LakeLover

1) I am talking about Grey's Anatomy, I never watched Scandal. 2) Fact, not implication. IMO.

Also, and I don't know if this means anything or not, she's never killed off (in a violent way) a minority character on Grey's. All the horrifying deaths of the main or high profile guest casts haven't been minorities: George, Reed, Charles, Heather, Mark, Lexie, Derek.

A few days ago, I surmised that the line "He is not the sun; you are" was not at all about Meredith and Derek, but Ellen and Patrick. I felt it was Shonda's way of getting ready for the "season of Meredith (and Pompeo)"

In taking all those personal troubles into account, I can't imagine how horrible he had to be - maybe he was, maybe he wasn't - to warrant firing him instead of working with him and having some compassion for a man who lost his mother after years of her battling cancer, lost his wife of 15 years, and the family life he'd come to know.

Somebody's trying to besmirch his reputation - a "source" from the set (achOOShondaachOO). I saw the best tweet tonight: "'Dempsey fired for poor work ethic' Ah yes, the man who successfully juggled 2 careers & founded a cancer foundation. Such poor work ethic."

He only mentions it in about every interview. Of course, I'm sure that will change now. His fans probably know a lot more about him than the people that don't follow him, or don't care for him. We know his sponsors, his history, and the depth of his spoken gratitude. ETA: We also know that his racing schedule does not keep him away from home for months, or even weeks, at a time.

And he was on the phone with a network executive at the time. I don't think people get it. I really don't. Derek Shepherd deserved better. We all know he was a fictional character, and that Shonda Rhimes always had the last say, but the way this was done on her part was filled with anger, cruelty, and vindictiveness. To have the leading man of your lead actress killed in such a way – and let’s not pretend that any of this was not purposeful – was not only sophomoric and nasty, but dismissive to the years Patrick Dempsey spent as probably the main ambassador of this show. I barely watched this episode once, but a few of the things that stood out to me were the injured mother saying the driver of the car that hit them was “a middle-aged man with a mid-life crisis,” that Derek said, “What, I’m not driving fast enough for you?” In addition, there were a few seconds of screen time given to the “Porsche Cayenne” logo on the back of Derek’s car, and I believe there was also a line about doing "what I'm always doing” insinuating it was in a car. So to my way of seeing it, Shonda Rhimes threw a heaping pile of steaming shit onto Patrick Dempsey and had him mortally injured in a Porsche. Who is this unhinged? Did Patrick kill all the puppies and kittens in the world? For a moment, let’s imagine he DID kill all the cute puppies and kittens, that he was so horrible that people rejoiced when he left. Let’s imagine that he was the worst actor in the history of the show and that Shonda had had it up to HERE with him. Who are we leaving out in Shonda’s lesson in “I’ll show you who’s the boss!” The fans. Eleven seasons of loyal viewing. Ten years of appointment television. Grey’s Anatomy was my reward, the present I’d open every Thursday, my ice cream cone to myself for getting through a tough work week. How was I, how were we, those of us who bought DVDs, who retweeted support, who bought magazines and watched through the ups and downs of the ridiculousness of their relationship, through sex and mockery, though Rose, through a post-it while another couple got the gorgeous wedding? What present did Shonda give us after all that time? Well, the same that she covered Patrick in: A heaping pile of steaming shit, which is how I describe the idiocy that I saw last Thursday. First he was a diva. Then he was late to the set. THEN he didn't know his lines. They haven't gone the route of puppies and kittens yet, but I'm sure something else from a "source on the set" will be forthcoming. I think they knew there would be a backlash, but didn't know the intensity of it from fans and tv press alike. Never, ever again will I watch any show that Shonda Rhimes has any part of. There were a million ways she could have given fans and Meredith a happy ending, or give Derek a happy ending, and I thought of so many possibilities and I’m not even a professional writer. When you have “problems” with four actors on your show – Isaiah Washington, Katherine Heigl, T.R. Knight, and Patrick Dempsey – you have to wonder who exactly has the diva problem. As a viewer, I know what I’ve always known, that her world view is warped and that she doesn’t care a whit about her fans.

