Shonda Rhimes on "The Other Side of This Life"

Original airdate: 5/3/07

So I owe you an explanation.  For this episode (for these two episodes, I should say).  I owe you that.  You’ve stuck with me through Season Three and now you want answers, damn it!  You want an explanation.

You are preaching to the proverbial choir.  If you were a preacher and I was a choir.   Which…I’m not a choir cause I can’t sing but maybe you are actually a preacher and…rambling.  The point is, when I watch TV and things happen like the Scooby Gang raises Buffy out of her scary grave or Felicity goes back in time or they take their sweet time telling me what those numbers mean over on Lost...I get a little nutty.  I sometimes get irate.  Because these are my shows.  These are my people.  These are my FRIENDS THESE WRITERS ARE MESSING WITH.

I don’t say this lightly.  I am a hardcore TV watching fanatic.   I was deprived of it as a kid.  So now, as an adult, I am deep into it.   I dig my TV.   So when shows take leaps, I go a little out of my mind.

I go a little out of my mind, I shake my fist to the heavens, I tear at my hair and I ask the writing gods “WHY?!!!!” 

“WHHHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY?!!!!!!!”

I go all drama on my own ass and then I lie back down on the sofa and keep watching.   Mainly because I’m lazy and shaking one’s fist to the heavens is exhausting.  But also because I’m interested in seeing what happens next.  And because the writers have asked me to leap and so I’m gonna leap with them.

Also because, now?   Now I get it.  I so totally get it.  It’s freakin’ gotten.

Here’s what happened to me:

I was sitting in the editing room one day watching Mer and Burktina and the gang doing all the stuff they do.  I love the editing room – it’s like this cocoon where I’m alone with the characters (and the editor) and it’s where I get a lot of my ideas.  And for the first time ever since working on this show, I got an idea that was Grey’s Anatomy but…not Grey’s Anatomy.  It was something else.  It was Addison driving down the freeway with her hair blowing all over her face.  So I started writing it down, this not Grey’s Anatomy idea.  I started writing it down in secret because I knew Betsy and Shoots With No Script would very gently explain that I had lost my mind and then send in the guys with the strait jackets.  Because we are very busy here at Greys.  We don’t have time for non-Grey’s ideas.  We are a hard-working people.

Except I had this idea and it had already worked its way under my skin and I had to write it down.   Or else I’d get in one of those moods.  Things happen when I’m in those moods.  Things like Meredith drowning.  And I love Mer and wanted to keep her away from the water.  So I wrote it down.   And I gave it to the studio and the network.

It became something.  A script that was part-Grey’s, part something else.  And then it became news around town and suddenly my tiny little written down something was being paid a lot of attention by the outside world.  Next thing you know, they’re calling it a spinoff.

This episode, it’s NOT a spinoff.  It’s Addison going down to LA to complete the story we’ve been laying out for her for two seasons.  It’s the culmination of Meredith’s family story.  It’s Burktina and the wedding and Izzie, Callie and George and that hideous triangle they are stuck in.  It’s the beginning of the end of Season Three.

And I’m warning you now: the ride to the end of the season?  You may want to buckle up and store your luggage in the overhead compartment because this ride is gonna be bumpy.  I’ll explain more after the finale.  I’ll talk about where we are headed in Season Four.   Because I think Season Four is gonna rock.  The fun is back in Season Four.   But for right now, I guess I’ll just talk about the here and the now.  About what is right in front of us.

So.  Even though we took this detour down to Los Angeles, what I want to talk about is what happened in Seattle.  To Meredith.  To Cristina.  To Izzie.  Because things are not working out the way they planned.  George is leaving for Mercy West and Izzie feels responsible.  Cristina’s facing the fact that she’s going to have to compromise what she wants yet again for Burke.  And Meredith…well, Meredith is losing another mother.  Worse, she’s losing her father.  And even worse than that, she may be losing Derek.

But my favorite moment is Alex.  Who, when Ava asks him what happened to him that has made it so hard for him to connect, simply shrugs and says “Maybe I don’t remember.”  He remembers.  But he can’t face up to it.  Not yet.  Alex is the guy we know the least about and the one struggling the most.  And I kinda love him for it.  Because he wants to be a better guy – he’s just not sure he IS a better guy.

In this episode, our people in Seattle all hit a crossroads while our girl in Los Angeles finds a new road altogether.  I’m hoping you like the new road.  I’m hoping I get a chance to show you how good this road can be. 

But for now, the detour is over.  Now, we’ve got the last two episodes of this season to bring to you.  Where we are going might make you shake your fists to the heavens and scream.  But we are leaping.  So, if your sofa is comfy, maybe you could lie back down and leap with us?

Comments

[trish]

omg the elevator scene with george and izzy was PURE HOTTTTTNES... seriously, HOTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Shannan]

I can't wait for the spin off show. I am in love with all the characters in last nights episode! Kate Walsh is so beautiful!

[Amy]

Finally. I've been checking this blog all day.

I loved it last night. Loved the "new road." I'm up for the leap.

[Sasha]

I can't quite explain my disappointment in words as adequately as I could in sounds of frustration. I feel like I've just watched my best friend get in a car accident that was totally her fault. Why must Meredith lose 2 mothers? To bring her closer to her father? Hasn't she suffered enough? And pulling her and Derek apart (again!) is just trying the audience. I also can't believe that of the "fabulous 2 hour Grey's", only 30 minutes was actually Grey's. Most of it was Addison's spin off show. I'm sorry, but I tuned in to watch Grey's Anatomy, not the pilot for a different show. Why subject your loyal audience to that? I hate to say it, but this will be the last season I watch. The characters I loved have just gotten too soap opera-ish for me to handle anymore.

[Beth]

Of course I'll leap. I'd be crazy not to, and I'd be sitting there shaking my fists to the heavens and screaming at myself if I didn't leap.

And I often do some fist-shaking anyway...fist-shaking happens. Seriously.

I really enjoyed the episode. I loved all the people we got to meet...I loved (LOVED) Tim Daly.

I really can't love any Alex moments at this point. He messed with Addison, and he may have his reasons and whatnot, but, you know, he's on my blacklist right now.

Thanks for the two hours of wonderfulness.

[another chance]

I'm trying, really trying to watch this show again tonight, but it does not get any better than last night - sorry Shonda.

[bianca]

GAHHHH i love greys so much. but honestly. the end when she has to tell her dad that her stepmom died and he SLAPS her.. i screamed out loud. because i love mere. and she just lost two people who were starting to become important to her. poor mere.

but honestly... too much of the addison sub-story in the episode. i wanted more of the seattle storyline! pleaaassee don't do that again.

[Courtney]

As much as I was yelling at the TV and texting my friends about how the "spinoff" wasn't Grey's and how Addison wasn't the Addison we've come to love...I will leap with you. Everytime something starts to go wrong with Meredith and Derek, I claim that I'm going to stop watching. But I can't because I am invested in all the characters. And I have to know what happens to them next. Can't Meredith be happy for longer than a few episodes?

So here I am, ready to leap. And if Meredith and Derek don't end up together, how about Meredith and Alex? Intriguing...

[Corrine]

I love Grey's but you have made me a very nervous viewer. I stopped watching Friends when Rachel and Ross broke up. I would be so very upset something happened to Mer and Dreamy. It would truly jack up my 'happy place'.

[sonja]

Shonda- I will leap with you because every time I think you are going in a bad direction (like the helicopter falling on Ramano) you bring it back and it works perfectly!!! Thanks!!

[bianca]

ps - how HOT was the elevator scene with george and izzy?! GOD... i love callie but i love them more. please make them work out!

[Lucinda]

I've been waiting ALL DAY for this blog post!?!?!

There's some potential for the spinoff-that-you-don't-want-to-call-a-spinoff. I was curious, interested, and let me tell you that Tim Daly and Taye Diggs (OH! the Double TD) are OH SO HOT!

Izzie & George in elevator was electric!

I am HIGHLY upset about Mer's losing second mom AND dad AND Derek! Fix it! Please!

[Erin]

though i wasn't a HUGE fan of the whole addison stealing the show thing... i thought it was brilliant:)... i love how there's a little bit of me (and probably everyone else) in every one of these characters and that's why i'm sitting on the edge of my seat every Thursday with anticipation, screening all phone calls. Because, like us all, these characters have obstacles to overcome and personality traits and flaws that are found in everyone... so, thanks for the great (and not-so-great) episode!

[Lindsey]

I am right along with you for the ride. I cannot wait for what is to come. However if Derek cheats on Meridith i don't know if i will be able to handle it. Seriously, he would not do that!

[Jen]

Not. Good. I agree--we only had 32 minutes of Grey's, out of 120. That was distracting and unfair. I understand it's an Addison storyline. But there were scenes without Addison in them! I feel betrayed, and I feel like the road you took us down was an unnecessary detour. I'll watch the spinoff--and it WAS a spinoff. Because I love Kate Walsh and Taye Diggs, and I think there is potential. But it was downright unfair to tell us we have a two-hor Grey's and shove Kate Walsh's new show down our throats. You know we'll do or watch whatever you want us to. But don't sneak around and put it where the real Grey's belongs. Shame on you.

