LIVE TWITTER CHAT WITH GREY’S ANATOMY’S SARAH DREW (4/26)

April 24, 2012
Quick Take for Monday, April 23, 2012
(Fast Affiliate Live+ Same Day Ratings)

ABC is Up for the 2nd Monday in a Row in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, Ranking as the Night’s Most-Watched Net for the 6th Consecutive Week

ABC’s “Dancing” Improves Week to Week by 4% in Viewers and by 3% in Adults
18-49, While Spiking 29% in Adults 18-34 to Hit Best-Since-Premiere Performance

“20/20″ Takes ABC to the Top Spot at 10pm in Total Viewers and Key Adults for the
2nd Straight Week, Delivering Net’s Strongest Newsmag Numbers in Over 5 Months

Monday Night (8:00-11:00 p.m.)
Featuring “DWTS” and “A Special Edition of 20/20″ with a behind-the-scenes look at “Dancing,” ABC (15.2 million) registered as Monday’s most-watched television network for the 6th week in a row, eclipsing original programming on NBC (8.8 million – “The Voice”/”Smash”) by 6.4 million viewers and Fox (6.9 million – “Bones”/”House”) by 8.3 million viewers. Ranking No. 2 on the night in Adults 18-49, ABC defeated Fox’s original drama lineup by 23% (2.7/7 vs. 2.2/6).

* The Net’s Monday was up for the 2nd week in a row among both viewers (+2%) and young adults (+4%).

“Dancing with the Stars” (8:00-10:00 p.m.)
Monday’s most-watched TV program, ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” jumped to the top of its 2-hour time slot for the 6th week running, besting runner-up NBC’s “The Voice” in head-to-head competition by 7.2 million viewers (17.3 million vs. 10.1 million). In addition, the wide-appealing dance competition ranked No. 1 in the slot with Adults 25-54 (4.4/10), while earning second with young adults (AD18-34/AD18-49) and making ABC the No. 2 broadcaster in the slot with Teens 12-17.

* For the 2nd week in a row among Adults 18-49, “Dancing” scored its most competitive finish with “The Voice,” shrinking the gap to 19% (down from 22% the prior week).

* “Dancing” was up week to week in Total Viewers (+4% – 17.3 million vs. 16.6 million) and Adults 18-49 (+3% – 3.0/8 vs. 2.9/8), while spiking 29% in Adults 18-34 (1.8/6 vs. 1.4/4) to achieve a best-since-premiere number – since 3/19/12.

“20/20: Dance Floor Confidential: Behind the Scenes of DWTS” (10:00-11:00 p.m.)
“A Special Edition of 20/20″ finished No. 1 during the 10 o’clock hour in Total Viewers (10.9 million), Adults 18-49 (2.1/6) and Adults 25-54 (3.1/7), helping ABC to hold the top spot for the 2nd week in a row. In fact, the ABC newsmagazine stood as Monday’s 2nd-most-watched TV show overall, attracting a larger audience than NBC’s “The Voice.” In the hour, “20/20″ outdelivered NBC’s first-run “Smash” by 4.8 million viewers (10.9 million vs. 6.1 million) and by 24% in Adults 25-54 (3.1/7 vs. 2.5/6).

* In Total Viewers and key Adults (AD18-49/AD25-54), “20/20″ qualifies as ABC’s top newsmagazine telecast in over 5 months – since 11/14/11.

A note about increasing DVR penetration and year-to-year rating comparisons: Year-to-year rating comparisons based on the Live + Same Day data stream are distorted by the level of DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample, which has jumped up to 43% currently, from 40% at the same point in 2011. More viewers are watching shows on their own timetables, which may not be reflected in the overnight next day numbers. The only truly valid year-to-year comparison would be one based on the Live + 7 Day metric, once those stats are released by Nielsen.

Source: The Nielsen Company (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings), 4/23/12.

ABC “Grey’s Anatomy” is Thursday’s No. 1 Drama in Adults 18-49 for the 7th Straight Week, Beating Fox’s “The X Factor” and “Bones”

Growing its Numbers for the 2nd Week in a Row, ABC’s “Private Practice”
Scores Best-Since-Premiere Results in Viewers and Across All Key Adult Demos

“Grey’s Anatomy” (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
Launching off of its lead-in (+192%) at 9:00 p.m., ABC self-starter “Grey’s Anatomy” stood as Thursday’s No. 1 drama in Adults 18-49 for the 7th straight week this season, beating out Fox’s “The X Factor”-fueled season premiere of “Bones.” Winning the 9 o’clock hour over stiff Sweep competition, “Grey’s” (3.5/9) outdelivered Fox’s opener of “Bones” by 6% (3.3/8), CBS’ “Person of Interest” by 30% (2.7/7) and NBC’s original comedies (“The Office”/”Whitney”) by 35% (2.6/7). In addition, the ABC veteran drama won its time slot among Adults 18-34 and across all key Women measures (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

* “Grey’s” was up week to week with Women 18-34 (+7%), equaling its 2nd-highest rating this season to stand as the No. 1 TV show of the night.

“Private Practice” (10:00-11:00 p.m.)
Continuing to grow, ABC’s “Private Practice” ran a close second to CBS’ “The Mentalist” in the 10 o’clock hour among Adults 18-49, while more than doubling the young adult audience of NBC’s “Prime Suspect” (2.6/7 vs. 1.2/3). Beating out “The Mentalist” by wide margins with Adults 18-34 (+18%) and Women 18-34 (+60%), “Private Practice” finished as the No. 1 drama in the hour for the 5th consecutive week on both Nielsen measures.

* Building its numbers for the 2nd straight week in viewers (+6% – 6.8 million vs. 6.4 million) and young adults (+8% – 2.6/7 vs. 2.4/6), “Private Practice” scored best-since-season-premiere numbers across a number of key measures: Total Viewers, as well as across all key Adult and Women demographics.

A note about increasing DVR penetration and year-to-year rating comparisons: Year-to-year rating comparisons based on the Live + Same Day data stream are distorted by the level of DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample, which has jumped up to 43% currently, from 38% at the same point in 2010. More viewers are watching shows on their own timetables, which may not be reflected in the overnight next day numbers. The only truly valid year-to-year comparison would be one based on the Live + 7 Day metric, once those stats are released by Nielsen.

Source: The Nielsen Company (Fast Affiliate, Live + Same Day Ratings), 11/03/11.

(ABC) GREY’S ANATOMY AND PRIVATE PRACTICE POST GAINS AGAINST THE WORLD SERIES

ABC’s “Grey’s” is Thursday’s No. 1 Drama in Adults 18-49 for the 5th Straight Week And the Night’s No. 1 TV Show Overall in Women 18-49 for the 4th Time in 5 Weeks

“Private Practice” Hits Best-Since-Premiere Numbers Across All Key Adult Demos

“Grey’s Anatomy” (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
Nearly doubling its lead-in (+192%) opposite Fox’s 2011 World Series Game 2,  ABC self-starter “Grey’s Anatomy” stood as Thursday’s No. 1 drama in Adults 18-49 for the 5th week running this season.  Leading its original non-sports competition in the 9 o’clock hour by wide margins, ABC’s “Grey’s” (3.5/9) beat out CBS’ “Person of Interest” by 30% (2.7/7).  In addition, the ABC drama dominated its time slot over the World Series across all key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54). “Grey’s” qualified as Thursday’s No. 1 TV show overall with Women 18-49 for the 4th time in 5 weeks this season.

