How Denzel Washington Shook Up Grey’s Anatomy Behind the Lens
Real talk: Denzel Washington stepping into Grey’s Anatomy’s director’s chair was peak curveball energy. Jason George, aka Dr. Ben Warren, sat down with the New York Post to dish on what went down when the Oscar winner helmed the 2016 episode “The Sound of Silence.” According to George, the mere mention of Denzel’s name turned the usually high-caliber Grey’s crew into hyper-focused pros. He pointed out that everyone already shows up “professionally anyway,” but under Denzel’s direction, call times—even if they started at the ungodly hour of 5 a.m.—felt like red carpet arrivals. George quipped that the show’s leading ladies were basically runway-ready for O.R. drills, trading scrubs for style statements before coffee even kicked in.
George’s favorite takeaway? If Denzel’s at the helm, you do more than just deliver lines—you elevate your entire performance. Plus, he’s still holding out hope for a surprise cameo. “He’s got to barge onto that set as the expert doctor,” George told the Post, imagining patients and attendings swooning over “that dude.” Hey, wishful casting, right?
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Ellen Pompeo, Grey’s Anatomy’s Meredith Grey, admitted on her “Tell Me” podcast (via Entertainment Tonight) that she got an earful from Denzel after pivoting from the script. She tried an improvised line and says Denzel “went ham on my ass,” reminding her “this is my show, this is my set.” Pompeo confessed she shot back with a light jab—“You barely know where the bathroom is”—yet made it clear she still respects his directorial chops. Sources confirm the spat didn’t linger, and by wrap-up everyone was cool, albeit nursing bruised egos more than bodies in the O.R.
Between George’s playful praise and Pompeo’s candid clap-back, it’s obvious Denzel Washington’s brief tenure behind the scenes injected a fresh dose of adrenaline into the long-running drama. It’s rare to see such high-caliber talent switch roles, and even rarer to catch on-set fireworks. Plus, George’s cameo fantasy has us all crossing our fingers for a Denzel director-turned-doctor special guest spot.
Anyway, that’s the lowdown. Do with it what you will.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and New York Post, Entertainment Tonight, HuffPost
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
