Shonda on the Season Premiere Episode "A Change Is Gonna Come"...

Original Airdate: 9-27-07

So…change.

Change is good.  Change is everything.

Change is also what’s in the stomach of that guy who can’t stop eating weird crap.

Welcome to Season Four.  SEASON FOUR.  I can’t believe we made it this far.  We’re proud to have made it this far.  Let me tell you, Season Three was not easy for anybody and we’re glad to have it behind us.  It’s all new dawn, new day over here and people are happy as freaking pie about it.

The interns are residents now, with interns of their own.  Except for George, poor George, who is stuck repeating his intern year.  He’s a repeater.  And it’s not easy being a repeater.  It pretty much sucks being a repeater.  He’s the only who hasn’t gone through any change when we begin the episode.  But by the end, he has.  He tells Izzie that he loves her too.  Which takes guts.  Because he knows what he is getting into.  He’s a married man, he’s a married man with a great wife, and he never intended to be a married man who loved another woman.  Man, is he in for some change.

I’ve been reading the boards.  I know how a lot of y’all feel about the George/Izzie of it all.  But stay tuned because it gets really interesting.  And funny.  And sad.  And I’m pretty sure what comes is unexpected.

Meredith and Derek are “broken up” by the end of this first episode.  But what does that really mean?  Especially when break up means break up sex?  Are they really apart?  Poor Meredith can’t quite deal with all that is expected of her in this relationship but they love each other, they really truly love each other and so…how much can they really be broken up?

I gotta say, I’m really rooting for the two of them to make it.  For Meredith to get her act together and learn to trust someone.  Someone other than Cristina.  Whom she honeymooned with. 

That was my favorite detail.  That Meredith and Cristina went on Cristina’s honeymoon together.  Because that is so exactly what my best friends and I would have done (my best friends are named Cristina and Debbie – they are my Cristina and Izzie) if I had been left at the altar by a spectacular heart surgeon on the day of my wedding.  We would have gone on that honeymoon and tried to have a good time.  We would have been fine.  Which is what Cristina is – fine.  Or she’s trying to be.  Fine.  But she’s not.  She’s not fine and we know she’s not fine because when she’s looking at the internally decapitated man and his family all together at the end, she’s devastated. 

Bailey.  I love her.  And I love that she’s not at ALL about to let the Chief off the hook for not making her Chief Resident.  After all, she’s BAILEY.  She’s worked hard, she’s been the best.  And isn’t it just like the Chief to decide what is best for her?  It’s his flaw, the Chief.  He’s an old school man and like an old school man, he’s taking care of his women.  Whether they like it or not.  Whether they want to be taken care of or not.  This isn’t gonna be an easy pill for Bailey to swallow…

But my most favorite thing about this episode?  Mark and Derek kinda making up.  That moment when Mark professes his “intentions” to Derek about why he came to Seattle is priceless.  And charming.  And a little bit sweet.   They were the very best of friends, these two.  They grew up together.  So it’s so true that they would go back to being friends in the absence of Addison…

Addison, by the way, is living her life over on Wednesday nights.  It’s a good life.  And I’m not saying you should check it out.  But…you should check it out.

Back to Seattle:  Lexie Grey is here now.  And she’s here to stay.  I love that she’s a bit of a dork.  Being a dork myself, I am fond of the girls with verbal diarrhea.  Because it’s not easy to keep all your words in – believe me.  It’s the reason I identify so much with Callie.  Poor Callie.  She’s got a lot of unpleasant stuff heading her way in the coming weeks.  Things she never imagined she would have to go through.  But the one thing she will never do is keep silent.

Okay, this blog was late and now, it’s short.  But that’s because I have to get back to writing scripts for the show…

Thank you for watching.  I mean that.  We mean that.  All of us over here at Grey’s mean it.  We’re staring at a new dawn, new day but that doesn’t mean we aren’t grateful to every single one of you for watching…

Comments

[Dani A.]

First of all, Thank you Shonda, and all the writers. I absolutely loved the seaosn premiere. So did everyone I know. we are still talking about it.

I am not liking what I am reading on some boards on the internet from the fans that Lexie Grey is a possible Meredith replacement on the show. I know you will never do that to Mer. She's Meredith, she's our girl. "The one" you know the Grey in Grey's Anatomy. And I can't see anyone playing that part other than the gorgeous ever so talented Ellen P. (someone please give her an award already).

