Six episodes of 'Seattle Grace: On Call' start Thursday

By Mike Shields, Mediaweek

Nov 19, 2009, 03:54 PM ET

Dempsey: McDreamy label is great
Grey's Anatomy star Patrick Dempsey has admitted he's happy about being labelled Dr McDreamy.

Posted by: Tony Spearman

TVGuide.com: What more will we learn about Owen's relationship with Teddy?
Kevin McKidd: What's interesting to their relationship — that adds a lot of heat and complications to what some people call a triangle — they are very good friends and they've known each other a very long time. They worked in one of the most intense work environments any human being can be in. Having read all the books that I read on Iraq and Afghanistan and what these people do, it's a really bonding and very intense experience that brings these people together. When you're under fire in that way, you really get to see the essence of somebody. Teddy and he have that level of bond because they've seen each other in life and death situations on a daily basis, and that adds some real intensity and some real heat to this whole thing.

TVGuide.com: Will Owen find out about Cristina and Jackson's kiss?
McKidd: I really don't know. I don't think so. It doesn't seem like that's going to come up again. That doesn't seem like something Owen is going to find out.

TVGuide.com: Though if he does find out, do you think he might retaliate by kissing Teddy?
McKidd: [Laughs] I don't think so actually. I think Owen is a pretty standup guy and a straight shooter in that sense. I think if that ever happened, it would be for different reasons. It would be for more complicated reasons if that ever happens

TVGuide.com: With Teddy revealing that she has feelings for Owen, how complicated will all of this get in the hospital?
McKidd: What's going to be interesting is that Cristina obviously has bonded very quickly with Teddy, there's already a very strong bond between Teddy and Owen, and obviously Cristina and Owen are bonded and in love. They've been disagreeing and going through stuff so far, but they definitely love each other. What's going to happen is, we're going to see people in ways that we don't expect and it's going to bring up things that we didn't see coming. This is a very adult situation. It's not some teenage, juvenile triangle that they're trying to fill. They're very passionate about each other. They're in this strange clench that all three of them don't want to get out of.

TVGuide.com: Can Cristina and Owen's relationship survive this?
McKidd: I hope so. I love working with Sandra. They've gone through so much since they met. They were thrown together in such an intense way and I hope they can make it through it, be stronger for it and find some happy times because it's not been easy for them since they got together. Personally, I think they will because they have a great, deep connection with each other.

TVGuide.com: With the news that Katherine Heigl is taking another leave of absence from the show, fans are speculating that she's not coming back. What do you say to that?
McKidd: Nobody knows anything about that. I think she's just on maternity leave. Ellen Pompeo has just come back from her maternity leave and I think it's a great thing, and a testament to ABC and the producers, that they can actually build a schedule around people's personal lives because that does not happen all the time.

TVGuide.com: Are any of the couples safe at Seattle Grace?
McKidd: I think I read a quote from Shonda saying the whole season is thematically about couples. Last year was about getting people to be couples, and this season is about dealing with the problems that couples have. That's really the focus of this year.

TVGuide.com: Any update on the Rome movie?
McKidd: It's happening. Bruno Heller, who's now the creator of The Mentalist, has been talking to me about this idea of a movie. Sure enough, Bruno has finished the first draft, some people in the business have read it. He's doing his rewrite now. The hope is that we're going to try to raise the money and shoot it in the hiatus between Season 6 and Season 7 of Grey's.

TVGuide.com: So you'll definitely be back for the movie?
McKidd: Yeah, Vorenus is not dead. That's the one spoiler I can give you.

Patrick Goes For a Spin Before Pulling Off a Heist

How long before Teddy destroys Cristina and Owen's relationship on Grey's Anatomy? — Melissa
ADAM: Kevin McKidd tells us Thursday's episode will have a major development in that little love triangle. "Something happens between the three of them that's pretty explosive," McKidd says. "Up until now you've not really seen anyone draw any lines in the sand, but you start to see that this week." Translation: "Desert Storm Barbie" is not welcome in Yang's Dream House.

Principal photography underway in Los Angeles

By Borys Kit

Nov 17, 2009, 06:18 PM ET

"Grey's Anatomy" star Eric Dane has joined "Burlesque," Screen Gems' musical drama which stars Christina Aguilera and Cher.

