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A Hard Day's Night (Grey's Anatomy)
Encyclopedia
"A Hard Day's Night" is the pilot
and first episode of the ABC
series, Grey's Anatomy
. The episode was written by Shonda Rhimes
and was directed by Peter Horton
. It originally aired on Sunday, March 27, 2005, running for 43:16 min.
is a first-year surgical resident/intern at Seattle Grace Hospital. There, she is introduced to what will become her "home away from home" for the next seven years, along with fellow interns Cristina Yang
, George O'Malley
, Isobel "Izzie" Stevens
and Alex Karev
. The first three and Meredith are assigned to a senior resident doctor Dr. Miranda Bailey
, nicknamed "The Nazi" because of her blunt attitude and strict way of handling hospital procedures. Two attending doctors, Dr. Derek Shepherd
(a handsome, flirtatious man) and Dr. Preston Burke
(who is ready to make the interns cry), oversee most of the surgical procedures and have the interns follow in their ways. The chief surgeon is Dr. Richard Webber
.
The night before Meredith's first day on the job, she sleeps with Derek (not knowing where he worked) after meeting him in a bar. The next morning, Meredith asks him to leave, only to see him hours later at Seattle Grace as the Attending Neurosurgeon. Meredith is very uncomfortable about the situation because she does not want personal matters to get in the way of her career.
Preston asks George to be the first intern to perform a surgical procedure. He does well, but when a small mistake causes the patient to bleed profusely, George freezes and Preston takes over. This in turn labels him as 007 by the other interns, with Meredith noting to a clueless Izzie that George is figuratively licensed to kill. In another case, George makes the mistake of promising the wife of a man who is going to have open-heart surgery that he will be okay. However, the condition was worse than what was expected and the man died. Meredith has to deal with a young girl, Katie, who is having seizures, but the reason is unknown. After Derek asks the interns to research potential explanations, Cristina and Meredith find the answer in the form of an aneurysm. As a reward, Derek asks Meredith to stand in and watch Katie's operation. Cristina is furious because she feels that Derek is playing favorites towards Meredith.
Later, Meredith tries to convince Derek that he should give the spot to Cristina. Derek disagrees and tells Meredith that them sleeping together should not get in the way of her getting opportunities in the OR. After the surgery and the end of their first shift, Meredith and Cristina reconcile.
After her first 48 hours (the typical first shift for first-year residents) at the hospital, Meredith tells her mother, Dr. Ellis Grey, about what went on. However, Ellis does not understand what Meredith is saying because she has Alzheimer's disease
.
written by The Beatles
.
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
and first episode of the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
series, Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...
. The episode was written by Shonda Rhimes
Shonda Rhimes
Shonda Rhimes is an American screenwriter, director and producer. Rhimes is best known as the creator, head writer, and executive producer of acclaimed television series Grey's Anatomy and its spin-off Private Practice. In May 2007, Rhimes was named one of Time magazine's 100 Time 100 people who...
and was directed by Peter Horton
Peter Horton
Peter Horton is an American actor and director. He played the role of Prof. Gary Shepherd on the popular television series Thirtysomething until 1991.-Early life:...
. It originally aired on Sunday, March 27, 2005, running for 43:16 min.
Starring
- Ellen PompeoEllen PompeoEllen Kathleen Pompeo is an American actress, known for playing the title role of Meredith Grey on the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy.-Early life:...
as Dr. Meredith GreyMeredith GreyMeredith Grey is a fictional surgeon and the series protagonist on the ABC television series Grey's Anatomy. The character is portrayed by actress Ellen Pompeo. In 2007, Pompeo was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Meredith...
. - Sandra OhSandra OhSandra Oh is a Canadian actress. She is best known for the role of Dr. Cristina Yang on ABC's Grey's Anatomy, for which she has won a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild award. She also played notable roles in the feature films Under the Tuscan Sun and Sideways, and had a supporting role on the...
as Dr. Cristina YangCristina YangCristina Yang is a fictional surgeon on the ABC television series Grey's Anatomy. The character is portrayed by actress Sandra Oh, who won a Golden Globe and a SAG Award in 2006 for the role...
. - Katherine HeiglKatherine HeiglKatherine Marie Heigl is an American actress and producer. She is possibly best known for her role as Dr. Izzie Stevens on ABC's Grey's Anatomy from 2005 to 2010, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress – Drama Series in 2007...
as Dr. Izzie StevensIzzie StevensIsobel 'Izzie' Katherine Stevens is a fictional character from the medical drama television series Grey's Anatomy, which airs on ABC in the United States. The character was created by series producer Shonda Rhimes, and was portrayed by actress Katherine Heigl from 2005 to 2010...
