Mark Wilding on "Superfreak"...

Original Airdate: 10-7-10

I think one of the worst things you can tell a writer is write what you know.  Or a close corollary of that – write about your life.  If you put my life on a movie screen, the audience would demand their money back.  They wouldn’t just walk out of the theatre, they’d stampede the ushers in their rush to the exits.  Unless the ushers, bored to death themselves, had already quit their job and gone home.   As much as I really enjoy my job – I feel EXTREMELY fortunate that I get to work with a lot of fun people every day – my life itself is relatively boring. 

It’s divided into spending forever driving on the freeways, going to some event at my kids’ schools where none of the other parents talk to me, playing the occasional frustrating round of golf (Why aren’t I better than this??  I’ve been playing this sport for 40 years for God’s sake!!), having the occasional run-in with a rude department store clerk or bank employee and going out to dinner with my wife.  I like my wife so that part’s less boring.  She’s also kind enough to back me up after I’ve had my run-in with the rude store and/or bank employee.  Although, now that I think of it, she’s probably getting a little bored herself with my long-winded, self-justifying accounts of those run-ins. 

Little bits and pieces of my life do occasionally show up on Grey’s Anatomy.  Derek’s taking up golf.  I lobbied for that.  I also suggested he and Mark hit golf balls off the hospital roof last season.  I didn’t suggest the Derek storyline with his estranged sister – that was Shonda’s idea -- but it was an easy story for me to identify with.  I have a little sister who’s ten years younger than me.  We’re not estranged, far from it in fact, she’s great.  But, like Derek and his sister Amy, our dad died when I was 15 and she was five.  He wasn’t shot.  He had a heart attack.  And ever since then I’ve wanted to protect her from what’s out there in the world.  After all, that’s what older brothers do.  Protect their little sisters.  Because the world doesn’t always make you feel good about yourself.  In fact, more often than not, the world makes you feel like you don’t belong.  Like you’ve missed out on the joke.  Like you’re, yes… a freak.  

Yup, that was the theme of my episode.  Freaks.  Because basically we are all Treemen.  Physically, we may not have the warts but metaphorically we sure as hell do.  Especially when I go to these damn school functions where nobody talks to me.  Nobody!  And, by the way, it’s not like I don’t make the effort – I DO!  I ask the other parents about themselves and their wonderfully accomplished and oh so brilliant children (I’m never this sarcastic with them, I promise) but, even then, even with all the effort I’m putting into the conversation, they start looking around like they want to talk to someone, ANYONE, but me!!  THEY CAN’T LOOK AT ME.  Yes, suddenly I’M A TREEMAN!!  At a PTA Meeting!!! 

By the way, most of you probably already know this -- the Treeman is based on a true story about a guy whose warts have grown so out of control he looks like, well, a tree.  If our depiction of him wasn’t gross enough for you, you can go to YouTube and watch him in his home in the Philippines.  You can also watch the operations to remove all his warts and disturbing-looking growths.  In my episode though, the story is really about his long-suffering wife (played wonderfully by Jolene Kim; kudos also to the angry Treeman in my episode – Art Chudabala -- he was great.  Also extremely patient, it took our make-up department FIVE HOURS every day to put on all those warts and growths).  Emotionally, the story plays on Mark when Mrs. Treeman wonders if love is enough to keep a couple together.  That even though you desperately love someone, you’re at such different points in your life, it just can’t work.  Which is a very sad realization for Mark when it comes to Lexie.  

Meantime, Lexie’s doing her very best to empathize with the Treeman.  After all, she’s been in his shoes.  For the first couple of episodes she was the one everybody in the hospital was staring at.  We never comment on Lexie’s state of mind until the end of the episode but, after being committed, Lexie thinks the world sees her as kind of a freak.  Or as she puts it – “a psycho running naked down the hallway.”  But even her empathy for freaks can’t prevent her from having a thing about warts.  By the way, when we were coming up with the story in the room, one of the writers was so grossed out by even the mention of warts, we had to call them puppies.  Which, yes, made this writer a little bit of a freak.  And yes, this writer has given me permission to use her name.  This writer was Krista Vernoff.  You know how Bailey jumped ten feet back when she saw the spider?  That was Krista every time we mentioned warts.  Sorry.  Puppies… 

The other love story we got to play in the episode was Teddy with the trauma shrink, Andrew Perkins.  Teddy gets to have her freakishness explained to her near the end of the episode.  What’s her problem?  Simple.  She chooses men who aren’t available!  Bam.  Wouldn’t it be great if somebody could do that for us in our every day lives?  Maybe some helpful parent would tell me that the reason the other parents at school functions turn away from me is that I’m boring.  Or that I’m such a brilliant conversationalist they feel they can’t keep up.  Yeah, I like that one.  I’m going with that one for now. 