"Burlesque" centers on the journey of an ambitious small-town girl (Aguilera) with a big-town voice who finds love and success in a Los Angeles neo-burlesque club, reminiscent of the nightclub in Bob Fosse's "Cabaret."

Dane is playing the role of a charming, highly successful businessman who offers to buy out of the burlesque club from Cher and vies for Aguilera's heart.

Dane rounds out a cast that also includes Stanley Tucci, Cam Gigandet, Kristen Bell and Alan Cumming.

Principal photography on the Steve Antin-directed production began last week in Los Angeles. The movie will be released Thanksgiving 2010.

Donald De Line is producing.

Dane, repped by CAA and Management 360, last appeared on the big-screen in "Marley & Me" and will be seen in New Line's "Valentine's Day."

Spoiler Chat: Grey's Anatomy's Kevin McKidd Dishes on (And Defends!) "Love Triangle"

It's all in our latest roundup of exclusive TV scoop...

Mindy in Barcelona: What's going to happen with Owen, Cristina and Kim Raver on Grey's Anatomy?
We'll have more for you from Kevin before the next Grey's ep, but for now we can share with you what Kevin says: "It's not going to be some petty, juvenile, immature thing. It's going to be really interesting and very intense. It's going to get much hotter and complicated between the three of them because it is such an adult problem that they have...People are hopefully going to be very, very torn and very involved and kind of sucked into it. I think it's a very interesting story we're telling." Perhaps we should all keep an open mind? Thoughts?

Mariah in Louisiana: I hate the new Mercy Westers. Please tell me they leave Grey's Anatomy soon.
We can confirm that Nora Zehetner is still on the show as we speak, and we're pretty sure the rest of the gang will be hanging around for a while as well. Sorry.

“They will face some relationship challenges, many of them work-oriented, in the second half of the season,” reveals exec producer Shonda Rhimes.

The Queen of Shondaland, however, insists that this latest obstacle will not result in the newly married-via-Post-It pair breaking up — a rumor that has been making the rounds on the Internets (and stirring Der-Mer fans into a veritable frenzy). “I don’t know how many times [I] can say, ‘Derek and Meredith are together forever’ and have anybody hear it,” she sighs. “I can only reassure so much.

“In order to [produce] a drama you need to have some drama,” Rhimes adds with a laugh. “Whether or not two people are meant for one another doesn’t mean that things aren’t going to happen to challenge their relationship.”

Makes sense to me! What say you, ’shippers? Are you cool with Mer-Der encountering a few bumps en route to their inevitable happy ending? Or would you prefer that they stay boring happy? And did you hear Shonda this time re: the whole “not breaking up” thing? Sound off below!

"Happy Veteran's Day!" a chipper and classically-McDreamy Patrick Dempsey said first thing this morning. "It's appropriate to be here, isn't it?" Joking and laughing all morning, he and Chandra Wilson were filming a scene for a special crossover episode with Private Practice that will air in January (more on that closer to the air date), so his mind wasn't on tonight's Grey's episode (ABC, 9 p.m.). But it promises to be big.

Katherine Heigl is back on the show after taking a five-week break to film a movie and adopt a baby girl. Her character, Izzie Stevens, was fired and vanished. Izzie returns tonight to face the husband and colleagues she deserted, and she also finds her high school mentor, played by guest star Joel Grey, is suffering from dementia. Ellen Pompeo's Meredith Grey also gets back to work after donating part of her liver to her father. 

And Kim Raver, alum of 24 and Lipstick Jungle, makes her debut at Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital as new cardiothoracic surgeon Teddy Altman. Her character (who will be around for at least 7 episodes) worked with Kevin McKidd's Owen Hunt in Iraq, and she will complicate life for Sandra Oh's Cristina Yang. Teddy seems to have a thing for Owen. Is a romance in the offing? "It's definitely a very interesting dynamic between Owen, Cristina and Teddy," McKidd said between scenes today. But don't expect any Gossip Girl threesome action, he said. "This isn't some teenage thing. It's much more profound - and much more adult."

Sounds good to us.