* Despite facing the World Series, “Grey’s” was up 3% over its week-ago preliminary Adult 18-49 rating (3.4/9 in last week’s the Fast Affiliate ratings).  In addition, the ABC drama equaled a best-since-premiere number with Adults 25-54 (4.2/10).

“Private Practice” (10:00-11:00 p.m.)
Building its Adult 18-49 audience for the 2nd week in a row, ABC’s “Private Practice” ran neck-and-neck with “The Mentalist” for the drama lead in the 10 o’clock hour (2.4/6 vs. 2.5/7).  Beating “The Mentalist,” “Private Practice” registered as the No. 1 drama in the hour for the 4th straight week with Adults 18-34 and among key Women demos (W18-34/W18-49).

* Up against the Fall Classic, “Private Practice” posted its strongest numbers since its season opener across all key Adult demos, growing week to week by 6% in Adults 18-34 (1.7/5 vs. 1.6/5), by 4% in Adults 18-49 (2.4/6 vs. 2.3/6) and by 4% in Adults 25-54 (2.9/7 vs. 2.8/7).

A note about increasing DVR penetration and year-to-year rating comparisons: Year-to-year rating comparisons based on the Live + Same Day data stream are distorted by the level of DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample, which has jumped up to 42% currently, from 38% at the same point in 2010.  More viewers are watching shows on their own timetables, which may not be reflected in the overnight next day numbers. The only truly valid year-to-year comparison would be one based on the Live + 7 Day metric, once those stats are released by Nielsen.

Source: The Nielsen Company (Fast Affiliate, Live + Same Day Ratings), 10/20/11.

Q&A Interview with Grey’s Anatomy actor Kevin McKidd (J!-ENT Interviews and Articles)

With the DVD release of “Grey’s Anatomy – The Complete Seventh Season”, J!-ENT’s latest “Grey’s Anatomy” Q&A is with actor Kevin McKidd who plays the character of Dr. Owen Hunt.  And for regulars of “Grey’s Anatomy”, so much has changed with Owen since he first appeared on the show, as well as for Kevin McKidd (as seen in our last Q&A with the actor back in 2009).

Kevin has appeared in films such as “Kingdom of Heaven”, “Made of Honor” and “Trainspotting” and also on television for series such as “Rome” as Lucius Vorenus and “Journeyman” as Dan Vasser.

With the eighth season of “Grey’s Anatomy” having premiered on Sept. 22nd, to promote the release of “Grey’s Anatomy – The Complete Seventh Season”DVD box set, here is a media Q&A featuring Kevin reflecting on season seven of “Grey’s Anatomy”.

What can you tell us about Season Seven of Grey’s Anatomy?

Kevin: Season Seven has been a lot of fun to work on, especially as I got the opportunity to direct an episode this year. Directing was a very interesting learning curve for me and it’s something I’d love to do again on Grey’s Anatomy. It was a little overwhelming at the start and I spent a lot of time holding my hair and thinking, ‘I’m going to lose it.’ However, I really enjoyed it.

 

What did you love the most about directing?

Kevin: I especially loved the preparation, which involved me walking around the sound stages and sets by myself. I’d wander around the place playing all of the different parts in my head, and it was fascinating. I had a blast.

 

How difficult was it to direct your peers and co-workers?

Kevin: I was incredibly nervous in the beginning. I kept thinking to myself, ‘How is everyone going to react to my direction? How are they going to feel about it?’ I shouldn’t have worried because everyone was fantastic. I felt really touched and moved at how kind everyone was. They all went to bat for me because they knew it meant a lot and they knew I didn’t want to screw up. Let’s face it; failure was not an option.

 

Would you ever consider a career change into directing?

Kevin:  Acting is still the thing that I love the most. Perhaps I could see myself directing an independent movie in England or Scotland at some point, but I don’t see myself having a career as a TV director. That’s not for me.

 

As a child growing up in Scotland, did you ever imagine you would go onto become the star of a huge American TV series like Grey’s Anatomy?

Kevin:  Absolutely not. I always knew I wanted to be an actor, but I didn’t expect to get this far. To be honest, I was destined to become a plumber like my father, and as a child I remember thinking, ‘If I get as far as London, I will be lucky.’ I never left Scotland until I was 20 years old. That’s how sheltered I was, so to be here is pretty remarkable.

 

Does Los Angeles feel like home to you now?

Kevin:  It does actually. I’m very happy here. I think we might go back to England or Scotland at some point, but there’s not much to hate about where I live. I’ve got a great job and the weather is pretty special here in Southern California. I’m not in any rush to go anywhere else.

When you joined the show, were you nervous of your competition with McDreamy and McSteamy?

Kevin: I wasn’t because I knew I was coming onto the show to be Cristina Yang’s love interest for a while. I knew I had a specific job to do, so I didn’t feel like I was coming in to be thrown into the mosh pit.

 

What else can you tell us about Season Seven?

Kevin:  There’s a musical episode in Season Seven, which was great fun to work on. It’s meant to act as a love letter to the long-term fans of the show, and there’s a gripping storyline in the episode. What else happens? Well, my character has an interesting love life in Season Seven, too.

 

Is that because he has feelings for two women: Teddy Altman and Cristina Yang?

Kevin:  A lot of viewers think differently about this, but Teddy and Owen never actually hooked up. They never did it. They almost made out, but it was just breathy talking. I’m not exactly a purist, but Owen has only slept with one woman on the show.

 

Will Cristina and Owen’s relationship survive Season Seven?

Kevin: You’re going to have to watch and see. They get married at the start of Season Seven, but then it gets pretty quiet for the pair of them. He helps her through her Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder issues, so that book has closed – but there are going to be problems again for them in the future.

 

What problems will they face?

Kevin:  They are two very complex people, so I think they’re always going to have a rocky road. Their relationship exists in angst, but there is a big disagreement on a fundamental subject in their marriage that they have to deal with in Season Seven. They have very opposed views on a certain issue and because they rushed into this marriage they didn’t ask certain important questions to each other before they put the rings on their fingers.

 

What did you think of the dramatic final to Season Six?

Kevin: I think the finale to Season Six rebooted the show in a really healthy way. It was a genius storyline, although it was a little shocking to discover Owen was going to be shot. Often, we don’t find out about storylines until we sit down for the table read, so I had no idea that Owen was going to be in trouble.

 

You had no idea that your character was going to be shot?

Kevin: I knew nothing about it until I opened the script at the table read. The shooting was described at the end of a page in the script. Boom! Owen is shot, and then Cristina says to Meredith, “Is Owen dead? Is Owen dead?” Then it was a page turn of the script, and it was the longest page turn ever. The whole world slowed down for a second – and then I turned the page to discover I could keep paying my kids’ school fees. Owen survives! Phew. What a relief. I was over the moon.

Grey’s Anatomy the Complete Seventh Season is now available on DVD.

