Season 6 (Grey's Anatomy)

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Season 6 (Grey's Anatomy)
The promo picture of the season 6 main cast, Kim Raver excluded.
Season Information
No. of episodes	24
Original run	September 24, 2009 - May 20, 2010
DVD Releases
Region 1	September 14, 2010
Region 2	December 5, 2011
Region 4	November 3, 2010
Season Guide
Previous	Season 5
Next	Season 7

The sixth season of Grey's Anatomy premiered September 24, 2009 and ended May 20, 2010. It was broadcast on Thursday nights at 9 PM on ABC. The season consists of 24 episodes, both starting and ending with two-part episodes.

Summary

Expect more competition, more doctors, and much more drama as Seattle Grace merges with a competing hospital. Meredith, Derek, Izzie, and the rest of the doctors face a brand new challenge with the arrival of doctors from Mercy West. Battle lines are drawn and rivalries reach new heights in an unforgettable year at Seattle Grace.

Plots

• Seattle Grace Hospital merges with Mercy West Medical Center.
• Derek's ascension to Chief of Surgery.
• The death of George O'Malley, his funeral, and how his fellow surgeons deal with him being dead.
• Callie and Arizona's struggles in their relationship.
• Izzie abandoning Alex.
• Mark discovering he has a daughter who is pregnant, and helping her when she's in labor.
• Mark and Lexie breaking up.
• Lexie and Alex having a one-night stand and eventually starting to date.
• Bailey prepping the team with mandatory sensitivity training prior to admitting a 700-pound patient with compounded medical issues.
• Teddy and Mark having a brief relationship.
• Cristina and Owen's relationship problems, caused by Teddy.
• Gary Clark going on a murderous rampage at the hospital.

Cast

Main Cast

• Ellen Pompeo as Dr. Meredith Grey (24/24)
• Sandra Oh as Dr. Cristina Yang (24/24)
• Katherine Heigl as Dr. Izzie Stevens (credited until Suicide is Painless) (7/24)
• Justin Chambers as Dr. Alex Karev (24/24)
• Chandra Wilson as Dr. Miranda Bailey (24/24)
• James Pickens, Jr. as Dr. Richard Webber (23/24)
• Sara Ramírez as Dr. Callie Torres (24/24)
• Eric Dane as Dr. Mark Sloan (22/24)
• Chyler Leigh as Dr. Lexie Grey (24/24)
• Kevin McKidd as Dr. Owen Hunt (23/24)
• Jessica Capshaw as Dr. Arizona Robbins (24/24)
• Kim Raver as Dr. Teddy Altman (as of Sympathy for the Parents; previously recurring) (15/24)
• Patrick Dempsey as Dr. Derek Shepherd (24/24)

Special Guest Star

• Kate Walsh as Dr. Addison Montgomery (1/24)

Recurring Guest Stars

• Martha Plimpton as Pam Michaelson (2/24)
• Debra Monk as Louise O'Malley (1/24)
• Shannon Lucio as Amanda (2/24)
• Mitch Pileggi as Larry Jennings (6/24)
• Zoe Boyle as Clara Ferguson (2/24)
• Zack Shada as Andy Michaelson (2/24)
• Amy Madigan as Dr. Katharine Wyatt (1/24)
• Sarah Utterback as Nurse Olivia Harper (1/24)
• Jeff Perry as Thatcher Grey (2/24)
• Robert Baker as Dr. Charles Percy (11/24)
• Sarah Drew as Dr. April Kepner (11/24)
• Brandon Scott as Dr. Ryan Spalding (2/24)
• Jesse Williams as Dr. Jackson Avery (19/24)
• Nora Zehetner as Dr. Reed Adamson (10/24)
• Héctor Elizondo as Carlos Torres (1/24)
• Loretta Devine as Adele Webber (1/24)
• James DuMont as Sheldon Morris (2/24)
• Steven W. Bailey as Joe (3/24)
• Frankie Faison as William Bailey (1/24)
• Leven Rambin as Sloan Riley (5/24)
• Jason George as Dr. Ben Warren (5/24)
• J. August Richards as Young Richard Webber (1/24)
• Chelcie Ross as Dr. Harper Avery (1/24)
• Michael O'Neill as Gary Clark (4/24)
• Tom Irwin as Marty Hancock (2/24)
• Ryan Devlin as Bill Portman (2/24)
• Mandy Moore as Mary Portman (2/24)