By Karen Neal, ABC

Question: Is Izzie really pregnant on Grey’s Anatomy? —Elle
Ausiello: I’ll say this: ABC’s promo gurus are very sneaky! While we’re on the subject of Katherine Heigl, sources confirm to me exclusively that she’s taking another leave of absence from Grey’s — but this time her reasons are personal not professional. Heigl will be going on a belated maternity leave to spend some QT with new daughter Naleigh. As a result, Izzie will be MIA for another string of episodes (most likely in early 2010.)

Question: Please tell me something will happen soon on Grey’s Anatomy that will make me stop hating the Chief! —Ann
Ausiello: Would the sight of him falling off the wagon do the trick? ‘Cause that’s what happens at the end of this week’s episode.

In Thursday's episode of Grey's Anatomy, a new cardiothoracic doctor comes to the hospital, and she's unlike the previous cardio gods who've held that position. Dr. Teddy Altman (Kim Raver) has a past with Owen (Kevin McKidd), which will create future problems for Owen and Cristina (Sandra Oh). Raver tells us all about the new love triangle, how long she'll be sticking around and the possibility of returning to 24 to reunite with Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland). 

TVGuide.com: Tell us about Dr. Teddy Altman.
Kim Raver: She's amazing at what she does. She's coming from Iraq. Her and Owen were over in Iraq together. I come in to Seattle Grace and there's something interesting that plays out with the three of us.
 

Oh, Izzie, you are a heartbreaker. In these three sneak peeks for Thursday's all-new Grey's Anatomy, the highly controversial but never uninteresting Dr. Isobel Stevens (Katherine Heigl) returns to Seattle Grace to make Alex (Justin Chambers) miserable all over again.

We find that we're half mad at her and we're half glad to see her back and looking so well. (What about you? Where do you fall on this issue?)

Want someone else to be mad at, instead of Iz? Click in to see Kim Raver's new character, Teddy, be all buddy-buddy with Owen (Kevin McKidd), while Jackson (Jesse Williams) continues to put the moves on Cristina (Sandra Oh).

Oh, sweeps, you are such a bad influence on TV relationships...
 

I loved the Arizona-centric episode of Grey's Anatomy. What's next for her? — Lori
ADAM: Show of jazz hands: Who wants a musical episode of Grey's? Well, you're probably out of luck, but we will see Arizona sing in the coming weeks! Better still, it's a duet, but don't expect Tony winner Sara Ramirez to be her partner in song. Instead, Arizona will trill with one of her male co-stars. I hear the Chief has a rich baritone.

Mon., Nov. 9, 2009 3:45 PM PST by Jennifer Godwin

ABC/Danny Feld

Leven Rambin, aka home wrecker Riley from Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, is coming to Grey's Anatomy Nov. 19, and her home-wrecking streak might not be done yet...

We've been told that Leven's character features heavily in the Nov. 19 episode, titled "Holidaze," and that during the course of that episode (which spans several weeks of story time), "Mark (Eric Dane) and Lexie (Chyler Leigh) must cope with the shocking arrival of a woman from his past."

What's so shocking? Well, rumor has it that Leven plays Mark "McSteamy" Sloan's long-lost daughter. Gasp!

Do you see a family resemblance?

And if you're a "Sexie" fan, is it better if this newcomer is a romantic rival or if she's just a reminder that the Mark-Lexie romance is sometimes just a smidge age-inappropriate? (Seriously, Leven and Chyler look like they could be sorority sisters!)

Last but not least, is anyone out there a tiny bit suspicious that this blond newcomer might actually be the daughter that Izzie (Katherine Heigl) gave up for adoption?

(AP) – 1 hour ago

LOS ANGELES — Nominees for the People's Choice Awards are out, and the people choose vampires.

"Twilight" and "True Blood" were among the top nominees announced Tuesday. Fans cast more than 18 million votes online to select the nominee slate and will also choose the winners in 35 categories.

"Twilight" is up for favorite movie, franchise and on-screen team for its trio of stars: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner. Stewart and Pattinson were also nominated individually for favorite movie actress and actor, and Lautner is up for breakout movie actor.

"True Blood" was nominated for favorite TV obsession and sci-fi/fantasy TV show, plus star Anna Paquin earned a nod for TV drama actress.

Fans can vote for their favorites online at http://www.peopleschoice.com.

Queen Latifah is set to host the People's Choice Awards at the Nokia Theatre. The ceremony will be broadcast live on CBS on Jan. 6, 2010.