[LivingitupinLosAngeles]

So now I'm really freaked out!!!!!!!! 1) Thatcher slaps Meredith :-(
2) Mcdreamy doesn't even dare to go inside Mer's house 3) MCDREAMY IS W/ANOTHER GIRL ON THE PROMO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!OMG YOU DON'T SAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And finally Addison and the spin-off!!!!!!!
Gosh! P.S. how exactly did Meredith's stepmom die?

[Beth]

Hey I was just writing to say that I LOVE LOVE Greys!! I am a huge fan!! I cannot get enough. However, the Addison story in LA bored me to death. I had to struggle to sit through it. I just wanted to put my opinion in in case you were wondering what people thought about the possible spin-off and that is PLEASE DON'T DO IT. If it isn't broke don't fix it!!

[Melissa]

Geez! What some of the people above obviously didnt read in Shonda's blog is that, and i quote, "This episode, it’s NOT a spinoff. It’s Addison going down to LA to complete the story we’ve been laying out for her for two seasons."

I though this was a great episode! Sure, it was a little less 'greys', but i really think it was important to see the other side of addy, it really lets us get to know her better.

Can't wait til next week! Thanks for the blog Shonda!

[Julie]

What is McDreamy doing!!?! I miss his silly grins at Mer--and when he instead makes that sexy smirk at some other girl in the bar on the teaser for next week??? She better be a long lost cousin or med school friend.... I am taking a really big leap with you Shonda...

P.S. LOVED the ride with Addy--she and Tim Daly--total hot, and the three women lining up to look at surfer boy--classic!

[Melissa]

re: Spinoff

I loved Tim Daly and Amy Brenemman's characters, but I really found Naomi extremely Boring.
Also, I love Addison but she seemed a little Ally McBeal last night...

[blanca]

i love you shonda, but if derek lays one finger on skanky bar girl i will probably lose my mind. i won't stop watching, doubt i can. but i will go mental. so please don't turn our dear mcdreamy into a mcass :] gracias! and this line made my day "the fun is back in season four" thank you. thank you. thank you. THANK YOU!

[fromdempseyshometown04240]

What a fantastic two hour episode. I wasn't sold with the whole spin-off idea, but I absolutely loved the spin-off. Now I want to see more of that. As much as I would miss the Addison dynamic at the hospital, the new show would totally rock.

I could not believe that Meredith had another thing happen to her. You said next season the fun will be back. I'm assuming the fun means happier relationships and less drama in Meredith's life. The girl has had enough!

George/Izzie/Callie, what a steamy triangle.

Cristina and Burke, not sure how that is going to end up.

It was fantastic. I loved it. I can't believe this season is almost over.

One more thing: are we ever going to get to see the opening credits this season? Once. Please.

[kb]

I loved last night's episode. I love the new characters. I loved the golden glow of California. I never realized how gray the seattle set was until last night. I love Seattle (I was born, raised and still live there) but I kept wanting to go back to that golden glow. I love the George and Izzie kiss in the elevator. But my fav part was when wiped her nose before Tim Daly kissed her. :)

[Tamika]

Please fix meredith and derek by the end of the season or i wont be coming back next season!

Thankyou!

[emma!!]

i did not like the addison thing AT all. bring her back to seattle and do not pursue that as a show PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE. yes i love taye diggs and it had a good cast it's just...i don't know...i didn't feel it at all .. please don't follow through with it. if derek cheats on meredith with that woman or starts to have feelings for her or anything with her ... i will be so angry i can't even say it - do not do that it will ruin their relationship forever to me and they're my favorite couple so please don't do that. it's sad how you're making merder so sad and angry all the time - it's not like they were always unhappy - give them so kind of connection - if you keep making them miserable the amazing relationship they had is gonna disappear. i'm looking forward very much to next week and the season finale!!

[Lindsay Gwen]

I truly feel like you ARE messing with my friends out there writers. I want them to work out! I'm trying to take a leap but I don't know about this. It's a tad too soap-operish. It's leaning away from all the great speeches and moments and music into who's sleeping with who. I think the writers should take a day and watch season 1 straight though. Then watch the last 5 episodes of season 3 - they have a totally different feel. Be true to Grey's and stop trying to thrill your audience because you're in danger of loosing them.

[Dedicated Fan]

I agree, I tuned in to watch Greys...and got very little Greys and a lot of the spinoff episode (which to be honest, doesn't look like it has that much potential). I must say that I was disappointed and look forward to next week when we get a full episode of Greys back.

P.S: If you ruin MerDer, I'll be so sad :(:(...and Izzie and George, so great!

[Anon]

Sorry Shonda - I love you and all - but Derek in a bar with someone young chick? I don't care how many issues Meredith has, that is just totally unacceptable boyfriend behavior. He's not McDreamy anymore.

[Canadian fan]

Shonda, I was okay with last nights epi, even with the intermingling of Addison in L.A and GA which so many are furious about.
What I am not okay with is you destroying Mer/Der. You are writing McDreamy as a McPrick and I am getting to the point where if he doesn't step up to the plate I am going to lose it. Patrick D. may as well hang up his scrubs and start looking for other opportunities if this is the direction his character is going to continue taking. And by this I mean the promo clip of him in the bar with the chick offering to buy him a drink. All I'm saying is she better be his sister or he better shut her down or that's it for McDreamy in my books.

[Nikki]

Shonda-I'm gonna venture out and say you better buckle up and enjoy what's left of your ride because it may be coming to a screeching halt if the previews are "true" and Derek gets himself another woman. That will kill it for a bunch of us since-day-1-loyal Grey's watchers. Seriously? I mean Seriously? Are you SERIOUSLY going to have Derek go there?

[Rachael]

I am trying to be receptive to the idea. I really am. I love Addison. I think she's amazing. She's my favorite woman from Grey's and I think the thing that is scaring me most is if she moves on to the spin-off and something happens and it doesn't work out. I love Addie and I need to see her on one show, though I'd rather see her on Grey's. I just don't want to be without any Addie in my tv viewing week. I just want reassurance that she will be safely returned to Grey's if something should happen to the spin-off.

[Frannie]

O.K. Shonda. I'll leap with you. I'm too curious not to do it. Last night's episode was way too strange for me though. It made me uncomfortable because I didn't know what was going to happen and everyone is so confused! But that's how life is, isn't it? You know that and you keep pushing the viewers to know that, too. I'm shaking my fists and leaping off my couch in frustration. How great is that?!

[Erica]

I never thought I’d say this because I really, really, really love Meredith and Derek together, but I’d rather see them definitely broken-up than watch them go through this back and forth pain and torture thing again. It is seriously just too painful to watch. Not fun. Not entertaining. Just painful. I hope you don’t break them up. I hope by the end of the season they really commit to each other and we can feel comfortable knowing they’ll be together throughout the rest of the series. My ultimate preference: keep them together. I love watching them knowing they’re together. Then I can take Meredith getting slapped by her father or Derek being in contemplative turmoil over some decision he can’t make. But if you’re going to have them together, do something soon so we know they’ll be together in the long run. Don’t do the wait til the end of the series thing with these two. That would just be too tragic, too much of a waste of their love for each. And too much of a tragedy for the show. Grey’s Anatomy is at its best when people are in their respective relationships.

I know the television model for the main couple is to keep them apart until the end of the series. But that model applied to Meredith and Derek has gotten to be too painful to watch and will ruin interest and support for the couple. I would hate to see that happen.

All of that being said, though, I did love last night's episode. I just don't know how much more I can take of Meredith and Derek being in constant pain over each other.

[Frannie]

O.K. Shonda. I'll leap with you. I'm too curious not to do it. Last night's episode was way too strange for me though. It made me uncomfortable because I didn't know what was going to happen and everyone is so confused! But that's how life is, isn't it? You know that and you keep pushing the viewers to know that, too. I'm shaking my fists and leaping off my couch in frustration. How great is that?!

[leap of faith... in doubt]

Shonda, you're asking a lot, when you say you don't care about what we think. It's a leap I'm no certain I want to invest in - not for Mer losing Derek. You've killed our McDreamy the last 2 shows. How COULD he not go after her.

[Brittany]

I hated the combined show with the Seattle and LA storylines. They just seemed too different from each other. It didn't flow to me. If you had aired Addison's show on its own, maybe I would have liked it better. However, the way it was presented, I was way more interested in what was going on in Seattle. And we only got 30 minutes of that. It better get much better than this!

Now, that I got that out of my system, I do love Greys and I can't wait to see what happens.

I was extremely disappointed with last nights episod. I was waiting for one whole week for a 2-hour special. Oh...the thoughts of what two hours would be like. But I felt the storyline focused way too much on Addison's journey. If I was counting, I'd say only 15 minutes of the 2 hours was really Grey's . I love Addison, but every other scene was not Grey's or Addison. I really didn't care to watch the guest characters. I screamed at the TV each time a new frame came on and it was "the other characters". If you wanted to focus on Addison, leave out the other nonsense.