Prominent Guest Stars

• Adrienne Barbeau as Jodie Crowley
• Faran Tahir as Isaac
• Joel Grey as Dr. Singer
• Dan Bucatinsky as Jeffrey
• Sarah Paulson as Young Ellis Grey
• Demi Lovato as Hayley May
• Marion Ross as Betty Donahue
• Moon Zappa as Kelly
• Nathan West as Mike

Recurring Co-Stars

• Payton Silver as Dr. Knox (2/24)
• Mark Saul as Dr. Steve Mostow (8/24)
• Molly Kidder as Dr. Megan Nowland (3/24)
• Joseph Williamson as Dr. Pierce Halley (2/24)
• Winston Story as Dr. Leo Byrider (2/24)
• Gloria Garayua as Dr. Graciella Guzman (5/24)
• Tymberlee Chanel as Claire (2/24)
• Tony Casale as Surgeon Dave (1/24)
• Ray Ford as Ray Sutera (3/24)
• Miguel Nájera as Janitor Mike (1/24)
• T'Shaun Barrett as Jon (1/24)
• Kate Anthony as Nurse Kate (3/24)
• Kerri Higuchi as Dr. Elizabeth Chen (2/24)
• Candice Afia as Laura (1/24)
• Amrapali Ambegaokar as Dr. Dani Mandvi (1/24)
• Shi Ne Nielson as Paramedic (1/24)
• Nicole Cummins as Paramedic Nicole Cummins (3/24)
• Phil Abrams as Dr. Jim Nelson (2/24)
• John O'Brien as Lab Tech (1/24)
• Moe Irvin as Nurse Tyler Christian (5/24)
• Arlene Santana as Nurse (2/24)
• Alixandree Antoine as Nurse (1/24)
• Marty Lodge as Dr. Milton (1/24)
• Brooke Blanchard as Jill Hale (1/24)
• Michael Lesly as Paramedic (1/24)
• Regi Davis as Kevin Fisher (1/24)
• Denice Sealy as Nurse Liz McKee (1/24)
• Adam Shapiro as Pete (2/24)
• China Anderson as Ruby Kendall (2/24)
• Melvin Abston as Officer (1/24)

Notes and Trivia

• During early season six, Ellen Pompeo was pregnant and showing, so most shots of her are above the chest or her belly is covered with something.^[source?]
  • She was given four weeks off and the writers allowed her to return for only short times in the following weeks.^[source?]
• It is the first season to not feature T.R. Knight as George O'Malley and Goodbye marks the first episode to not feature him.
• This is the last season to feature Katherine Heigl as Izzie Stevens, also marking several episodes without Izzie. She remained credited for those episodes until she was released from her contract and thereby got removed from the credits.
  • Izzie being fired in Invasion and her absence in the consequent three episodes was to give Katherine room on her schedule to film the comedy movie Life As We Know It. She briefly returned for one episode, only to be absent again for two episodes.^[source?]
  • She returned for I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked, which was supposed to be her final episode before her maternity leave. However, while she was scheduled to return for the last five episodes of the season, Katherine didn't return to the set as she was released from her contract per her request. ^[source?]
• This season has the highest number of episodes that are not narrated solely by Meredith, with 6. This record is shared with season ten. In this season, it may also be a result of Ellen Pompeo's pregnancy.
  • The voice over of Goodbye is narrated by all main characters at the time.
  • The Give Peace a Chance, State of Love and Trust, and Death and All His Friends voice overs are all narrated by Derek Shepherd.
  • Richard Webber narrates the voice over of The Time Warp.
  • Owen Hunt narrates the Suicide is Painless voice over.
• Jessica Capshaw was promoted to series regular after previously recurring.