Photo credit: ABC/BOB D’AMICO

Q&A Interview with Grey’s Anatomy actor Jesse Williams (J!-ENT Interviews and Articles)

With the DVD release of “Grey’s Anatomy – The Complete Seventh Season”, J!-ENT’s latest “Grey’s Anatomy” Q&A is with one of the newer cast members, Jesse Williams who plays the character of Dr. Jackson Avery.

Prior to his role on “Grey’s Anatomy”,  Avery appeared on the TV series “Beyond the Break”, “Greek” and also in the feature films “Brooklyn’s Finest” and “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2″.

With the eighth season of “Grey’s Anatomy” having premiered on Sept. 22nd, to promote the release of “Grey’s Anatomy – The Complete Seventh Season”DVD box set, here is a media Q&A featuring Jesse reflecting on season seven of “Grey’s Anatomy”.

How much has your life changed since you joined the cast of Grey’s Anatomy?

JESSE:  My life has changed completely since I joined the cast in 2009. Grey’s Anatomy is a huge show and I’ve never been exposed to an audience of this size before, but I love an adventure and that’s exactly what this experience feels like. Everything has changed in my life. I moved to Los Angeles from Brooklyn, New York, for the show, so my friends and surroundings have changed. Even the amount of tacos I get to eat every day has increased! I’m always happy to pick up and move around to experience whatever life throws at me, so it’s been a fun experience and everything has changed for the better.

 

What happens to your character, Jackson Avery, in Season Seven?

JESSE:  Since the shooting in the finale of Season Six, everything has changed for Jackson. He came into the hospital as one of the new guys. He worked hard to prove himself in a very competitive industry – but then he lost the closest things to him, his best friend and his roommate, Reed Adamson and Charles Percy. He’s having a tough time dealing with the aftermath of the trauma of the shooting, but he’s moved into Meredith’s house where he’s trying to get to know the others that live there.

 

Does he enjoy the move?

JESSE: He’s welcomed into the home where they are all dealing with the aftermath together. He’s trying to develop solid relationships and a stable life, and it’s great for him to become part of the family. He develops a real rapport with Sarah Drew’s character, April, who also moves into Meredith’s house, as well as the others living there. It’s great for him to be with people who went through the same traumatic experience as him.

 

How does Jackson deal with the grief of losing his close friends in the shooting?

JESSE: Jackson tries to bottle up his feelings to protect himself. He hides his emotions, but he has a lot of issues dealing with the death of his best friend. He hides everything. He passes all the tests with the trauma therapist at the hospital and he gets cleared for surgery again, but his emotions start to spill out as soon as he’s back in there. His grief starts to creep up and creep out during operations and it gets in the way of work. He’s got a tough year ahead of him.

Is romance on the cards for Jackson in Season Seven?

JESSE: I don’t want to give away too many storylines for Season Seven, but I’ll let you into a little secret… Down the road, he’ll be trying to find ways to get involved romantically with somebody. I can’t say who that will be, but it’s going to be a fun and interesting storyline.

 

Jackson has been known to flaunt his body on Grey’s Anatomy?

JESSE: [Laughs] You know what? The cast laughs every time we get a new script and discover that the writers have found a new way to have me take off my shirt. It’s pretty hilarious and I don’t take it seriously at all. We crack jokes about it and the others give me hell about it, so it makes for a good time. Sure, Jackson takes off his top a number of times in Season Seven.

 

How comfortable do you feel in front of the cameras?

JESSE:  Stripping off is terribly uncomfortable at times, but it’s my job. And if the audience pays attention and I’m entertaining them, then I have to learn to have fun with it. When I signed up for this role on Grey’s Anatomy I knew what the job entailed and I was fine with that. I did a movie called The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants 2 before I joined the show. That was my first big job, and the role also involved me showing off my body. I guess that helped me be a little more prepared for Grey’s Anatomy.

Is Jackson over his crush on Cristina Yang in Season Seven?

JESSE:  Again, I don’t want to spoil anything – but I can reveal that he admires and respects Cristina, and he sees her as a challenge. She is somebody to be in the race with, and she is somebody to measure yourself against. I think she has been a real inspiration to him and he is always rooting for her, especially when she starts to struggle with her work after the shooting.

 

What makes Season Seven different to previous seasons of the show?

JESSE:  Season Seven feels very fresh. We hit rock bottom emotionally at the end of Season Six, so everything got recalibrated. Everything was shaken upside down and flipped on its head, and now we all have a chance to start over in some way. We all get to develop new relationships or repair previous ones. Everybody gets a fresh start, which is great.

Would you like to see less drama on the show and more comedy?

JESSE:  No, not necessarily. I think the show has a nice little injection of comedy every now and then. There is a lightness and humor to the show, as well as terrific music, drama and tension. I think the balance is great.

 

Do you enjoy learning about the weird and wonderful ailments your character treats on the show?

JESSE: I love reading the script every week to discover all of the amazing ideas, concepts and diseases that we end up treating on the show. Everything on the show is real, so the stories are based on meticulously researched reality. It’s like reading up on a greatest hits compilation of the craziest illnesses that have happened around the world.

 

How much medical research do you do every week to prepare for the show?

JESSE:  I usually go online to read up about everything we cover on the show. I like to check out what really happened and I get tutorials on all of the bizarre ailments, but it can be terrifying at times.

 

Is it hard to get the choreography of surgery correct in front of the cameras?

JESSE: It’s tough to look like you are comfortable performing surgery, but you have to look like you do them all the time. It builds a foundation and it sets the tone, but it took me a while to get it right.

 

Do you think the viewers relate to a lot of the issues covered in the show?

JESSE:  One of the things I was most impressed with was how often we get to see the difficult decisions that patients and doctors have to make. We cover real issues like healthcare in this country and what it means to be taken off of insurance, as well as issues like euthanasia. All of these political issues are brought into play and they are made into very real issues. I think the show acts as an education to many viewers. It gives them information that they might not have read about, which is a good thing. It’s good to get people thinking.

Grey’s Anatomy the Complete Seventh Season is now available on DVD.

Photo credit: ABC/BOB D’AMICO

Q&A Interview with Grey’s Anatomy actress Chyler Leigh (J!-ENT Interviews and Articles)

With the DVD release of “Grey’s Anatomy – The Complete Seventh Season”, J!-ENT’s latest “Grey’s Anatomy” Q&A is with Chyler Leigh who plays the character of Dr. Lexie Grey, the half-sister of Meredith Grey.

Chyler has previously appeared on television series such as “Safe Harbor”, “7th Heaven”, “That 80’s Show”, “Girl’s Club” and “Reunion” and was also a former model.  When we first featured Chyler back in 2009, Chyler talked about her pregnancy and bringing her children to the set.

With the eighth season of “Grey’s Anatomy” having premiered on Sept. 22nd, to promote the release of  “Grey’s Anatomy – The Complete Seventh Season”DVD box set, here is a media Q&A featuring Chyler reflecting on season seven of “Grey’s Anatomy”.

How excited were you to be cast as Meredith Grey’s little sister in Grey’s Anatomy?