That being said, I did love the Grey's moments - even though limited. I love the scene where Meredith says, "Now's not the time to give up on me." McDreamy has such a wonderful smile!

And why is there only two more episodes? Can't there be three or four more, at least????

[Jane]

The elevator scene was disgusting! Gizzie is - and I will use Shonda's words HIDEOUS! I just so hope it stops soon - Izzie and George are better than that - Great Friends NOTHING MORE! Here was the opportunity to explore the Callie/George relationship, to build on it and it hasn't even been given a chance! And Poor Izzie - Denny dies, Alex cheats and she end up with what - a married man who is her best friend? Please! Give the characters their decency back and allow them to develop. Sure they will stumble on the way but give them a chance. The only thing I loved from the episode was Mark/Derek conversation. About time Eric gets to play some scenes that show his true prowess as an actor. Gizzie so thumbs down! To quote George from season two - "McVomitt"

[Steph]

Okay, I'm trusting you. I'm trusting you not to screw up, kill, or make disappear my best friend Addison here. I'm nervous, and I'm anxious, but I'm closing my eyes and jumping. And I'm trusting you. I'm trusting you now to let me fall. I love the characters. I really, really do, but I'm scared, I'm so scared because I love Addison so much. And I'm sad. I'm sad because I love Maddison, and I feel so bad for Mark and I love him, and I believe, I really still believe that Mark and Addison could be really good together. I'm going to need time, time to accept and get over that dream, because I wanted so badly for it to happen. But I'm trusting you, and I'm taking the leap. Don't let me down, Shonda, I'm giving you yet another chance, and trusting you.
I must warn you, though...it's going to take a lot to keep me watching Grey's. I was hardcore in it for Addison, and now? Now I don't know. Because everyone else? I don't love them so much (except Mr. Ex-manwhore). I don't love them like I should, like I used to, and I feel guilty, extremely guilty. I trust you, I am trusting you.

[Christa]

I am glad that you are saying that season four will be fun....the old Grey's. Unfortunately I am not sure I will be around. I can NOT take anymore of the ass kicking you give Meredith every freaking episode. It's just sad at this point. It's beyond soapish.

I will say this...the fastest way to lose your most devoted, watched since the very first episode, RABID Grey's fans is to see Derek flirt, or cheat on Meredith in anyway. She lost her mom, her fake mommy, her father, she DIED, had to endure that flipping stupid afterlife...came back to a boyfriend who said "hey.", then told her that "I will ALWAYS be here", and now he's so selfish and dispicable that he wants to leave her...or even THINK about leaving her...it's just WRONG. The stupid promo monkeys better be messing with us. That's all I have to say, or I will be gone. I have other shows I love....just not as much.

I am sitting here typing so furiously because I am so ANGRY at what you have done to my friends at Seattle Grace. I used to LOVE these characters. Now everytime I see Izzie Stevens I want to spit at her, I see George and I want to beat him until he's good and bloody, I see Derek and I think, "awesome hair, but you are a total JERK!".....

My husband and I used to wait in anticipation for Sunday nights....then season three happened. It's just gotten worse and worse for me. This has been a dark and disturbing season. You obviously hate marriage, and cheating is OK, as long as it's the BFF's for life GIZZIE.....GAG.

I had so much that I planned to write, but I guess it's just not worth it. We have been complaining for weeks and you just don't care. You have won awards, and now you think that every crazy idea you get is award winning. You don't care about your viewers.

I am just so sad.

Oh, and Addison's show is lacking in chemistry, and I was totally NOT into it...I was actually VERY annoyed.

Seriously, I fell in love with Greys from like the first nano second because it was fun and sexy and provocative but now it's just depressing. I fell in love with the characters of season one because they were fresh- they weren't like every other character on TV and most of all, I fell in love with all that is Mer/Der but now, they're just a tiny dot on the radar- either they get NO storyline and when they do, it's one where they might be losing each other. They symbolized true love and fairytailes- they were that couple that gave everyone hope that their McDreamy is out there some where and now, they're dying as a couple. I understand that you need character progression and development but come on! You're killing them... and breaking our hearts right along with them. Season two was heart-wrenching- a continuous sob fest but at least they were emotionally connected. Seriously Shonda, you expect us to leap but you are giving us no hope that we're going to land safely.
The one moment that made the two hours of last night almost tolerable was the Mark and Derek scene because I strongly believe in that friendship and both Patrick and Eric did a fantastic job in that scene. Other than that, last night was pure torture.
Hoping for something better next week.
P.S. Please don't ruin a good thing- Grey's Anatomy is one of the only decent shows out there, please keep it that way. Oh and Addison is fabulous on Grey's- she's wonderful because of her interaction with everyone else and she adds to the flavor of the show and as much as I love the actors you have for the possible spin off, there's just no chemistry there- none with each other and none with Addison. Again, please don't ruin one of the only decent things on television. Please bring back the Grey's that we fell in love with.

[Claire]

Please don't break up the Meredith and Derek characters. It does not have to be a "fairytale" but we started this series with the two of them and I would just love to think that we could watch this couple grow and learn from each other the way so many people do in life.

It does not have to be perfect, but it's just a joy to watch these two weekly. I never really felt they had the chance to learn things from each other that could further them as people. I also miss the happy, sexy and smart times these two have together will return in season four.

The character Meredith has lost so much already. Can't she plesse just have this one bit of life that we as viewers have shared with her?

I know I'm just a viewer and what you have planned is already done and ready to be shown in the next couple of weeks, but I so wish that this season could end without me wondering what will happen to these two again the way it has the last two seasons.

Please give the fans of this couple since season one something to look forward to in the new excited season four!

Thank you so much,

Claire

[Savita]

I'm sorry and I"m sure you won't post this, but I just want you to know that you've lost a viewer. This show has turned into the awful cliche soap opera that I always thought you stood against. Goodbye Grey's - you've lost another viewer.

[coffeeaddict]

i loved Addison's journey, i love her and will watch wherever she goes. . . and let's be honest, no one at the Oceanside is dried up!!! I'm nervous about George and Callie and Izzie. I love them all and don't want any of them to get hurt (but especially not my Callie). I have to watch George and Izzie's scenes with my hands over my eyes and my stomach in knots! oh gosh darn it, I have no choice but to leap I love Seattle Grace and everyone in so much! Plus, sometimes fist-shaking is part of the fun of being so into TV. Don't worry Shonda I'm way into my TV too!

[Jill]

It was only 32 minutes of Grey's, and we know you cut a lot out based on promo pics, but it was a wonderful and heartbreaking 32 minutes and I may, just may, tune in to this Not Quite A Spin-off thing. For Taye Diggs, Tim Daly, and Amy Brenneman, who stole the show when I stopped obsessing over how we only had 32 minutes of Grey's.

George and Izzie love each other and should be together. Please bring this triangle to an end, let them all have some happiness again. Ellen and Jeff WERE incredibly and I would have liked to see that storyline fully drawn out instead of shortened for the sake of Addison's show. And I'm very glad to hear that season four will be funny. Three words: hot-dog eating contest!

[wow!]

Overwhelming disappointment in what you've done to mer/der.
She looses someone else she loves, and he walks away, again! He needed to go in and join them in a drink.
McDreamy no more - you always want to exceed expectations, and with this, the supposed main characters, you've miserably failed. I have it all of season 2, season 3 in the hopes of some growth in their relationship, but next week's promo is a slap in the face.

[SS]

FIX MEREDITH AND DEREK.
HATED THE EPISODE.
ONE MORE TIME - POOR MER AND DER AT THE END OF THE SEASON, YOUR RATINGS ARE GOING NO WHERE BUT DOWN.

[emma again]

i posted my previous comment before i read the whole blog...meredith may be losing derek? i thought you said season four was gonna bring the fun back. honestly i define fun as my fav couple having a good time NOT spending episode after episode getting back together and then having issues and more issues and more issues!! come on please let them work this out i know that they can...she said dont' give up on me, why can't she just let him in for once this season? i'm really hoping you make them okay by the season finale or else you'll be getting a really pissed blog entries (along with many others i'm sure)

by the way i apologize for the hostility in this post...i can get a little too emotional concerning grey's considering it's my favorite show and remember you ARE one of my favorite writers :) keep the good episodes coming shonda, thank you!!

[Teresa]

I love Grey's! Shonda, your writing is superb as usual!!!The best thing about Addison's road trip was her kiss with Tim Daly.WOW!!! I am ready for the ride!

[tanya]

FIX MER/DER PLEASE DO NOT RUIN OUR SHOW

[DrLA]

I saw 30 minutes of Greys, 45 minutes of Addison Does LA and 45 minutes of commercials. In the words of the late Florida Evans "Damn damn damn!"

I feel cheated. AND I watched the show again just so I could get a glimsp of what I'm missing.

Derek is a jerk... so is George... Preston's a punk and a mama's boy and the dad... somebody really needs to slap him. MAN yall better make up for it over the next two episodes.

It's just not fair! It's just not fair.... okay now somebody kiss me like George kissed Izzie in the elevator!!!!

