Grey's Anatomy

Lore & Background

The series follows Dr. Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) from her acceptance into the surgical residency program at Seattle Grace Hospital. She works alongside fellow interns Cristina Yang, Izzie Stevens, Alex Karev, and George O'Malley, overseen by senior resident Miranda Bailey and attendings Derek Shepherd and Preston Burke. Over the seasons, the hospital undergoes name changes to Seattle Grace Mercy West and later Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. The cast has seen major changes, with only three original members—Pompeo, Chandra Wilson, and James Pickens Jr.—remaining by the 19th season.

Reader's Guide

Grey's Anatomy has been a significant force in television, earning a Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama and 38 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including two for Outstanding Drama Series. Its success elevated actors like Ellen Pompeo, Sandra Oh, and Patrick Dempsey to worldwide recognition, with several becoming among the highest-earning television actors in 2013. The show has been praised by critics and included in year-end top 10 lists, though its ratings have declined from being among the top 10 in the United States. As of February 2023, it ranked as the 10th most popular on-demand program. The series has spawned two spin-offs, Private Practice and Station 19, and a web series, Grey's Anatomy: B-Team.

Did You Know?

• The title is a mixture of the protagonist's surname and the classic human anatomy textbook Gray's Anatomy.
• The series is filmed primarily in Los Angeles, California, and Vancouver, British Columbia, though set in Seattle, Washington.
• By the 19th season, only three original cast members remained: Ellen Pompeo, Chandra Wilson, and James Pickens Jr.
• In March 2026, ABC announced the 23rd season of Grey's Anatomy expected to stream in the fall of 2026.