CHYLER: I was hugely excited to join the cast of Grey’s Anatomy. It was a big role to take on, but it’s been a fantastic experience. I jumped right into the drama because my first scene saw my character hitting on Derek Shepherd [played by Patrick Dempsey on the show]. I knew that would spell trouble for me because people want to see Meredith and Derek together, so some of the audience became a little angry at me – but thankfully they soon started to warm to my character.

 

How did it feel to walk onto the set for the first time?  

CHYLER:  I felt like the new kid in school in some ways. I joined the show during the last two episodes of Season Three, and by then the show was already massive. I was terrified because I didn’t know anyone and I didn’t even know who I was playing until three days before my first scene. However, I was welcomed into the family with open arms, which was wonderful. I was accepted and appreciated and celebrated, and everybody was excited for me. The entire experience has been a blast.

 

Why didn’t you know anything about your character until three days before you started work on the show?

My journey to Grey’s Anatomy was very nontraditional. I sat down with [Grey’s Anatomy creator] Shonda Rhimes and she told me that I was going to be a part of the show, but they wouldn’t tell me anything about the role. They told me I would find out that information closer to the time. It was Grey’s Anatomy so I wasn’t going to say no to the job. I would have played whoever they wanted me to! However, when they told me I was going to be playing Meredith Grey’s sister, I had a huge smile on her face. I was over the moon.

 

The Season Six finale was extremely dramatic. How does Lexie deal with the aftermath of the hospital shooting in Season Seven?

CHYLER: It is a very difficult time for Lexie at the start of Season Seven because she struggles with a lot of guilt. The shooter from the Season Six finale was a character called Gary Clark. He walked into the hospital and said, “I’m here to kill three people.” Those three people were Derek Shepherd, the chief and my character, so Lexie feels a lot of guilt that other people died when Gary was looking for her.

 

What else happens to Lexie in Season Seven?

A few months later, a student goes on a shooting spree in a nearby college, and that scrapes open a raw wound for Lexie. In fact, it opens up a raw wound for everyone involved in the hospital shooting at the end of Season Six. Lexie has an extremely difficult time handling the situation, but Mark Sloan [played by Eric Dane] helps her through it. He holds Lexie’s hand and encourages her, which causes her to say, “I love you.” It’s such a genuine and sincere scene, and I think it’s a big realization for Lexie. She thinks to herself, ‘Through good and bad, Mark is going to be there and he’s always going to push me to be better no matter what.’ That’s a wonderful feeling for her.

 

How would you describe Lexie’s relationship with Mark Sloan?

CHYLER: It’s a rocky relationship, but that seems to be the formula for the show. It’s a realistic relationship because you can’t expect things to be perfect and to work out exactly as planned. Mark and Lexie are in two different parts of their lives and that becomes evident as Season Seven continues. She is continuously slamming on the brakes because she is younger than he is. She is also younger in her career. A lot happens to them this season, and something in particular throws a wrench in the works – but I don’t want to give away any spoilers to people who haven’t seen the episodes.

 

What can you tell us about the musical episode in Season Seven?

CHYLER: The musical episode is something very different for Grey’s Anatomy and that’s what made it very exciting to work on. Even though it was a serious storyline in the episode, we were all laughing because it was so different. I was really keen to hear what everybody else sounded like because I love singing, but I didn’t know if everyone else would be excited to show off their voices. I couldn’t wait to see what this episode would look like on screen. There are some amazing singers on the show, especially Sara Ramirez [who plays Callie Torres] and Chandra Wilson [who plays Miranda Bailey]. Sara has one of the most beautiful, striking voices I’ve ever heard.

 

Did you feel excited or nervous about singing in front of the cameras?

CHYLER: I was really excited about it, although it was difficult to imagine how it was going to look and sound. At first I felt a little bit dubious – but I knew that Shonda would make it work. When she explained the concept to us, she mentioned that she didn’t think it would be like anything anyone had done before. She was right about that. It’s great. I was really happy when I saw the finished product.

 

Are there any other alternative or different episodes in Season Seven?

CHYLER: There is also a faux documentary-style episode in Season Seven where a film crew comes to Seattle Grace to film the goings on. They interview the staff and they video the interactions between the doctors and the patients, which is really interesting to watch. I especially love what Justin Chambers [who plays Alex Karev on the show] does with his character in that episode. You get to look into why he behaves the way he does and why he acts so tough when in reality he is extremely caring and soft. The audience gets a behind-the-scenes look at his love for pediatric care, which is really fun.

 

Do you think Season Seven is more light-hearted than previous seasons of Grey’s Anatomy?

CHYLER: Some episodes are light-hearted but there are many serious issues addressed this season. Without giving away too much information about specific storylines, there are a couple of episode which involve a lot of crying and that’s definitely exhausting as an actor. There is no denying that getting past the heavier, more dramatic episodes was a big relief to me – but Grey’s Anatomy constantly challenges us all as actors and that’s part of the reason why we love working on the show. We never know what’s coming up, so we’ve got no idea if we’re going to be playing someone happy or sad or emotional. However, we wouldn’t have it any other way. Getting this job has been a dream come true.

 

 

Grey’s Anatomy the Complete Seventh Season is now available on DVD.

Photo credit: ABC/BOB D’AMICO

Q&A Interview with Grey’s Anatomy star Chandra Wilson (J!-ENT Interviews and Articles)

With the upcoming DVD release of “Grey’s Anatomy – The Complete Seventh Season”, we had the opportunity to watch Chandra Wilson’s strong-willed character, Dr. Miranda Bailey, having to face a side of herself after the tragic events which took place in the season finale of season six.

Having directed several episodes for “Grey’s Anatomy”, the actress has also appeared on shows such as “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”, “The Sopranos” and the film “Philadelphia”.

But her accomplishments also include a Screen Actors Guild Award for “Best Actress in a Drama”, a “People’s Choice Award” plus three NAACP Image Awards and is also a five-time Emmy nominee.

With the eighth season of “Grey’s Anatomy” to air on ABC on Sept. 22nd, “Grey’s Anatomy – The Complete Seventh Season”DVD box set is planned for release on Sept. 13th.

The following is a media Q&A featuring Chandra Wilson reflecting on season seven of “Grey’s Anatomy”.

Did you have any idea how successful Grey’s Anatomy would become when you first signed up for the role of Dr. Miranda Bailey?

CHANDRA: I had no idea how popular Grey’s Anatomy would become, but I’m extremely pleased with its success. I didn’t have a lot of television experience when I got this job, so I found it very difficult to visualize the show from the pilot’s script. However, I’ve enjoyed every aspect of my work here. It’s been fun to act in and direct such a successful show.

 

How many years did you think the show would run when you first signed up?

CHANDRA: I had no idea the show would run for as long as it has, but we’ve been blessed. When I joined the cast of Grey’s Anatomy, I signed a contract for something like six years, but that’s just a formality with television shows. Normally, you do the pilot and that’s probably it; not everything gets green lit. Not everything goes past a pilot. Even when we were building momentum and doing well in the early days, we could only dream of getting as far as seven seasons – but to know we’re going forward into Season Eight is the icing on the cake. It’s amazing.

 

Do you think Season Eight would be a natural time to wrap the show?

CHANDRA: No way. I think something like Season Sixteen would be much better. The characters are still growing on Grey’s Anatomy and there are a lot more stories to tell. We’re still kicking along and I think there’s a lot more life in the show yet.