[Kathleen]

Shonda,

Thank you for taking your time with this - I appreciate your concern for us. You were able to step back and figure out what you needed to say and how.
So, thanks for that.

I trust you almost explicitly(sp?) with Grey's, but upon first viewing of the spinoff pilot, I was disappointed.

There were some odd parts (i.e., so much crying, too much drama w/ the patients, etc.) and I thought it needed to be toned down a tad, even if it's supposed to be lighter than Grey's.

But, I watched again tonight sans commercials (too many by the way - I'm in advertising, so I get it, but still...)and found that there were also some very endearing parts of the storyline (Addi being serious and semi-clever, Addi and Naomi, Sam, Pete).
You kind of lost me with Cooper and Violet and Beach Boy.

My suggestions -
Cut back just a little on the cheese (I know you know what I mean).

Get a new Beach Boy (a tad older).

Better patients (less dramatic).

It could still work, but you'll need to reign your troops in majorly - I'm thinking media tour, girl!

Still love ya!

[mowhit25]

First let me start by saying the scene with Cristina and the 2 moms and Callie was classic. I was dying laughing, but from there it was a total disaster. The issue was not with the going back and forth from LA to SGH, it was that the LA show was not very good. The people were not very interesting, the plot was not very interesting, and we were given no reason to care for any of these people. Speaking of the people, there were way too many people being thrown at us at one time. I was lost. I think overall the LA stuff could have been saved until Grey's was finished.

I guess there is nothing we can do to get you guys to kill this Gizzie thing. It is so disgusting and the elevator scene made me gag back to back. For once can Izzie be called out on her sh*t? I mean really. It is always about her. People call her Izzme now. She gets away with so much stuff it is not even funny. They way she comes out of her mouth to Callie and she has not gotten her ass beat yet is a mystery to me. And the line from George about can he love 2 people. We have not even see him have any physical contact with his wife in weeks. That line makes no sense. I hope in the coming weeks we finally get a reason as to why a woman would hang on to a guy a wack as George. So far you guys are just making her look ridicolous and that is sad because she was a role model to so many.

[Austin]

Seriously? What was that? Seriously!

[Star]

Dear Shonda,

So I must admit, I was nervous. Nervous because I had a feeling you would write an amazing spinoff show and we would lose Addison. The show was so good-- the actors and the writing phenomenal. So... my last comment is about Grey's Anatomy. Please slow it down. I was watching Season One two days ago...remember when Izzie's biggest problem coconut extract? You say next season is going to be more fun, please stick to your word. What I loved about Grey's was that each storyline worked its way into the patient's and character's problems-- and we are slowly losing that part of the show. Just fix it-- and I KNOW YOU can do it because you are Shonda Rhimes (the person who I refer to as the GOD of television programs). Just please remember the coconut extract. Thank you.

[Hafsa]

Thank you very much Shonda for clearing up so many issues that are bothering me, you should have been the one writing all those blogs all along and reassuring fans! Now down to business, what do you mean by meredith may be losing Derek as well? i do respect you and your instinct 100% but dont even go there. You may be suprised how fans have personally build and invested emotionally on these frictional characters you have created especially merder. There relationship is what captivated majority of your fans base in the first place. However, you made us suffer the whole of season three and now you are saying she might be losing derek as well? come on Shonda seriously i am becoming very angry and depressed by all this unhealthy anxiety. The next promo is also one hell of a heart stopper!!! i keep telling you its not good for our blood pressure, who is that brunett talking to der? once more dont even go there, some lines are just too dangerous to cross. I have never in my peaceful life before Grey's had sleepless nights because of a TV show, now i have become this anxious freak that checks the internet all the time and kept worrying what will happen next!! it not fair at all!!! so get real SERIOUSLY!!!.

[KEEP KATE ON GREYS!!!]

SHONDA,
PLEASE DON'T LET THEM DO THE SPINOFF. I LOVE KATE WALSH IN SEATTLE. I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THE TRIP TO LA, BUT PLEASE DO NOT LET THE NETWORK GO WITH THE SPINOFF. I DIDN'T EVEN RECOGNIZE LAST NIGHT'S ADDISON. WHERE WAS OUR SMART, SHARP-WITTED ADDISON? INSTEAD WE GET THIS SILLY DUMMIED DOWN CHARACTER WHO SAYS THINGS LIKE 'FART LOGIC'? SERIOUSLY? ADDISON WOULD NEVER USE THAT AWFUL WORD!
WILL YOU PLEASE LISTEN TO ALL THE THINGS THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT LAST NIGHT'S EPISODE. EVERYONE IS MAKING FUN OF IT. THE WRITING WAS AWFUL! IT WAS PAINFUL. I ADMIT TO HAVING A STRAIGHT GIRL CRUSH ON KATE WALSH, BUT LAST NIGHT I HAD TO FORCE MYSELF TO WATCH HER SCENES. THAT'S WHEN YOU KNOW SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT. ADDIE BELONGS AT SEATTLE GRACE: ALEX NEEDS HER. RICHARD NEEDS HER. CALLIE NEEDS HER. BAILLY NEEDS HER. ALL THE PREGNANT WOMEN IN SEATTLE NEED HER.
PLEASE NO SPINOFF. I DON'T WANT TO INSULT YOU, BUT IT WAS JUST BAD,BAD WRITING! WHILE I WAS WATCHING, I THOUGHT 'SHONDA RIMES MUST WANT THIS TO FAIL'. I'M SORRY, BUT IT WAS JUST BAD. WHY DO YOU WANT TO RUIN KATE WALSH'S CAREER? ON THE PODCAST YOU SAID YOU WANTED OUR OPINIONS. WELL NOW YOU HAVE MINE.
LOSE THE SPINOFF, KEEP KATE ON GREY'S ANATOMY

[dr.burke'swife]

The spinoff has potential although I think the weakest links are Taye's character and the receptionist/surfer dude. I definently liked Coop, Violet, Naomi, and Pete. I hate that Susan got killed off! My question is why is poor Mer getting so much grief this season, and what on earth is the matter with Adele?

[Katie]

I can't take anymore angst, pain and the misery. I just can't.

It's made this show so painful to watch this year and it makes me cry when I used to have so much fun and love watching it.

I keep telling myself it'll get better next week and it doesn't. I just wanted my Merder back and they're gone now.

[Liz]

You are a little late asking us to take a leap of faith with you. We stayed faithful through some rough episodes and now you should be begging us to stay around while you retool.

We have ask politely to get back to the show we loved, we have asked not so politely to get back to the show we love and all that is left to do is walk away.

You never understood OUR WORDS but you expect us to understand yours and take them to faith. We told you that you as writers were unfaithful to your characters. We told you as writers that you were unfaithful to the writing that hooked us to this show. We built this show on word of mouth and this season is terrible.

So now Faith. You have patted yourself on the back and squealed about being a great writer for 3 seasons but now when you put out cr*p, we are supposed to hang around and have faith.

Don't know if I have any faith left in you.

[Leslie]

I'm going to give the spinoff a chance; I love Amy Brenneman from Judging Amy (still watch the reruns on TNT :) ) & I think the spinoff has potential.

As for the Seattle part in this episode, I can't wait to FINALLY learn more about Alex & see what makes him dark & twisty. I still don't like George and Izzie, their chemistry just isn't believeable to me & I like Callie alot. I think Mer is at least making progress; she was drinking tequila with her friends instead of at Joe's with a random man, & Derek needs to learn to communicate better too.

Can't wait to see the Burktina wedding (if it happens) I think it will be hilarious.

[Julia]

Shonda I am five months pregnant...my little girls name is going to be Meredith. I picked the name because you made Meredith a woman who has flaws, but is still a great person. She is someone to believe in.But that isnt the point...anyways what I want to say is Meredith and Derek have to be together...they just have to be!! I love them together...and PD and EP have so much chemistry that it would be horrible to waist on them being apart. So please make them happy!

[Mel]

I really really hope that Season Four has the charm that Season One and Two did.
I understand Season Three was were everything came to a head on and that it all had to happen.
Now that it's happen please let Meredith and Derek fix their issues. Don't let them be the couple that's made for each other but can't be together. They're losing themselves!

[Robyn]

As usual, a fantastic episode of Grey's. A few comments:

Mere - I think Derek will come to his senses eventually, but I remembered watching the group at the end - they are her family. Izzie, George, Alex and Christina. As long as she has them, she'll be ok I think.

Derek - I hope he wakes up and realizes what he's giving up - and listens to what Bailey said. Without family, a job means nothing.

Izzie and George - LOVE them. I hope Callie is not hurt to much (how can that be helped) but I trust you and the writers, Shonda - that they will end up as they should be. Hopefully.

As for the "non spin-off" portion with Addison, I LOVED it. Did not expect to, honestly, messing with my favorite show and all...but I should have known with the writing behind Grey's, and the fantastic casting choices you and your people know how to make, (Paul Adelstein! Merrin Dungey! Amy Brenneman!) it would be fantastic. I really hope it is it's own series soon!

Can't wait to see what's up for the end of the season. Keep up the good work!

