NOTE: This is an editorial. It reflects the author's opinion alone. You may not, and probably don't, agree with it, and that is your choice.

I have a question. Maybe you can answer. Maybe you can't. I may not want to hear that answer, if you have it. But, my question is: Why is Hollywood's new ragdoll Katherine Heigl? What do I mean by this? I mean, why is it that everyone picks on her and calls her a bitch and whatnot? What, exactly, did she ever do?
Case in point: a new article on celebrity gossip website "What Would Tyler Durden Do." The headline? "Katherine Heigl: Still a Bitch." The article goes on to talk about how Katie withdrew herself from the Emmy nominations this year because she felt as if she wasn't given good enough material to warrant an award, and didn't want to risk taking the award from someone who really deserved it. Of course, this site (WWTDD), spins it to make it look as though Katie is blaming the writers. So, obviously, the writer of this article does not watch Grey's Anatomy. Let's take a look back at Season Four for Izzie...
The first half of the season was dealing with the affair with George, Callie's finding out, and the aftermath of that. The second half of the season ("Season Four, Part Two") dealt with Izzie's aftermath of realizing she didn't love George and moving on and, subsequently, needing to grow up (like the rest of the characters). And her screen time, in case you didn't notice, was cut considerably.
Katie wasn't doing this to blame the writers for sucking (which they didn't), she was doing this so that someone can get the award that she feels deserves it more than her. This was a kind, selfless act.
When did Katie become the bitch? Why does everyone feel the need to pick on her and misconstrue and twist her words to make her one? It sounds to me, and to most fans and the cast and crew of Grey's Anatomy, that she is a down-to-earth person. A kind person. A selfless person. True, the notion that she'd want out of her contract at Grey's is upsetting and quite frankly does anger me. I love Izzie, and Grey's Anatomy would literally be a totally different show without her. But she's just trying to further her blossoming, booming career - which obviously shows that audiences and studios don't view her as the bitch either.
So, tell me, what did she ever do but try to be a great person, a great friend, a great actress? Did she stick her foot in her mouth? Is that all? Because, frankly, we all do it, and she shouldn't be judged for that.
Katherine Heigl is a great actress. She's hilarious and beautiful and could probably be anyone's best friend (I know I'd love that!). So, just...what the hell?

The casts of Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice finally unveiled Good Medicine last night. And what good medicine it was. Not only was EVERYBODY there, minus Patrick & Kate, who were stuck promoting in foreign countries, but some of the actors, producers, and more who weren't involved in the show...were sitting in the crowd. I walked right next to Betsy Beers, our favorite co-podcaster and producer. I sat about 10 chairs away from Sarah Utterback, who plays the either love-her-or-hate-her Nurse Olivia. And I walked right past Joe the Bartender (who is very tall!). Kristin from E! Online, our most beloved TV scoop gal, sat only two rows in front of me. And I sat probably less than 50 feet away from the stage, where this all took place.

The show started soon after 8:00, with a video message from Patrick Dempsey, which was quite hilarious. He discussed that he was in Japan, promoting Enchanted. Katherine Hiegl then walked out on stage, looking fabulous in a red dress. Honestly, she looked like a beautiful doll. She began to explain why we were here (to support the strike) and what some of the crew positions were, like script supervisior and gaffer, etc. It was absolutely hilarious, and that nervous Katherine Hiegl you saw at the Oscars? She wasn't anywhere to be seen at Good Medicine. Katherine then introduced Sara Ramirez, who came on stage and sang probably the most amazing song in the world, which was probably only so because Sara has such an amazing voice. AMAZING. Like, Shonda needs to give her a chance to sing on the show because you just don't even know amazing. She was the first singer, and she got a standing ovation. From EVERYONE. That's how amazing she is (no one else got a standing ovation). After Sara's song, out came the always magnificent Ellen Pompeo. She was wearing the black dress with the boots you always see her in and had wavy hair. She looked awesome. She continued discussing some of the positions of the crew, explaining what they do. She also introduced the recurring theme of "What is a best boy?" It was very Meredith-esque, and very funny. And very cute.
She was followed by TR Knight, who's just an amazing person all in his own. And who knew he could sing? He sang a combination of two really hilarious songs, and he was good. Following him came Eric Dane and Brooke Smith - who was dressed up in a way you'd never see Dr. Hahn dressed up - who both talked about being the newer cast members on the block. They introduced Chandra Wilson, who with her amazing voice sang the song she sang to her son in season three "Staring at the Sun." Then out came Amy Brenneman, who among first glance looked like a freakishly thin Kate Walsh. Amy looked good. Really thin, but good. She wore different from everybody else - a knee-length layered dress and what looked like ballet slippers. She introduced Paul Adelstein, who came out and actually sang. And, man, he was actually good too! Who knew?! He sang "Slip Slidin' Away," and then he was followed by Chandra Wilson. This was the first glance at our real entertainment. Chandra read the first of three fan letters. She talked about how Shonda recieves freaky letters, and the fans can be creepy, and then she read an absolutely hilarious letter in which somebody called "MerDer473" (or something like that) threatened to stop watching the show if Meredith and Derek were not put together - and NOW. Then Eric Dane came out and read a hilarious letter where somebody wrote in saying that the show needs more shirtless McSteamy scenes. They even offered up a scenario, where the OR's air conditioning could break down and McSteamy decides to operate shirtless. Or give him a spin-off where he goes and lives on a nudist colony. Eric said that this letter was by...Eric Dane.
Paul Adelstein followed Eric Dane out with a letter to Shonda via Private Practice. The person talked about how all of the relationships on the show were wrong, and then offered up solutions. The truly funny part though? ...The writer of the letter was "I Hate Cooper."
These fan letters were followed by Chyler Leigh and Justin Chambers. Justin, who just got out of the hospital for exhaustion, looked good. He was on top of his game. He was really funny. Chyler played the dumb girl part as they continued to discuss crew positions and then introduced Audra McDonald, who sang a very short, but quite entertaining song. And Audra McDonald? She's an amazing singer too. And she looks way better in person than she does on TV. She's, like, really pretty.