Anyway, I am not really liking Lexie yet. Maybe as you said, its that dorky thing. Don't know, she's just hard to swallow.

Meredith and Derek, I loved the breakup story. Making it easy for meredith to grow into a relationship with Derek by believing they are not in a relationship but enjoying the "sex and mockery" of it. I like it, and see a lot of funny dramatic moments to come from it. and hopefully help Meredith deal with her fear and insecurities and grow towards Derek since they have the most amazing on screen chemistry on TV. And Love each other so much.
And its great that Derek showed us he gets Meredith when he defended her to Mark. Loved that scene, and the later scene between those two.

Not a fan of George and Izzie though. but interested to see how it goes.

Thank you for a great show indeed. If you only knew how many people are watching this show where I am. I live in Jordan, Middle East. And you have a HUGE and I mean HUGE fan base here. We are loving every minute of it.
Cheers.

[kammommy]

Love the show - welcome season 4. I will follow along even though I may not always agree with your plan. Isn't that the point though. To scream angrily at the characters on your TV wondering what is going on. And to cry and smile when something wonderful happens to them. Thanks for all that you do.

[trn219]

I understand that George is married, but the hatred for the George & Izzie pairing seems to go beyond that and I don't understand it. Who doesn't want to fall in love with their best friend? I think they have more chemistry than George & Callie. And, Derek was married in the beginning too...Callie doesn't deserve to be hurt, but why can't anyone cut George a little slack? He made a poor decision in the wake of his father's death.

[Liz]

Loved the first episode... can't wait for the rest of the season! The whole connection between the deer and George was pretty obvious... Izzie was able to save the deer, therefore she believes that she can save George. Also the conversation between Christina and Alex at the end was really nice. Can't wait for Thursday's episode!

[~ Lo]

Grey's is back!!!!! I cannot begin to tell you how freaking excited I am!

I loved the priemere. I thought it was awesome, save for the deer thing. I so could've done without that. You know what else I could've done without? Gizzie. Eww, I like the characters apart (well I like George, Izzie, I'm a little annoyed with this second) but as a couple? Just eww. I know you keep saying in interviews that you guys never touted Gizzie as the love affair of the century. The thing is, I'm just not sold on the fact that Izzie all of the sudden slept with him, and then bam! she was in love. Not after how she dealed with Denny.

Ok, onto more positive things: MerDer!!!!!!!!! Thank you for the "break up" kiss and sex! That was the hottest thing ever! I'm very optimistic about these two, and I beg you, please don't kill my hopes for MerDer. Last season? I liked last season, but I didn't love it as a whole b/c you damn near killed my MerDer, and that's just a no-no. Please let Meredith begin to trust him and communicate with Derek. I want her to be happy.

I feel so bad for Cristina, and I absolutely adored the Cris/Alex scene at the end where they confess to missing Burke/Rebecca respectively. And I look forward to the evolution of the Derek/Mark friendship. Both of their scenes last episode were wonderful.

And Lexie- well at least I don't hate her anymore. She seems genuinely nice, and all, but she's annoying. I just don't do perky and dorky. And I guess I'm having a difficult time liking her b/c she's had everything Mer was denied her whole life. Until Mer's happy, thne I could work on actually liking Lexie. However, I do hope she and Mer are able to form a bond. Actually, I'd like to see more of Molly. I really liked her.

Anyway, I have procrastinated enough on my stupid homework. I'm looking forward to tomorrow's episode. Here's to a funner and lighter season 4 in which you hopefully give Ellen Pompeo the material so that she can finally be recognized for her amazing talent. (yeah I'm still bitter she wasn't nominated...freaking blind emmy people)

And please, Shonda & Co, listen to us. Listen to your fans!!! Especially the MerDer ones ;)

[Dani A.]

First of all, Thank you Shonda, and all the writers. I absolutely loved the seaosn premiere. So did everyone I know. we are still talking about it.

I am not liking what I am reading on some boards on the internet from the fans that Lexie Grey is a possible Meredith replacement on the show. I know you will never do that to Mer. She's Meredith, she's our girl. "The one" you know the Grey in Grey's Anatomy. And I can't see anyone playing that part other than the gorgeous ever so talented Ellen P. (someone please give her an award already).

Anyway, I am not really liking Lexie yet. Maybe as you said, its that dorky thing. Don't know, she's just hard to swallow.

