Debora Cahn on "Not Responsible"...

Original Airdate: 2-24-11

Ms. Debbie Allen directed my episode.  Ms. Debbie Allen.  I have been fortunate to work with a lot of incredibly talented people in my life, and some quite famous, but lord in heaven... Ms. Debbie Allen!  I was interested in show business at a young age.   Theatre mostly -- enough that I spell it theatre instead of theater, which only means I was pretentious as a 13 year old.  In any event, I saw the movie "Fame" when I was impressionable, and Ms. Debbie Allen's infamous line is forever emblazoned in my mind.  So we're trying to have a production meeting and she's asking me a question, and I'm kind of zoned out cause here's what's running in my head:  "You want fame?  Well fame costs.  And right here's where you start paying.  In sweat."  Over and over and over again.  So not only am I star-struck, but I'm acting like a moron, cause I can't answer a simple question, cause I didn't really hear it, all I heard was... you get the idea.  That, and I have no idea what to call her.  I can't call her Debbie.  That's too disrespectful.  To call her Ms. Debbie Allen seems a bit much, even though every time I think of her, that's what I think -- never Debbie -- never Ms. Allen.  Ms. Debbie Allen.  So I end up not calling her anything.  "Hey!  Hi!"  That kind of thing.  So it ends up sounding like I've forgotten her name.  Add to that the fact that what we're talking about is... Kyle's bump.  Poor little Kyle, not only is his mom drifting away, her brain riddled with Alzheimer's, he has a bump on his neck.  There was much debate about Kyle's bump.  If the bump is too big, the parents look not just distracted, but horribly irresponsible -- not what we're going for.  If the bump is too small, how will Meredith see it?  She is, after all, a little compromised in the vision department.  If it's too big, how will we NOT see it in the first scene, where we don't want to see it?  Should he wear a jacket?  A scarf?  Maybe he goes to private school and wears a dorky uniform, with a coat and tie, and in the first scene, tie's on, and in the second scene, he LOOSENS the tie, revealing the medium sized bump.  But what if the dorky uniform is too dorky?  The poor kid has to sing "I Walk the Line" to his mother, we should preserve whatever cool he's got left.  We had easily five separate conversations about the bump.  Meetings.  About the bump.  And here I am thinking "I'm WASTING Ms. Debbie Allen's time, her talent, I shouldn't be giving her a kid with a bump, I should change the character to a child who dances.  A dance prodigy!  And he distracts his mother from her creeping dementia by DANCING!  A subtle combination of ballet and modern dance and krump!"  (Krump -- a word I know because I watch "So You Think You Can Dance" -- a show on which Ms. Debbie Allen is a guest judge!)  I've reworked the character in my head -- in the middle of the production meeting.  It is WAY too late to change the character to a dance prodigy.  The role has been cast, with an adorable young man who can SING.  Not dance.  He was hired for his ability to sing Johnny Cash to his mother.  Not for his krumping.  But there I am, imagining the radical number Ms. Debbie Allen will choreograph for my episode, and I've missed yet ANOTHER question she's asking me.  I'm giving her the blank silence again.  Cause I have no idea what she said.  AGAIN.  She's trying to hard to move the conversation off the bump.  And she can't.  Because she can't get me to answer the simplest question.  I assume it was simple.  I have no idea.  I didn't hear it.  So now, Ms. Debbie Allen thinks I have Asperger's. And we're still on the bump.  I can't tell you anything about the episode.  I can't remember anything about the episode.  All I know is Ms. Debbie Allen directed it.  