 

How do you keep the audience interested in the show?

CHANDRA: I think the fans stick with us because they really enjoy the characters. They are heavily invested in these people and they want to see where they’re going. Of course, they love the Meredith/Derek relationship – but they also really care about everybody else in the show too. It’s like a soap opera in the way that fans tune into see these characters every week, so we just try to keep doing the same thing we’ve always done, especially as actors. We try to give people classic Grey’s Anatomy every week, and that’s why everyone has stayed with us.

 

Do you see yourself on the show until the very end?

CHANDRA: Sure. Why not? Even though we’ve done seven seasons, time flies when you’re working on a show like this, so why not ride the ride? It’s a great gig and I have never got to the point where I feel like I have done everything possible with my character. I’m not at that place by a long shot, which is one of the reasons why I’m still having such fun on Grey’s Anatomy.

 

How has Grey’s Anatomy changed since Season One?

CHANDRA: We run things smoother around here now and the show is a little slicker than it was in the beginning because we were finding our feet back them. We all looked much dirtier on the show in the first season. We barely wore any makeup and everybody was running around the place, so there was a lot of sweat going on. Slowly, over the seasons, they’ve prettied us up.

 

What surprised you the most when you saw the very first episode of the show?

CHANDRA: I was really excited the first time I saw the pilot episode. I thought the acting was superb and the drama was fantastic, but I was surprised to discover the huge part that music had on the show. The music drives the story and it helps to keep the show current. It still does that today.

 

How is Season Seven different to the previous seasons of the show?

CHANDRA: Each season, the visual concept is a little different. Our visual concept in Season Seven is a little bit darker, so the lighting is darker and that helps you zero in on the characters. The background is a bit more muted too. The audience might not pick up on subtle things like that, but it makes Season Seven look very different in my eyes.

 

Will Bailey find true love on Grey’s Anatomy in Season Seven? 

CHANDRA: I’m sure Bailey will open up to exploring romance again soon, but she has to regroup at the start of Season Seven. She’s been through a traumatic experience with the shootings at the end of Season Six, so she has to stop everything and collect her thoughts, which is why she just wants to be a doctor for a while. That’s her coping mechanism.

 

You have directed a number of episodes of Grey’s Anatomy. Does it get easier to direct over time?

CHANDRA: Each time I direct, I get more and more anxious. I don’t think I sat down once the last time I directed! I kept thinking, ‘If I’m on my feet then things will go like I want them to go.’ It takes an incredible amount of planning to direct an episode and you feel like you’re steering the ship, but it’s an amazing opportunity to be given and I’m extremely appreciative of that. I’ve had a blast directing. And being both an actor and director means that I have an appreciation for time, too. If I can get a wrap in 12 hours instead of 14 so that people can go home and have dinner with their families, I will.

 

Which is easier: directing or acting?

CHANDRA: It is always a relief to get back to acting after directing an episode. I always think to myself, ‘Great… All I have to do today is be Bailey and yell at somebody.’ However, I love the challenge of directing and I can definitely appreciate how much responsibility directing carries. It’s not something you do lightly. You feel the weight of responsibility. You don’t have a choice but to succeed.

 

Do you find it easy to unwind after working such long hours on set?

CHANDRA:  To be honest, we are pretty good at leaving the show behind us when we go home. We are out of here when they say, ‘That’s a wrap.’ The only time I still feel anxiety is when I’m directing – but I still get home at the end of the day.

 

Do you see doctors in a different light after working on a medical drama for all these years?

CHANDRA: Definitely. I think doctors have such a tough job. As a patient, you walk in with your symptoms and you think that your doctor will immediately know what’s wrong with you. You also think that they will immediately know what they can do to make you better. However, that’s not the case. They have to run these symptoms through a catalog of information to figure out everything. They don’t always know everything off the top of their head. Of course, doctors can make assumptions – but patients expect them to know right off the bat. I now understand that, more than anything, a doctor’s job is a work in progress. They are human beings and they have to go back and research absolutely everything. It’s a fascinating occupation, but I’m glad I only have to play it. I’m not sure a doctor’s life is for me.

 

Grey’s Anatomy the Complete Seventh Season is available on DVD on Sept. 13th.

Photo credit: ABC/BOB D’AMICO

Q&A Interview with Grey’s Anatomy star Sara Ramirez (J!-ENT Interviews and Articles)

With the upcoming DVD release of “Grey’s Anatomy – The Complete Seventh Season”, the season was a big season as all eyes were on actress Sara Ramirez.

Ramirez had appeared on various television shows such as “NYPD Blue”, “Third Watch” and “Spin City”, but in season seven, the season called for one of the most emotional performances by the actress but also a season to showcase her musical side.

In the past seasons, we have had seen her character Dr. Callie Torres grow from a woman who had questioned her relationships with men but now, we have seen her fall in love and wonder what lies in the future between her and her girlfriend Dr. Arizona Robbins (played by Jessica Capshaw).  With a near-tragic episode featuring her character Callie Torres, we also had the opportunity to see her music talent in full bloom with the musical episode of “Grey’s Anatomy”.  And it all takes place in season seven!

With the eighth season of “Grey’s Anatomy” to air on ABC on Sept. 22nd, “Grey’s Anatomy – The Complete Seventh Season”DVD box set is planned for release on Sept. 13th.

The following is a media Q&A featuring Sara Ramirez reflecting on season seven of “Grey’s Anatomy”.

What’s happening with the relationship between Callie Torres and Arizona Robbins [played by Jessica Capshaw] in Season Seven of Grey’s Anatomy?

SARA: Callie and Arizona find themselves in a very complex situation in Season Seven, and there are many different ways to look at it. There’s the Arizona team that think, ‘Arizona had every right to break up with Callie because Callie was being horrible.’ And then you’ve got the Callie team who think, ‘Why did Arizona break up with Callie? If she hadn’t broken up with her, Callie wouldn’t have slept with Mark Sloan [played by Eric Dane] and she wouldn’t have got pregnant by him.’ There are so many different perspectives, but that’s what makes the storyline dramatic and interesting. There are various sides to the story, and the stakes are high for everyone.

 

How much fun are you having with Callie this Season?

SARA: Callie is very exciting to play because she’s in this very complex situation. Today, families are made up of people that aren’t necessarily blood related or even in a romantic relationship, and it’s interesting to play that on the show. It’s very current. It’s very modern. It’s also interesting to play the sexual fluidity that’s happening with Callie right now. It’s great. It’s dramatic. It’s complicated. I love it.

 

What do you think will happen to Callie and Arizona?

SARA: I don’t know what’s going to happen to them because the writers keep me guessing, but I know they are going to have a very interesting journey. Callie is having a child after wanting one for so long, but the viewers are split as to where they want the story to go. There’s a lesbian community that roots for ‘Calzona’, but then there are people that just don’t understand why anybody would stick around when you’re ex-partner went off and got pregnant with somebody else. It’s such a rich storyline and there are so many places we can go with it. Assuming the baby is born and everything is fine with the child, I think it’s really interesting to think about what could happen to these people, so I’m really excited to play the story out. This storyline is making a lot of people talk, and that’s a good thing. We’re creating civic dialogue on the show, which I think is always helpful.

