Patrick Dempsey Happy with Character Development
Recently on Grey's Anatomy, Patrick Dempsey's Derek locked lips with Nurse Rose (Lauren Stamile). While this means more trouble for Derek and Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) - who one of our readers points out has been together with him in only 18 of 71 episodes - Dempsey is actually happy about the development.
The hit medical series' leading man said in a recent interview that he is feeling more "encouraged" that someone new has come into to his character's life.
"It will certainly make the story lines more interesting and compelling," Dempsey told the New York Post. "Last season was boring to do. Enough is enough already. It's time for the writers to go back and take a look at things and find some new paths for some of these characters. It was too repetitive for me."
That said, Patrick Dempsey admits that he is not necessarily very hopeful about what will happen between the on-again, off-again Derek and Meredith in the near future.
"You would think that [Derek and Meredith] would work through their difficulties and move forward. Meredith needs to get healthy. That's an interesting thing to explore with her character. Does he stand by her while she goes through that? Or do they work through their problems alone," Patrick Dempsey posed.
"[Grey's Anatomy creator / executive producer] Shonda Rhimes is very clear on what she wants to do but not clear on what the actors are going to do."
As of right now, production on Grey's Anatomy remains shut down as the WGA strike continues. Although Dempsey and the rest of the show's cast and crew are out or work, he is still riding high career-wise, with the success of his film Enchanted.
"I always knew that if it worked, it would be huge," Dempsey said. "But you take a risk with these things. It's been interesting because everyone likes this movie - men, kids, moms. The movie touches the child in everyone, while dispelling the whole idea that if you find that one right person you are going to live happily ever after."
People's 2007 Star of the Year will also appear in the upcoming romantic comedy Made of Honor, due to hit theaters in May 2008. Although his movie career seems to be taking off once more, Dempsey isn't about to leave Grey's Anatomy just yet.
"The opportunities that the cast is getting are certainly because of the show's huge success," he said. "As long as [Grey's Anatomy] continues, we will stay with it."
Steve Marsi is the Managing Editor of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Google+ or email him here.
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Meredith: Get this baby out of me safely and you can have whatever you want.
January 14th, 2008 7:56 AM
i agree with ALL OF YOU!! greys is becomin like a weekly torture...cuz every episode brings with it another round of mer-der problems!
pleeez..instead of the new ross/rachel.....cant u make them the new monica/chandler?? keeop the relationship steady and the chemistry alivE?!?!pleeezzzz..pput US OUT OF OUR MISERY!!
January 3rd, 2008 7:31 AM
I'm also not as excited about grey's as I was before. It's so nice to watch season 1, 2, some epi's of 3, that was great. But season 4? I think it's as 'bad' or even worse then season 3. Don't get me wrong, I'm still a fan but it's such a pity. It's like they don't have any inspiration anymore for a good storyline. In that case, it's better to stop at a highlight then going on with grey's until no one's watching anymore..
Btw, the last episode is in my country (belgium) also on 10th january. And as it's hours later here then in the US, it means that I will see the last epi earlier then you guys, right:p?
January 2nd, 2008 3:23 PM
it's just stupid! mer has no actual reason not commiting with derek, didn't she have daddy issues in season 2 when all she'd do was pining 4 him?
and derek has no actual reason being so oppressive, he couldn't wait 4 the love of his life more than a week?
it's not convincing, all i see is bored writers using soap operas' technics
January 2nd, 2008 3:13 PM
it's so sad watching grey's becoming a cheap soap-opera episode...it was so promising. keeping mer and der apart cause that's the only way to make it interesting, it's just a silly point. how interesting would be to watch them overcoming mer's issues together, for example see derek wash away with mer her mom's ashes instead of the chief? breaking them up is not the only way to go for the writers, it's just the easy way, keeping fans pined for seeing a reunion, like they can't keep us pined by other storylines
January 2nd, 2008 1:10 PM
"He can't pine forever for someone who doesn't want him. "
Are you watching GA or another show?
"Derek surprise her with a diamond and let's see her change her mind! Diamonds are a girls best friend!"
What? Meredith isn't Addison.
Sorry but your post is superficial and absurd.
January 2nd, 2008 12:47 PM
honestly, i dont know what to think anymore, so its better not to say anything at all. I am not that into greys like before, for some reasons, i dont get excited about it anymore, however i am a fan already, so i will continue to watch, see what will happen to the characters individually.
January 2nd, 2008 7:26 AM
Well seems like everyone is already frustrated about the on-off Merder thing. Reading Patrick's words, it seems like they won't be together anymore, so I suppose that, now they break up, it'll be forever , she won't let them hook up again in 2 or 3 episodes, right :(?
I was also getting frustrated about the merder thing, but they belong together!
January 2nd, 2008 6:29 AM
I'v been reading what everyone said. I think Meredith and Derek make up the best couple on the show. However, in real life if some guy (I'm married 24 years) who I was in love with told me he didn't want to be with me anymore, I would have no recourse but to move on and find someone who would love me. That's what's happening. He wants marriage. She doesn't. He has to move on. It's the way the character is written. He can't pine forever for someone who doesn't want him. For the sake of the show, Derek surprise her with a diamond and let's see her change her mind! Diamonds are a girls best friend! Let's have a wedding and live happily ever after! The fans love them together!
January 2nd, 2008 12:27 AM
Love Patrick even more than I already did. I agree with him and the frustrations he has with his character's development and the whole on again-off again!
January 1st, 2008 11:23 AM
Kathy said it head on!