 

Comments

[Enforce]

Ok, what happened? This season started off great and the last couple of episodes have been just flat. Meredith losing her sight could have been exciting, but instead was anti-climactic. This epi accomplished the impossible. I actually wanted to slap Callie who has been my favorite character since S2 and the only reason I kept watching after S4. She looks much more concerned about Mark than about Arizona. She is so impressed with Mark when he has been acting like an ass. This is not a love child. They did not plan this baby. If Callie really wants to be with Arizona as a partner, then she has to give her that place and respect. And rolling her eyes when Arizona is telling her how difficult this is for her is not the way to show her that she loves her and appreciates the fact that she stuck around even after finding out that Callie was having Mark’s baby. Since they got back together we see Callie trying to accommodate Mark and turning to him instead of Arizona (can we say, ‘foot rub’?) and now giving him loving glances and yet not once has she told Arizona she loves her. This threesome idea is just horrible, distasteful, humiliating (for Arizona). Please make it stop! Either put Callie and Mark together for good and let Arizona be happy with someone who will respect her, or have Callie once and for all respect and appreciate Arizona and establish some boundaries with Mark. The way that Mark is asserting himself with Callie is just absurd and arrogant. What have you done with the Mark I use to love so much? Oddly enough, Arizona was never my favorite, but now I find myself feeling so sorry for her. She finally spoke up tonight, YES! But what is Callie’s reaction? “What do you want me to do?” What??? Let’s see…establish some boundaries. Act like you are in a relationship. Stop giving your baby daddy more credence than the partner you claim to love…The thing is that if Callie were married to a man, Mark wouldn’t be acting this way. Shonda said this relationship would be treated with respect, but it has not AT ALL!
And Stark asking April out? Ewwww! Talk about bizarre.

[Christy]

Of all episiodes to have Debbie Allen direct, why this one? For no other reason than I'm a CF mom and was hoping some of the thought process to the CF storyline was mentioned here. But, hey - great story about Debbie Allen. And the bump.

[allie]

Well... this was insightful.

When did Patrick Dempsey get demoted to guest star? Why has he not even been on the screen for 10 minutes TOTAL in these past 3 episodes?

Being forced to suffer through this Callie-Arizona-Mark babydrama is bad enough. But being forced to suffer through this Callie-Arizona-Mark babydrama with very little McDreamy or MerDer payoff? That's just cruel.

[Christy]

Since I'm no writer and it didn't come across - my last comment was supposed to have a humerous tone. Would have loved some more about the show but I am not complaining!! If I were one to add an emoticon, the smiley face would be here.

[Jenna]

This episode wasn't bad...it wasn't my favorite though either. I hope that's not too offensive. I try very hard to be honest without ever being rude and while still putting faith into you writers, who I know work soooo hard! Anyways, I did love the family and the kiddo with the bump. Also, as a child protective services worker, I truly appreciated Dr. Stark's little speech about us! (It's the first time I have liked him! Although I also liked him asking out April, cute.) Anyways, those were the things I really liked. The CF story was good too, particularly Lexi's speech to the girlfriend. Poetic almost. The things I liked a little less were the trio's amnio drama. I love all of those characters but I felt that was a bit much. I find it hard to believe that doctors would be freaking over a test that is "routine" and that most patients pursue. Also, Bailey's insensitivty to Adelle. That felt pretty harsh and un-Bailey like. Mer's eyes...and the fertility, of course, I didn't love that, especially now that she's benched! She kicked some ass last week. I wanted to see more as kicking :) Plus, who's going to help with the Alzheimer's study? Christina and Owen's fight made me a little mad at Owen (and I LOVE Owen) because that decision to have children, you talk about it before marriage and you don't just expect things to change when it comes to a huge decision like that! He is being a bit unreasonable.

