Cleared For Takeoff? - Grey's Anatomy

Your favourite TransAtlantic podcasting crew continue to try their hands at a little TV Pilot Analysis and we're having our first day as surgeons at Seattle Grace as we take a Ferry Boat over to Grey's Anatomy. We've got Ian in the pilot's chair and Ellie is scrubbing inthis week as she's never seen the show.  Relocate with us as we discuss:

• ABC's movement to target a female audience in Primetime in the early 2000s
• Ellie gushes over Canada's own Sandra Oh for a while
• We discuss the unique (but way overdue) casting process that Shonda Rhimes decided should occur for this show
• We discuss which character was added after the majority of footage had been completed
• Is this the perfect combo pack for Desperate Housewives?
• Who was the character of Meredith Grey supposed to be romantically involved with originally?
• Ellie gives his first impressions of the series, having never seen it before
• Would we ground the Grey's Anatomy pilot or is it cleared for takeoff?