. - Justin ChambersJustin ChambersJustin W. Chambers is an American actor and former Calvin Klein male fashion model. As of 2005, he is starring in the ABC drama series Grey's Anatomy as Dr. Alex Karev....
as Dr. Alex KarevAlex KarevAlexander "Alex" Michael Karev, is a fictional surgeon on the ABC television series Grey's Anatomy, portrayed by actor Justin Chambers. The character was not included in the original pilot script, but was added in after the pilot was shot, meaning initial scenes with him were either reshoots or...
. - T.R. Knight as Dr. George O'MalleyGeorge O'MalleyGeorge O'Malley was a fictional surgeon from the ABC television series Grey's Anatomy, portrayed by actor T. R. Knight. Knight appeared as George from the beginning of the show until its fifth season finale. Knight will not be returning to the show and has been released from his contract...
. - Chandra WilsonChandra WilsonChandra Danette Wilson is an American actress and director, best known as Dr. Miranda Bailey in the ABC television drama, Grey's Anatomy.-Early life:...
as Dr. Miranda BaileyMiranda BaileyDr. Miranda Bailey is a fictional surgeon on the ABC television series Grey's Anatomy. The character is portrayed by actress Chandra Wilson, who won a 2007 Screen Actor's Guild Award for the role...
. - James Pickens, Jr.James Pickens, Jr.James Pickens, Jr. is an American actor. He is best known for his starring role as Dr. Richard Webber on the ABC drama television series Grey's Anatomy, and for his supporting role as Deputy Director Alvin Kersh on later seasons of the Fox Network science fiction series The X-Files.- Early life...
as Dr. Richard WebberRichard WebberRichard Webber is a fictional surgeon from the ABC television series Grey's Anatomy. The character is portrayed by actor James Pickens, Jr., and was created by Shonda Rhimes...
. - Isaiah WashingtonIsaiah WashingtonIsaiah Washington IV is an American actor. A veteran of several Spike Lee films, Washington is best known for his role as Dr. Preston Burke on the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy from 2005 to 2007.-Personal life:...
as Dr. Preston BurkePreston BurkePreston Xavier Burke, more commonly known as Burke, is a fictional surgeon on the ABC television series Grey's Anatomy. The character was portrayed by actor Isaiah Washington, up until the third season.-Storylines:...
. - Patrick DempseyPatrick DempseyPatrick Galen Dempsey is an American actor, known for his role as neurosurgeon Dr. Derek Shepherd on the medical drama Grey's Anatomy. Prior to Grey's Anatomy he made several television appearances and was nominated for an Emmy Award...
as Dr. Derek ShepherdDerek ShepherdDerek Christopher Shepherd, also referred to as McDreamy, is a fictional surgeon on the ABC television series Grey's Anatomy. The character is portrayed by actor Patrick Dempsey, who was nominated in 2006 and 2007 Golden Globe for the Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series Drama for...
.
Episode Recap
Meredith GreyMeredith Grey
Meredith Grey is a fictional surgeon and the series protagonist on the ABC television series Grey's Anatomy. The character is portrayed by actress Ellen Pompeo. In 2007, Pompeo was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Meredith...
is a first-year surgical resident/intern at Seattle Grace Hospital. There, she is introduced to what will become her "home away from home" for the next seven years, along with fellow interns Cristina Yang
Cristina Yang
Cristina Yang is a fictional surgeon on the ABC television series Grey's Anatomy. The character is portrayed by actress Sandra Oh, who won a Golden Globe and a SAG Award in 2006 for the role...
, George O'Malley
George O'Malley
George O'Malley was a fictional surgeon from the ABC television series Grey's Anatomy, portrayed by actor T. R. Knight. Knight appeared as George from the beginning of the show until its fifth season finale. Knight will not be returning to the show and has been released from his contract...
, Isobel "Izzie" Stevens
Izzie Stevens
Isobel 'Izzie' Katherine Stevens is a fictional character from the medical drama television series Grey's Anatomy, which airs on ABC in the United States. The character was created by series producer Shonda Rhimes, and was portrayed by actress Katherine Heigl from 2005 to 2010...
and Alex Karev
Alex Karev
Alexander "Alex" Michael Karev, is a fictional surgeon on the ABC television series Grey's Anatomy, portrayed by actor Justin Chambers. The character was not included in the original pilot script, but was added in after the pilot was shot, meaning initial scenes with him were either reshoots or...
. The first three and Meredith are assigned to a senior resident doctor Dr. Miranda Bailey
Miranda Bailey
Dr. Miranda Bailey is a fictional surgeon on the ABC television series Grey's Anatomy. The character is portrayed by actress Chandra Wilson, who won a 2007 Screen Actor's Guild Award for the role...