[T Newton]

Loved the epi Debora. I must say thought that merder shippers are angry with you. Being a merder shipper myself, I dont see why they are mad, I mean we got 3 whole merder scenes tonight. thats 1 more then lastweek, so I must say that that is progress. lol. Plus she was the main story for the epi, so my fellow merder shippers WHATS WRONG?????

so kyle, my heart broke as he answered the questions and sung to his mommy. It is wrong for a kid to have to take care of his mother, but i understand they did what they knew best as a family. when they looked at his films, and said how important it was for him to have surgery, I thought he was going to die. and how glad i am that you didnt let him die, I mean it just wouldnt be right.

offcourse merder. loved their scenes, they continue to be the reason i watch. i understand mer wanting to continue her treatmeants, but i also see why der is angry, i just wish they wouldve talked this out.KEEP THE SCENES COMING. I LOVE MERDER, ALL FOR IT, MORE MERDER I SAY. :)

the guys playing golf. i love how mark and derek did the same thing in season 6 when he gave up his grandchild, and doing it here with owen just talking about the woman (women) in their lives was a wonderful scene. i loved it all.

as always waiting for the next epi...

[Patsy F.]

Well written episode... I love the family's storyline and how the kid knows how to take care and what's going on with his mom, that is a great model of a family who stick together. I was moved by Mer's determination to continue the fertility meds but could cost her her career. and for Callie and Arizona, I love the living room scene and how they sit at the opposite side, and I really feel for Arizona she took in everything because she loves Callie but sometimes we are just human and even if we don't want to be selfish we do come to a point where we just need to let it all out, she doesnt want to be constantly reminded that it is Mark's baby it is like telling someone who came over to dinner that they didn't bring anything to the table. (I am not critizing the writing because I know things happen for a reason in every storyline..) I enjoyed this episode and its complexities and everything in it.

[Andrea]

NEEDS MOAR CHRISTINA.

Also I'm sensing even MORE trouble for Callie and Arizona. Sad times. I really REALLY dislike Avery, he was kinda meh in the beginning but, god he is just....I hope Mark punches him. I doubt he will but ugh, he and Lexie physically look so good together, but I dislike him so much I can't stand it. Anyway back to Callie and Arizona, everyone in my family hates Arizona, I personally love her and get where she's coming from, they however do not. They find her selfish. Which I get why they can, but I just do not. I wish we could get a little more from Arizona's perspective. Love whenever Christina and Meredith are together. Lastly I really love this show, Ive been watching since episode one and I doubt you'll ever lose me as a viewer but a truth I've been denying for a long time and have only come to accept is.....there's too many characters. I was watching Glee and wondering why I no longer find it as rich as last season, there are now too many characters. Things just feel for lack of a better way or describing it, watered down.

[jkl]

What happened to the Arizona we all know and love in this episode? Since when was Arizona such a pushover, especially with Stark?! It's only been a few episodes since the "Body-block him, Karev!" incident. She's stood up to the Chief on multiple occasions, in her adorable yet firm way. Sure she's had issues with authority but that's never caused her to keep silent when it comes to something she feels is wrong. I know you needed a sounding-board supporting-role type of figure so the Stark/April interaction could happen, but just sticking Arizona in that role, when it clearly isn't consistent with her character, was irresponsible.

On a positive note, I am relieved that Arizona is finally starting to be honest with Callie about her feelings.

I just feel awful for Arizona and the way her character is being treated by not only the other characters on the show, but by the writers as well. Only Jessica Capshaw could pull this off, and she does so with grace and dignity. And she is the single reason I keep tuning in.

[allie]

Oh, one more thing...

Can Shondaland please stop crapping on Meredith? I mean, of course she's one of the few who develops the rare side effect and the fertility treatments are causing her to go blind and she has to stop using them. Of freakin' course. Nothing ever comes easy for that girl... WE. GET. IT.

[Amber]

That's it?? Expected to actually read about the episode and story going on.

[Emily]

I'm going to start of saying I love Greys but you guys are making me have homicidal thoughts about a fetus. And beginning to hate Callie, someone whom I have consistently loved.

Oh the bright side, I'm digging seeing more of Mer recently, this is called GREY'S Anatomy and its nice to see that back again. I also happen to love Debbie Allen as well. But please, make that fetus magically disappear.