[Sandie]

"I think the writers should take a day and watch season 1 straight though. Then watch the last 5 episodes of season 3 - they have a totally different feel. Be true to Grey's and stop trying to thrill your audience because you're in danger of loosing them."

I completely agree with this statement. Stop trying to do everything all at once, one big reveal after another. Stop. Take a breath. Develop the characters, develop their relationships. The best parts of Grey's are the characters' interactions: Mer, George and Izzie just relaxing in bed or hanging around the kitchen or the hospital. Bring back the great patient stories that used to make me cry Every. Single. Episode. The last time I cried on Grey's was a year ago when Denney died. This year has been such a departure. Bring it back, writers!! Bring it back before I depart too!!

[Kim]

Shonda,

Just to let you know, peopel posted comments about this episode under the Desire blog before this one was up...

I love how funny Christina has been lately.. Her lines are hysterical...

I HATE what's going on with Mer/Der. I just don't feel the love anymore and miss the good old times with them...

Looking forward to the finale!

[Brenda]

- George's dad
- Meredith's mom
- Meredith
- Meredith's fake mom

Is ALL you know how to do for a sweeps period is kill off people now? Stunts of killing people or huge location shoots?

Is this Grey's or a bad daytime soap? I'm starting to think the bad daytime soap would be better.

I hope all the cast members rumored to be leaving are true, jumping off this sinking ship as fast as possible is the smartest thing to do.

[Bambi]

I get that this was not a pilot... and I respect that. If this was Derek visitng friends in NY, or Alex going back to Iowa to duke out his demons, everyone would think it was great. People are only short-sighted because we KNOW there's the potential spin-off.

Personally, while it was a very different tone for the "Private Practice" cast, I thought it was great. It is good for different reasons. And I am willing to take this leap with you to see where it goes. I feel like not every GA fan will follow, but by doing a completely different show it will appeal to new viewers. Way to go Shonda and crew!

Now, as for the (way-too-short)time we spent at SGH... Holy cow! While it was shirt, it certainly packed a punch. I'll miss Susan, for sure... and I'm not too convinced she had to die... maybe a prolonged coma instead? You coulda still got the slap in there. lol But I understand some people are plot devices and I'm wondering what this death will be used for. I'm intrigued. =)

Alex rocked. And good for Ava being able to speak four languages and call Alex out about his issues. I hope whatever her life was before it includes her staying around the hospital in some way. Maybe as a interpreter. *wishful thinking*

Now, for the BEST part... O'Stevens. Way to go. This is good. Real good. And really real (that's a lot of reals, huh?). Don't listen to anyone who tells you any different!

[Finished]

I'm tired of leaping. I've been leaping all season. I've got enough things to be depressed about without the help of your show. It's going to be very difficult to come back for another season. There are so many other Thursday night tv options, and at the moment, they are all looking better than this. I'll watch the rest of this season, but only because I've made it this far. Then I'm done...

[Lisa]

While I think I liked the Addison story line, or at least it would have been a show I'd tune into to check out if it had it's own season premier, I'm very disappointed in Grey's. I, like many others, tuned in to Grey's. To see George and Izzy and their hotness in elevator while the doors open to Callie. To see Meredith and her new family bond and then fall flat on their face. To see McSteamy, McDreamy, and Alex all play out in their own stories. What I got was 3/4ths of the show of Addison in LA with flashes of the real show while characters on the maybe show were overdeveloped to lead viewers in, which is very upsetting.

Also, I think the husband who couldn't have sex was passed off as a medical case way to quickly. A psychologist would have spent more time trying to find out why he wanted to have sex with his wife but couldn't as there are many sexual dysfunctions that are purely psychologically based.

[disappointed]

I really tried to like the new characters, but not too keen on that one. Addison belongs in Seattle with the man candy. I was so excited for two hours of greys, but not happy you wasted an episode of greys for Private Practice. You should have had it on a different night, and given the real fans who have been there from day 1...our regular greys characters.
How many times can we go back and forth with Derek and Meredith? I hated when they did that on other shows...it's just an excuse to take an easy way out. If writers want a challenge...how about trying to keep things interesting while putting characters together. You seem to do a pretty good job without breaking Burke and Cristina up every five minutes. Seriously, can you tell I am not happy about Derek and Meredith? I could have swore he told her father she was worth it, and now he doesnt want to breathe for her?? Wasn't she the one who saved him when he was drowning? Oh, I really hope you dont decide to have Derek hit on her sister who is supposed to be starting her residency. At this rate...maybe Meredith shouldn't have turned McSteamy down. Maybe they need a real meeting of the dirty mistresses.
George and Izzie, when that storyline started...yuck. Well, at least there are two more episodes to decide whether or not season four is going to be exciting. I still cant believe you let Meredith lose a mom, stepmom, her father yet again, and Derek once more.

[Seattlebecc]

You are making me nervous! Very very nervous, and I don't think I like it. This nervousness I mean.

[katie]

shonda--i think grey's is an amazing show...and there is potential for loads of excitement as the end of season 3 quickly approaches....however, i must say, i was disappointed with last night's episode...i thought it lacked the real essence of the show....addison's show could certainly work, just not when it's supposed to be 50 mins of life at seattle grace!

thanks for everything you do with the show! i am leaping!

[Courtney]

Well... seems everyone has an opinon on last night's 2 hour episode. But that's a good thing, right? Good because it means, for one, that everyone watched it, and for two because it means everyone actually cares about this show.

I understand because I am one of them. I had heard, like everyone else, about your plans for a 'spin-off', and I am on board for it. I figure since you are in charge of my all-time favorite show, then whatever else you have your hands in will be good as well.

But last night's 2 hour epi was such a disappointment. Why not lead up to Addison leaving one hour and give us a 'pilot' the next. I found myself watching 2 shows within one and sadly within my favorite show... I look forward to Grey's ALL week long. I watch the scenes for the weeks upcoming show and I basically just can't wait for it to start... and sadly this week my show was interupted!

Moving on to the actual epi... I am so sad for Mer. Her world seems to collapse around her week after week after week. She and Derek can't seem to make it through one episode happy. Drives me nuts. And my fists were in the air and I was speechless at the scenes for next week. PLEASE don't let her lose Derek too. Two mothers and her father are enough at one time for anyone. Now she'll really want to drown because life keeps sucking the poor girl down.

This is getting long, sorry. Lastly, we need more Bailey. Missed her last night. One scene doesn't do her justice!

Thanks for the epi. I am going to take a leap of faith and leap with you. I hope the last two episodes this season will be my Grey's though. Save the spin-off for fall! It looks like you have another great show on your plate... I'm there with ya but please just don't weave it into my favorite show!

PS: Tim Daly and Taye Diggs... WOW, can we say HOT??? McSteamy who???

[Oh well....]

You ask us to invest in the complex, funny, irritating characters you created, and yet this is what you do with our trust?

Enough of the A List actors in the LA spinoff (ridiculous to pretend it isn't a spinoff).

Give your main characters, Meredeth and Derek, time, dialogue, and the love they obviously feel for each other. Give us, the viewers, a reason to keep watching next year. I won't if you pull them apart as your season ending cliff hanger.

[Karen]

For the first time ever, I turned on Grey's and didn't watch it until the end.

I just left it to the Tivo and came back to it when it was done.

It was my favorites show and now I don't even recognize it. This crapping on meredith every single week is pathetic, it's like you know how to write nothing else but that and to kill people.

i dare you to really break meredith and derek up by the end of this season because that is my last nail in the coffin and it would free me of watching this forever.

I'm only holding on because of Patrick and Ellen's chemistry that was so wasted this year.

[greysgirl]

Okay Shonda, i have spent most of my life trying to take my parents advice not to jump when someone tells me too - but leaping, leaping is different . . . and I am sooooo leaping with you.

I'll be honest, there were points of brilliancy in last nights' episodes - the parallels with Derek and Terry; with Mark and Tim Daly's character, the utter involvedness w/ all the characters - but it was fantasticly differently distinct from Seattle Grace. I do hope it is picked up for a pilot and more BUT there is much to deal with at SG.

Like Mer - can she just be a little shiny and happy - for a little while? And for the record, let me define little while for you - because I don't think our definitions are similar. Little while of Mer being happy is at least 6 episodes - of her happiness being contagious, fun, loving, sweet and hot and sexy - to the point where we are shaking our fists at the heavens asking for our dark and twisty girl back. But last night - that moment, was pure Grey's - and I hated it for the reasons i loved it. pure emotion, honest, raw coming out of your seat shock on your face, didn't get that one with tears streaming kind of feelings that make you want to get up off the couch and not simply shake your fists but kick some serious @$$ to those who are hurting your friends.

and Meredith - she is my friend. And you are messing with her. And I don't like it. And Izzie too - you are messing w/ Izzie - and her daughter needs to make more than these two brief appearances.

Enough of my worry - please, please, please sign a contract for a guarentee of another 10 years - love Grey's! Shonda - I think you and your team are exceptionally talented individuals and if there were any vacancies, any homes for sale in Shondaland - i would soooo be moving. SERIOUSLY!

