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PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA, THE: PALEYFEST 2017: GREY'S ANATOMY {LONG VERSION}

Summary

One in a series of evenings and special screenings presented as part of The Paley Center for Media's 34th William S. Paley Television Festival in Los Angeles. Held this year at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, the festival celebrates the excellence and diversity of American television and is dedicated to television's creative community. This PALEYFEST 2017 seminar honors "Grey's Anatomy," the dramatic medical series about the lives and loves of a group of surgeons at a Seattle hospital.

Host Rene Reyes (director of public programs and festivals, The Paley Center for Media) offers opening remarks and introduces Henry Goldblatt (editor-in-chief, Entertainment Weekly). Goldblatt introduces a rough cut of the upcoming episode "Be Still, My Soul" which is then screened in its entirety. (For synopsis and credits, see ACCNUM 128969.)

After the screening, Goldblatt moderates the following panelists: cast members Jerrika Hinton (Stephanie Edwards), Caterina Scorsone (Amelia Shepherd), Kevin McKidd (Owen Hunt), Kelly McCreary (Maggie Pierce), Jason George (Ben Warren), Chandra Wilson (Miranda Bailey), Justin Chambers (Alex Karev), Ellen Pompeo (Meredith Grey), Debbie Allen (Catherine Avery), James Pickens Jr. (Richard Webber), Jessica Capshaw (Arizona Robbins), Jesse Williams (Jackson Avery), Sarah Drew (April Kepner), Martin Henderson (Nathan Riggs), and Giacomo Gianniotti (Andrew DeLuca).

The panelists touch on such topics as: Pompeo's experience as director of the screened episode, an opportunity she credits to Allen; the death of Maggie's adoptive mother Diane (LaTanya Richardson Jackson), to which Pompeo draws parallels to her own mother's premature death; Meredith's decision to choose her half-sister Maggie over Riggs, and Henderson's feelings on his enigmatic, polarizing character; McCreary's views of Maggie's "optimistic" attitude and heartbreak over the loss of her mother; Williams' preparation for the recent episode in which Jackson meets his long-absent father Robert (Eric Roberts); Drew's enjoyment in shooting the "stand-alone" episode in which April and Jackson travel to Montana, on which they worked with the crew of "Scandal"; her "hopeful" attitude about the future for divorced fan-favorite couple April and Jackson; McKidd's thoughts on Owen's "tortured" state and desire for a child; his work as director of the Montana episode and interest in making it feel like an independent film; Amelia's "large-scale tragedy" and personal strength in the face of hardships; a "lightning round" of questions, including the actor most likely to be a real doctor and the "grossest prop" on set; Wilson's memories of Bailey's difficult childbirth in season two; Alex's unpleasant discovery of Jo's (Camilla Luddington) dark past and Chambers' hopes that their romance will endure; whether best friend Alex and Meredith will ever venture into a romance; the many personal trials and challenges of Richard Webber; how the show "saves lives" and encourages viewers to pursue medical tests and information; hints from Capshaw that Arizona's ex-wife Callie (Sara Ramirez) is still "the one," despite her "exciting" new romance with Eliza Minnick (Marika Dominczyk); George's interest in learning about Ben's life prior to meeting Bailey; Hinton's belief that all of the characters are "running from something," and inspiration from her cousin in crafting Stephanie's history of sickle-cell disease; and Gianniotti's memories of his "trainwreck" first surgery scene.

Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics, among others: the "crazed enthusiasm" of Jackson/April fans online and Williams' interest in viewer feedback; his hopes for more appearances from Eric Roberts; Pompeo's mental-health advocacy and her personal favorite episodes, including the infamous sixth-season finale in which a spree-shooter attacks the hospital; the deaths of many beloved former characters; Pompeo's interest in approaching new plotlines with "an open mind"; Meredith's difficult relationship with her mother Ellis (Kate Burton), compared to Pompeo's loss of her own mother at age five, and why all personal journeys deserve compassion; inspiring real-life medical and nursing students; why the show is "about" relationships more than it is medicine; and the importance of "keeping it light" onset while shooting emotionally difficult stories.

Details

  • NETWORK: N/A
  • DATE: 2:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 1:40:49
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: 128954
  • GENRE: Seminars
  • SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
  • SERIES RUN: N/A
  • COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

  • Rene Reyes … Host
  • Henry Goldblatt … Moderator
  • Jerrika Hinton … Panelist
  • Caterina Scorsone … Panelist
  • Kevin McKidd … Panelist
  • Kelly McCreary … Panelist
  • Jason George … Panelist
  • Chandra Wilson … Panelist
  • Justin Chambers … Panelist
  • Ellen Pompeo … Panelist
  • Debbie Allen … Panelist
  • James Pickens Jr. … Panelist
  • Jessica Capshaw … Panelist
  • Jesse Williams … Panelist
  • Sarah Drew … Panelist
  • Martin Henderson … Panelist
  • Giacomo Gianniotti … Panelist
  • Kate Burton
  • Marika Dominczyk
  • LaTanya Richardson Jackson
  • Camilla Luddington
  • Sara Ramirez
  • Eric Roberts