The nice thing about having a big cast is that you get to mix and match the characters in a hundred different ways.  You don’t often get to see Derek and Cristina together in a story line – they’re not tremendously fond of each other – but she did save his life.  We hadn’t played any of the fallout from that yet this season.  We got our chance to do so in this episode and it made me wonder why the heck we don’t have these two actors together more often.  Patrick and Sandra were FANTASTIC together.  Of course, the sad part of the story was that despite Derek’s best intentions, Cristina is nowhere near healed.  At this point she might, in fact, be the biggest freak at Seattle Grace.  Her PTSD is crippling.  The question remains --will she ever come back from what happened? 

Finally, there’s the subject of April’s virginity and the fact it makes her feel like a freak.  I’m happy with the way we handled the story.  Callie once called Seattle Grace high school with scalpels.  When the other residents find out about April, they react the way high schoolers might react – with some incredulity and a fair amount of cruelty.  Which is what makes April’s speech at the end so affecting.  Her virginity ISN’T drinks conversation.  And she points out that, after this shooting, they’ve all become freaks in their own way.  It’s how they cope.  Which is why I think I play golf.  It helps me escape, if only for a few hours, the things life throws at me – the long drives to work, the run-ins with store clerks, the indifferent reception by private school parents.  And as frustrating as the sport can be, it’s also really really hard.  Most people can’t play it well.  Most people feel less good about themselves when they’re out on the course.  And I guess that’s what I like about it so much.  Because when that many people feel they can’t do something, you’ve joined the brotherhood of golfing freaks.  And it doesn’t matter how good you are, at some point, anyone who’s every played the game has walked off the 18th hole feeling like a failure.  There’s camaraderie in our ineptness.  And for that, I am profoundly comforted and more than a little grateful…

Comments

[Andrea]

I complained about Callie Arizona and their non passion on the last blog entry. Im gonna go ahead and take that back haha. And DAMMIT MARK. Or really it's more like DAMMIT LEXIE, why did she have to be too late. I hope she realizes she was too late and doesn't think he just didn't care. I like them together. I really enjoyed Derek being the person helping Christina, that was so enjoyable to watch. HAHAH Bailey's alcohol in her locker. Great episode.

[Sarah]

Alex Karev... he's a character on the show in case you guys forgot. At least he used to be one of the core characters but sadly he's basically been non-existent this season.

[Erin]

Completely enjoyed tonight's episode Mark. Thank you.

Patrick and Sandra were amazing together. Sandra is always the high point for me but she and Patrick together were even better. More please.

In reading around the internet I'm sorry to say you've got a lot of bitterness and hate coming your way. Please know that most of the Grey's fanbases are not miserable and nasty.

Have a good night.

[joan]

I STILL BELIEVE- MEXIE FOREVER! little-big love

[Paula]

Thank you for a brilliant episode! Season 7 has been amazing so far...

- Loved Derek and Cristina interaction - loved that he tried to get her back in the groove. But like Owen he had the best intentions, but she is just not ready

- Cristina/Mer/Derek in bed! LOL

- Derek/Owen talk was all kinds of awesome. ET!!!! Yeah, Mer/Cristina kind do remind of Elliot/ET LOL

- Treeman was a freaky patient but was really cool.

- It was so funny seeing Bailey scared of a spider

- Loved the Cristina/Owen "would you love me" moment - just so magical. Thank you for getting back to the S5 lovestory. All I can say is WOW, you have hooked me all over again. The funny thing it doesn't take much a one minute CO scene like that was just perfection. And then you topped it off with the hillarious at home scene with Callie/Arizona busting in. LMAO The look on Owen and Cristina's face was priceless!!!

- I am with Meredith, I actually liked April setting everyone straight that they all have their hangups. Don't we all.

