50 Things Even The Biggest Fans Have Forgotten About The Original Grey's Anatomy Interns
- by Elizabeth Atkinson
- – on
- in Movies and TV
Grey's Anatomy has surpassed all expectations by making it all the way to its 15th season this fall. Shonda Rhimes, the creator of the show and leader of Shondaland, has managed to find a way to keep the show popular, relevant, and socially progressive over the years since the show first began. The show is still extremely popular, that can not be disputed, but there will always be something special about the original group of interns that the show was built upon. The original inters start their journey from the very beginning, showing up in the pilot episode of the series. They are the main focus of the show for the first 5/6 seasons.
The original interns are Meredith Grey, Izzie Stevens, George O'Malley, Alex Karev, and Cristina Yang. They all work together closely under Dr. Miranda Bailey. Bailey definitely has her hands full keeping an eye on these interns, who are all very head strong. Each one of these interns is incredibly different than the others, and requires a different teaching style. These are the first group of interns that the audience gets to see begin from what Dr. Richard Webber refers to as the starting line. He describes the internship as their arena, and is sure to tell them that how well they play, is ultimately up to them.
Who drives a motorcycle?
One of these original Grey's Anatomy interns rides a motorcycle to work during season 1. Even though it is not spoken about why they decide to stop riding a motorcycle to work, many believe that it is due to the amount of trauma cases that come into the hospital after driving a motorcycle. Later on in the series, they begin to use the nickname "donor cycles" because of all the trauma sustained by people on motorcycles. Which intern used to drive a motorcycle to work?
Who lives at home?
One of the interns from the early seasons of Grey's Anatomy is sheltered by the fact that they lived at home up until their internship. Once starting their internship, this intern realizes that they can no longer live at home with their parents. This intern is frustrated with everything their parents do, including ironing their scrubs for them. This intern needs their space. However, this intern does not live at home for long as they move into a house with other interns.
Who jogs to work?
In the early seasons of Grey's Anatomy, this intern claims that they jog to work every day. When the other interns question why they would put themselves through the extra torture when their work days are long enough, this intern explains that they firmly believes what doesn't hurt them will make them stronger. However, as time goes on, this intern is no longer seen jogging to work. There is no explanation as to why this intern decides not to jog to work anymore.
Who paid for med school by modelling?
Medical school is incredibly expensive, and that combined with the many years of education leading up to medical school, the debt acquired while becoming a doctor can be a lot for some people. However, this is not the case for one lucky intern. This intern took longer to get their degree, but when they began their internship, they had absolutely no outstanding debt from their education. They got through med school by modelling. In the early years they were called "Dr. Model" as a nickname.
Who flunks a part of their entry board?
Entry boards are taken before the internship begins. However, one intern takes their entry boards at a later date than most. When the results came in, Richard Webber had the unpleasant honor of telling this intern that they have to retake the test. If the intern does not pass the test the second time, Dr. Webber informs them that they will no longer be a surgical resident at Seattle Grace hospital. Luckily all the interns work together and help them pass the test.
Who gets pregnant during their intern year?
All of the female interns have relationships that are not particularly encouraged during their intern year. This is true whether or not the relationship was with an attending doctor or with a patient. Despite being pregnant for a part of their intern year, this intern does not let up. She is consistent with her work. She is also very private about her life. Therefore, no one even knew that she was pregnant, including the father. The truth comes out eventually though, as it always does.
Who nearly drowns?
Grey's Anatomy is an incredibly dramatic show with many ups and downs. Everyone on the show has frequent brushes with fate at one point or another throughout the series. However, the experience of one of the interns coming very close to drowning is the closest any of the interns come to the end during their intern year. This intern spends an episode in an in between realm where they are no longer living and had to choose to fight their way back to their life.
Who was Bailey's favorite?
Bailey is the resident that rules over all of the original interns. During the pilot episode, she informs her interns that they should not bother sucking up, because she already doesn't like them and that is not going to change. This line is repeated when the interns eventually become residents and have interns of their own. However, Bailey quickly shows that she does have a soft spot. She forms a close relationship with all of her interns, but later admits that she did have a favorite.
Who dates a hockey player?
