Grey’s Anatomy

consider it or not , it has been almost fourteen years since ABC aired the pilot ofGrey ’s Anatomy . Since then , many in its cast have become stars , and its creator , Shonda Rhimes , has produced several other tv set hit . The symmetricalness of riveting aesculapian play and fun " will they , wo n’t they " romances madeGrey ’s Anatomya household name in television set by the end of its first season in 2005 .

Viewers across the state followed Meredith Grey ( Ellen Pompeo ) and her fellow interns , grip their chairs when a surgery got dangerous and smiling when McDreamy walk through the halls of Seattle Grace Hospital . Many role player came and went throughout the show ’s long history , butGrey ’s Anatomy ’s original ensemble of divers , well - written graphic symbol still resonate with audiences today . With former form appendage Sandra Oh ’s late Golden Globes succeed and the show ’s record - breaking fifteenth season on ABC , now is a outstanding time to look back at where it all began .

There are hundreds of fact about the show ’s many seasons worth looking up , but many from the airplane pilot are particularly interesting . Some break share of the show ’s maturation and God Almighty Shonda Rhimes ' creative process . Others hint toward character quirks and show trait that would continue on in later seasons . Others still are production goof , random pieces of television trivia , and everything in between . These details range in grandness to the overall show , but all intensify the pilot ofGrey ’s Anatomyfor any hardcore fan and hopefully trigger off interest in anyone who wants to begin watch .

Grey’s Anatomy Poster

Here are20 Little Details Fans Missed In The Grey ’s Anatomy Pilot .

Last-minute voiceover

The pilot episode , " A Hard Day ’s Night " , begins and ends with vocalism - over tale from Meredith , a practice that would become unwashed place in follow seasons . It may arrive as a surprisal , then , to read that this representative - over was a last - minute determination by Shonda Rhimes who laterrevealedabout the narrative that " in the redaction room , it felt like a piece was lose , so we tally it . "

in the end , including the voiceover was a wise choice that brought viewers closer to Meredith as a character . Through these voiceover narration , it is easier to sympathise with the hardship of her first 48 - 60 minutes geological fault and understand how she is feeling in a give moment . Above all else , they work well in aid the montages of the episode flow a little smoother .

The first scene ever filmed

After 300 episodes aired in mid-2017 , Shonda Rhimes shoot toher blogto reflect on the first scene shoot . Not only was it the first scene forGrey ’s Anatomy , but it was her first scenery for any television show . The scene in question discover Meredith , Izzie , George , and Cristina ( Sandra Oh ) run down the hallway to fulfill Miranda Bailey ( Chandra Wilson ) for the first metre .

In rules of order to make their Bos - medical intern relationship more veritable , Rhimes made sure this scenery was the first meter that the shape phallus had met Wilson . When Wilson begin recite her five definitive rules , the rest of the cast burst out laughing– until Wilson ’s glaring eyes calm them down . With actors as gifted as these , it ’s no curiosity that this first vista is as memorable of a history off - photographic camera as it is in the last cutting .

Seattle Grace’s real location

While the show is set in Seattle , very slight of it is actually dissipate in the harbour metropolis . A fistful of localization shots of the Space Needle , Monorail , and other watershed serve situation the fabricated Seattle Grace Hospital within the city . In the true , the hospital used for many Seattle Grace scenes is the Veterans Administration Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center outside Los Angeles , California . Scenes just outside the building or in the hospital ’s grand atrium and central walkways are filmed on location , but the rest are done on studio sound phase .

This is a plebeian practice session for most internet show , filmed typically in Los Angeles , New York City , or Vancouver , but for the most partGrey ’s Anatomyhides its real emplacement well .

Helicopter shot mistake

There are spring to be a few location - come to misapprehension in the show and this one is the pilot ’s most obvious . For the roof of the infirmary , which features the helicopter landing place pad , the show apply Fisher Plaza , which houses one of ABC ’s affiliate station , KOMO - TV .

When Meredith and her fellow interns rush to answer their first air ambulance call , the episode cut to a sweeping camera shot of the chopper on approach . regrettably , a sign for KOMO - TV is understandably seeable at the top of the building . The shot go by pretty quickly , though , so it ’s not hard to think most captivated fans were too focussed on the dramatic play of the medical emergency to notice the gaffe .

The Episode title that started it all

The pilot episode " A Hard Day ’s Night " as well as every subsequent episode in the show is named after a renowned Song dynasty . The pilot ’s song , a Beatles classic , reflects the toilsome 48 - hour shift that Meredith and the other intern must complete on their first Clarence Shepard Day Jr. at Seattle Grace . For them , mean solar day and night blend in together as they rush between different situations and tasks .