...Then came intermission. Or break time. Whatever you want to call it. This is when I noticed Kristin Dos Santos, our beloved E! reporter, was sitting two rows in front of me, as she stood up and began mingling with everybody. It was exciting. I got up and went outside and met up with my friend who was there, and we watched as Joe the Bartender (sorry, but his name escapes me) and Betsy Beers carried on a conversation, discussing whether or not we should go say "hi." We opted not to, and them they rang some chimes, signaling us to go back in. So we go back in, and guess who is blocking our seats? Kristin at E! and Betsy Beers. So we watch. And wait. And they go away and we sit down for Act Two. It was introduced with a video by Kate Walsh. In this video, she was laying on a massage table in front of an Australian backdrop, as she explained how she had to be in Australia to promote Private Practice and ABC was working her "so hard." She also discussed how she wouldn't be where she was today without the "little people." It was so Addison.
Taye Diggs came on stage to introduce Loretta Devine, who sang a song. She's got quite a voice too! Then out came Tim Daly and Chris Lowell, who introduced themselves and Paul Adelstein and Amy Brenneman, who all teamed up for a rendition of "California Stars," in which Chris Lowell got to show off his AMAZING harmonica talents, and Tim Daly's awesome guitar talents. You could see how they were all enjoying it, as they were all laughing with each other.
Then Jim Pickens, Jr. comes out. All decked out. In the sparkles. And the open shirt. And he begins lip-synching "I Feel Good." It was HILARIOUS. But then Loretta Devine comes out and interrupts, saying how we didn't pay $85 to see him lip synch. So, he pulls off his toupe and introduces his real-life wife, who sings. She's got an amazing voice as well.
This was the great part. Sara Ramirez, Justin Chambers, Eric Dane, and Sandra Oh come out on stage. TR Knight explains how some people write the way they think the show should go themselves are called "fanfics," short for "fanfiction." I swear to God. He said that. Then he said how some were really good, and some were really...scary. So they started actually reading one. The best part about it? It was a shamfic! It involved werewolves and all that jazz, but the best part was when Sandra Oh had her first line. No one saw it coming and she did it TOTALLY channeling Cristina and she NAILED it. And it was possibly the single funniest moment of the night. They left, and Katherine Hiegl and TR Knight come on stage and start reading this alternate universe fanfic where George is like a prince or something and Katie is a maid or something like that, and they are falling in love. It was great. Then they were supposed to kiss, and then Katie burst out saying she remembered what a best boy was, and TR is all "you ruined it." So, they have a pretend fight and walk off stage pretending to be mad at each other. Then Sandra Oh came on and introduced the Grey's Anatomy best boy, explaining what it was and the origins of the term. Audra McDonald then came on and sang another song, which she said reminded her Addison, which I could see, but only losely.
Then came the moment I was most looking forward to. Shonda Rhimes. She comes on stage, in an overly sparkly dress (as promised), and she looks really nervous. She looks awesome and great, but nervous. She thanks everybody for coming and says that since she has no talent besides writing, she really shouldn't be on stage, and she introduces the "special mystery musical guest." Then she leaves. It was really disappointing, but it was still awesome to see my hero.
The special mystery musical guest? It was Patty Griffin, who sang "Up to the Mountain," which was in the last episode of Grey's, Lay Your Hands on Me. To be honest, I wasn't that interested. Then both of the casts - all of them - came on stage and thanked us for coming and said goodnight. Sara Ramirez sang one more song, which was amazing (because Sara is AMAZING), but it wasn't as great as her first song. ...And then it was over.
So we go outside to see if we can see any of them. We see Sara Utterback trying to escape before she's devoured by the crazy fans, and she gets roped into one picture before taking off. Then out comes Brooke Smith, ducking down thinking no one can see her, looking for a way out. She walked thisclose to me. I could've tripped her. But I didn't. Obviously.
So, we waited and waited and waited, and no one else came so I left, and my friend stayed and she got pictures with them all (and so now I will hate her for eternity, obviously).
So, there was no news on what's going to happen on the show now. No hints or spoilers or anything. If that's what you came looking for, well, then you are out of luck. It doesn't matter anyways, because this was for a good cause. A very good one. However, Kate Walsh's return to Grey's this spring was certainly the most-talked about thing at the event, and I overheard someone say it will be a great way to relaunch Private Practice in the fall.
So, the medicine. It was good. It was amazing. Possibly the most amazing night of my life. EVER. And I will never forget it. It was an amazing event, and well worth the expensive and long trip out to LA. I hope you all enjoyed the recap, and if you have any questions or anything else you want to know, please, just post a talk back on this post. I'll be happy to answer. Anyways, this thing will probably get edited a few more times.
After seeing this dose of Good Medicine though, I'm hoping those age-old rumors of a musical episode of Grey's Anatomy finally comes true, because with these sets of pipes, there's no way it could go wrong.