 

How has the show affected your life away from work?

SARA: I’ll let you into a secret: I’ve become a total hypochondriac since working on Grey’s Anatomy. My mind continually gets over-run with possible illnesses. I go to the doctor all the time if I think something is wrong, but that’s a positive thing. I’m blessed that I have medical insurance that allows me to do that.

 

Have you had any bizarre hospital experience since you started work on Grey’s Anatomy?

SARA: Let me tell you a funny story about the time I had to have some tests done and [Grey’s Anatomy creator] Shonda Rhimes came along with me to the hospital. I thought I had a problem with my small intestine and the doctors trying to figure out what was wrong with me when Shonda realized there was an intern learning the ropes during my consultation. I was completely clueless because I was in a lot of pain, but Shonda was standing over them saying, “Is this guy training? No way. He’s not training on our watch. He’s out of here.” She got him kicked out and they had to bring in a different doctor!

 

Did it feel weird to be lying in hospital after working all day on the hospital set of Grey’s Anatomy?

SARA: I guess it was a little strange, although it wasn’t as strange as the time I had to fly over to the east coast every weekend to go to hospital. I went through a tough time in my life a couple of years ago when a friend of mine was diagnosed with liver cancer. He died within six weeks, and during that time I was shooting in Los Angeles but flying over to New York to see him as much as I could. I would be working in the ICU on the show and then I’d fly to New York and visit him in a real ICU – and it felt like I was walking right back onto the set. I’d take off my gloves at work in Los Angeles, but then put them on again for real in New York.

 

That must have been a tough experience to go through…

SARA: It was extremely difficult to be on the set of Grey’s Anatomy after my friend passed away. I was constantly reminded of the situation. However, I discovered how up-to-date we were with the machines on the show because they were exactly like the machines in the New York ICU. It took a long time to get over it, but I’m feeling much better now. I can talk about it much easier now. It’s good to remember him in this way.

 

Grey’s Anatomy the Complete Seventh Season is available on DVD on Sept. 13th.

Photo credit: ABC/BOB D’AMICO

Grey’s Anatomy – Complete Seventh Season: More Heartbeats (A J!-ENT DVD Review)

A realistic, emotional seventh season of “Grey’s Anatomy” that definitely will have its repercussions for certain characters for season eight.  “Grey’s Anatomy – Complete Seventh Season: More Heartbeats” is definitely recommended!

Images courtesy of © abc studios. All Rights Reserved.

DVD TITLE: Grey’s Anatomy – Complete Seventh Season: More Heartbeats

SERIES DATE: 2010-2011

DURATION: 22 Episodes (946 Minutes)

DVD INFORMATION: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, Spanish and French Subtitles, Widescreen (1:78:1) – Enhanced for 16×9 Televisions

COMPANY: abc studios

RATED: TV 14 DSLV

RELEASE DATE: September 13, 2011

Created by Shonda Rhimes

Directed by Rob Corn, Jessica Yu and Randall Zisk

Written by Shonda Rhimes, Krista Vernoff, Stacy McKee, Tony Phelan, Joan Rater, Mark Wilding, Debora Cahn, Zoanne Clack, Allan Heinberg, Jenna Bans, William Harper and Peter Nowalk

Executive Producer: Betsy Beers, Shonda Rhimes, Krista Vernoff

Co-Executive Producer: Mark Wilding, Tony Phelan, Joan Rater

Producer: Tammy Ann Casper, Rob Corn, Linda Klein, Zoanne Clack

Consulting Producer: Debora Cahn

Supervising Producer: Jenna Bans

Associate Producer: Chris Van Dusen

Music by Danny Lux

Cinematography by Herbert Davis

Edited by Edward Ornelas, Susan Vaill, David Greenspan

Casting by John Brace, Linda Lowy, Will Stewart

Production Design by Donald Lee Harris

Set Decoration by Nicole Cramer

Costume Design by Mimi Melgaard

Starring:

Ellen Pompeo as Dr. Meredith Grey

Patrick Dempsey as Dr. Derek Shepherd

Sandra Oh as Dr. Cristina Yang

Katherine Heigl as Dr. Isobel ‘Izzie’ Stevens

Eric Dane as Dr. Mark Sloan

Justin Chambers as Dr. Alex Karev

Chandra Wilson as Dr. Miranda Bailey

James Pickens Jr. as Dr. Richard Webber

Sara Ramirez as Dr. Callie Torres

Kevin McKidd as Dr. Owen Hunt

Jessica Capshaw as Dr. Arizona Robbins

Chyler Leigh as Dr. Lexie Grey

Kim Raver as Dr. Teddy Altman

Jesse Williams as Dr. Jackson Avery

Sarah Drew as Dr. April Kepner

Robert Baker as Dr. Charles Percy

Norah Zehetner as Dr. Reed Adamson

Kate Walsh as Dr. Addison Montgomery-Shepherd

Life takes commitment. As much as things have changed, good and bad, for the doctors at Seattle Grace, they’re now faced with the challenge of how willing they are to commit – to their careers, to love, to friendships, to the choices they make. And they will start to realize they have to deal with their lives to understand what matters most to them and how commitment helps define who they are.

In 2005, “Grey’s Anatomy” became a critically acclaimed television series that would become ABC’s top rated dramas and winner of two Emmy and Golden Globe Awards.

Created by Shonda Rhimes (“Private Practice”), the drama series revolves around a group of interns and their experience at Seattle Grace Hospital. As well, as a few of the other doctors of the hospital. Throughout the first five seasons, we see these interns become residents and experience relationship problems and also the stress and challenges they face as resident doctors. The last season was a bit more dramatic as love was lost, love was found and we saw one of the main characters battling cancer, while another dies in a tragic accident.

Season six featured a merger between Seattle Grace and Mercy West, Izzie left Alex and the residents of Seattle Grace try to get along with the residents from Mercy West and the season ended with a traumatic event in which doctors at Seattle Grace-Mercy West Hospital were killed and life for these doctors will never be the same.

Season seven continues with the recovery of the doctor’s after the traumatic event and now the doctors must make decisions that will change the direction of their career.  Derek worries that Meredith may have inherited her mother’s Alzheimer’s Disease, Callie is pregnant, marriages/breakups and also includes the musical episode of “Song Beneath the Song”.

The characters of “Grey’s Anatomy” Season 7 include:

Dr. Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo, “Daredevil”, “Old School”) - A resident surgeon Seattle’s Grace Hospital who is now married to Dr. Derek Shepherd. Best friends with Dr. Cristina Yang.  She feels that she may have inherited her mother’s Alzheimer’s.

Dr. Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey, “The Practice”, “Made of Honor”, “The Practice”, “Freedom Writers”) - The head of neurosurgery and was married to Dr. Addison Montgomery (“Private Practice”) who had an affair with his friend Dr. Mark Sloan. He is now married to Dr. Meredith Grey and gives up his position as Chief at Seattle Grace-Mercy West. Known as “McDreamy” to the Dr. Meredith Grey and her friends.