The complete list of nominees:

TV drama: "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "Grey's Anatomy," "House," "Lost," "NCIS."

TV comedy: "Desperate Housewives," "How I Met Your Mother," "The Big Bang Theory," "The Office," "Two and a Half Men."

TV drama Actor: Hugh Laurie, Kiefer Sutherland, Mark Harmon, Matthew Fox, Patrick Dempsey.

TV drama Actress: Anna Paquin, Blake Lively, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Katherine Heigl, Mariska Hargitay.

Lucas in Evanston, Ill.: Forget Owen and Cristina on Grey's Anatomy! Give us some scoop on Cristina and Jackson! Please?

ABC/Randy Holmes

Look at you with your contrarian point of view! If you are rooting for Cristina-Jackson, you'll be happy to hear from Jesse Williams that most of his scenes are with Sandra Oh and Chyler Leigh: "It seems to be Cristina and also Lexie [that I spent most time with], just because our characters did spend that whole episode together last week. Right when we started, Jackson and Cristina did the opposite of hit it off; immediately they had confrontation with each other, but I do think there is an underlying mutual respect and wariness there that will carry on." Sounds like a definite case of unresolved sexual tension...

Bridget in Portland, Ore.: I loved last week's episode of Grey's Anatomy, especially the scenes between Arizona and Callie! They are becoming my favorite couple on the show. What's the scoop on them coming up?
According to the lovely Ms. Jessica Capshaw (aka the Arizona half of Callizona), "I don't have a view of what's around the corner, but it feels like they're in a nice place. I would be lying if I didn't say this is a one-hour drama—of course there's gonna be drama, there has to be—but so far I don't know where the drama or the conflict will be coming from. I think they're just in a very sort of loving relationship and all the good things that come with a new relationship and trying to figure it out." Yay!


 

The early 2010 Grey’s/Private Practice crossover I told you about last week will find the doctor formerly known as McSteamy spending some quality time with his currently single ex, Addison. “They’ve both really grown up since they were together, and most of the animosity that they had is gone,” says Shonda Rhimes, executive producer of both shows. “Now they’re friends, but they may end up falling back into their old patterns while they’re together.”

But wait, there’s more (so keep those paddles handy). As you know, the reason Mark pages Addison to Seattle Grace (and what prompts him to visit her in L.A. in the second hour of the crossover) is that he needs her to perform surgery on a woman from his past (played by Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles alum Leven Rambin, who first airs on Nov. 19). But here’s where the plot thickens: One possibly-true rumor making the rounds is that the woman — make that girl — is Mark’s daughter! And she’s pregnant!

Rhimes isn’t commenting on the Papa McSteamy buzz, but she does acknowledge that Rambin’s character represents a “new obstacle for [Mark and Lexie]… I’m not sure it’s the kind of obstacle people are expecting, but it’s definitely a new one. I’m not sure they’ll stick together through it.”

Okay, you can go ahead and use those paddles now.

Now that you've seen the kiss between Owen's gal Cristina (Sandra Oh) and new Mercy Wester Jackson (Jesse Williams) on Grey's Anatomy,  find out about the aftermath, details on the other Mercy West-Seattle Grace coupling and the return of Izzie (Katherine Heigl) from Williams himself ...

TVGuide.com: Jackson and Cristina kissed! What the ... ?
Jesse Williams: From the beginning when Jackson joined, he's immediately thrown into this direct competition with Cristina. We're on the same cases, we're battling for surgeries. We've had a couple of run-ins. In this episode, she really takes charge and goes with her gut and I'm in a position to really admire her. We have similar character traits and watching her take the reins gets Jackson fired up. He's looking at her differently now. He's seen a whole new side of her that's so attractive. What also helped was that he had been boozing all night, but the attraction is real and it has been mounting. I think she kind of liked it.

Sorry, Cristina-Owen fans, but tonight's scandalous sweeps episode of Grey's Anatomy is going to be a little rough on you.

As the Canadian promo for tonight's episode teases, Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh) is going to be cheating on Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd) with the "Hotness Monster" himself, Mercy Wester Jackson Avery (Jesse Williams). The hookup goes down against the backdrop of a huge pediatric case led by our girl-crush, Arizona Robbins (breakout star Jessica Capshaw).