Episodes

No. in series	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date
103	1	"Good Mourning"	Edward Ornelas	Krista Vernoff	September 24, 2009
		The hospital staff is left to deal with the aftermath of George's passing. Hitting the staff hard, they all find unique ways to get through the various stages of grief. George's mom returns, faced with the difficult task of deciding what to do with his organs.
104	2	"Goodbye"	Bill D'Elia	Krista Vernoff	September 24, 2009
		Time has passed... Everyone is struggling after losing one of their own and are turning to any distraction they can find. Meredith and Derek seem to be consummating their marriage anywhere and everywhere, while Cristina and Owen have been instructed to abstain from sex by Dr. Wyatt.
105	3	"I Always Feel Like Somebody's Watchin' Me"	Michael Pressman	Tony Phelan & Joan Rater	October 1, 2009
		Several weeks after her near-death experience, a recovering Izzie returns to work. Meanwhile, nervous that there will be layoffs in the hospital in the wake of an announcement from the Chief, the Seattle Grace residents compete to survive the cuts, including Cristina, who attempts to work alongside Arizona in pediatrics. And Bailey and Alex's patient's already complex case is further complicated by her schizophrenic son.
106	4	"Tainted Obligation"	Tom Verica	Jenna Bans	October 8, 2009
		When Meredith and Lexie's father, Thatcher, returns to the hospital with a failed liver, it's up to Meredith to save his life as Lexie is not a match for him. Meanwhile, Izzie empathizes with a patient riddled with tumors, as Mark, annoyed with Cristina's competitive zeal, tricks her into assisting on an unusual surgery.
107	5	"Invasion"	Tony Phelan	Mark Wilding	October 15, 2009
		The residents of Seattle Grace and Mercy West vie for surgeries and their careers as day one of the hospital merger begins. Meanwhile, Arizona stands by an enraged Callie when her father, Mr. Torres, employs a priest to help convince her to date men, and Izzie experiences the brunt of her new surgical competition. Part one of a crossover that continues on Private Practice's Right Here, Right Now.
108	6	"I Saw What I Saw"	Allison Liddi-Brown	William Harper	October 22, 2009
		After a burn victim unexpectedly dies in the midst of a chaotic ER, the Chief and board member Jennings interrogate the residents to find the culprit, as all the Mercy West and Seattle Grace residents defend their actions in an effort to save their jobs.
109	7	"Give Peace a Chance"	Chandra Wilson	Peter Nowalk	October 29, 2009
		When Isaac, the hospital lab tech, has an inoperable tumor wrapped around his spinal cord, he turns to Dr. Derek Shepherd to do the impossible, and Derek tests the Chief's authority when Richard objects to moving forward with the risky surgery.
110	8	"Invest in Love"	Jessica Yu	Stacy McKee	November 5, 2009
		A generous donation is offered to Seattle Grace by the parents of Arizona's 10-year-old patient. However, when his condition worsens, she finds herself in a conflict of interests. Meanwhile, Cristina tests her boundaries with Owen at the hospital, and adding insult to injury, Alex is left with all of Izzie's hospital bills to contend with.
111	9	"New History"	Rob Corn	Allan Heinberg	November 12, 2009
		When Owen recruits his fellow Iraqi War vet, Dr. Teddy Altman, as the new cardiothoracic surgeon, Cristina questions Teddy's abilities in the OR and the nature of their past relationship. Meanwhile, Izzie returns to Seattle Grace with her high school mentor seeking treatment for his dementia, and the stress of Richard's responsibilities, post-merger, are taking their toll.
112	10	"Holidaze"	Robert Berlinger	Krista Vernoff	November 19, 2009
		As Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's pass, Miranda is visited by her father, William, who disapproves of her choices in life. Meanwhile, Mark and Lexie must cope with the shocking arrival of a woman from his past, and Thatcher Grey questions the Chief's recent behavior as Meredith comes to his defense.
113	11	"Blink"	Randy Zisk	Debora Cahn	January 14, 2010
		Mark flies Addison to Seattle to help with a difficult procedure on his pregnant daughter, Sloan, Owen questions Teddy's motives when she assigns Cristina the lead on a complicated surgery, and Derek's suspicions are raised when the Chief recruits Meredith to assist with a high profile operation. Part one of a crossover that continues on Private Practice's Another Second Chance.
114	12	"I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked"	Donna Deitch	Tony Phelan & Joan Rater	January 21, 2010
		After learning of Richard's drinking problem, Derek confronts him for the sake of his friend and the hospital, Izzie returns, hoping to reconcile with Alex, and tensions run high between Teddy, Cristina, and Owen in the aftermath of Cristina's startling confession.
