Last week we ran a story about a letter that was sent to us by some of the people over at the ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ discussion forum at ABC.com. The letter addressed a number of problems fans of the series had with the recent season and their hopes that Shonda Rhimes will work to fix the situation next season. Many people responded to the post we did, agreeing with the letter and added their own complaints. It’s clear that people were not happy with season three of the popular series and want to see some changes.
Since posting the letter, one of the posters from The Spoiler Thread at the ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ forum at ABC.com informed me that the letter was written after the contributing posters compiled a list of their complaints about the show. The person who actually wrote the letter was Taylor Jane of Kingston, Queensland, Australia.
Here’s an excerpt from the letter:
“The loss of faith in the writers also extends to the inconsistency and incongruous nature of many of the major characters. Over time we have gotten to know the characters well, but many are no longer recognizable. Having characters behave one way in one episode and then a completely different way in the next is not only frustrating, but also points to lazy writing. Viewers lose both loyalty to the character and respect for the writers. Fans will only tolerate such poor characterization for a short time before they simply turn off the program. Even loyal fans will not stay tuned when they see the characters they know and love turned into schizophrenic marionettes.”
To read the full letter, click here.
As for my own personal thoughts on the letter, I’d just like to add:
To anyone who looks at the hundreds of names below and thinks, “Geez, it’s just a TV show, people!”,
I agree with you to an extent. It is just a TV show. But at the same time, TV shows, especially serial dramas, are a form of weekly entertainment for many people. In order to enjoy a serial drama like ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ you really have to watch it every week. Millions of people invest an hour of their week to this show and to see the quality of the story decline week after week is likely to make viewers feel as though their time has been wasted. They begin to lose hope that the show will ever be as good as it once was. I’m sure most of you can think of at least one show that started out great but gradually got worse and worse until it became virtually unwatchable.
Years ago, fans could write a letter to the network and hope that someone might take it seriously but in this day and age, the internet has become a place for fans to unite and celebrate (or complain about) their favourite shows. The letter these people put together reflects what many ‘Grey’s’ fans have been thinking all season. It needed to be said. Whether or not it has any effect on what the writers of ‘Grey’s’ do next season remains to be seen.
The letter was signed by over three hundred people. Here are their names:
Taylor Jane Kingston, Queensland, Australia, 4305
Bethany Houchins, Westerville, OH 43081
Debra Hutka, Laughlintown, PA 15655
Maureen Tansey, Richmond, VA 23060
Kim Padian, Kernersville, NC 27284
Jill Conroy, Huntington, NY 11746
Susan McDonald, Louisville, KY 40222
Alicia Prevost, Cornwall, Ontario, Canada K6J 2L5
Lisa Medley, Alexandria, VA, 22304
Karla Siegel, Springfield, VA 22152
Shana Sloop, Columbia, SC 29205
Zoe Yang, New Haven, CT 06511
Mie Kawabata, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Robin Collins, Elkton, MD 21921
Katie Mech, Orlando, FL
Stephanie, Shohola, PA 18458
Tam Aston, Sydney, Australia
Michelle Harris, Richmond, VA 23803
Amy, Taneytown, MD 21787
Emily Lemelin, Ferndale, MI 48220
Cathy, Salt Lake City, UT 84120
Megan Houchins, Columbus, OH 43229
Michelle Kelowna, B.C. Canada V1Z3Y8
Sandra Zidat, France, Lyon 69008
Yvonne Avila, Sacramento, CA 95822
Bernie Elchin, Bethlehem, PA 18015
Susan Holligan, Denver, CO 80249
Donna, Rochester, NY 14606
Ashlyn Owens, Hilton Head, SC 29928
Karla Esplin, Saskatchewan, Canada
Linda Hoag, Smyrna, TN 37167
Elisheba Stevens, London, England
