There are long-running TV dramas, and then there's Shonda Rhimes' Grey's Anatomy. The medical drama has been running on ABC for a whopping 16 seasons, and will return in the fall for Season 17. But Grey's had humble roots, as a mid-season replacement with no guarantee to become such a massive hit. Season 1 notably ended with the first appearance of Kate Wash's Addison Montgomery, and now actresses Kate Walsh and Ellen Pompeo are celebrating that occasion.
The Season 1 finale of Grey's Anatomy recently hit its 15-year anniversary, marking the first time that Addison showed up to Seattle Grace looking for McDreamy. He and Meredith were already dating at this time, beginning one of the show's most iconic love triangles. Kate Walsh recently shared the clip on social media, with Ellen Pompeo tweeting out her own thoughts as well. Check out the thread below.
Meredith Grey has spoken. Ellen Pompeo has been playing the title character of Grey's for 16 seasons, so she knows the show's life on TV better than anyone. And in her mind, it's the Addison twist that really got audiences hooked when the Season 1 finale aired back in 2005. Plus, it introduced a pivotal character of the universe, with Addison's spinoff Private Practice running for six seasons.
Kate Walsh and Ellen Pompeo's Twitter correspondence is sure to please the droves of Grey's Anatomy fans out there, past or present. The show continues to have a loyal fanbase, often winning its time slot in the process. But there are also some fans that might have dropped out throughout the last decade and change, especially after seeing fan favorite characters bite the dust along the way. But the above tweet should hit the sweet spot for both types of Grey's fans. Walsh also shared the same post on Instagram, with Patrick Dempsey commenting with clapping hand emojis.
Season 1 of Grey's Anatomy was shorter than the rest, since it was a mid-season replacement for ABC. But audiences quickly got invested in the medical series, and its mixture of professional and personal drama. We watched Meredith and Derek meet and fall for each other throughout the show's first season, although Addison's appearance throws a wrench into their budding romance. And it would take years before they finally got together in a healthy and committed way.
Addison and Derek do try to make another go of it, but fail to truly connect with each other. McDreamy is thinking about Meredith, while Addison has her own drama with Sloan. The Addison-Derek-Meredith love triangle would also result in some of the show's most iconic moments of all time, including the title character's "Pick me, choose me, love me." monologue.
So much has changed since then, but Ellen Pompeo continues to lead the cast of Grey's Anatomy, with jut two more original characters remaining in the form of Bailey and Webber. Pompeo is also a producer and occasional director on the show, after negotiating a history-making deal with the network. There's no indication as to when the show might end, although Shonda Rhimes has indicated that Grey's will come to a close once Pompeo calls it quits.
Grey's Anatomy airs Wednesdays on ABC, and will return for Season 17 in the fall. Be sure to check out our midseason premiere list to plan your next binge watch.