Meredith and Derek, I loved the breakup story. Making it easy for meredith to grow into a relationship with Derek by believing they are not in a relationship but enjoying the "sex and mockery" of it. I like it, and see a lot of funny dramatic moments to come from it. and hopefully help Meredith deal with her fear and insecurities and grow towards Derek since they have the most amazing on screen chemistry on TV. And Love each other so much.
And its great that Derek showed us he gets Meredith when he defended her to Mark. Loved that scene, and the later scene between those two.

Not a fan of George and Izzie though. but interested to see how it goes.

Thank you for a great show indeed. If you only knew how many people are watching this show where I am. I live in Jordan, Middle East. And you have a HUGE and I mean HUGE fan base here. We are loving every minute of it.
Cheers.

[Sherri]

I'm one of the minority out there that LOVES "Gizzie". Sometimes you can find true love and a best friend all rolled into one. They complete each other. Also want some happiness and truth talk from MerDer. Great show, and I have checked Wed night out - it's pretty good. Forgot how much I missed seeing Amy Brenneman on TV.

[Ben]

Shonda! Keep The George/Izzie stuff going! They are the best! I think more people love them than you think. Hope it doesn't get too sad...

[StephRo]

Okay, so I was about to say I was disappointed with that season premier, but then you gave us that beautiful Mer/Der moment...which was-well, beautiful! When Meredith wasn't making eye-contact with Derek, you could just tell how much she didn't want to break-up with him, and it showed that she really does love him! YAY! and then George confessing his love to Izzie! I have to admit, I was not a fan of the "Gizzie" thing, but after that one line, my heart was theirs. It was so great! Even if I didn't agree at first, they do love each other, whether it be as friends or more, I have to say, you sold me on that.

Oh yeah, and I was thinking, since it is the start of a new year, does that mean another DEAD BABY BIKE RACE?! actually, I think I'm saying, PLEASE bring a dead baby bike race! I'm not gonna lie, I loved Viper (the guy with the ruptured parentanethis thingy)! Because he told Meredith she'd be seeing him again, and I know she saw him again later in the episode, but how great would it be for him to come back?!! or atleast brnig someone from the Dead Baby Bike Race!!!

Anyway, well done on that season premier, it was very very very good!

oh yeah, and did the Deer (bambi) represent George (also bambi)? Is Izzie going to save George somehow? Are you foreshadowing again? Izzie isn't giving up on George even though everyone else thinks she's crazy, or does Izzie literally save George's life? Or does Izzie help George save his marriage? AH! I'm SO excited for the rest of this season!!!

[Patty]

Gizzie is still despicable

TEAM CALLIE ALL THE WAY!

[Suisan]

You're back! And looking a lot like the first two seasons. There has to be change, else how can a series go on. Along with everyone else, I'm happy to see Meredith/Derek being themselves again. I actually loved the deer scene - the good side of Izzy. It's been a long wait and I thought it would never arrive, but you are back. I welcome you and Betsy, doing what you do best.

About the other though..PP..I couldn't get beyond the first half hour. I hope you will bring Addison home to Seattle Grace.

[Brigette]

When you say you know how we feel about the George and Izzie of it all, who are you talking to? Just the haters, or the people who LOVE IT LIKE ME?! AHH! I must have re-watched those last 2 minutes when George comes to Izzie's door 5,4728 times! I know you're totally going to put my heart through a meat grinder before the season- heck, before the SERIES is over with those two- but thanks for not just droping them like a sack of potatoes. I hope you writers give them a chance...someday at least!!!

This was a fun episode, made me laugh. I'm excited to see where things go next!

[Mary from Washington State]

Hey Shonda. Just wanted to let you know that I'm loving the new and improved Grey's. Season 3 was hard for me to stomach and I was depressed a lot, but now Mer's hair is lighter (not so dark and twisty) and I'm excited for some smokin' hot MerDer. Can't wait to see what you deliver to us. Have a great day. And I want to thank everyone else who works on the show too. I know it wouldn't happen if it weren't for the little people. Keep up the great work.

[Charlotte]

Shonda, I like the first episode, very entertaining with the new interns. Amazing how atitudes change in one year. I am glad to see Mer and Der haven't lost it all, yet... I'm very interested to see how they will work out their problems, and how maybe Mer will finally learn to trust Derek. The whole triangle between Mer/Der/Adison was very akward for her. Maybe she will honeymoon with Derek next time, and not Christina.