[Marla]

Best laugh: Cristina an her bridesmaids.

Best of the Best: George and Izzie in the elevator. Seriously HOT!

Please take away: All this so called "not spinoff"... It was too MUCH time invested in this characters. Remember, thursday nights I want to see GREY'S

The only thing worthy of the "Not Spin-off": The scene with the surfer guy and the three ladies checking him out.

My eyes! My Eyes!: Daly's "I'am going to kiss you with tounge" Seriously?

What the...???: Addison had an abortion like months ago and now she is crying because she WANTS a Baby. Seriously?

PLEASE TAKE ME BACK TO SEATTLE GRACE!!

[Kyleigh]

I would have liked to have chosen to go on the journey not to be forced there kicking and screaming the whole way. Why did Addison's spinoff have to take up 1 hour and 45 minutes of a 2 hour GREY'S ANATOMY episode? I didn't like it one bit, I have no investment whatsoever in these people in LA, I don't want them taking up precious screentime from the people at Seattle Grace that I actually care about, that I tuned in to watch. Why couldn't Addison's little adventure stand on its own? Why use Grey's as a crutch? I felt like I was promised fine wine and ended up with grape juice instead, in short I felt cheated when I tuned in for Grey's and got Addison's Anatomy instead. And to make matters worse I hated every single minute of the spinoff, I was so bored I started channel surfing, something I never do during GA.

I'm glad Grey's is bringing the fun back in season 4 because its seriously far too depressing right now, I like dark and twisty but this is insane. Meredith lost two mothers and may lose Derek all in less than a month? No one can be that unlucky not even Buffy was that unlucky and thats saying something because that girl was the definition of unlucky.

[kiks]

i was really disappointed in this episode. i just thought that this will surpassed the Desire epi that i loved.

You are doing the obvious...don't ruin the wedding pls. we just don't like to see the last couple okay (Prestina)get ruined.

Please make up for the last 2 epis. I am really disappointed..

[HMMM... NOT SURE]

Loved the greys part of tonights epi but wasn't so sure about the rest. I will probably end up watching it because it is made by you guys, but, in my book, it wasn't quite up to par.

I can't believe you killed Susan off. Ouch! I keep wondering if the characters will ever recover from the trauma of this season. God, I hope so! Some of the storylines seem a bit hopeless at this point though.

As far as the Mer/Der of it all... Yes, I agree Meredith has been a bit annoying lately but Derek cannot just abandon her, especially now. How awful to lose her new-found fake mom and her dad. Ugh! Truly heartbreaking and adding a break-up with Derek would just crush her I think. Please make Derek the good man that we know he is and let him stick by her side through the thick and the thin of it.

And, lastly, the Izzie/George elevator scene was... OMG! They have incredible chemistry! Yea, adultery is bad and all... I know. But, really, Callie has been waiting for this to happen forever. She practically asked for it! I wouldn't be depressed at all if George and Izzie got together permanently.

And, also, I love the scenes with Der and Mark actually being friends. They are awesome! Love them!

[cheryl]

Shonda,

There is a difference when you write GA and it shows. The dialogue was better and the stories made more sense. I semilike the spin off, especially TD and AB. I loved the scene in the staircase with KW and TD...wow. (however, the 2 huor episode was slow and I found myself checking my clock. Something I rarely do)

As for Mer/Der...break them up and get it over with...the magic is gone and Der is no longer fit to be McDreamy...it's over...

Burtina...interesting...I love the shop scene, I think more of that would have been better...Of and I loved the scene with Burke, Bailey, and George....funny!

Gizzie...I'm on the fence...what can I say.

season 4 better be better than 3...I'm going to buy the DVD when it is released, because I have the first 2, but man, this really was an inconsistent and sometimes awful season...

[Linda]

I can understand why people are so against George and Izzie. They were brother and sister friends. I see them together as a real couple. The main reason is because when this show was first starting out I wasn't a faithful watcher. I caught it every once in awhile and I didn't watch as intently as I do now. In that first season I didn't always get that George was crushing on Mere. I thought it was Izzie he was smittened with most of the time. See, since I saw the spark back then is why I can see the spark now.

[grey'sfan]

I seriously HATED this episode and am really upset that you wasted two of the last four episodes of the season introducing a knockoff series... how disappointing. The transition from one plot to the other was awful, and I seriously couldn't have cared less what was going on with the other characters. Give me Grey's, not the knockoff series!

[Natalie]

You are ruining Der/Mer AGAIN. What a surprise. Can't you do anythiing but that? You say you don't follow tv rules and that you don't like breaking couples up over and over but that is just what you are doing.
I don't know why I bother to post because you clearly DO NOT care about the audience. It's all about ratings to you and to hell with us right?
I don't know if I can bare to watch the last two episodes to watch you destroy Derek/Meredith yet again. You say they are your favorite couple but clearly they aren't.
If you expect to break them up and then have me come back next season you are wrong. And many others agree. We have had enough and are not going to deal with it anymore.

[Aud]

I'm sure I'm one of many people who used to hate Addison and now love her. She unexpectedly became my favorite character on Grey's. And her appeal is that she's a surgeon. She's smart, competent, bossy, arrogant, and confident. And on top of that, she's sassy, sexy, and quirky. And funny! But all those things are appealing because she's a surgeon that we respect! And if you take her away from SGH, while we get quirky and sexy Addison (which is fantastic), we lose all the reasons why we love her in the first place. So it felt like her character changed on the show last night, and that was disappointing. It just seemed a bit dumbed down and "soapier." Addison thrives in that high stress hierarchical hospital environment, not in that co-op. She needs to be operating and teaching, not spending all day talking about other docs' personal lives.

So while I'm all for seeing more of Addison (and the lovely Kate Walsh), it'll be such a loss for SGH and for her character if she goes to LA.

By the way, I'm loving the Callie/Cristina scenes. It's about time those two found out how much they have in common!

[Natalie]

You are ruining Der/Mer AGAIN. What a surprise. Can't you do anythiing but that? You say you don't follow tv rules and that you don't like breaking couples up over and over but that is just what you are doing.
I don't know why I bother to post because you clearly DO NOT care about the audience. It's all about ratings to you and to hell with us right?
I don't know if I can bare to watch the last two episodes to watch you destroy Derek/Meredith yet again. You say they are your favorite couple but clearly they aren't.
If you expect to break them up and then have me come back next season you are wrong. And many others agree. We have had enough and are not going to deal with it anymore.

[lost dreams]

the dream has become the nightmare - mer/der hooked me since episode one, not sure I want to go on this rollercoater ride. Shonda, we were promised good things were coming for mer/der by your writers, and thus far this season haven't seen it, and now she "may" be losing Derek? I'll wait and see after season 4/epi 1 if I want to keep on riding. For now, Thursday's night are free again

[mcdreamluva]

I surely hope that you are not planning to take us on a bumpy ride and make us wait all summer to get some resolution to this mess that you call Season 3...possibly after Season 1 we were willing to wait it out and leap with you...we even stuck through a very long and angsty season 2, waiting for the big pay out...waiting to see MerDer in a relationship and the characters to make some forward progress...if I still had faith maybe I would be willing to take the leap, but after "the ghost of Denny" and "Ferry crapola"...sorry...you have to earn our faith...and all of these BIG, SHOCKING, WOW storylines are not doing it. You have (or should I say HAD) a great, interesting group of characters, but somewhere in the middle of all of the plot twists each character has been assasinated. We just freaking want to see a show about a group of interns doing their jobs, competing for surgeries, having friendships and relationships...not talking to the dead, nearly blowing up, nearly getting the plague, sleeping with any co-worker with a pulse.

This last episode was a prime example...you're first two MerDer interactions were priceless and Cristina as a would-be bride HILARIOUS with sooo much potential...it made me remember why I started watching this show in the first place...but that can never be good enough...we have to throw in some drama, and some deep, metaphoric storyline of all of the demons that Mer is fighting and the effect it has on McDreamy...things that the casual viewer doesn't even catch (doesn't want to catch).

BACK TO BASICS...SOMETIME SOON...PLEASE!!!!!!!!!

[Jessica]

I am sorry but I hated the spin-off. I love Addison, but not in L.A. IN SEATTLE! I do not want her to leave, and I do not want this spinoff.

[Lisa]

OK, I was disappointed with the episode. Way too much of Addison's story. I thought the previews were very misleading. I too was looking forward to 2 hrs of Grey's. Hope this doesn't happen again.

[andy]

george and izzie is love.

that kiss was so wonderfully hot. the way he touches her face and kissed her so slow... ahhhh. sooo hot. i love it. those kinds of kisses are the best. i want george and izzie to be together.

[Charlie]

i love greys. I thought last nights episode wasn't what we have grown to love. Please dont make Addison leave. If it ain't broke don't fix it. And 20 million viewers tune in every week. Grey's will still be a success without Addison but this new show won't.