Dr. Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh, “Blindness”, “Arli$$”, “Sideways”) - A resident surgeon at Seattle’s Grace Hospital and a best friend of Dr. Meredith Grey, not afraid of confessing her emotions to her friends. She gets married to Dr. Owen Hunt. She wants to have more hands on experience as a cardiac surgeon but she is suffering from post-traumatic stress since the traumatic shootings at the hospital.

Dr. Alex Karev (Justin Chambers, “Lakeview Terrace”, “Cold Case”, “The Wedding Planner”) - A doctor at Seattle’s Grace Hospital. Abrasive towards the new interns.

Dr. Mark Sloan (Eric Dane, “Marley & Me”, “X-Men: The Last Stand”, “Charmed”) - Once a best friend (and almost like family) to Dr. Derek Shepherd but had an affair with Derek’s wife, and definitely help lead towards their divorce. Specializes in plastic surgery and often looked at as arrogant. Has had sexual relations with many women and is now dating Dr. Lexie Grace. Known to the female doctors as “McSteamy”.

Dr. Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh, “The Practice”, “Girls Club, “That ’80s Show”) – Dr. Meredith Grey’s sister (both are not really close to each other). Trying to learn and strives to learn everything from the doctors at Seattle Grace Hospital and known for her photographic memory. Her relationship status with Sloan is unknown.

Dr. Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez, “Baseball Wives”, “Chicago”) – A former chief resident at Seattle Grace Hospital and an orthopedic surgeon. Was married with Dr. George O’Malley. Later, she has a sexual relationship with Dr. Mark Sloan (in order to prove to herself that she is heterosexual) but is now starting to understand her feelings that she is a lesbian and exploring her relationship with Dr. Arizona Robbins.

Dr. Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson, “Philadelphia”) - A resident surgeon in charge of five interns (now residents). Known for her tough love and blunt comments.

Dr. Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw, “The Practice”) – Head of Pediatric Surgery and has a relationship with Dr. Torres.

Dr. Richard Webber (James Picken’s Jr., “Curb Your Enthusiasm, “The Lyon’s Den”, “Six Feet Under”) - The Chief of Surgery at Seattle Grace-Mercy West Hospital. In earlier seasons, it is learned that he had an affair with Meredith’s mother and is like a father figure to her. Because of Seattle Grace’s ranking starts to suffer, he enforces tough rules on his doctors and is a recovering alcoholic.

Dr. Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd, “Journeyman”, “Rome”) – Head of the trauma surgery and becomes the husband of Cristina Yang. Dr. Hunt is recovering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder suffered while serving in Iraq.

Dr. Teddy Altman (Kim Raver, “24″, “Lipstick Jungle”, “Third Watch”) - Head of Cardiothoracic Surgery and served in Iraq with Dr. Hunt. She once loved Owen and trying to move on.

Dr. Jackson Avery (Jesse Williams, “Beyond the Break”) – A surgical resident from Mercy West Hospital who joins Seattle Grace after the merger. The grandson of the famous surgeon Dr. Harper Avery and tends to be overconfident and flirtatious.

Dr. April Kepner (Sarah Drew, “Mad Men”) – A surgical resident from Mercy West Hospital who joins Seattle Grace after the merger. She is very intelligent and not too sociable, but becomes friends with the other residents.

Dr. Robert Stark (Peter MacNicol, “Ally McBeal”, “Chicago Hope”, “24″) - A pediatric surgeon who is brought in to take the place of Arizona Robbins who gave her notice to go to Africa.  He has a crush on Dr. April Kepner.

Dr. Lucy Fields (Rachael Taylor, “Man Thing”, “See No Evil”) – An OB/GYN at Seattle Grace-Mercy West and is overconfident.  She is Callie’s obstetrician and has a relationship with Alex.

“Grey’s Anatomy – Complete Seventh Season: More Heartbeats” features 22 episodes on six discs. Here is a basic summary of each episode (Spoilerless summaries):

DISC: 1

• EPISODE 127- With You I’m Born Again – We learn how everyone at the hospital is recovering after the traumatic shooting and death of their colleagues.
• EPISODE 128 – Shock to the System – Meredith decides to tell Derek about her miscarriage and Cristina is given a chance back to return to surgery but will she be ready?
• EPISODE 129 – Superfreak – Derek’s sister Amelia (from “Private Practice”) shows up to make amends.  Meredith and Derek try to help Cristina who is suffering from post-traumatic stress.
• EPISODE 130 – Can’t Fight Biology – Meredith receives bad news from her obstetrician.

DISC 2:

• EPISODE 131 – Almost Grown – The Chief tries to learn what would the residents do if given a million-dollar grant.    Derek worries that Meredith may have her mother’s Alzheimer’s.
• EPISODE 132 – These Arms of Mine – A documentary is being shot at the hospital to see how the doctors are doing after the traumatic shooting.
• EPISODE 133 – That’s Me Trying – Cristina watches over an ill patient, meanwhile Callie and Arizona prepare for their trip to Africa.
• EPISODE 134 – Something’s Gotta Give – Cristina has a housewarming party and the hospital welcomes Dr. Phil Stark.

DISC 3:

• EPISODE 135 – Slow Night, So Long – The residents have to work the night shift and realize how differently things operate at night.
• EPISODE 136 – Adrift and At Peace – Derek takes Cristina out on a fishing trip, while Lexie deals with a nurse who won’t listen to her.
• EPISODE 137 – Disarm- A school shooting brings the panic back to Seattle Grace-Mercy West Hospital as the doctors try to save the lives of their patients while Teddy must operate on the person who pulled the trigger.
• EPISODE 138 – Start Me Up – The residents are appointed a med student, who they must teach and evaluate.  Callie reveals her secret to Callie.

DISC 4:

• EPISODE 139 – Don’t Deceive Me (Please Don’t Go) - Derek begins his Alzheimer’s clinical trial and includes Merideth, while Bailey is tweeting during her surgeries which upsets Webber.  Will Mark play a role in Callie’s pregnancy?
• EPISODE 140 – P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)  – Meredith and Lexie’s father is admitted to the hospital and find out that he has a young girlfriend.
• EPISODE 141 – Golden Hour – Meredith wants to prove that she can be Chief Resident and the Chief’s wife, Adele, is admitted to the ER.
• EPISODE 142 – Not Responsible – Meredith starts to have eye problems and Mark wants Callie and Arizona to know that he is serious of being a father to his unborn child.

DISC 5:

• EPISODE 143 – This Is How We Do It - Richard is hoping Derek and Meredith accepts Adele into the Alzheimer’s trial but Adele doesn’t want to be part of it.  And the competition for the Chief Resident position becomes heated.
• EPISODE 144 Song Beneath the Song – The “Grey’s Anatomy” musical.  A cataclysmic even hits rattles the doctors of Seattle Grace and Callie has a life-changing moment.  (NOTE: There are two versions of the series, the extended version and the normal version of the episode).  Starring Kate Walsh as Dr. Addison Montgomery.
• EPISODE 145 – It’s a Long Way Back - Everyone tries to help Callie during her time of need, Alex treats a cranky woman dying of cancer.