[Lisa]

Great episode... loved every moment of it. You all are on a roll this season please keep this momentum up.

Cristina/Derek was great. I also loved the Derek/Owen interaction. Just a few minutes of Owen/Cristina together but that is all that is necessary for me to tune. They are all kinds of awesome. It was SOOOOO nice to have such sweet moments even though Cristina is still struggling. They are amazing when they are fighting or snuggling!

[Kelly]

Patrick and Sandra did great. I liked Derek with his sister and Cristina. The Chief helping Alex was great. I adore Lexie. I want Mark and Lexie back together. Hated Mark by the end. He's the one who needs to mature and grow. Lexie is no kid and deserves better than being forgotten that she's in the room.

[Allison]

Hope Cristina gets her mojo back. Loving Owen and Cristina right now, even though Cristina is lost she has the love and support of her "family" - Owen, Meredith and Cristina. Owen loving her even if she was a plumber was exactly what she needed to hear and Owen telling her the most important thing is would she love herself if she was a plumber. Love supportive Owen! Derek helping Cristina was great and so was the treeman patient. Bailey was so funny.

[nyla]

Derek being there for Cristina was sweet. Not only because she saved his life (even though that's all Derek said), but because it's his wife's best friend ... her sister.

THANK YOU for the one little Mark and Callie scene. Her grabbing his face cracked me up but was also so sweet, so "them". Those two are made for eachother. :)

Another big THANK YOU for April's reason for being a virgin being something relatable and not something tortured or dramatic.

Loved the girls hanging out drinking from Bailey's stash. I've missed the Callie/Bailey bond, and I'm glad to see those moments.

It's all about the relationships and the bonds, right?! :)

[Jen]

My heart ached when Cristina said "I can't sleep when you are not there" So happy she has Owen to help her thru this and just love her. But I do hope we get our snarky, confident Cristina back eventually. We got a glimpse of her tonight when she was laughing and pushing Alex to go "deflower" April!!!! LOL

[Kelly]

Great episode!!!

I can understand that feeling of feeling like a freak in our own way.

It breaks my heart to see Lexie's face after she saw Mark go into the on-call room!

[chelseaintexas]

I agree with the lines Derick tells Christina. They are in each others lives and they would not have chosen it but are there anyway. I think that Callie and Arizona are great, specially in the end when they strip on their way to the bedroom. Kind of a throwback to how Christina got George out after the sex with Mer. It was great to see April and Jackson be [art of everything.
I fell like letting my freak flag fly now.
Keep up the great work.

[Leez]

Great episode. The comedy bits were well written and acted. Had me laugh out loud.

Liked April in this episode. Loved the sweet Cristina/Owen scenes - a break from the angst....yeah. Loved the derek/Owen scenes too.

Teddy just needs to go....and fast. I get frustrated seeing her eat up screen time which would be better used elsewhere.

Bit confused on Derek's problem with his sis, but did love their ending scene.

Did you have to show such a detailed close up of a squished spider? Thought that was more gross than the treeman....

Great job. This season so far has been excellent.

[Ana M.]

Hi Mark,

First thing, I'm sorry about your father.

I have to congratulate you on a couple of things.

First, the last Derek & Amelia scene. That was so beautifully written and I really felt Derek's pain (props to PD on it) explaining to Amy about the murder and why he didn't call her. It was great.

Then, the fact that Derek took Cristina under his wing. The last scene at the morgue when she did Derek's procedure all over again, with Derek explaining was beautiful. I still wonder about boundaries (you know, sleeping over a married couple's bed with the couple in it) but that's a lost battle, I guess.

I really would wish that the living situation never happened. I find it unnecessary for two additional roomates to happen.

Also...SPIDERS?!?! Not cool. I also need brandy after that.

I didn't feel sorry for April. I wanted to throw a shoe at Teddy.

Thanks.

[Mari (from Brazil)]

Great episode, for sure.

But the problem is too much people.
Too much storylines to be told in just one episode.

That’s why we feel some of them were wasted.

I love a lot of PD, and he rocks as always, but for sure we needed more interaction with Amelia.
I’m proud he stood up for Cristina.