, nicknamed "The Nazi" because of her blunt attitude and strict way of handling hospital procedures. Two attending doctors, Dr. Derek Shepherd
Derek Shepherd
Derek Christopher Shepherd, also referred to as McDreamy, is a fictional surgeon on the ABC television series Grey's Anatomy. The character is portrayed by actor Patrick Dempsey, who was nominated in 2006 and 2007 Golden Globe for the Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series Drama for...
(a handsome, flirtatious man) and Dr. Preston Burke
Preston Burke
Preston Xavier Burke, more commonly known as Burke, is a fictional surgeon on the ABC television series Grey's Anatomy. The character was portrayed by actor Isaiah Washington, up until the third season.-Storylines:...
(who is ready to make the interns cry), oversee most of the surgical procedures and have the interns follow in their ways. The chief surgeon is Dr. Richard Webber
Richard Webber
Richard Webber is a fictional surgeon from the ABC television series Grey's Anatomy. The character is portrayed by actor James Pickens, Jr., and was created by Shonda Rhimes...
.
The night before Meredith's first day on the job, she sleeps with Derek (not knowing where he worked) after meeting him in a bar. The next morning, Meredith asks him to leave, only to see him hours later at Seattle Grace as the Attending Neurosurgeon. Meredith is very uncomfortable about the situation because she does not want personal matters to get in the way of her career.
Preston asks George to be the first intern to perform a surgical procedure. He does well, but when a small mistake causes the patient to bleed profusely, George freezes and Preston takes over. This in turn labels him as 007 by the other interns, with Meredith noting to a clueless Izzie that George is figuratively licensed to kill. In another case, George makes the mistake of promising the wife of a man who is going to have open-heart surgery that he will be okay. However, the condition was worse than what was expected and the man died. Meredith has to deal with a young girl, Katie, who is having seizures, but the reason is unknown. After Derek asks the interns to research potential explanations, Cristina and Meredith find the answer in the form of an aneurysm. As a reward, Derek asks Meredith to stand in and watch Katie's operation. Cristina is furious because she feels that Derek is playing favorites towards Meredith.
Later, Meredith tries to convince Derek that he should give the spot to Cristina. Derek disagrees and tells Meredith that them sleeping together should not get in the way of her getting opportunities in the OR. After the surgery and the end of their first shift, Meredith and Cristina reconcile.
After her first 48 hours (the typical first shift for first-year residents) at the hospital, Meredith tells her mother, Dr. Ellis Grey, about what went on. However, Ellis does not understand what Meredith is saying because she has Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
.
Music
- "Portions for Foxes" - Rilo KileyRilo KileyRilo Kiley was an American indie rock band based in Los Angeles. Formed in 1998, the band consisted of Jenny Lewis, Blake Sennett, Pierre de Reeder, and Jason Boesel....
- "Super Cool" - Bang Sugar Bang
- "TheyThey (song)"They" is the first single released by Jem from her debut album Finally Woken. It includes a sample of the Swingle Singers' 1963 adaptation of Johann Sebastian Bach's Prelude in F minor from Book II of Well-Tempered Clavier from their album Jazz Sebastian Bach.The song became her most popular...
" - JemJem (singer)Jemma Griffiths , better known as Jem, is a Welsh singer-songwriter. Her debut album, Finally Woken, includes elements of rock, new wave-styled electronica and trip-hop... - "Dance" - O.A.O.T.S.
- "Ready to Rise" - Vaughan PennVaughan PennVaughan Penn is an American singer/songwriter from North Carolina who has had over 100 major television and film placements featuring 35 different songs on shows such as Grey's Anatomy , Private Practice , Boston Legal , The Hills , Laguna Beach , Wildfire and Jockey's...
- "Life Is Short" - Butterfly BoucherButterfly BoucherButterfly Boucher is an Australian singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. She has released two albums, Flutterby and Scary Fragile .-Biography:...
- "Into the Fire" - Thirteen SensesThirteen SensesThirteen Senses are a post-britpop band from Penzance, Cornwall. The group released the album The Invitation on 27 September 2004, along with several singles: "Thru the Glass", "Do No Wrong", "Into the Fire" and "The Salt Wound Routine", of which the first three have reached the UK Top 40...
Title Reference
The pilot episode title refers to the 1964 song A Hard Day's NightA Hard Day's Night (song)
"A Hard Day's Night" is a song by the English rock band The Beatles. Written by John Lennon, and credited to Lennon–McCartney, it was released on the movie soundtrack of the same name in 1964...
written by The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
.