FULL LIST OF PRESENTERS & SONGS, IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE
ACT ONE
- Video Message: Patrick Dempsey
- Katherine Heigl
- Sara Ramirez, Meadowlark
- Ellen Pompeo
- TR Knight, Losing My Mind/You Could Drive a Person Crazy
- Brooke Smith & Eric Dane
- Chandra Wilson, God Bless the Child
- Amy Brenneman
- Paul Adelstein, Slip Slidin' Away
- Chandra Wilson, Paul Adelstein, & Eric Dane
- Chyler Leigh & Justin Chambers
- Audra McDonald, Somedays
ACT TWO
- Video Message: Kate Walsh
- Taye Diggs
- Loretta Devine, I Believe in You & Me
- Tim Daly & Chris Lowell
- Tim Daly, Chris Lowell, Paul Adelstein, & Amy Brenneman, California Stars
- James Pickens, Jr. & Loretta Devine
- Gina Taylor-Pickens, Dr. Feelgood
- TR Knight, Sara Ramirez, Justin Chambers, Eric Dane, Sandra Oh, & Katherine Heigl
- Audra McDonald, It's the Christian Thing to Do
- Shonda Rhimes
- Patty Griffin, Up to the Mountain
- Ensemble
- Sara Ramirez, Grateful
* taken directly from pamphlet handed out at event

