Creator and Executive Producer of Grey's Anatomy Shonda Rhimes grew up in Chicago in the south suburban University Park. It was there that her interest in medicine sprung, working as a ‘candy striper', which is an American term for a hospital volunteer, while she was in high school. Shonda claims to have had a fascination with blood, guts and gore for as long as she can remember. "My sisters and I would call each other on the phone and say, are you watching the surgery on TV? We loved to watch these surgeries. I have no idea why," she said in an interview with the Travis Smiley show, an entertainment talk show in America.

Now a successful writer with shows like ‘Grey's Anatomy', and ‘Private Practice', which is yet to air in Australia, in May 2007 Rhimes was named by Time Magazine as one of the top 100 people who have helped shape the world! That is the world as we know it today. The list was published with people who are still alive and currently in the news, so you won't see Rhimes' name rivalling the likes of Shakespeare or Jesus Christ on this list.

Grey's Anatomy is an Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning American primetime television medical drama. It debuted on ABC as a midseason replacement on March 27, 2005, immediately following Desperate Housewives. The series revolves around Dr. Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), who began the show as a surgical intern at Seattle Grace Hospital in Seattle.

Rhimes has said in several interviews that she already has the "bible" of Grey's Anatomy mapped out, and has planned the arc of each season.

The title of the show is a reference to the famous medical handbook ‘Gray's Anatomy'.

The show's producers use a ‘blind-casting' technique, resulting in a racially diverse cast. All roles for Grey's Anatomy are cast without the characters' race being pre-specified, in keeping with creator Shonda Rhimes' vision of diversity.

Brooke Smith who plays the newly appointed Head of Cardiothoracics in Season 4 Dr Erica Hahn is the famous actress from Silence of the Lambs.

A new male character was supposed to be introduced to be in "competition" with Dr. Derek Shepherd.

Dawson's Creek alumnus Joshua Jackson was scheduled to make his return to television in a multi-episode arc as a doctor with his first appearance in the season's eleventh episode, however his appearance was cancelled due to the 2007-2008 Writers Guild of America strike.

It has been confirmed that Grey's Anatomy will have a fifth season starting in the Autumn of 2008 in America.

On February 20, 2008, it was also confirmed that Grey's Anatomy would return for 5 new episodes of Season 4.

Kate Walsh will return to Grey's Anatomy for one more episode.

The show's main title theme during its first two seasons is an excerpt of "Cosy in the Rocket", by British artist Psapp. As the show has continued, it has been instrumental in the success of songs such as Snow Patrol's "Chasing Cars" and The Fray's "How to Save a Life". Both tracks became top 5 hits after appearing in the show.

A list of all the songs featured in each episode, which are all selected, mixed and supervised by Alexandra Patsavas, can be found on the program's official website. Brandi Carlile's "The Story" and Mat Kearney's "Breathe In, Breathe Out" have also been featured prominently.

Many artists are featured in several episodes on Grey's Anatomy. Among those are Beck, Tegan and Sara, Kate Havnevik, Roisin Murphy, Snow Patrol, Maria Taylor, Mat Kearney, Ingrid Michaelson, The Hereafter, Jem, Brandi Carlile, Anya Marina, Corinne Bailey Rae, Chris Garneau, Devics, KT Tunstall, and Anna Nalick.