I am looking forward to see how George and Izzie will work things out. Feel sorry for Callie, she is such a great person.

Loved the deer, hopefully the new interns will learn something like integrity.

[Megan]

That speech that Izzie gave her new interns at the end after saving the deer was the best thing i've seen in a while. great episode. keep 'em coming!

[DixieGirl]

Well, it's better than last year.

Shonda, you and GA are still on probation.

Keep the writing sharp. Funny. Poignant, not sappy. INTELLIGENT!

Keep the characters IN CHARACTER. You built some amazing people in S1 & S2, well defined, 3 dimensional, DEEP characters. And in S3, you played with cardboard cutouts of those characters...and spilt a lot of that good Seattle coffee all over them too, by the way.

I'm not going to tell you how to develop your storylines - but when you tell us that two people are soulmates - then your storylines should substantiate that, not make us scratch our heads and wonder who those clones are and why they are acting so stupidly...

Finally - SHOW us, don't TELL us. You get a B+ for 4.01. Use your words, use your actors, use your sets. Show us how they relate, what they say, what they feel, what they think. If I have to read about it here, then you have failed as a teleVISION show.

Best scene in 4.01 - Mark and Derek in front of the OR board. It had everything that a GA episode should have in that single scene.

Worst scene - Izzie in the pickup bed. C'mon Shonda, get real. The message was ok, the portrayal was lame. Give KH a break – Gizzie’s enough of a cross to bear.

Favorite scene - (what can I say - I love Mer/Der) The oncall room. It's a good start.

I totally agree with one of the earlier posters - you sucked up a lot of love with the mess from last season. 4.01 was THIRD in ratings. Want to get back on top? Get your act together, Shonda, and keep it together. Forget about MUST!SEE!TV! and treat our characters with some love. We don't need a ferryboat disaster or a bomb scare...just a credible storyline for the INCREDIBLE cast to bring alive for us.

[Carli]

George and Izzie must die! i'm so not kidding that I won't watch if they are together and Callie isn't happy, which is inevitable for a couple of weeks and I understand that, so I'm giving it until episode 8 for you guys to give Callie some sort of happiness. And seriously where did kicking ass and taking names Callie go because the woman I saw on my television was not her. I want her back! And Bailey, WTF!, she was absolutely mean to Callie for no reason, it's not Callie's fault that she got CR over her, she should go yell at the Chief and leave Callie alone. But aside from all of that the one, well two things that saved the episode a little bit was Mark and Derek-seriously the best line of the episode came from Mark, can't wait for them to be friends again and MER/DER I know a lot of people are freaking out that they are "broken up," but I don't care all that matters is that at the end of the day they're in the same bed.

Final Note- Saw the promo and I have a really good feeling that I'm gonna be crying the whole episode next week because of what is going to happen to Callie and the fact that george is all gung-ho to break her heart.

[Christy (ckcpurple)]

LOVE IT!!! I think the #4 is off to a great start. Once again I wasn't sure how you could top last season and once again I can see you are going to do it!!!

Glad to see Derek thought long and hard for 17 days. His speech to Mark - THE BEST. (Though Mark's comment later to Derrick about coming for him did sound true after last season with Addison; however, I would like him and Derek to be friends again....at some point...maybe!)

Glad too that George took his time even though that meant torturing Izzie with 17 days of waiting and means adding to Callie's eventual hurt because she had 17 more days of hope.

Loving Lexie. Her speech to George was awesome and love that she's like Meredith without being all dark & twisty.

Bailey was SUPER fantastic. Less is more!!!

And finally, Cristina. Well, Cristina and Karev. Things really are over for them (unlike Mer/Der). Thanks for showing the fine-yet-not-fine moments. Can't wait to see what is in store for them. For everyone.

Thanks for a STELLAR kick-off!

[Sarah]

I thought it was great. It got back to the funny, while still bringing me to tears (with the decapitated man and his family). LOVED the direction of mer/der and hope this evolves into a healthy relationship this time. Gizzie...well it's Izzie and George, and a little weird, but whatever's done is done, so I can handle it. I hope the funny stays this season. I hope the mer/der STAYS this season (how about a season finale that doesn't leave their relationship hanging in the balance?)

Anyways, good job!

[Kelly]

LOVE the show. Seriously. A lot.