[sleeplessincharlotte]

Okay, I was so distressed over this episode that I stayed up two freakin' extra hours doing laundry and cleaning the house--this is ridiculous! Fake mommy dying was TRAGIC (why the CRAP did they have Meredith tell her dad? hello?), but it was Derek being so...cold? heartless? LAME? Arrrgh! Fix it!!!!

[Jeff]

Cool episode. Sure, it was a little soap opera-like, but that happens sometimes. The next two episodes should be great and we look forward to them with great anticipation. This show has been, from the beginning, different than other shows and it continues to be so. Bring on the end of season three and season four; we're right on the couch with you.

[sabrina]

Did not see Meridith's mom dieing...which is good...it means the show has stopped being predictable...EXCEPT for the Derick and Mer relationship. I mean really, how many times can they go back and forth - together - not together - together - not together - together....you get my point. Its similar to Ross and Rachel from friends but even they didn't do it that much.

Also, it technically was a Grey's night...you should have had at least one hour for grey's and one hour for spinoff even if it would be intertwined together.

[carol]

I'm definitely tetering - am I going to watch the last two shows of the season. Probably. Don't know about next season. Season three has been a frustrating season to watch. I am not a TV watcher but got hooked when a friend loaned me the cds from seasons one and two. This season has me remembering why I don't waste time watching TV. It almost seems that the writers think the watchers are not intelligent and won't remember what's been promised.

I love the actors and actresses. They have amazing talent. The soul-mate relationship between Meredith and Derrick is what drew me to the show. I've been very disappointed by the lack of development in both of these individual characters but mostly I've been disappointed by the lack of a relationship that was so painfully beautiful in previous seasons.

Love Izzy, George, Burktina and especially the development of Alex's character. Will these characters and their stories also go into a state of inertia?

Kate Walsh will be awesome on her new show. She is also an amazingly beautiful woman and a wonderful actress. I'm sure many fans will try to follow her to LA.

[Mary]

I will always jump because I believe in this show and it pulled me out of a very tough spot at one point in my life. And just knowing that every Thursday would have an hour of time where I could lose myself and forget about everything else going wrong in my life. For that I will always jump. But I have to say that I love MerDer and if they fall apart I will be extremely disappointed. They truly love each other. It can be very difficult but they need to work it out and be forced to talk to each other. Derek loves Meredith more than anything. We saw that in the Ferry Boat episodes. He can't just be with someone else when his soul mate is sitting right in front of him. Please don't put us through an agonizing summer where we feel lost because they are lost. Please. I'm begging you. Thank you.

[catherine]

um. seriously. Tim Daly is friggin HOT. please, if it's not going to be a spinoff, let him be on grey's cuz he is SOOOO hot.

and George/Izzie scene in the elevator was sooo good, I had to watch it again on iTunes. haha.

[S.]

Loved the breath of fresh exhilarating sea breeze from LA. Was annoyed with the cut in the flow that constituted the Grey's scenes. Kate Walsh is awesome.

The rant you're going to get is because people feel that they are betraying their one true love (GA) by enjoying anything else. Also they feel that it might present it's self as threat to their favorite show (competition, loss of a very popular character). They are behaving like the older brother afraid of the loss of affection with the arrival of a sibling.

Relax people, it's TV, enjoy the flow, enjoy the road trip, enjoy the sea breeze.

[thursdaynightjunkie]

I agree with Lucinda- double TD... SO HOT!!!!!! I've been a big fan of Taye Diggs ever since "How Stella got her Groove back", but after last night, I'm a big fan of Tim Daly's too!

i was NOT a big fan of the epi last night. i was looking forward to seeing what they were going to do with the addison "potential" spinoff... mainly b/c of Taye Diggs!... but i thought it was kinda boring. asinde from all the hotness, it was slow.

i am totally against george and izzie, it makes me sick to watch! and the whole ava story is getting old too. and mer, poor mer. life just sucks sometimes. but, WHO SLAPS their daughter when she was shaken by what happened too?!?! that was just bizarre. i love derek, i hope he doesn't become a jerk, b/c i've always thought of him as since a prince charming. of course, i'm sure that's what the writers are trying to do- show us the other, humans-make mistakes-side of him, errggghhh! and christina... she's going to blow soon, i just see it coming. she's giving up too much of herself, even though a wedding IS just ONE DAY of a marriage!

[Lyny]

I'll sound just like so many others there.

PLEASE don't break Mer/Der!! Don,t you remember he told her he'd always come back even if they had a fight?

Can't Meredith have at least one good thing in her life? As in... love?

p.s. I'm not into the spinoff. It's too Californian for me.

[Rebecca]

Ok I will stick with this and finish out watching the season. If Mer and Dereck break up. I'm done with it. Someone mentioned above not entertaining just too damn painful.

[chemistry-less]

You say you owe us an explanation. Not really, certainly not for why this new show - but you do owe us an apology for the lack of continuity with the characters YOU have taught us to love with all their flaws and weaknesses. But now, since McDreamy and Mer are no longer the main characters, understand you need to develop the others, and great job, but why did you replace mer/der with such wimpy doubtul whiny people - even dark and twisty mer we loved, but Derek is just such a huge disappointment. He had to be there for her - I can't stand to watch him flirt or make a pass at another woman, seriously.

[imafan]

After Season 2 I watched all the re-runs over the summer, bought the DVD collection, CD, and was generally obsessed with all things Grey's. Season 3 has been trying. Last night's episode was disappointing. This thing-that-is-not Grey's... It could stand alone. And I hope it will because Addison belongs in Seattle and Mer deserves a break and for the love of all things Grey, PLEASE do something about Derek. McJerk had better not be picking up random brunettes at the bar - that will be asking me to leap a little too far.

[Nikki]

The entire time I was watching I was thinking...please don't let Addison leave Grey's. And pleeaaseee don't hurt meredith anymore it seems like everytime she gets close to someone, something happens and suddenly they're gone. This is the time she needs Derek and I would be heartbroken if Derek cheats on her/ they are no more=(.

[MEE]

Jeff Perry was amazing in this episode - his breakdown at the end blew me away. All along I have wondered how Thatcher and Ellis ever got together, how she could ever have respected him enough to even go out on one date with him. And suddenly last night there it was, this underlying power came out from behind the bumbling dad character.
Not enough Bailey this episode or all season. I hope she is utilized more next season because she is such an amazing character. And Chandra Wilson is an incredible actress who steals every scene she is in - even when you guys give her so few.
I don't know about this new road... Kate Walsh is awesome, so gorgeous and talented, and Addison is one of my favorite characters (she, Bailey, and Cristina take turns being number 1). I like her in Seattle and will miss having her around to strike fear in the hearts of the interns!

[Anaon]

I loved the Addison story, thought the characters and the entire LA story was so good. I will tune in for the spin off for sure.

But sadly, I can't do Grey's anymore. It's too exhausting and tiring to watch. I loved Meredith and Derek so much and this season made me so sad since i remember how hot they were together in season one. I can't watch another season of this show and I have no faith in anyone trying to fix it because it looks like it's just going back to them being broken up. Which i guess is good cause then i won't be tempted to tune back in.

Can't wait for the spin off though, too bad you guys tanked Grey's though.

[George Luva]

OMG! The elevator scene! Seriously! I've watched it 15 times, not kidding.

SOOOOOOO HOOOOTTTT.

Please make George and Izzy work. They are the greatest!

[One more comment]

I just have to say that I agree with an earlier post about Meredith constantly getting her a$$ kicked in this show. Seriously! It has got to tone down a bit. No person can take this much of a beating and still come out alive. Please let her be happy for like two seconds. PLEASE! It is just getting really painful to watch this week after week. And, if Derek really does go... THERE.. with this bar chick, I don't know. That might be it for me. I really will not watch them go through the whole "how do you expect me to trust you when you lied to me about being married... or I mean... hanging out with "bar chick""... thing... again. I just can't. If I wanted to watch people go through relationship hell over and over again, I would tape my own life and watch it on thursday nights! Please save me from that... please...

[soni]

I think you guys have misunderstood something.

We love Addison, we ADORE Addison. But that - that was not Addison! Hello! Addison has GRACE and POISE, she doesn't use words like "freak" and "horny elevators", she doesn't drive convertibles, she's PROFESSIONAL, kick-ass, ELEGANT! *That's* why we love her! She's a little neurotic, yes, but in a much more sophisticated way. She's SUBTLE, nuanced, complicated, that's why we love her!

It seems like you are trying to make her Meredith 2.0. Please, no!

And also this Pete guy...seriously...why don't you just have him walk around with a neon sign above his head saying "Hello, I am Addison's new love interest". Whatever happened to things growing slowly? I much prefer her with Alex, at least that was interesting and surprising.

This wellness group place thing is weird - Addison is one of the best surgeons in the world!! She should be Chief of surgery somewhere, not stuck in some weirdo clinic in LaLa land.

[Hannah]

Loved the episode, but please please please let Mer and Der stay together. He's a rock for her and provides her with stability. Just when she learning to swim again, a tidal wave comes and throws her off course

[Matthew Rushing]

Well, the Addy show was ok, I will be watching it, because in the end It did not hold a candle to GA. The 2 side by side, GA made PP look like a silly CW show.

