allthumbs

Yeah, we're boring until they need you because they want to eat or talk after their stroke.

Shonda and Chyler, general dislike on the part of the producer, and arguments. From what I understood, Shonda did not have the latitude back then that she does now - different network boss, not as much clout back then. Like I said, it wasn't in private. I can't add much else in the way of details. I wondered when I was told if it stemmed from Chyler's quote about being willing to step up as the new Grey in "Grey's Anatomy," but that is 100% conjecture on my part.

There was an on-set dust up. Hard for people around not to see or hear it. Feel free to ignore me. I have no skin in this game.

You said it yourself - "behind the scenes drama." And I know this from someone who was an extra back in the day.

I heard from a reliable source that it was not about money, but was the actor's wish after Chyler Leigh's character was killed off, and THAT wasn't because she wanted to spend more time with her family.

Just because you or someone else doesn't agree with people's reaction or my opinion doesn't make it ridiculous. Using the word "insane" when referring to others and their reactions is frankly uncalled for.

I honestly don't. I don't follow Shonda on Twitter, but a quick twitter search revealed that you and I are not the only ones who read it, so she said it at some point, maybe September or October of last year. Of course I thought Shonda claimed she didn't even know people were upset. Oh, what a tangled web we weave.... :)

I'm sure he wanted to leave, or he pissed someone off, or Shonda decided to crap all over him like she does most of her male characters. I often wonder if she wanted Derek to cheat with that student and he refused. Maybe Patrick thought he was "the sun" and Shonda needed to prove that no man can be the sun, that ELLEN was the sun. I've watched about two or three episodes this season. Are they still talking about the sun? Dear lord, Ellen cannot be this clueless. He went from being called a "minor character" (Shonda said this or Ellen, probably Shonda) to being "valuable." Seriously - she can't understand why Shonda pissed people off? Ask any fan of Derek or Patrick why, and you'll get an earful. It was obvious to anyone with a brain that Shonda shit all over the actor in that script. She could have killed him off without using lines like "midlife crisis" or having him killed in a Porsche - the car he actually drove in races. At this point, don't do us any favours, Ellen - really. Just keep talking about how you can get things done without a penis.

Interesting article about ratings: https://www.thewrap.com/the-catch-scandal-greys-anatomy-how-to-get-away-with-murder-shondaland-tgit-abc/

PD's exit seems like a lifetime ago, and really was in terms of planning and preparation, so I think that no longer has any effect on why the writer's room is so unfocused (funny that Derek, such a "minor character," still gets referenced). Too bad we can't go back and peruse the old TWOP forums because we'd see the exact same comments and complaints. People wanting more Alex (year after year), not understanding why there's no focus on this character or that, people frustrated that the cast is bloated (Mercy Westers, anyone?), Shonda's focus is no longer on Grey's (Private Practice, anyone?), unplanned pregnancies (almost every pregnancy!), marriages crashing and burning, focus on characters that no one but Shonda really loves (Denny? Penny? They rhyme, that's funny), implausible stories (Meredith's never-ending supply of surprise sisters). "Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." :) It's not going to change. It's never going to change. The show will go on to season 20 and there will be more unplanned pregnancies, more couples getting together and then divorcing, more characters, more focus on Meredith the sun, more fan frustration because they tell, they don't show. And yet...it'll be season 20 and viewers will be hanging on, hoping.

Unlurking. Patrick has been seen in public holding hands and with his estranged wife, and he may have made a choice between racing and his wife. If so, I honour him. I don't blame him for leaving the show. It was my favourite ten years ago, but now I only watch once in a while and without him and Sandra, it's rather a shadow of its former self. Back to lurking.