115	13	"State of Love and Trust"	Jeannot Szwarc	Stacy McKee	February 4, 2010
		As Derek begins his role as interim chief, he faces a potential lawsuit when Bailey and Meredith's patient awakens from anesthesia mid-surgery. Meanwhile, Teddy refuses to place Cristina on her service, as Arizona tests Alex out in Pediatrics, and Mark refuses to speak to a heartbroken Lexie.
116	14	"Valentine's Day Massacre"	Stephen Cragg	William Harper	February 11, 2010
		It's Valentine's Day, and the doctors must treat dozens of injured people after the roof collapses at a popular romantic restaurant. Derek tries to manage his busy schedule as Chief of Surgery. Meredith wrestles with her new duties as the Chief's wife and Mark and Callie team up to convince Sloan to do the right thing for her baby.
117	15	"The Time Warp"	Rob Corn	Zoanne Clack	February 18, 2010
		In his new role as Chief, Derek restores the hospital lecture series, and Richard, Bailey and Callie present to the group pivotal surgical cases from their pasts - Bailey reflects on her first days as a shy resident, Callie looks back on a polio case, and Richard recalls a case in which he and Ellis worked on a patient diagnosed with GRID, a virus later called AIDS.
118	16	"Perfect Little Accident"	Bill D'Elia	Peter Nowalk	March 4, 2010
		When famous surgeon Dr. Harper Avery is rushed to Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital, the staff is surprised to discover that one of their own is related to this legend, and his unorthodox request for his surgery causes tensions between Derek and Richard. Meanwhile, Callie and Arizona try to help Teddy and Sloan move on from their pasts and find greener pastures.
119	17	"Push"	Chandra Wilson	Debora Cahn	March 11, 2010
		A patient who needs an extremely difficult surgery comes to Seattle Grace, and it's Richard and Owen who vie for the opportunity to tackle it. But the decision lies in the hands of Derek, who deems that Owen should take on the surgery, leaving Richard bitter. Meanwhile, Bailey deals with her own personal struggles when she nervously prepares for another date with Ben.
120	18	"Suicide is Painless"	Jeannot Szwarc	Tony Phelan & Joan Rater	March 25, 2010
		When Teddy's patient seeks to end treatment and her life, she turns to Hunt for help. The situation triggers Hunt's memories of his life at war and his past relationship with Teddy. Meanwhile, Callie and Arizona have a difference in opinion on what their future holds, and Richard tries to adjust to his role as a surgeon.
121	19	"Sympathy for the Parents"	Debbie Allen	Allan Heinberg	April 1, 2010
		When Alex's younger brother, Aaron, shows up at Seattle Grace-Mercy West with a hernia, it's up to Alex to get Bailey's approval for his pro bono surgery. Matters are further complicated when Aaron discloses that his family has not heard from Alex since he arrived in Seattle, and parts of Alex's past long kept secret are revealed to his friends and fellow doctors.
122	20	"Hook, Line and Sinner"	Tony Phelan	Meg Marinis	April 29, 2010
		Sloan returns to Mark's apartment, just as she's going into labor, and Teddy, Mark and the still-fighting Callie and Arizona are there to help with the birth and to get Mark through his grandson's pending adoption. Meanwhile Teddy sees Derek's invitation to illustrious cardiothoracic surgeon Tom Evans' as a threat to her future employment at the hospital, and the team work on a crab boat captain who has been stabbed with a giant shark hook.
123	21	"How Insensitive"	Tom Verica	William Harper	May 6, 2010
		Bailey preps the team with a mandatory sensitivity training prior to admitting a 700-pound patient with compounded medical issues, and the case proves to be challenging in every sense of the word. Meanwhile, Derek has to come face to face with a former patient's husband in a wrongful death deposition, and spending time with a heart patient's daughter opens up some old wounds for Cristina.
124	22	"Shiny Happy People"	Edward Ornelas	Zoanne Clack & Peter Nowalk	May 13, 2010
		An elderly patient admitted into the E.R. for a heart condition sees a familiar face, a long lost love who happens to be in the E.R. as well for a fractured arm, and the staff find themselves caught up in their love story. Meanwhile, Karev treats a troubled teenage patient whose parents brought her in for schizophrenia, and Meredith can't help but tell Cristina about her suspicions of Owen, which inevitably messes with Cristina's head.
125	23	"Sanctuary"	Stephen Cragg	Shonda Rhimes	May 20, 2010
		Seattle Grace Hospital is hit with a crisis like no other in its history.
126	24	"Death and All His Friends"	Rob Corn	Shonda Rhimes	May 20, 2010
		Cristina and Meredith's surgical skills are put to the ultimate test when Derek and Owen get shot.