Meredith talked to Derek and that is good. I think that the problem is, is that she waited too long. I will stay up front that I think that they will work it out, but it will take time. It made sense for Derek to feel out of place when he showed up at the house. He did say no to Meredith and she had to make a life and family for herself to fall back on. He is still on the outside of that. Also, I think that he is still not totally sure that Meredith is up for this. I think that they are playing with the previews for next week. I think that they all at Joe’s for the Bachelor Party and that is where the girl ask Derek about the drink. The pictures from that episode already showed them there. I think that Derek is tired of trying so hard all the time and moving so slow.

I think that Derek has learned when Meredith needs her space. Remember him hovering, she did not like that and when Meredith was slapped and Derek tried to stop her, she told him not now, or something like that. When he saw her in th house, I think that he realized that she need some space to just be and not worry about relationship stuff. Fake-mommy just died, and that is going to be hard for her. He may wait to let her come to him. Meredith has told Derek that she does not know how to have a normal relationship. She is so use to protecting herself and fending for herself. She will only let people in so far. For her when bad things happen, you shut people out and drink. Derek has tried so hard to help Meredith to open up to him. He wants to share in her life’s ups and downs. She was just starting to open to him and then he comes over and finds her with her friends drinking. He may be letting her have her space and that is good. But you notice he was literally on the outside looking in. It is like Meredith has closed down to him again. I am sure that it is exhausting him, putting himself on the line, over and over to be rejected. He loves her, but some people can only take so much rejection.

I think that Derek and Meredith, because the show is about Meredith, will take longer to be together than the other couples. But I also think that they are building, each year, towards them being the kind of people that can have a healthy, real and life long relationship. When you take two people as damaged as Meredith and Derek, it is going to take a lot of time to get them too that point. I like the realism of that. I can also see that the death of Susan could help them grow together, here is why. When Meredith and Thatcher start talking again; I think that he will tell her to not waste her life waiting for the “right time”, because in the end there is no right time. He knows that Derek is a good guy for her and he will encourage her to just do it. Also, I think that Meredith is going to realize that life is short and it has its problems, but love makes it worth it. Derek is her knight in shining whatever and they are made for each other.

So will Derek cheat? I just cannot see Derek cheating, It would be so out of character from what we know that he went through after Addy. In the first episode of this season they showed us how much it damaged him in the flashbacks. Cheating would not be something that Derek would be capable of any more.

Izzie and George are so in love. I think that Callie is going to figure this out and leave George. I am not excited that George did this, but he and Izzie are made for each other.

It was good to see Burke and Cristina have a moment of doubt. I am really glad that they are happy. I hope that they do get married. I think that Burke is having doubts because everyone does. He does have to lead and the Cristina follows. Cristina is changing to be more what Burke wants. Sometimes that is ok and it works for a relationship, we will have to wait and see if it is ok with this one.

[Anne]

I have a feeling that no matter how much we all beg, you are going to break up Meredith and Derek. That breaks my heart because I have faithfully watched this show since the beginning and have gotten the majority of my friends, my sorority, and my extended family to become loyal viewers as well. I love this show dearly - it's pretty much the only one I have time to watch. That said, if you break Meredith and Derek up it will be sad and I will probably cry, but I will still watch the show. However, if Derek cheats on her with some random girl or continues to push Meredith away because of his professional ambitions and if in the aftermath of Derek's poor choices, Meredith continues to be a shell of the strong and confident woman that we all fell in love with in the very first episode of this show, I will stop watching. I get that Meredith and Derek are flawed....I get it, I really do. And while I think that some of his actions and feelings are valid and justified I don't think that Meredith would ever stand for him treating her like he has been or be so constantly concerned solely about what he thinks - she used to have a mind of her own. So if he has to break her heart to make her stronger....then I guess I will understand, but if she is completely broken again then you have lost this viewer. Please fix Meredith. I loved Addie's new show, but I think you are losing a huge asset and many interesting story opportunities on Grey's. She will be missed.

[Lyny]

I just wanted to add... the birth Addison attended to, it brought me back some memories (not the father part, but the nt-crying and the blood-loss parts) of my own...

[Super Fan]

Shonda,

I love Grey's. I love Grey's in the I've watched EVERY episode at least 5 times (I know, get a life), listened to every podcast, read and reread every blog...kind of way.

I think you are amazing, and I especially enjoy your blogs. That said, I hate, hate, hate where you have been taking our Mer/Der lately. The drowning thing was a little far fetched, but I love Grey's so I went along w/ it. The Meredith losing her mother, stepmother, and now Derek is just not believable. You have made Derek into this idealized version of a guy. He has made all kinds of promises, "I've been in love w/ you, forever, This is how it works, I'll still be here". He lost her last year b/c of Addison, almost lost her to Finn, almost lost her in the near drowning incident. Now he is walking away? What the hell? Not believable.

I want my Mer and Der back. Previews show another girl wanting to buy him a drink. So the last epis are already filmed and there isn't anything that can be changed. I hope you can fix things with these two next season.

Several of my friends were disgusted and stopped watching before the show was over last week. That has NEVER happened. We are diehards. We are beyond fist shaking here.

I didn't mind the LA parts w/ Addy. I love her too. I didn't like sharing Seattle Grace time w/ the new characters, but I get it that it has to connect somehow.

I love the Izzy/George thing. And Alex is sooo loveable. Pls bring back Mer/Der...with less turmoil. Please. Pretty please.

That's all for now.

[Heath]

You say you were a Buffy fan, so you CAN'T be shocked at all the shippers freaking out. ;)

I'll be honest: I never much cared for Grey's. I watch, but I've never felt... invested, I guess. But the "Not-Spinoff"? LOVE. Lovelovelove. Maybe I can relate to the new characters more, maybe I love seeing more Addison, maybe I'd pay MONEY to stare at Tim and Taye every week, I can't say, but... I'm on board for Not-Spinoff the way I never was for Gray's.

My only complaint? Can you get a cuter guy to be the supposedly "hot" receptionist? That kid was seriously lacking in the looks department to have all the women drooling over him.

Other than that? Carry on.

[Julie]

Unlike most of the previous posts, I loved, loved, loved the LA scenes. I would love to see more of these people and hope we do! The whole time I was watching, I was thinking that I was going to put my first post here to say that. Amy Brenneman and Taye Diggs were on two of our favorite shows and I love the concept of this potential show.

In Seattle, I can't wait to learn more about Alex, watch Callie find new love (even if it's with George), find out if the chief really retires, see if Cristina and Burke actually make it to the altar and see how Meredith and Derek get over this hump (hint, hint), because I'm sure they will.

[Amie]

Okay, I think I have a new name for McDreamy...McWimpy. What a freaking wimp. Anytime something gets a little rough he runs. "Oh I'll be there for you Mer". Yeah but only if you conform to exactly what I want when I want. I hate him, he's actually making McSteamy look moral.

Oh and the new show, put it on before Grey's and I'm there. I love love love love love Tim Daly, I have had a huge crush on him since I watched him in Wings. I think it would be a great show.

So put Mer with McSteamy and leave Mr McWimpy by himself.

[Super Fan]

Shonda,

I love Grey's. I love Grey's in the I've watched EVERY episode at least 5 times (I know, get a life), listened to every podcast, read and reread every blog...kind of way.

I think you are amazing, and I especially enjoy your blogs. That said, I hate, hate, hate where you have been taking our Mer/Der lately. The drowning thing was a little far fetched, but I love Grey's so I went along w/ it. The Meredith losing her mother, stepmother, and now Derek is just not believable. You have made Derek into this idealized version of a guy. He has made all kinds of promises, "I've been in love w/ you, forever, This is how it works, I'll still be here". He lost her last year b/c of Addison, almost lost her to Finn, almost lost her in the near drowning incident. Now he is walking away? What the hell? Not believable.

I want my Mer and Der back. Previews show another girl wanting to buy him a drink. So the last epis are already filmed and there isn't anything that can be changed. I hope you can fix things with these two next season.

Several of my friends were disgusted and stopped watching before the show was over last week. That has NEVER happened. We are diehards. We are beyond fist shaking here.

I didn't mind the LA parts w/ Addy. I love her too. I didn't like sharing Seattle Grace time w/ the new characters, but I get it that it has to connect somehow.

I love the Izzy/George thing. And Alex is sooo loveable. Pls bring back Mer/Der...with less turmoil. Please. Pretty please.

That's all for now.

[Sara]

Why can't Mark go with Addison? Seriously?! You're breaking my heart, really shattering me here. I'm broken now. I love Mark, I love him whole-heartedly, and Eric was really the reason that I got invested in your show, Eric and Kate. And now, now I don't know what to do. I don't want to give up on you, really, I don't...but I hung in, despite MerDer, despite O'Callie, and what's worse, through Gizzie. I was hoping against hope that maybe, just maybe Mark would get a chance. I even allowed myself to kind of love Addisex, because Mark was so raw, so beautiful and selfless...but what I really wanted, what I really was hoping for ultimately, was for Mark and Addison to be together.