac]

I am SO PSYCHED about Izzie and George! Ignore the nay sayers, this is the best idea EVER.

I do feel for Cally, but she and George have been off beat every since the START. Which does NOT excuse George cheating but, you know... I KNEW there was trouble when George's reaction to Cally saying Izzie is attracted to him was more disbelief that flat denial. It was more he though Izzie above him, then he didn't think of Izzie in that way...

Gah. I want some happy for George and Izzie. They're hands down the most fluffy optimistic characters on the show, yet they've both been shat on an awful lot lately. I want some happy. If they can be happy together, YAY.

[Emily]

Well Meredith slept with her best friend as well. :D
Please explore the Derek-has-issues storyline, and bring back super Meredith (season 1) in the OR, she's still Ellis Grey's daughter.
A part from that nice episode, light and fun

[Madison]

This is not amusing.

I really liked Callie/George. You all have certainly spent enough time making us like them. Then this?

I don't know if I want to puke, gouge out my eyes, or set fire to my television.

Maybe I should take the less destructive path and just change the channel. Yeah, that will work.

Maybe whatever show picks up Sara Ramirez will air opposite you guys and beat you in the ratings because letting her go? Big mistake. Big. Huge.