[OldGreysFan]

Liked the epi. I do think you kind of had Cristina revert to being her old, cocky, completely insensitive self rather suddenly but at least you didn't have her walking out. I wasn't aware that they had had such a definite discussion about no kids ever. If so, Owen isn't the poor victim here but Cristina should, you know, care about how he feels. She supposedly loves him. she cared about how Mer felt when she was being not so rational.

Other than that, I like the way you are mixing things up and making them interesting. April and the Grinch's romance is a little out there but you've made April pretty goofy all along and stranger things have happened.How old is he suppose to be anyway?

I was sure that you writers were set with Callie reconciling with Arizona and Lexie with Mark and still suspect your pairing of Jackson and Lexie is a tease but like it and like the introduction of a hint of unpredictability.

Like the way you are easing and teasing into the Lucy and Alex thing. As usual, like Mark and Callie better than Mark with anyone else as he doesn't seem capable of being a grown up with anyone else. Know I should sympathize with Arizona but just can't. I try but I can't like her and can't stop hoping to see Callie and Mark together with the kid they both want and Arizona never really did. I can really see them as a family.

Love, love, love, the return of lightness and humor to the show along with the drama. Another good epi.

[Always_CO]

Wow that blog - although very entertaining - kinda sucked. I love, love, love Grey's Grey Matter because we for 3 minutes at the end of our FAVORITE show EVER!!!, get some insight to some character development, and what it's like in the writers' room.

But a two minute read about you crusing on Ms. Debbie Allen wasn't what I was hoping for. But I get it - hellz it's Ms. Debbie Allen. Just would have been nice to also include some stuff in the episode. Like Stark and April - wot? Thank you for the Cristina and Owen moments. I have to say finally. Although somewhat angst-y, i'm just glad they're talking and Owen is not letting Cristina off the hook. Plus Owen looked hawt! And finally - love the cafe scenes, the core three are magic; love lexie and avery and am sooooo hating on Arizona. HATE.

[nyla]

Line of the night: "Daddy's mad", followed by Cristina referring to the parents-to-be as "The Three Musketeers".
Speaking of, so proud of Mark being mature and fair in this complex situation (unlike, ::cough::, Arizona). And I'm glad that Callie recognizes his commitment and this new layer of her best friend.

Poor Adele. I'm glad the Chief is taking action and went to Derek, and fingers crossed there is a resolution.

p.s. LOVE Debbie Allen!!

[Mer]

this episode was a mess !! anti climatic .. and a mess what happend to you ? this so ordinary !!! what happen to extraodinary GA?

[Jenna]

Meredith going blind should have been done better. It was overshadowed by C/M/A baby drama unfortunately and I wish it actually had been built up over more than one episode.

[Tessa]

I am loving Grey's again! Hopefully Lexie & Jackson will stay together.. doubtful but I can hope. Loving Merder as well and I was loling at April & Stark. Also loved the Meredith/Alex/Cristina scenes.

[Kacey]

This episode was mixed for me. I had moments I enjoyed (like Nancy Travis), the Alex-Meredith moments, the MerDer moments, and the MerCris moments. I also enjoyed Bailey having to deal with Adele, and being the one to get the Chief to talk to Derek.

Then there were moments that were ok (the blindness story line was underwhelming and anticlimactic), and others that sort of made me cringe.

First cringe worthy moment was the Arizona-Stark thing. Where was she? She looked like a scared resident and that is so not who she's been portrayed to be when it comes to her patients since she's been on the show. I get the Stark-April set up, but did Arizona have to be dumbed down to do it?

Second moment was Mark doing a 180 on the amnio idea. He tantrummed like a 2 year old screaming 'no amnio' and about how it was his kid and he's a parent, and suddenly he's being a rational adult? Did we miss a scene? Was something deleted because that didn't make sense at all.

As for the rest of the C/M/A baby drama, I'm glad we finally got a scene with Arizona voicing what many viewers have felt. Stepford Arizona has been around for far too long and it was nice to see a glimpse of the real Arizona for once. It won't do anything to make me like this awful storyline, but at least we see that she is not a robot or a pod person.