Once starting an internship, or any level of work, at Seattle Grace hospital, it becomes almost immediately clear that people that work at Seattle Grace only date other people that work at Seattle Grace. There are so many relationships going on that it is incredibly difficult to keep track of at times. Many of the doctors have complicated romantic histories with other doctors. One of the interns dates a hockey player. However, the relationship does not work out when the hockey player could not understand the demands of a surgical internship.
Who does NOT live in Meredith's house during their internship?
Over the course of the series, almost every doctor at Seattle Grace hospital lives at Meredith's house at one point or another. Meredith's house becomes a safe haven for other doctors that feel alone or have no place to go. Derek and Meredith, while living in the house, frequently say that they need to stop taking in strays. However, once someone is in need, they always forget about their agreement not to take in anyone else, and open their home to fellow doctors.
Whose parent is a famous surgeon?
On the first day of their internship together, some of the inters discuss how one of their own is "royally inbred" meaning that someone comes from a famous surgeon. The famous surgeon is also sick, so when asked about them, this intern constantly lies about where they are, and what they are doing. Frequently, the intern tells anyone who asks that their parent is currently writing a book and that is why they are not practicing medicine for the time being.
Who is incredibly messy at home?
It is rare that the surgeons are seen anywhere other than the hospital. The hospital is where they spend the majority of their time after all. It is even more rare that surgeons are seen living somewhere other than Meredith's house. There is one intern that lives in incredibly messy conditions. These conditions surpass those of an intern that simply does not have the time to tidy up or clean their apartment consistently. This intern also hides their messy home quite well.
Who accuses a fellow doctor of being unprofessional during surgery?
At the beginning of their internship, one doctor thinks that they smell alcohol on another doctor's breath before surgery. This, of course, is a very serious accusation. The other doctors dismiss this intern, even kicking them out of the surgery. However, later in the surgery the accused doctor begins showing signs that the intern may have been correct. Dr. Derek Sheppard ends up standing up for the intern after seeing the signs of drinking for himself. The intern made the right call in this situation.
Who gives up a child for adoption in high school?
On Grey's Anatomy, a lot of the drama and focus surrounds what is going on at the hospital, including surgeries, work related issues, and personal relationship issues. Sometimes a character will have their life outside of the hospital shown, but it is not very common. Some characters also have their past discussed more than others. However, when something comes out about a character such as a teenage pregnancy and giving up a child for adoption while still in high school, that tends to pull some focus.
Who originally wanted to specialize in cardio?
These interns seem to have some idea of what they want to do before they even begin their surgical internship program at Seattle Grace. Most of the time interns do not end up in the field they originally think they will end up in, however, that is not always the case. This one doctor has such a strong tendency to lean towards medicine and surgery focusing on the heart, that it is no surprise that they manage to fulfill their dreams.
Who dates a veterinarian?
Finn is a veterinarian that becomes a part of the show in the second part of the 2nd season as well as the beginning of the 3rd season. This vet tries to heal Doc the dog that lives in Meredith's house briefly. Some of the fellow doctors make joke at Finn's expense about the fact that he is less of a doctor than the rest of them. Finn becomes part of a love triangle that does not end well for him.
Who performs the first intern appy?
The intern appy is an appendectomy performed on the first day of the intern year, it is designated to the intern that shows the most promise. However, it is actually a tool on making an example of one of the interns so that the other interns do not become over confident. The very first intern appy is seen during the pilot episode of the show. When the interns become attending surgeons, they are the ones picking who does the intern appy.
Who wins the sparkle pager?
The sparkle pager is the reward for a surgical contest that takes place during season 4 of the show in an episode titled "Where the Wild Things Are". This surgical contest came with a variety of points such as 1 point per suture, 3 points for watching a surgery, and 80 points for solving a medical mystery. This contest takes place amongst all of the surgical residents and is supervised by Dr. Bailey, who is chief resident. The prize of the contest? A sparkle pager.
Which of the original interns does Alex date?
Seattle Grace is a hospital with some of the most co worker relationships imaginable. Over the course of the many seasons, there have been multiple attempts to cut down on romantic relationships at work. However, these attempts never seem to work out. This is partially because one of the shows strongest couples is based off on a work relationship between a subordinate and superior, with Derek and Meredith. There is also dating amongst the interns, which sometimes complicates their work relationships.