And I’m tired to talk about how we miss MerDer scenes…

[Judy]

Wonderful episode, Mark! I really enjoyed it! Of course I'll say right off the bat that the wart guy and the spider will probably give me nightmares tonight, so thanks for that...

Can I tell you first how much I'm enjoying the Owen/Cristina story line this season? I'm going to erase season 6 from my mind now and focus on all the good stuff you writers are giving us now when it comes to this couple. Owen is back -- the Owen we fell in love with who fell hard for Cristina the very first time he met her. He's solid, he's strong, and he's not going anywhere. He's certainly not ambivalent about who he loves, which was something I never bought in the first place. It's always been Cristina for him, and now we get to see that. Thank you!

I also enjoyed the Derek/Cristina pairing this episode, and how Derek takes care of the people in his life -- even when he doesn't necessarily like them all that much. His reaction to reaching over and finding Cris in his bed was also priceless.

Loved Callie and Arizona's little "show" to get Owen and Cris to move out at the end. Much better than trying to talk them into it.

Loved the Chief and Alex in the elevator.

Loved the virginity talk at the end, and watching April finally develop a spine. She was getting a little too insipid for me, but now I have some hope.

Oh, and thank you for giving us a reason for Teddy's mooning over an unavailable Owen last season that does NOT implicate Owen as a cheater or nitwit. She's the one with the problem, and she's following true to form with another unavailable man. Maybe now she can move ahead and find someone suitable. Though I have to say Tupper was a nice addition and I wouldn't mind seeing him come back.

Nice job. Thank goodness GA is BACK!

[Moz]

Mark, this episode was outstanding, for me amongst the show's best. No kidding.

Thank you so much. If this is what season 7 is, then sign me up.

[lothiriel]

so basically lex and mark are never feeling the same thing for each other ... once one love the other, then stops, and suddenly the other falls in love again ... I seriously hope they are gonna be a couple soon, can't watch this episode for now bcoz of Mark forgetting so easily how he was going to propose to Lex during the last episode ...

[Lex Dawson]

I have to agree with the statement about pairing Derek with Cristina and rightly so that more should be seen of the two of them together. As he pointed out, the two of them are in a GA way, family and it was incredible to see him stand up for her.

I'm not the first to say that I found April annoying. 'Found' being the emphasised word. Her last scene in this episode was so incredible, if not for standing up for herself, but also for someone finally telling Lexie that Mark loves her.

And then....and then you throw Mark and Dereks sister in my face and I scream at the laptop screen as the scene I've most been looking forward to is utterly decimated by you cruel but clever writers. HOW I SIMULTANEOUSLY LOVE AND HATE YOU!!!!!

[Liz10]

I really loved this episode! The best of the series so far! I used to find April so annoying and a really weak character but I'm really starting to come around to her after this eipsode! I loved her speech at the end. Also, I was so angry that Mark went back to his old ways just as Lexie had built up the courage to go and see him. I really hope these two make it work as I love them together. And more Derek and Christina, please! I thought their scenes were cracking and they have developed this wierd relationship which really works! Looking forward to next week already.x

[Trinity]

WOW! Three good episodes in a role! Hoping you keep up this way. Great job!

Cristina still has a long way of healing, but performing the same procedure she did on Derek on that cadaver was a start. A small one, but a still a start, despite of what she later tells Owen she could be happy being a plumber. Owen knows she is not herself yet, but he also knows that he doesn't have to push her. Derek said himself that he pushed her and she was not ready to got back in the OR. It will be a long process, but IMO it's realistic, because no one recovers fast after such a trauma. To see Cristina being back in the OR whole and happy, especially after the breakdown she had last week, would simply not be believable. That is Cristina's journey this season (at least 1st first of the season), healing and going back in the OR and being the amazing surgeon that she is. And she has people that will be there to support her: Owen, Meredith and Derek.

Loved both scenes they had. Owen's answer to Cristina's question was exactly what I hoped he would say. That he loves her - Cristina, as a person - no matter what, but also he knows that what defines Cristina is surgery. Will she feel good with herself if she cannot do what she loves the most? Again, it's always about her and how she feels, he will love her anyway. He gave her the answer she needed to hear. Perfect.
And the way Cristina says "I can't sleep when you're not there" , such a huge change from ELL "I'm afraid to fall asleep". She needs him and he is clearly her lifeline now along with Meredith. And how sweet it was when Owen hold her hand and buried his face in her hair and kiss the top of her head. Le sigh. ..

