Includes bibliographical references and index.

Author's note -- Cast of characters -- "Pick me, choose me, love me," or, how it all began -- "The fairy tale may be slightly different than you dreamed," or, working with an ensemble -- "You give them someone to run to," or, the care and feeding of fans and media -- "He's gone. I'm free," or, how Isaiah Washington brought shame to Seattle Grace -- Interlude "Chasing cars" by Snow Patrol -- "I need a reason to get up every morning," or, how Addison Montgomery kicked off the spin-offs -- "You fought. You loved. You lost," or, a look back at some of the most polarizing relationships on the show -- "There's an end to every storm," or, how Katherine Heigl went from famous to downright infamous -- Interlude "How to save a life" by the Fray -- "He's very dreamy, but he's not the sun," or, how Grey's Anatomy loved-then learned to live without-Patrick Dempsey -- "It's a beautiful day to save lives," or, the guest stars who survived and those who didn't -- "Somebody sedate me," or, how Grey's anatomy managed to gross you out -- "Not everyone has to be happy all the time. That isn't mental health. That's crap," or, eleven of the most memorable episodes of Grey's Anatomy -- "Trauma always leaves a scar," or, the most heartbreaking departures and deaths -- Interlude "Keep breathing" by Ingrid Michaelson -- "We have to keep reinventing ourselves, almost every minute, because the world can change in an instant," or, how Shonda Rhimes and Ellen Pompeo became the highest-paid women in television -- "Everybody wants their place in history," or, deciding when to hang up the scrubs.