No One Is Safe From the Feels These Rare Photos From the Grey's Anatomy Pilot Will Give You
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If it feels like Grey's Anatomy has been on since the beginning of time, that's understandable. The ABC series just became the longest-running medical drama with the airing of its 332nd episode on Feb. 28, and despite some moments of concern, there are no signs of it stopping anytime soon. In celebration of such a historic occasion, series creator Shonda Rhimes pulled out some serious #ThrowbackThursday snapshots from the early days of Grey's and shared them on her official Shondaland site.
The personal photos are all behind-the-scenes snapshots from the pilot episode, "A Hard Day's Night," aka the very first episode in 2005. If you've been a Grey's fan since day one, you will definitely find yourself in your feelings checking out these snaps. Keep scrolling to see the really OG cast of Grey's Anatomy, including Ellen Pompeo, Sandra Oh, T.R. Knight, Katherine Heigl, and Patrick Dempsey.
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Ellen Pompeo
Rhimes called this one of the cutest photos ever because "Ellen just seems so happy to be at work."
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Shonda Rhimes, T.R. Knight, and Isaiah Washington
This photo was taken from the episode where George gets his "first big moment in the OR."
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Patrick Dempsey, T.R. Knight, Sandra Oh, Ellen Pompeo, and Isaiah Washington
Between takes was the time for everyone to get to know one another in real life, Rhimes explained.
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The Untitled Shonda Rhimes Project
Rhimes revealed that the series had no name until just before the first episode aired. Before that, everything was labeled for The Untitled Shonda Rhimes Project, even set pieces!
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Patrick Dempsey and Ellen Pompeo
Rhimes grabbed a sneak shot of Dempsey and Pompeo midscene while lying on the floor. We love a dedicated paparazzo!
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Sandra Oh
Rhimes caught Oh while shooting the interns leaving the hospital at the end of their shift.
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James Pickens Jr. and Shonda Rhimes
Legends with legends! Rhimes admitted that meeting Pickens Jr. was a little bit surreal and she was "a little star struck."
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Ellen Pompeo and T.R. Knight
Meredith and George share their first moment of true friendship and comfort one another after making big mistakes. Rhimes described this scene as one of her favorites from the pilot.
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Director Peter Horton and Sandra Oh
The Cristina Yang magic didn't happen by accident. Rhimes said Oh and Horton would have "long conversations about her character before each scene," which explains how the character became so fleshed out and one of our favorites in no time.
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Ellen Pompeo
A sweet behind-the-scenes shot of Meredith Grey before her first day in surgery EVER!
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Peter Horton, Katherine Heigl, and T.R. Knight
This scene is just before the one where George gets the infamous surgery that earns him the nickname 007.
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T.R Knight, Sandra Oh, and Chandra Wilson
According to Rhimes, the helipad at Komo Plaza was the stand-in for the rooftop of Seattle Grace Hospital, and it was cold.
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Kathy C. An
Yes, Nurse Bokhee has been around since season one! Kathy C. An is a real surgical nurse and has been in every single season of Grey's.
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Katherine Heigl, T.R. Knight, and Sandra Oh
Remember those classic lunchroom scenes with the interns? They gave us some of our best intern interactions ever!
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Grey's Anatomy Key Art
Rhimes revealed that a photo shoot was held to get some images that would convince the network to pick up the series (good thing it did, considering). This photo was created to put on the cover of the story bible!
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T.R. Knight, Katherine Heigl, and James Pickens Jr.
George, Izzie, and the chief watch on in the gallery as surgeons perform the final surgery on Katie Bryce.
Ellen Pompeo, T.R. Knight, Katherine Heigl, and Sandra Oh
Our favorite interns in one of the first photo shoots for the series! "It's blurry, but that somehow made it feel slightly magical to me," Rhimes shared.