Who loves to bake?
Every intern has their own way of handling stress and unwinding after a long day practicing medicine and the stress they are under at the hospital. All of the doctors go through a lot emotionally, their job is very emotionally draining as well as physically. One of the interns enjoys baking when they are upset as a way of handling their emotions. This leads to a lot of baking over the years. At one point they made so many muffins they even dropped some off at Joe's bar.
Who is known as "Burke's guy"?
Dr. Preston Burke is a main character of Grey's Anatomy during the first 3 seasons of the show. He begins to develop a strong bond to one intern and their on screen friendship is amazing. However, it was their off screen issues that played a part in the actor who played Burke leaving the show. Once Burke was off the show, the intern was still known as being "Burke's guy" around the hospital as well as by Burke's own mother.
Who was NOT originally assigned to Bailey?
Dr. Bailey is a staple of Grey's Anatomy. She is one of the only characters that has been in almost every episode since the pilot episode. Not many characters manage to last that long on the show. Dr. Bailey is known as the touch resident, but the interns are all incredibly lucky to have her as their resident. Originally, Bailey only had 4 interns. However, after the first few episodes she is assigned one more intern and they just stick with the group.
Who needs an appy during their intern year?
The appy, also known as an appendectomy, is an important surgery during a surgeons internship. It is the most common surgery for a surgical intern to be tested on, and possibly even have to perform. However, one of the interns becomes sick during a shift. After some testing, it turns out that this intern needs an appendectomy. This intern is given some pills to ease the pain once learned that they will be needing surgery, and these pain relievers aid the intern in saying some things they probably wouldn't have said otherwise.
Who cuts an LVAD wire?
The cutting of the LVAD wire during season 2 became an infamous moment of the show. An LVAD is a wire/machine that assists the left ventricle of the heart in beating. In this case the LVAD was attached to one of the most famous patients from the show, Denny. He was a heart patient that spent quite a bit of time in the hospital. One intern cuts the LVAD wire in order to help Denny get a heart transplant, following the ideology that it had to get worse before it gets better.
Who protests with the nurses?
During their intern year, there is a strike that goes on with the nurses. They are protesting the ridiculous volume of overtime shifts they are required to work. The nurses also feel as though many doctors should pitch in more and be more grateful towards the nurses. When the nurses go on strike they are standing outside the hospital doors with their signs. One of the interns decide that unions are important to them and they do not feel like they can cross a picket line, so they decide to protest with the nurses.
Who wanted to specialize in neuro?
Neuro is often referred to as the crown jewel of surgery. Neuro surgery refers to brain surgery, which is incredible difficult. It requires a lot of focus and precision. Many of the inters compete to be able to watch Dr. Derek Sheppard work and perform surgeries, but one of the interns gets to scrub in much more than others. This intern seems to be a no brainer (ha) to become the next neuro god at Seattle Grace, but their inability to work with Derek stops that.
Who has a pink stethoscope?
This is a question only the biggest fans will remember. Big fans may be able to guess appropriately. This is a minor detail that stands out occasionally over the first few seasons of the show. This intern has a pink stethoscope. They use it to listen to a patient's breathing. The standard stethoscope is black. It is later revealed by Dr. Webber that for a lot of doctors receiving their first stethoscope is a big moment, which speaks to why this intern would want a custom one.
Who was known for being "dark and twisty"?
The lives of the Grey's Anatomy interns are anything less than simple. Dealing with medical dramas as well as their own personal dramas can have the interns feeling low from time to time. One intern is specifically known for going through a rough patch. Some characters refer to them as scary and damaged, others as dark and twisty. This intern is also one half of what eventually becomes known as the twisted sister group. Which intern is dark and twisty?
Who was nicknamed 007?
007 - or double oh seven - is a reference to James Bond and it means that the person is not a reliable surgeon. This nickname is typically given to the first intern that messes up in a big way, typically by losing a patient. This nickname comes and goes through the seasons. It is typically seen as a particularly upsetting nickname, since no surgeon ever likes to lose a patient. This nickname plays a pretty key role at the end of season 5.