But just one comment on this: "I gotta say, I’m really rooting for the two of them to make it. For Meredith to get her act together and learn to trust someone"

This is true, but even more than that, I hope Derek learns to stop being a jerkoff. I hate him. Not in an "I hate this character and wish he didn't exist or was written differently" kind of way.. more in an "if he were real I'd punch him in the head" kind of way. He's verbally abusive the Meredith, and I'm so sick of everyone ignoring that and acting like he's all perfect and great (I did love Cristina's line, "I don't like you because you're you"). He's an arrogant SOB and needs to work on that, while Meredith works on her trust issues.

[Amy - SkullFlap]

I loved everything about the episode. Gizzie kind of makes me sick but I am willing to deal with it because I know all will be made right in the end.......right?

One more thing.....PLEASE give us more Eric Dane this year...he's so funny....and hot. Patrick and Eric together will send the ratings soaring:-)

[Taylor]

I think I have probably been one of greys anatomy's biggest fans since the pilot, I remember sitting on my couch and right away knowing this show was going to be different. It started off with this girl and this guy whom everyone came to fall in love with. It was everyone's perfect escape every week for one hr you could sit down and just watch these people and relate to every single one of them. The first two season were fantastic and the season finale for the 2nd season was sensational, the writing was so witty and left you with that feeling of sadness yet total excitement to see what the next season would bring. Though I really don't know how to describe the 3rd season. Merder were finally together in a relationship, but I some how felt like they were more together in the 2nd season when der was married to addison. They were like an old married couple that just bickered, and that was definately not the merder that I had come acostomed to. I always thought of merder as fresh, filled with passion but I can remember in the 3rd season where it seemed like they maybe had 2 minutes of onscreen time together and when they were onscreen they were really not even talking. I understand what you are saying with it was a hard year for the interns, but in all reality in was just downright gloomy in everything. It felt like the finale didn't have any real cliffhangers, it was everything everyone expected. I was very leary about the new 4rth season because I felt that you may have dug a hole to far down, but I am happy to say that GREYS ANATOMY MAY BE BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I thought they premiere was GREAT it felt like the interns we are used to. Izzie and the dear was priceless, and all the new interns with the residents was very fresh. I like that der and marks relationship seems to be slowly coming together and I definately loved how der defending mer against mark. The end was great with der and mer I think I really liked the new spin you put on merder relationship, because mer needs the big sign of relationship lifted off of her head for awhile and by doing that I think there relationship will be able to grow by doing this. I am not sure about George and Izzie I don't really think I like the idea of them, but in a way I understand it, I don't necessarily like Callie with George either that being said. ANYWAYS I am glad that greys anatomy is back and I look forward to the upcoming eppys.

[from the philippines]

hi shonda,
i checked this post everyday since last week to see if you posted anything.thank God you did. i wanted some explanation on gizzie. i'm afraid for callie. i'm afraid for george. whatever happened to his belief that he's not into divorce? i'm afraid that if callie will fight for george, and she takes him back, she's settling. and thats not callie's character. she's strong, beautiful and smart. please don't destroy her dignity. and the residents disrespecting callie, callie, please put your foot down. no, they have to respect callie. can callie threaten them with a failing eval if ever? so what what if they all hate her? and please dnt degrade callie in front of bailey.
and lexie? thank you for not making her character a bitch. thank you for her patience and her kindness. i was expecting a lexie who wants to steal derek and someone who wants to make meredith's life a living hell when she "killed" her mother. i thought she came there to rub it in her face. and izzie, please, i pray i never be that shallow, self absorbed and just downright mean to callie (i saw that smile when callie said she's having a hard time) i'm starting to hate her. redeem yourself gizie. oh, and if in the end of the gizzie, izzie will do the "self less act" and do what's right by giving up george but is secretly pining for him,and george doing what's right and therefore going back to his wife? die. thats so not the right way. settling? please no. i want george to leave izzie and willingly go back to callie.

greys anatomy forever

p.s i could feel the non-presence of adisson and burke. what a loss.

[lilkatie79]

Great job with the season opener and Private Practice.

I have always enjoyed the show, regardless of the heaviness of the last half of last season, but I do have a few quick comments in relation to the upcoming season:

Just because we lost Burke, we do not have to lose Mama Burke (write her in as a hospital board member or something).

Please at some point follow up on the Izzie/Daughter storyline (we, well I, would like to see her mother, too).

Anyway, I'm looking forward to all of the wonderful scenes and situations that you, the writers, cast and crew will create for us!!!

You're back, baby!