It’s been officially confirmed that the extra hour that Lost’s producers had been asking for has been approved by ABC. What’s interesting is the manner in which it was granted.

Apparently, Grey’s Anatomy and Ugly Betty’s respective slots on May 22 were already pretty ironclad. So rather than shuffle them around, ABC got a little creative with the scheduling.

May 15 will see Ugly Betty at 8/7c, Grey’s Anatomy at 9/8c, and part one of the Lost finale at 10/9c. On May 22, we get the Ugly Betty finale, followed by the newly two-hour Grey’s finale. Finally, on May 29, an encore of part one of the Lost finale airs, followed by the two hour Lost finale. That’s right…three hours of Lost. I don’t know what I’ll do with myself…I may asplode.

It’s interesting that the good fortune that fell to Lost in the form of an extra episode spilled over into Grey’s Anatomy, too.

So you may have to wait a week longer to get your Lost resolution for the season, but it means you get an extra hour of resolution (or filler…hopefully not).

If your significant other is as enamored with the soon-to-be ABC Thursday night lineup as you are…these are the e-cards for you.

Over at this link, you can pick from a selection of cards from Ugly Betty, Grey’s Anatomy and Lost to send to your true love. As you can see, I prefer Hurley.

Amidst all the writers’ strike hubub this week, ABC announced its renewals for the 2008/2009 season.

Besides the obvious Desperate Housewives, Grey’s Anatomy, Lost, Ugly Betty and Brothers and Sisters, the Alphabet gave the greenlight to freshman series’ Dirty Sexy Money, Private Practice, Pushing Daisies and Samantha Who?.

I’d say that this is representative of the very strong season that ABC has put up this year. They’ve offered up some quality programming, and I’m excited to see that these (sometimes) underappreciated programs will be making a return next year.

Unbelievablly, no word on whether Cavemen will return. (Dear Lord, no.)

Season 4, Episode 11 - Crash Into Me - Part 2

This season of Grey’s has been a definite improvement over last year. I’ve known it all along, but I haven’t been able to quite put my finger on what it is. The show just seemed to have this intangible…thing…about it that set it apart from previous episodes. Tonight, however, I think I finally discovered it.

Maturity.

The four core doctors that we’ve been following since the pilot, Meredith, Christina, Izzy and George, are not the wide-eyed kids they were three years ago.

Watching Meredith operate on the paramedic, and then give that speech to the other guy’s wife…well, speech-giving Meredith is nothing new, but it just seemed more grown-up and less whiny than in episodes past. And finally seeing her step up and give Derek the ultimatum was refreshing.

Christina has really taken to the role of Resident, and, I believe, is the most convincing doctor of the bunch. As she consoled Lexy after she lost the Seth Green character (fantastic guest spot, by the way), it’s easy to see elements of the great doctor she is destined to become.

Now, I don’t know how everyone else felt, but I’ve become kind of fond of the George and Izzy storyline. I believe that, particularly in this installment, they had some of the most significant character development of anyone on the show, in that they had to make some of the most mature decisions that a person will ever have to make. First, Izzy is facing the serious doubt of whether she is really and truly cut out to be a doctor…which is really going to be held over for later episodes, it seems.

However, the BIG thing was their decision to end their romantic relationship. I know this will please many, but, as I’ve said before, I’ve grown quite fond of them together. Still, I think it’s the right move now. “Timing, not chemistry,” indeed.

So, as I said earlier, on the whole, I’d say the season is leaps and bounds over last year. It didn’t fall into the trap of taking itself too seriously, as the show has done in the past, which became my biggest complaint. It still remains one of the most compelling shows on television, and one of most anticipated viewings of the week.

Episode grade: A
Season grade: A-

Season 4, Episode 8 - “Forever Young”

The first half of Grey’s tonight sounded good. See, I’ve got a thing about eyes, and so when the dude with a pencil jabbed in his eye was on screen, I had my eyes squeezed shut, muttering something along the lines of, “Sweet Lord, you’ve got to be kidding me.” Luckily, the guy went into a coma pretty quick, so I didn’t have to see that mess for too long. Sound callous? Don’t care.

Anyway, on with the show. Using the school bus crash as a metaphor for how juvenile the staff of Seattle Grace can be was a brilliant move. Our regulars begin with a lot of eye-rolling toward the adolescents, but end up having their eyes opened (eyes…pencils…BLECH…sorry). The irony that Sloan, the one doctor that actually seemed to want to be…connected with the students was deemed “old” by them was priceless.

Bailey’s schoolgirl crush took some time to grow on me. When it all started and she was acting like an airhead, it just seemed to drastically out of character for her. But the breakdown and “long speech” to Shepherd at the end really redeemed it.

