Shonda Rhimes shares her thoughts on the 20th Anniversary of Grey’s Anatomy

Grey's Anatomy is a popular American medical drama. It debuted on ABC on March 27, 2005. The show centers on the lives of residents and surgical interns as they grow into skilled medical professionals while juggling personal struggles.

It is created by Shonda Rhimes. The show is one of the longest-running TV dramas and includes a diverse cast. Since season 3, each episode has been broadcast on Thursdays. Each of the episodes lasts about forty-three minutes.

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Shonda Rhimes talked about Grey's Anatomy's 20th anniversary. She emphasized the show's contribution to diversity and strong female roles in medical dramas. This was done alongside stating more information regarding the show.

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More about Shonda Rhimes’ thoughts on the 20th Anniversary of Grey’s Anatomy

Shonda Rhimes considered how Grey's Anatomy had influenced her career and television as the program commemorated its 20th anniversary. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Rhimes stated that she had no idea the series would still be so popular twenty years later. She further added,

“I just thought it was funny: Disneyland, Shondaland”

This is specifically when she initially created it in 2005. Before Grey's Anatomy, Rhimes had established herself as a screenwriter. She wrote Crossroads (2002) and the HBO film Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (1999). However, she remarked that Grey's Anatomy was the show that catapulted her to fame. She further stated in the interview,

"Grey’s was my first TV job, so everything felt new and really magical"

She went on to produce additional great programs. This included Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder. This solidified her position as one of television's most important innovators.

The medical drama became a cultural sensation. This was mainly after introducing viewers to Ellen Pompeo's character, Meredith Grey. According to Rhimes, she created characters like Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh) and Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) in order to highlight strong, imperfect, and aspirational women.

Shonda Rhimes also mentioned a challenging period for Grey's Anatomy in the interview. This was when Isaiah Washington was let go due to a homophobic comment.

She referred to all these issues as the "thorn" of the show's early years in the interview. However, Rhimes claimed that the "roses," or good experiences, exceeded it. In regard to this issue, she further said in the interview,

"So, the roses definitely outweighed any thorn"

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