DVD Release

The "Grey's Anatomy: Complete Sixth Season – More is Better" boxset was released in region 1 on September 14, 2010. On December 5, 2011 and November 3, 2010, the DVD was released in regions 2 and 4 respectively.

Set Details

The boxset contains the 24 episodes of the season, with one extended. The DVD box contains 6 discs. Other set details are:

• English (Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround)
• Audio Commentaries

Special Features

Additional to the episodes, the season 6 DVD set also contains a couple of special features:

• Extended Episode — "Death and All His Friends"
• Dissecting Grey's Anatomy – Unaired Scenes
  • "You have to tell her" – Good Mourning
  • "Will you fix George's face?" – Good Mourning
  • "Take off your shirt" – Good Mourning
  • "Ceviche" – Good Mourning
  • "Are you having sex?" – Good Mourning
  • "Come back to bed" – Goodbye
  • "It's a very big deal" – Goodbye
  • "I'm not going to die in your arms" – Goodbye
  • "I'm proud" – Invasion
  • "I don't get her" – Invasion
  • "We're talking about a diaper" – Give Peace a Chance
  • "She's back" – Give Peace a Chance
  • "I got fired" – New History
  • "You're going to be a grandpa?" – Holidaze
  • "You said you were leaving" – I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked
  • "You have to choose" – I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked
  • "Dr. Jekyl & Mr. Highlights" - Valentine's Day Massacre (00:43 min)
  • "How happy I am" - Valentine's Day Massacre (00:50 min)
  • "You're hitting on me?" - Valentine's Day Massacre (00:37 min)
  • "Slap Jack" - How Insensitive (00:28 min)
  • "Derek needs you" - How Insensitive (00:18 min)
  • "Nervous Callie" – The Time Warp
  • "Sad state of affairs" – The Time Warp
• In Stitches: Season 6 Outtakes
• Chandra Wilson: Anatomy of a Talent
• Seattle Grace: On Call – 6 Webisodes

Gallery

Cast Promotional Photos

Posters