I don't think it'll blow over. I think people who have been loyal since day one are at the point now where they're absolutely done. Why would I watch? To see Meredith grieve? Be even greater? move on? No, I'm done. There's no reason to give Shonda the investment of my time and my loyalty when she did what she did.

Wow. As a MerDer supporter, I disagree. No matter what happened, Shonda decided to do the nasty, vile things she did in that episode. Ten years of my loyalty, and she gave it to me and other fans up the ass. You're damned right I side with Patrick.

Someone who is a Patrick Dempsey fan would know that he loves the rain, and I'm certain he talked about it raining when he left. Someone who isn't - eh.

So far, Patrick is the only one coming out of this not looking like an asshole. Maybe he is an asshole, but he's handling this with grace and kindness. His "thank you" to the fans is thoughtful, too.

You know, if THIS MANY actors are "difficult" and need to leave the show, perhaps one should look at the common thread - Shonda.

I thought it was disrespectful.

And that's appropriate because...? No, I don't think that's why she wasn't killed.

Well, the fact that the cast joyfully tweeted "where is Derek?" and Ellen posting that video like she was celebrating something was awful. People who act like that attract criticism. I think no matter how bad it got, they all shot themselves and the show in the foot by this reaction. Shonda is being harshly criticized by this character death and the WAY she did it, and not just by fans.

I only watched the episode once, and I'm not sure I have the stomach to watch it again, but there were way too many jabs in Derek's dialog that point me toward thinking Shonda is a vindictive, nasty person - everything from someone thinking the driver was a "middle-aged man with a mid-life crisis" to Derek saying, "...I'm not driving fast enough for you" to something the song lyrics, the FOCUS on the Porsche name on his trunk, and I'm sure there are about a million more (maybe one about spending too much time in the car). I'm bitter and angry and I'll get over it, but I think Shonda, in her attempt to punish and castigate Patrick, gave a big "Fuck You" to loyal fans. I wonder if she thought the reaction would somehow be different than it's been. Patrick was nice enough to send a tweet to fans. Count me as unimpressed by his co-workers' silence. Ellen posting funny tweets moments before the episode was to air was disrespectful, if not to him, then to his fans.

Interesting perspective from a critic who "stopped watching a couple of years ago".

What storylines did he leak, if he's the object of the blind item? Maybe Patrick was a miserable bastard, but the FANS who butter her bread, those of us who were there from the beginning, deserved much more.

Do you know him? Has he said that to you?

I think you may be underestimating fans' anger over this. First of all, from the EW article, Patrick did not want to leave. Without saying it, he sounded like he was very surprised. Secondly, no need to tune in. Anything I want to see I'll find on Youtube, and there really isn't anything left for me to see. Meredith mourning? No thanks. Moving on? No thanks. Her children asking where their father is? Really, really entertaining.

I believe the only reason I'm not a sobbing mess is that I know it all happened because of Shonda's fuckery. It's that stupid. I'm sad he's gone, but glad to have this show out of my life. I wish Patrick all the best, and hope he finds happiness, and gets a great cable show to highlight his ability. Interesting that in his EW interview, he remained as classy ever. Shonda, take note.

It was a disgusting move. I'm sad he's gone, and he's gonna miss a paycheck, but if that's what your boss thinks of you, he's better off gone from the poison.

I wouldn't expect a non-Derek fan to understand, but I don't blame the fans, me included. They have a job to do, but frankly, they're pissing on something I've enjoyed and supported for ten years like it's a joyful day. Pardon me for not giving a shit what anyone thinks about me or other fans right now.

I wonder. I remember an interview once with Julianna Margulies, a long time ago, maybe post-ER days, where she talked about hearing the men in charge discuss whether or not an actress was "fuckable." I also remember Patrick pulling out a statement to read he was given from ABC about Brooke's departure, and in reading it, everyone knew it was the company line.

This is fast becoming my favorite thread! I would hope any backlash wouldn't affect any of the actors. Shonda will take a hit, Patrick may as well. And then, it could be that it's all one big fake out. I am not holding my breath, and I'm not sure there's enough creativity for this to be so, but I'd be weirdly happy and sad all at once. I really need to disconnect from this show. If he lives, I may try to take a vacation from everything Grey's until September.