As for Owen and Cristina, what can be said? He's being consistently written to be a bit of an ass. He knew who she was when he married her. So good for you and the consistency with his character.

Lexie-Jackson--no point in commenting since it won't last anyway.

[famous artist]

good episode . too bad about the blog.

[Sally]

This was an okay episode.

I wish a bit more time would be devoted to Meredith and Derek. I also find it odd that we hardly see Derek these days. Did he make one of you writers mad?

I find the whole baby threesome tiring. Seeing the three bicker over every little detail has already gotten extremely tedious.

I am probably in the minority here, but I love the idea of Stark and April. I think Stark should stick around. He is a total odd ball, but when he isn't being a complete jerk, he is kind of endearing. I feel like the show is missing a character like Stark. He also brings out the best in April. She is one of my least favorite characters, but I like her with Stark.

Teddy is better when she is just being a doctor, but I"m still not sold on her. I'm glad Henry wasn't in this episode, but I know he is coming back. Ugh.

I hope you realize you just created a bunch of Lexie/Jackson shippers. If your plan is to have Lexie go back to Mark, you are going to have a bunch of angry fans on your hands. BTW, why is it that Lexie jumps from guy to guy so easily? I'm pretty indifferent to her romantic issues.

I love Christina. Love that she stood her ground with Owen.

I also love Mer/Alex together. They really make you long for the old days. No offense, but April, Teddy, Lexie, Jackson, etc just aren't cutting it.

Last comment. Please give mer/der more screentime. I know we beg for that each week, but I'd much rather watch them than this CAM baby drama.

[cha]

Now I'm beginning to hate this whole callie-az-mark baby drama. what happened to the couple that i love to watch & one of the reason i keep tuning in every week. its good that at the end az finally finally said what she's been feeling all this time. what happened to the love that they have for each other? i understad where az is coming from, its not her dream but she stayed, she proved to callie that she wont bail on her this time. but with their situation right now, might as well leave. she will never win with mark. so, i know i will be hurt if they broke up but i guess it wont be painful to watch than this.

[MDLOVE]

Meredith and Alex the best part of the episode. Poor Mer more crap on her.. WE GET IT Mer never get anything she wants or anything easy.. Ughh I hope after all of this she'll get the baby she wants so much. I hope we'll see her pregnant.

CAM baby storyline is ruining the show. I roll my eyes when I see the three of them on my screen.

[Deli]

Alex and Lucy are Veeeryyyy Cute ♥

[jw]

Meredith and Alex have great scenes together! I love their friendship! Please have more of them !

FINALLY, we have Arizona showing some backbone and actually saying the stuff that almost EVERY Calzona fan has been saying since like, this whole mess of a storyline started. Too bad I was disappointed in Callie's reaction once again. She didn't even LOOK like she was taking in what Arizona said. she showed no signs of actually realizing how difficult this is for Arizona. All she cared about was Mark Mark Mark and defending herself. I was a fan of both Callie and Arizona but Callie is really starting to bug me with her self-centred ways... It's about time she placed her girlfriend over her stupid bff. And she should really start to LISTEN to what Arizona is saying... Plus the fact that shonda tweeted that she happened to like Callie's actions, just says to me that I should really give up on hoping that someday Callie might show her appreciation for Arizona and realise just how big a deal this is for Arizona. This also means there will probably be NO boundaries set with Mark ever.
I really don't get why the writers are portraying Arizona to be the bad guy here when all she's done is give in to Callie.and Callie has yet to acknowledge that.

I used to get excited bout grey's every thurs, but now, this stupid baby storyline is getting too tedious for me. It's tiring to see mark and az fight while callie sits there being a grumpy hormone casserole. It's tiring seeing Mark in every Calzona scene. It's tiring seeing Arizona being treated like crap. This storyline? definitely one of the worst calls by the writers. Right behind Denny ghost sex. This season is going down by each episode.