Alright TV lovers you know Shonda Rhimes right? The queen of Shondaland the mastermind behind shows like Grey's Anatomy Scandal and Bridgerton. Well she is opening up and spilling some serious tea about her journey. And let me tell you it has not all been smooth sailing. Get ready for some behind-the-scenes scoop on early drama near-show-ending moments and how Shonda became the boss lady we all know and admire.
'Traumatized' Cast and a Near Disaster: Shonda Rhimes on the Isaiah Washington Scandal That Rocked Grey's Anatomy
Can you imagine Grey's Anatomy almost not making it past the early seasons? Crazy right? Shonda revealed that back in 2006 a huge scandal with Isaiah Washington who played Dr. Preston Burke nearly took the whole show down. You might remember the drama Washington got into a fight with Patrick Dempsey and used a really hurtful homophobic slur about T.R. Knight. It was bad.
Shonda admitted she was terrified. She thought this incident " was going to kill the show ". It burst the "bubble of joy" they had in the early days. And get this she says even now the actors who were there back then are "still traumatized" by it! People still talk about it years later. It sounds like it was a really intense and difficult time for everyone involved.
After Washington initially denied using the slur he did eventually apologize. But ABC still fired him in 2007. Even though they brought him back later for a guest spot that early drama definitely left a mark on the show and on Shonda.
From Oprah to Boss Moves: Shonda Rhimes Reflects on Early Fame and Learning to Lead
The Isaiah Washington situation was not the only early challenge. Remember when Katherine Heigl took herself out of Emmy contention? That happened in 2008 and that was another curveball for Shonda and the show. She had to learn to be a leader and handle all this behind-the-scenes stuff while also running a hit TV show.
Shonda said she thought she could just focus on writing and other people would deal with the drama. Nope not how it works. She quickly realized that as the "creative brain" everyone looked to her to be in charge. She had to figure out how to be a "great leader" and that took time and experience.
She even remembers an interview with Oprah early on. Oprah apparently could see right through her and told her "You are not enjoying this one bit." Shonda admitted she was relieved to be seen because she felt like she was just playing a role that wasn't really her. It made her realize she needed to make some changes and find a way to actually enjoy what she was doing.
"Rose and Thorn" and Still Standing Strong: Grey's Anatomy's Incredible 21-Season Run
Despite all the early bumps and challenges Grey's Anatomy has become a TV phenomenon. It's now in its 21st season making it the longest-running primetime medical drama ever. That is seriously impressive.
When asked to reflect on the past 20 years of Shondaland Shonda described the Isaiah Washington scandal as the "thorn" – the most painful and challenging part of the journey. But she also emphasized that there have been so many "roses" – so many amazing experiences and successes – that the thorn "stopped mattering". She is incredibly proud of what they have built and that Grey's Anatomy is still a show people love and watch.
In fact Shonda shared some mind-blowing stats. Apparently Bridgerton was the most-watched show on Netflix last year in terms of minutes viewed and Grey's Anatomy was second! That is insane longevity and popularity. So yeah those roses definitely outweighed any thorns along the way.
From Booty Call Boss to Plane Crashes and Ghost Sex: A Look Back at Grey's Anatomy's Wildest Twists
Part of what makes Grey's Anatomy so addictive is the constant drama and OMG moments. Let's take a quick trip down memory lane and remember some of the craziest twists and turns this show has thrown at us:
- Booty Call Boss: Meredith's one-night stand turns out to be her new boss Derek Shepherd. Talk about an awkward first day!
- Addison's Arrival: "You must be the woman who's been screwing my husband." Iconic line iconic entrance.
- Bombs Away: Meredith sticking her hand in a body cavity with a live bomb and then the bomb squad guy exploding anyway? Peak Grey's intensity.
- Denny's Demise: Izzie cutting Denny's LVAD wire only for him to die anyway. Heartbreaking and unforgettable.
- Ghost Denny Sex: Yeah they went there. Izzie and Ghost Denny. Definitely a choice.
- "It's George": 007 written in Meredith's hand. Gut-wrenching reveal that John Doe was George.
- The Hospital Shooting: Gary Clark's rampage through Seattle Grace. Dark disturbing and incredibly intense episode.
- The Plane Crash: Lexie and Mark dying in a plane crash in the woods. So many tears.
- Burke's Return: Burke coming back to offer Cristina his hospital in Switzerland. A surprising way to write off Cristina.
- Derek's Death: McDreamy dying in a car crash. No one saw that coming and fans were devastated.
- Meredith's Attack: Meredith getting brutally attacked by a patient. Another super intense and hard-to-watch episode.
- Alex's Departure: Alex leaving Jo and Seattle Grace to be with Izzie and their secret twins. A controversial ending for Karev to say the least.
- DeLuca's Death: DeLuca being stabbed by a human trafficker. Another tragic loss for the Grey Sloan crew.
And that's just scratching the surface! Grey's Anatomy is a masterclass in dramatic twists and turns and it's no wonder it has kept audiences hooked for so long.