DISC 6:

• EPISODE 146 – White Wedding – It’s nearly time for Callie and Arizona’s wedding but the two start to question it.  The competition for Chief Resident continues to heat up as everyone feels that Alex may be the top contender.
• EPISODE 147 – I Will Survive - The pressure on Meredith is getting to her.  Owen begins the interviews for the Chief Resident Position.
• EPISODE 148 – Unaccompanied Minor  – News of Meredith’s dishonesty in the clinical trial comes to light and will lead to consequences for her and others.  Cristina must make a decision that will either affect her career or her relationship with Owen.  And the decision of who will be the Chief Resident is revealed.

VIDEO:

“Grey’s Anatomy – Complete Seventh Season: More Heartbeats” is presented in Widescreen (1:78:1) – Enhanced for 16×9 televisions. When it comes to television drama series, “Grey’s Anatomy” is one of ABC’s highly rated dramas that although filmed in a hospital setting. The cinematography for the final episode was excellent. For the most part, the series looks good on DVD, nice good closeups and skintones are natural and during low light scenes, I didn’t see any major noise or compression artifacts. For the most part, the seventh season does look very good on DVD.

AUDIO:

As for audio, the series is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and the series is primarily dialogue and music driven. Dialogue is clear and understandable, while the music has always played a major part for the series and definitely enhances certain scenes. I did notice more surround usage in the final two episodes. From the sirens, gun shots, crowd ambiance being utilized through the surround channels.

The show is presented in English SDH, Spanish and French subtitles.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“Grey’s Anatomy – Complete Seventh Season: More Heartbeats” includes the following special features:

DISC 5:

• Normal & Extended episode of “Episode 144 – Song Beneath the Song” -  This extended episode (48:01)  and the normal episode (44:01) are featured on disc 5.

DISC 6:

• The Music Event: Behind the Scenes – (15:00) The making of the “Song Beneath the Song” musical episode and how the cast reacted when they heard they were doing a musical.  Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers talked about how they convinced the talent to do the musical episode, as many were opposed to doing it and how everything came together.
• Dissecting Grey’s Anatomy: Unaired Scenes – Eleven deleted scenes.
  
• In Stitches: Outtakes  - (2:42) Season seven outtakes.
  
• Seattle Grace: Message of Hope Webisodes – A total of six webisodes (No Comment, Take One, The Face, Nerves, Award-Winning, The Sizzle) and “The Making of Seattle Grace: Message of Hope” (4:05).

EXTRAS:

“Grey’s Anatomy – Complete Seventh Season: More Heartbeats” comes with a slip case.

With the success of how the sixth season of “Grey’s Anatomy” literally ending with a bang, it made you wonder how Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers and the writers for the series would continue the excitement.

For the most part, the changes made in the sixth season was important.  The addition of newer characters, removal of one and building upon the momentum left from season six and sure enough, the writers had enough to work with.  From the post-traumatic stress that Cristina had suffered and the life changing decisions made by other characters.  That was important to showcase.

Also, I liked how each character had character building storylines and no one was left out.  Even Callie and Arizona as well as Mark and their triangle begins to become focused on. Especially with the musical and seeing how their relationship is tested.

But possibly the plus for this season are not about the lovemaking, not about the relationships, it’s about the flaws of the characters.  Without getting into details, these situations are going to be quite interesting as it will carry on over to season eight.  Cristina having post-traumatic stress but also dealing with a situation that will definitely have a major affect on her and her relationship with Owen.  But also Meredith, who did something that is not so surprising, since she does have a good heart but unfortunately, she violated the trust of her husband and chief and unfortunately made an unethical decision as a doctor which unfortunately will hurt her career.

Suffice to say, the last season was shocking and emotional, but this time around, it’s an emotional season in a different sense, marked by decisions made by each individual and unfortunately will lead to consequences that will factor into the eighth season of “Grey’s Anatomy”.

As for this DVD set, there are a good amount of special features including the web episodes of “Seattle Grace: On Call”, deleted scenes and the making of the musical episode.

With that being said, while the sixth season was a tremendous season with a shocking finale, the seventh season was more of a recovering episode from what took place in season six and the talent did a fantastic job in showing their way of recovering from what took place.  The return of Mandy Moore as Mary Portman was touching but also an unexpected conclusion to her storyline and the various storylines that were setup that will have repercussions, we’re going to have to wait and see how these characters are affected in season eight.

But the situations are realistic and without spoiling the series, fans of the series who didn’t have a chance to watch the seventh season should be content.  These are well-written episodes, the acting was well-done and while people may feel a bit 50/50 on the inclusion of the musical, it does come to show that Shonda Rhimes is willing to take chances.

If you are a fan of the series, “Grey’s Anatomy – Complete Seventh Season: More Heartbeats” is definitely recommended!

GREY’S ANATOMY: Free Falling / She’s Gone – SEASON PREMIERE

THE CAREERS AND RELATIONSHIPS OF SEATTLE GRACE’S FINEST
HANG IN THE BALANCE — WHO WILL SINK AND WHO WILL SHINE? –
ON THE SEASON 8 PREMIERE OF ABC’S “GREY’S ANATOMY”

“Free Falling / She’s Gone” – “Grey’s Anatomy” returns for its eighth season with a two-hour event THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. In the first hour, “Free Falling” (9:00-10:00 p.m.), the fifth-year residents return for the first day of a year that will make or break their careers: Meredith faces the consequences of tampering with Derek’s clinical trial and is terminated at the hospital; April tries to step up to the plate as Chief Resident in the wake of a giant sinkhole in the middle of Seattle; and Cristina and Owen are still at odds over their drastically different feelings for their unborn child. In the second hour, “She’s Gone” (10:00-11:00 p.m.), news of Meredith and Derek’s unsteady relationship raises a red flag for Zola’s adoption counselor; Alex quickly realizes that he has become the outcast of the group after ratting out Meredith; and Cristina makes a tough decision regarding her unexpected pregnancy. Also, Chief Webber brings Henry in for a last minute surgery, alarming Teddy.

“Grey’s Anatomy” stars Ellen Pompeo as Meredith Grey, Patrick Dempsey as Derek Shepherd, Sandra Oh as Cristina Yang, Justin Chambers as Alex Karev, Chandra Wilson as Miranda Bailey, James Pickens, Jr. as Richard Webber, Sara Ramirez as Callie Torres, Eric Dane as Mark Sloan, Chyler Leigh as Lexie Grey, Kevin McKidd as Owen Hunt, Jessica Capshaw as Arizona Robbins, Kim Raver as Teddy Altman, Jesse Williams as Jackson Avery and Sarah Drew as April Kepner.

Guest cast for “Free Falling” includes Mackenzie Astin as Danny, Amy Price-Francis as Susannah, and Robin Weigert as Karen. “Free Falling” was written by Tony Phelan and Joan Rater and directed by Rob Corn.

Guest cast for “She’s Gone” includes Mackenzie Astin as Danny, Amy Price-Francis as Susannah, Scott Foley as Henry, and Mitch Pileggi as Larry Jennings. “She’s Gone” was written by Debora Cahn and directed by Rob Corn.

“Grey’s Anatomy” is broadcasted in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC’s selected HTV format, with 5.1-channel surround sound. A TV parental guideline will be assigned closer to airdate.

For more information on “Grey’s Anatomy” please visit ABC.com.

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