Who says "Pick me. Choose me. Love me"?
"Pick me. Choose me. Love me" is one of the more famous quotes to come out of the 15 season show. It takes place early on in the series, but represented a big moment for characters and fans. This intern is extremely conflicted as they know that they do not want to beg for love or beg to make a relationship work. But, in some cases, it works out for the best. Which intern says this famous Grey's Anatomy quote?
Who grew up in foster care?
Many people think that because they are doctors, that their lives are all together and perfect. However, Grey's Anatomy definitely proves that that is not the case. Each of the intern has their own personal back ground story that adds many layers of depth to the character. Certain characters have complicated past loves, complicated relationships with their parents, as well as many other complicated factors. One intern is known amongst some for beating the odds by getting out of foster care and becoming a surgeon.
Who becomes engaged to a patient?
One of the main problems the interns have, and have all struggled with at one time or another, is becoming too emotionally involved with a patient and their case. This emotional attachment to patients has cost many doctors at Seattle Grace to question their jobs, their faith, their abilities, and more. However, one intern goes past just an emotional attachment to a patient. This intern breaks the rules to save a patient, and then winds up engaged to the patient.
Which of the original interns does George date?
All of the interns mingle both socially and professionally. All of the interns seem to have a lot of feelings, all the time. They wear their hearts on their sleeves and they follow those hearts no matter who it may hurt. It is especially complicated when the interns date each other as they all work together very closely. They also all tend to live in the same house from time to time. George has a big heart, which intern does he date?
Who comes up with the nickname McDreamy?
The nickname McDreamy becomes a staple and icon of the show for the first few seasons. It comes up from time to time in the later seasons but not as consistently as in the beginning. The whole "Mc" fad is especially prominent in the first three seasons. There is McDreamy, who is Derek Sheppard, there is McSteamy, who is Mark Sloan the plastic surgeon from New York, and there is McVet, who is Finn, the vet that Meredith briefly dates.
Who goes on to win a Harper Avery award?
The Harper Avery award is spoken about very frequently though out the show. At first, it is the ultimate goal, what all the interns look up to and aspire to be. Ellis Grey, Meredith's mother, is known for winning two Harper Avery awards. Then during season 4, it is revealed that Burke has won a Harper Avery after leaving Seattle Grace hospital. In the later seasons, the Harper Avery becomes more and more attainable for the original interns as they have become amazing surgeons in their own right.
Who wants to specialize in plastic surgery?
Plastic surgery is sometimes seen as a superficial specialty. There is a lot of money in face lifts and liposuction, but there is a lot of valuable work to be done with plastic surgery. Over the course of the show the reputation of plastic surgery is contested by Mark Sloan and other doctors. Plastic surgery takes a lot of finesse, as is frequently taught by Sloan. When he wants to teach, he creates what he refers to as the "plastics posse".
Who grew up in a trailer park?
The original interns all seem to have their own personal story as to the struggles they have previously faced that helped them work hard so that they could fulfill their dreams of becoming a doctor. One doctor grew up taking care of their sick parents, one grew up with no real parents at all, one grew up bouncing around different foster homes, and one grew up in a trailer park. The desire to have a better life is something that inspires many of the interns.
Who doesn't pass their intern exam?
The intern exam is a test at the end of the intern year. It is a written test, and has quite serious consequences. Anyone who doesn't pass the test has only two choices. They must either no longer be a surgical resident, or they must repeat their intern year. As well as the fact that some of the people with the lowest scores will be dropped from the surgical intern program. Which unlucky intern doesn't pass their intern exam, as we later find out, by one point.
Who was attacked in the hospital?
There is always a lot of drama at Seattle Grace hospital. This drama takes place between the doctors, but also from outside sources. Being a hospital, these doctors are frequently forced to deal with very tough circumstances. Sometimes these situations are brought into the hospital along with the patients. In one case, a loved one of an old patient decided that he was treated poorly and begins taking it out on people in the hospital. Luckily, this character is okay.
Who dates Dr. Burke?