The whole triangle between Meredith and Lexie and their dad seems a bit tacked on for me. I believe this dynamic has a lot of potential, but…I don’t know. I think it’s that Meredith’s constant complaining and self-righteousness is finally just grating on my nerves. That being said, I am absolutely loving Chyler Leigh in the part of Lexie.

The romance between George and Izzy…eh, I really just don’t care anymore. If they’re going to get together, fine…if they’re going to break up, okay. Just do it already and let’s move on.

Episode grade: B+

Season 4 Episode 7 - Physical Attraction…Chemical Reaction

Last week, I mentioned that it felt like Grey’s Anatomy could finally be getting back to its roots and presenting some quality television. With tonight’s episode, I think that trend is definitely improving.

Sure, there is some drama, specifically between Lex, Alex and Meredith, but nothing to match the oppressive gravitas of the past couple of seasons. But beyond that, it seems to be shifting back to the more light-hearted Grey’s that we fell in love with…or at least I did.

The bits with the “lovers’” quarrel between Shepherd and Webb, Sloane’s puppy dog crush on newcomer Hahn (how great is she?), and the failing romance between George and Izzy all harken back to the show’s stronger times. In hindsight, I don’t know that this episode was just tremendously special on its own, but if it is evidence of the way the show could be moving this season, we could be seeing a great return to form for Grey’s Anatomy.

Grade: B+

Man, there’s going to be a ton of stories like this.

Grey’s creator Shonda Rhimes was originally going to continue work on the show, but after some soul-searching, changed her tune.

I have to tell all of you that this email directly reflects the stance I came to over a very long night in New York. I absolutely believed that I would edit our episodes. Until a thought hit me: how can I walk a picket line and then continue to essentially work? How am I supposed to look at myself in the mirror or look at my child years from now and know that I did not have the courage of my convictions to stand up and put myself more at risk than anyone else? So I choose not to render my services as a producer. I choose to honor the strike. And I am proud that you all stand with me.

It’s amazing how broad and far-reaching this strike is. Every article I read increases my amazement at how many people are impacted.

Season 4 Episode 7 - Kung Fu Fighting

Well surprise, surprise…could Grey’s Anatomy finally have made a turn for the better?

The thing that made most of the fans fall in love with this show seems to finally be making a resurgence. Between Season Two and Three, the show seemed to lose a degree of “funness” that had really sold the show in the first place. With the death of Denny, the show began to take itself too seriously for its own good. Tonight, however, many of those familiar elements are back.

Bringing in Hahn as “the new Burke” gives the gang a new face to suck up to. Christina is back to having to clamor for surgeries instead of having them handed to her like in the Burke days. And romance is blooming between interns and attendings in the form of Alex and Lexie (who definitely got the looks in the Grey family).

And here’s the comment that’s going to get me flamed…I’m actually starting to like George and Izzie together. While their scenes in past episodes have come across forced, their last couple of scenes tonight, particularly the one before the “big moment” made me believe there may actually be some chemistry there.

All in all, I think the show may be getting back to the roots that we fell in love with…and none too soon.

A

Season 4 Episode 5

I’m not entirely sure how much I care for this season of Grey’s Anatomy. On the one hand, it’s an improvement over a lot of last season. However, it still feels much more depressing than the show did back in its first two seasons.

In “Haunts You Every Day”, everyone seems to be having troubles. Callie reveals that George and Izzie jave been having an affair. Alex is drawn back into his relationship with Eva from last season. Chief Webber’s wife has finally filed for divorce. Derek is apprehensive about getting back into the dating scene, and Sloan finds himself at the receiving end of a hate club. Even Bailey, usually the rock, seems to be having marriage issues. Surprisingly, the only person moving on from her issues is Ms. Drama Queen, herself, Meredith. It’s a pretty depressing time on the show.

Beyond that, I want to address the George/Izzie deal. It appears to me that they themselves are not happy with their “relationship”. Everytime that they are together as a couple, it just seems…forced…like they are thinking, “We have to appear to be comfortable together.” Now, if that is the way that it is supposed to come across, then major kudos to Knight and Heigl for a fantastic performance. However, I have a nagging feeling that the actors are about as committed to this relationship as the viewers are, and those feelings are coming through in the performance.

Or maybe I’m just over-thinking it.

Grade: B

Joshua Jackson, who most of you will remember as Pacey from Dawson’s Creek, will be joining the cast of Grey’s Anatomy.

His multi-episode run as a doctor at Seattle Grace will begin on episode 11.  There’s not much more info on it now, but as more comes in, you’ll find it here!