So, the other night I was watching episode 217 (As We Know It). You know, part two of the Super Bowl episode. I was doing some things for the site, and I wound up reading some quotes from the epsiode, and just remembering the scene between Cristina and Meredith and Bomb Squad Guy when they are moving the gurney, well, I just had to re-watch the episode. For that one scene.
Now, (As We Know It) is not my favorite episode. If I had to pick one favorite episode - HAD to pick - it would be the season two finale, Losing My Religion. But that's if I HAD to pick. Which I don't like to do. Nevertheless, (As We Know It) would make the top five. Maybe it'd be number two. Then again, maybe not.
But that's not the point. The point is, the other night I'm watching this episode. This episode from what seems like so many years ago and I finally realized, after months and months of denial, that, yes, Grey's Anatomy is a different show now. It's not something I want to admit. Admitting it makes me want to apologize to Shonda prefusely for saying such a thing about her amazing show. But...Grey's Anatomy of 2008 is NOT the Grey's Anatomy that I watched the other night. And I know it. I knew it as soon as Meredith and Cristina started discussing Burke and how he might blow up, and how it was most important that Meredith needed to pee. Because, see, the thing is: they don't talk like that anymore. The days of endless "Seriouslys" and "Mc-ing" everything and talking about how we need to pee are gone. They just...disappeared. Denny died and they disappeared. Now, they've popped back up every once in a while (like George and Meredith's discussion in Oh, the Guilt or pretty much all of Lay Your Hands on Me), but for the most part, they've disappeared. And, I think I'm speaking for everyone when I say this, I want them back.
Grey's Anatomy is still a great show. There's no disputing that. It's better than that freaking American Idol or godforsaken October Road. It's still an amazing show. But it's not Grey's Anatomy anymore. It may have the same characters with the same names, but it's just simply not the same anymore.
In my last editorial, I said that there was something different, something wrong, with the show the way that it is. The thing is, I didn't have an answer as to how it could be fixed. Well, now I do.
See, the thing is, there is still the humor. And the sex. And the drama. And everything that was there to begin with. But the problem now is the way it is being executed. Cristina and Meredith don't discuss guys anymore. The doctors, really, in general just aren't inappropriate in front of their patients the way they used to be (remember way back to season one when George shared his love of Meredith to the dying tumor patient, Annie?). That was part of the reason why the show was so much fun. The doctors shared too much. And they just don't do it anymore. Yah, I suppose it could be called character growth and more professional, but, still. I want the inappropriateness back. That was the fun that's missing. And the problem with the sex is that its no longer fun anymore. The sex is always melodramatic. Remember back in the beginning when Meredith just slept with Derek? And then Bailey saw it? I'm still not sure anybody knows that Alex slept with Addison...not even Mark, possibly. And nobody even knew about George and Izzie until months (in our time) after they slept together. The fun sex...it just isn't there.
Everything else? It's just fine. The stories, no matter what you think, are certainly getting back track. That was definitley evidenced by "Lay Your Hands on Me." If you think about it, this really will be the first time that Meredith and Derek have REALLY broken up. With it as a mutual agreement. Even when Addison showed up, they didn't really break up. We all know that. But this time, it's for real. For the very first time. And this allows for some VERY interesting storylines to take place. But if you think they'll never get back together, then you need to get your head checked - quickly.
So, I'm not trying to rag on the show. Call it TV's worst show ever. I'm not trying to do anything like that, because, the truth is, there's no reason to. Grey's Anatomy is still better than pretty much anything on TV. The writers have just lost some of the focus and magic, which, after four years, is understandable and OK. There's still 18 million people watching every week. We just need to remind the writers of what they've forgotten.
So, if you are one of those fans who says you'll never watch again because MerDer is broken up or the show is too melodramatic, just wait and see. Keep watching, and you'll see. Shonda Rhimes isn't stupid. No matter what you think, she's not. She's got a brilliant plan stored in her head for this show, and it's going to play out her way no matter what. We just need to remind her to add the fun back in.

Like this post? Be sure to Digg it, Technorati it, or del.icio.us it to get it recognition so that Shonda, the writers, and ABC will read it and remind them of the fun we want!

Step one to recovery is admitting your problems.
Welcome to another editorial from me, the world's largest Grey's Anatomy fan.
Step one to recovery is admitting your problems.
Grey's Anatomy never got to experience an entire first season. It was a mid-season replacement that was so popular that ABC cut its season short to keep the audience drawn in. So, unlike most television shows, which experience "sophomore slumps" during their second season (for example, Desperate Housewives' second season had a mystery that went nowhere, the Heroes creator actually apologized to the fans for a sub-par season, and even Ugly Betty fans have complained of a sophomore slump), Grey's Anatomy went above and beyond during its second season, perfecting its craft.
The third season had a promising start, when it left all of the characters in uncertain places with uncertain futures. Derek, Finn, Meredith, and the McSex. Izzie quits. Denny's dead. Burke's got a tremor. It goes on and on...
The "sophomore slump" began, a season late. Even die-hard fans (although I'm not too sure how die-hard they are) began to complain about storylines that were too melodramatic, jumping the shark, and they simply didn't want to "leap" with Shonda anymore. They wanted their show back. The uncomplicated, fun, sexy show about competition that they all fell in love with. These fans, well, they were promised all of that in the fourth season, and so these fans stayed tuned into their TV sets every Thursday night expecting that. And there were signs, definite signs, that things were returning to season one and season two-esque Grey's Anatomy, as evidenced by such episodes as "Kung Fu Fighting," but the complaining...continued.
It takes time to recover from a sophomore slump. Desperate Housewives wasn't immediately hailed again when its third season premiered. Unfortunately for Grey's Anatomy, it didn't have enough time to recover, because it got cut off by the writer's strike.
But, see, the thing is, Grey's Anatomy is a different show now. It's still a great, an amazing, show, but it is different. The cast is different, the characters are different, the writers are even different. But, at the core, it's still a fun, sexy show about competition. Unfortunately for the fans, the writers have just veered off into the wrong path. So, what do you do to recover from this?
Step one to recovery is admitting your problems.
OK, so, Shonda hasn't admitted the show has a problem. In fact, she says season three was always planned to be the way that it was (which was described by fans and critics as "emotionally devastating"). But, inadvertently, the show itself has. In the final pre-strike episode, "Lay Your Hands on Me," all of the characters admitted their problems. Izzie doesn't know what she wants. George needs to grow up. Bailey doesn't spend enough time with her family (although, who knows if this can be rectified - but it better). Alex, although not admitting anything, had something really bad happen to him in his past (can we finally learn about this damn event, please?!). Cristina, although not admitting anything either, realized that sometimes, not being a robot can be good. Derek lost Meredith's trust and lost the McDreamy touch. And Meredith...can't trust anybody.
These are all things that the fans have known for months. And, now, finally, new, fresh, completely different storylines have been set in motion. The characters have realized these things for themselves, and Grey's Anatomy can finally return to its funnier, sexier, uncomplicated roots. The only question is...will they?