Dr. Preston Burke is one of the most important and frequent characters during the first three seasons of the show. He has a lot of friends, such as Derek, Richard, and George. He is also the chief of cardio at the hospital so he has a lot of pull in terms of who gets cardio surgeries. He is also a very romantic character. He very much wants love in his life and has an ideal of what his dream relationship would look like.
Who helps Bailey though labor?
Dr. Miranda Bailey is the resident in charge of the original interns. She is seen as a harsh ruler and has some mean nick names. However, Bailey also has a huge heart that the interns get to see glimpses of from time to time. She is an authoritative woman, and during the original interns intern year, she becomes pregnant. Bailey struggles through labor after hearing that her husband has been in a car accident and needs surgery in the same hospital she is giving birth in.
Who gets cancer?
Yet another incredibly dramatic twist on Grey's Anatomy. One of the beloved original interns winds up having cancer. For people that are medical professionals, they all seem to get sick more often than expected. They have problematic pregnancies, appendectomies, car accidents, various wounds, and more. Over the course of the series, they continue to up the stakes of the show. Giving this important character cancer changes the game as it forces the interns to face their feelings and potentially say goodbye to a friend.
Who has to keep a device from going off while inside a patient?
Interns make mistakes. They are young and they are learning and they have to be given teaching opportunities if they will ever be given a chance to become a surgeon. However, being a surgical intern, sometimes these mistakes are a matter of great importance. One young paramedic saw a way to stop the bleeding and put her hand inside the body of a patient. However, once the situation was deemed dangerous, it was too much pressure for the paramedic to handle, so one of the interns took her place.
Who was a wrestler?
As it is discussed fairly frequently on the show, to be a surgeon, one needs to be hard core. On the show, surgeons are known for being tough. Some interns are definitely more tough than others, in the traditional sense at least. One of the interns definitely has the ability to show their tough side, because they were a wrestler in high school. They bring up their wrestling history multiple times throughout the series. They are proud of their wrestling history.
Who has the nickname "cricket"?
The nickname "cricket" is a nickname from this intern's past. However, it is brought onto the show when a patient comes in with psychic abilities. Medically speaking, the patient is having seizures, but the patient just seems to know things that are going to happen and knows things about people's pasts. One intern is particularly adamant that the man is not psychic, because their mother used to pay for readings all the time and it was always fake. But when the patient brings up this old nickname, the intern is forced to reconsider.
Who operated on a heart in an elevator?
Both the doctors at the hospital, and the hospital itself, do not have the best luck on the show. Over the course of the show the hospital gets smashed into with a car, set on fire, harmed in a storm, and so on. Early on in the series, the power goes out across the hospital and two interns are stuck in an elevator with a patient that was on his way to surgery. One intern has to operate on the heart in an elevator.
Who gets left at the altar?
Both weddings and marriages are common on Grey's Anatomy. Some marriages are announced with no wedding, or a post it note wedding, and there are some weddings that do not result in a marriage. One of the original interns is sadly left at the altar. However, their reaction was surprising as they were not as upset as they were relieved. Luckily, the doctor that left the intern at the altar also left the hospital. The intern was more upset at losing a teacher than a fiancé.
Who inherits 8 million dollars?
It is brought up multiple times during the show that an interns salary does not pay particularly well. However, one intern is surprised to find out that they have inherited 8 million dollars while they are still an intern. They spend time with the other interns discussing what to do with the money. They discuss the idea of travel but realistically they would never have the time off to travel to the island that they wanted to buy. Luckily, they find a way to do some good with the money.
Who was in the dungeons and dragons club?
After explaining their history and their experience with high school, it is fairly clear that none of the interns were particularly cool when they were in high school. It goes without saying that they must have all been at least somewhat nerdy and studious to go on to become a surgeon. One intern reveals to a patient that is having a hard time fitting in while in high school that they also did not fit in and that they were in the dungeons and dragons club.
Who is considered the best in their intern class?
All of the interns have their own personal strengths and weaknesses. They are frequently debated over the course of the series. Some are better with patients, others are better with certain specialities. However, it is almost undisputed that this one intern is the best in their class. It is discussed among attending surgeons during their intern year and residency, but it is also agreed upon once this character is no longer on the show. They are then referred to as the best in their class more openly.