Cristina and Owen's face at the end: PRICELESS. These two can do it all: angst, fun, love, sex, passion. They were absolutely adorable. They way Cristina cuddled closer to Owen on that couch making herself smaller than she was when C/A started throwing their clothes off. And I know they did that on purpose. And I loved that Owen changed his schedule so he could be with Cristina the whole night, so she could sleep. Oh, how he takes care of her!!

I have to say that I have never ever imagined that Arizona could be so insensitive. Never would expected that. She indeed lives in a pretty pink bubble. "Tell Owen to get his traumatized wife out of the apartment?" Seriously? Did she really say that? And why oh why any of them didn't talk about this with Owen? That I could not understand.
Arizona has been living in that apartment most of the time for quite a while. Why suddenly that rush?
I guess next week we will see them house hunting.

Loved how Derek defended Cristina in front of her sister. He really owes her everything and I am glad her considers family. The same for Meredith in front of Callie.
Loved the conversation between Owen and Derek with the ET comparison. And poor Owen struggling to understand the twisted sisters. "My wife is sleeping in your bed".... I could not stop laughing.

And loved April's speech.

[Jonathan R.]

great episode, mark!!!! was not disappointed with any of it. i especially loved the beginning scene where Christina is alone and she goes to Meredith's so she won't be. And the humor was fantastic! awesome episode, with the drama and humor that makes Grey's what it is.

[Inga]

Long time watcher, first time watcher first time commenting!

Owen's line about him loving Cristina even if she was a Plumer was the CUTEST thing ever. I can't get enough of these two! Seriously!

And why would you do that to Lexie? Mark is horrible. obv his speech about being a better man was baloney.

Anyway Ownen and Cristina make my Thursday night, the ending killed me!!! more funny scenes with them would be great!

[anne]

Thanks for the episode summary.It was a good episode.

Poor Derek waking up and finding 2 women in his bed I noticed he didn't panic he knew who the other woman had to be if Meredith let her in. But I miss the cuddle opportunity with Mer.

Cute talk with Owen &Chris about loving each other and he asked if she would love herself if she wasn't a surgeon. Good question - I don't think she would in fact I think she'd regret it.

Thought it was great that Derek stood up for Christina in meeting (he does owe her his life) but where was Teddy do we assume she already spoke up for Christina? Bailey did - unbelievable that one slipup and she's put on research? I would have suggested a month off with therapy and observing surgeries instead of deskwork. When Owen had PTSD no one bumped him off surgery into desk work.

Glad Derek made Chris at least be in a surgery (she didn't seize) even if she wasn't a great help. I was glad Derek told his sister to back off Chris as she saved his life. Derek and Chris talk about life and not choosing each other but that they are family and he worries was sweet and frank about her talent and career. Someone needs to have faith in her and help her along. His taking her to a room and helping her relive his surgery may help.

I agreed with Mer and her talk to Callie about Christina - back off! Not their best moment as friends. But glad Owen and C decided to get own place soon. Where has Owen been living - maybe they could move there temporarily til they find a place together.

Poor Mark still not doing well on the love front. Watching a woman decide love is not enough to stay together may have made him reach out to Amelia as a distraction and unfortunately miss Lexies visit.

Derek and Owen talk about waking to 2 women was fun. Liked Dereks explanation about how he copes.

Derek and Amelia - well not the warm fuzzy reunion one would expect but... Mer tried to talk to him about it - at least she likes Amelia. Derek and Amelia had some progress. Talks in scrub room, surgery and in parking lot. I'm glad Derek told her the story about Dad and how he tried to help keep her safe when it was all going on. He was still trying to protect her when he didn't tell her about his shooting. The hug was nice. One wonders and hopes that he did tell his mom as it was on national tv I'm sure. Hmmm interesting I wonder if his family called during his recuperation and Mer talked to them. But I'd love to see a return visit by Tyne Daly she was fabulous as his mom.

[Nando]

Really nice episode. All I can say is "April, I'm liking you more and more". Sad thing is, we know the world is going downhill when people are ashamed to say they're virgins, I know it's rara, but it's kinda normal.