Each ofGrey ’s Anatomy ’s 326 episodes ( with one exception ) is also named after a call that tie into its plot . The song do not necessarily feature in the episode ' soundtracks , but they do relate in some way to the story . The show ’s one exclusion , which aired in January 2018 , is entitle " 1 - 800 - 799 - 7233 " , the act for the National Domestic Violence Hotline in the United States , which relates to the episode ’s plot , but also greater bare the service .

Meredith and Derek’s one-night stand was almost cut

Betsy Beers , executive producer ofGrey ’s Anatomy , shared back in 2014that the relationship between Meredith and Derek ( Patrick Dempsey ) was almost taken out of the pilot . She distinguish how in a meeting between her , Rhimes and several male executives , one questioned how anyone could " sympathize or identify " with Meredith after having " a one night fend with a bozo the nighttime before she start up a unexampled problem as a medico ? "

Beers and Rhimes debate against such a stance , instead stand behind a reform-minded posture for the show ’s character . It is tough to suppose whatGrey ’s Anatomywould face like in tone and story withoutMeredith and Derek ’s tension . More than that , forGrey ’s Anatomyto have not include this part might have discouraged other shows from telling similar narratives in later year .

Derek’s catchphrase begins

As with any pilot , " A Hard Day ’s Night " boast many first for the show , chief among them the first meter Derek says his catchphrase : " It ’s a beautiful Clarence Shepard Day Jr. to hold open lives . Let ’s have some fun . " The quotation dead captures Derek ’s posture and character . He is put down - back and calm , but only because he is convinced in his abilities . He assay to see the playfulness , positive side of his work , but never forgets that there are always lives at stake .

The quote is also a good expression of the show as a whole : fun , charming , and agreeablee , but always aware of how sincerity of the aesculapian field . Considering all the fan art and merch with McDreamy ’s words of wiseness on it , it is easy to see why his character try out to be so popular with fans .

Characters' lockers were filled with Easter eggs

to flesh out the set , and get her thespian deeply into character , Shonda Rhimesfilled the lockers of each characterwith airplane propeller and decorated them harmonize to their possessor . For Meredith , Rhimes stacked " old birthday cards she was project to mail but never amaze around to " and " three alarm alfileria because she ’s terrified of oversleep on her shift . " In George ’s locker were " med journals [ and ] quondam text books , " and Christina ’s had a Palm Pilot and high heels .

While the looker can barely see inside the lockers in the final cut of the shot , even the little steer of detail get to the world on screen seem that much more realistic . If these props help the role player deliver with child performance in any way , then they were surely deserving the effort .

Miranda Bailey was based on Rhimes' mom

In an audience withOprah , Shonda Rhimes unwrap that the type of Miranda Bailey was somewhat base on her female parent . She described Bailey as " no - bunk " and the " form of realist " that her mama was . compare to the distinctive television authority figure , Bailey leaves a unique encroachment .

For a character as reformist and atypical as Bailey , it may come as a surprisal that Rhimes did not have a physical type in mind to fiddle her . Before auditioning actress Chandra Wilson , Rhimes " pictured her as a tiny blond with curls . " after Wilson ’s interpretation of the character , Rhimes knew " that ’s exactly who Miranda is . " Along with the repose ofGrey ’s Anatomy ’s shape , the graphic symbol of Miranda Bailey is a will to the unique storytelling potential drop that Rhimes ' color - unsighted cast summons can create .

Alex Karev was added in editing after the pilot was shot

After the pilot was filmed , producers wanted to bring a manlike opposite number to George ’s character ; plausibly the closest character to an antagonist in the fender . novel medical intern Alex Karev ( Justin Chambers ) was contribute to the installment in post - output , either through shots where he is by himself or by digitally placing him in aspect the crew had already film .

While in some shots it seems a little odd to be cutting off from the action toward a disconnected intern , Alex ’s inclusion is jolly unlined . He does not bestow much to the pilot ’s story , but he is memorable enough that viewers would be able to recognize him in future sequence wherehe is given plenty more to do .

The Cast of Greys Anatomy

Meredith looking unimpressed

Bailey gives the interns a dressing down at Seattle Grace Hospital in Grey’s Anatomy

Seattle Grace in Greys Anatomy

Helicopter mistake Greys Anatomy

Meredith Grey on Grey’s Anatomy

Derek Shepherd and Meredith Grey

Patrick Dempsey as Dr Derek Shepherd Greys Anatomy

Greys Anatomy pilot lockers

Miranda Bailey smiling on Grey’s Anatomy

Alex in pilot with Meredith on Grey’s Anatomy.

Grey’s Anatomy