Thursday, March 31, 2011

HOW TO SAVE A LIFE: If you're an hourlong show not named Glee, it can be a pretty risky move to try a musical episode, but I thought Grey's pulled it off admirably tonight. The concept of music being how Callie processes brain trauma was a clever way into doing the episode, and even those in the cast without a musical theatre background turned in some credible performances (Kevin McKidd and Chyler Leigh in particular). It's been a really solid season for both Grey's and Private Practice this year, and even seemingly soapy plotlines (Callie/Arizona/Sloan) have turned out to be rich sources of drama. Props to our friend Shonda and her team.

12 comments:

  1. ChinMusic10:19 PM

    Wait, that sounds like the premise of the Scrubs musical episode from 2006.  Not surprising, as Scrubs was always way ahead of Grey's when it came to incorporating music, including in the use of the title of this post.

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  2. spacewoman1:36 AM

    <span>I freaking loved it, but then, I freaking love both musicals and the entire (post-Izzy) cast.  Sara Ramirez is my hero.  Who would have thought, when she was that weird resident living in a closet, that she would turn out to be so awesome?  
    </span>

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  3. lauri2:36 AM

    Exactly. Great stuff all around from the cast!

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  4. Watts9:34 AM

    <span>Musical isues aside, I thought Mer's breakdown in the elevator in the end was a great scene - I've known enough women dealing with infertility that that scene rang very, very true.</span>

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  5. I'm the only one of my previously Grey's-crazed friends still hanging on week in and week out, and while I don't like musicals in general or musical episodes of TV shows, I really enjoyed last night's show. Could be because Sara Ramirez is crazy talented, and I've never gotten to see that side of her. I also really enjoyed that while characters were singing, there was still medical stuff going on you could hear and follow in the background. It was an interesting technique to advance the plot while giving insight into the characters' emotions.

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  6. Marsha10:23 AM

    Yup. Been there, quite literally done that.

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  7. KCosmo's neighbor10:58 AM

    Loved, loved, loved it. By the time Private Practice was over, I was swimming in tears! So much talent on Grey's. All good.

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  8. As someone who has watched very few medical shows (since Marcus Welby, MD), I don't really know or care if ideas have been done before. What matters to me is that GA continues to entertain me with great characters and relationships. I thoroughly enjoyed last night's episode!

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  9. I thought Kevin McKidd was fantastic in the episode, and really was able to show emotion in his voice.  What a fun, different use of the talents of a cast.

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  10. KCosmo's neighbor1:02 PM

    By the way, how relieved were we when Addison stepped off the plane? Phew.

    I think Private Practice needs to follow suit with a musical episode...Taye! Audra! maybe Tyne will come visit her little brother. Oy, so much talent.

    Is anyone noticing that network TV is improving? At least I think so.

    ...If I lay here, if I just lay here... (sorry, it's in my head)

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  11. Pirate Cookie3:29 PM

    I loved it, too.  I loved the integration of song into the scene, instead of the cast breaking into a song-and-dance number (though I love those, too!) Also very pleasantly surprised with Kevin McKidd's voice. 

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  12. Emily4:14 PM

    Just watched it. <span><span>Sara Ramirez was outstanding, especially in the final number. Maybe they loan her back to Bway for just a short while (please, and thank you)? The entire cast did a great job and I loved seeing Christina really stick up for herself and remember that she's been doing surgery and making cardio choices for a long time.
    </span></span>

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