Now, I'm not one to bash Grey's Anatomy. In fact, I'm the person that will defend what's happening on the show to the end, and try to figure out what it means for the character's growth. This, however, even seems to be too much though. And I can't figure out the point of it. Over the course of the previous four seasons, here is the list of ALL of the relationships that have ended on Grey's Anatomy. If there's a couple that's been on-off (like MerDer), I've listed them over and over, and I'm doing this some memory, so if I miss a few, don't hurt me. Some of them are also kind of opinions, which I interpreted as break-ups, like Cristina & Burke after Tremorgate in season three.

• Meredith/Derek (1 - "101 A Hard Day's Night")
• George/Olivia ("109 Who's Zoomin' Who?")
  
• Alex/Izzie (1 - "210 Much Too Much")
• Alex/Izzie (2 - "221 Superstition")
  
• Meredith/Derek (2 - "201 Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head")
• Meredith/Derek (3 - "206 Into You Like a Train")
• Richard/Adele (1 - "301 Time Has Come Today")
• Addison/Derek (1 - "301 Time Has Come Today" flashback)
• Addison/Derek (2 - "302 I Am a Tree")
  
• Addison/Mark (1 - "303 Sometimes a Fantasy")
• Addison/Mark (2 - "321 Desire")
• Richard/Adele (2 - "404 The Heart of the Matter")
• Meredith/Derek (4 - "224 Damage Case" It wasn't really one, but it sure sounded like it)
  
• Meredith/Derek (5 - "321 Desire")
• Meredith/Derek (6 - "325 Didn't We Almost Have it All?")
• Meredith/Derek (7 - presumably "411 Lay Your Hands on Me")
• George/Callie (1 - "305 Oh, The Guilt")
• George/Callie (2 - "403 Let the Truth Sting")
• George/Izzie ("410 Crash Into Me, Part Two")
  
• Cristina/Burke (1 - "310 Don't Stand So Close to Me")
• Cristina/Burke (2 - "325 Didn't We Almost Have it All?")
• Addison/Alex (1 - "313 Great Expectations")
• Addison/Alex (2 - "321 Desire")
• Alex/Ava (1 - "325 Didn't We Almost Have it All?")
• Alex/Ava (2 - hard to say when, though, since she keeps on freaking coming back)
• Alex/Lexie (presumably "410 Crash Into Me, Part Two")
  
• Meredith/George ("219 What Have I Done to Deserve This?")

That right there is a list of 27 break-ups on this show. And I know I had to have missed some. Meredith and Derek, in my eyes, have broken up seven times in 70 episodes, which is honestly kind of ridiculous. Not one relationship on this show has ended happily yet. I know Shonda always says the show would be boring if they lived "happily ever after," but, for God's sake, give us at least a few couples that are healthy together (coughMeredithandDerekcough) and give us some healthy friendly relationships (coughGeorgeandIzziecough). The one relationship that was working out was Bailey and her husband, and now it appears as though that will be ending in the next episode as well. I understand the storyline. Being married to a doctor can't be easy, and it's interesting to see Bailey's character thrown into this kind of situation, but, seriously. This is one storyline that needs to have a happy ending. And if it doesn't, then when this awful strike is over and Shonda returns to work she needs to work steadily on getting some healthy relationships going...or at least have Meredith get over her insecurities faster. Because, even me - the world's #1 Grey's Anatomy fan, can't stand the unhappy endings anymore.