Amanda Reichert, Nicholasville, KY 40356
Sherry Desrosiers, CA 92845
Julia Castlen, San Diego, CA 92107
Brianna Whyte, BC, Canada V8N 6B2
Linda Abad, NJ 08820
Lynn Kriser, Lansing, MI 48906
Monique Kawalek, Solon, OH 44139
Anna W, London, United Kingdom
Danielle, Jenks, OK
Tonia K., Athens, Greece, 17676
Terry, Hickory, NC 28601
Lynn Finch, Indianapolis, IN 46254
Joan Weinmayr, Lexington, MA 02420
Jackie, Cincinnnati, OH 45226
Donna, St. John's, NL, Canada, A1A4B8
Alejandro V., Brooklyn, NY 11211
Daniel S., Ambier, PA 19002
Steven R., New York, NY 10028
Jordan J., New York, NY 10021
Jonathan B., Westfield, NJ 07090
Diego C., Long Island City 11385
Kathy Z., Tenafly, NJ 07670
Rolanda P., Brooklyn, NY 11216
Bridget B., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Lionel G., New York, NY 10021
Sarah P., Kew Gardens, NY 11415
Julia A., New Hyde Park, NY 11040
Kenneth K., New York, NY 10021
Francisco C., Brooklyn, NY 11237
Jaclyn J., New York, NY 10021
Susan O., New York, NY 10128
Ramon B., New York, NY 10028
Robert S., Larchmont, NY 10538
Raymond C., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
Yaqui Y., New York, NY 10024
David W., Branchburg, NJ 08876
Nancy F., New York, NY 10012
Sharon M., Edison, NJ 08820
Shirley C., Brooklyn, NY 11216
Allan G., Brooklyn, NY 11231
Natalia B., New York, NY 10024
Celeste C., Brooklyn, NY 11208
Joshua E., Westport, CT 06880
William H., Brooklyn Heights, NY 11201
Mitchell D., New York, NY 10021
Carter B., Oyster Bay, NY 11771
Luz M., Brooklyn, NY 11207
Janice C., Brooklyn NY 11208
Cristobal G., Lindenhurst, NY 11757
Donald C., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Ann Marie M., Point Pleasant, NJ 08742
Shirley O., Long Island City, NY 11385
Julius J., New York, NY 10021
Jane L., Sparta, NJ 07871
Gary L., Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510
John H., New York, NY 10014
Franchesca S., New York, NY 10028
Matthew J., New York, NY 10028
Olga D., East Norwich, NY 11732
Bruce L., New York, NY 10021
Mary W., New York, NY 10012
Jeffrey M., Syosset, NY 11791
Glenn H., Westport, CT 06880
Angela C., Bloomingburg, NY 12721
Marianna P., Brooklyn, NY 11228
Seth T., Clark, NJ 07066
Edna B., Brooklyn, NY 11208
David T., Brooklyn, NY 11208
Michael G., East Moriches, NY 11940
Joanna P., New York, NY 10009
Michael K., New York, NY 10021
Joseph R., Stamford, CT 06906
Phillip S., New York, NY 10021
Gregory R., Hoboken, NJ 07030
Wayne W., New York, NY 10019
Syd L., New York, NY 10016
Elaine L., Roseland, NJ 07068
Barry F., Brooklyn, NY 11218
Richard S., New York, NY 10280
Jack M., West Windsor, NJ 08550
Frank H., New York, NY 10023
Norbert E., New York, NY 10036
John W., Woodside, NY 11377
Mara W., Merrick, NY 11566
Jeanne H., New York, NY 10025
Albert P., New York, NY 10128
Oliver W., Brooklyn, NY 11230
Laura H., Cortlandt Manor, NY 10567
Stephanie R., New York, NY 10022
Kenneth K., Red Bank, NJ 07701
James G., New York, NY 10025
Dorothy C., New York, NY 10023
Peter C., Great River, NY 11739
Jared J., Merrick, NY 11566
Stanley D., Valley Stream, NY 11581
William S., London UK
Jason K., Clearfield, PA 16830
Randy S., Bernardsville, NJ 07924
Evelyn D., Bronx NY 10463
Merrill S., Brooklyn, NY 11236
Patricia W., New York, NY 11355
Barry H., Woodhaven, NY 11421
Eslyn R., Brooklyn, NY 11208
Jodi G., New York, NY 10003
Arline P., Merrick, NY 11566
Tia Southfield, MI 48076
Lisa, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
Marit Bjerkås, Oslo , Norway
Julia Andrade Columbus, Ohio
Vickie Hamilton Cornwall, Ontario
Brandi Edwards New York, NY
Tabi Thompson Springfield, Ohio
Rachel Manson Kingston, Ontario
April Bangaysiso Toronto, Ontario
Larissa Mayer, Germany
Carment Chiu Calgary, Alberta
Rosemary Quinsey Ottawa, Ontario
Jennifer Halasz Calgary, Alberta
Jess Tang Calgary, Alberta
Katie Henderson Calgary, Alberta
Steph Lunn Calgary, Alberta
Karen Bradley Oxford, PA
Emily Turner Calgary, Alberta
Cherise Duin Calgary, Alberta
Katy Spring Calgary, Alberta
Shannon Prevost Cornwall, Ontario K6J 2L5
Kim Morgan, Nanaimo BC, V9T 4V9
Stephanie, Nigeria, Africa
Jillian Reynolds, Halifax, NS, Canada B3N3M4
Shelley Lipps, 76424
Leslie Neve, 76424
Krystal Kennedy, 77845
Barbara Kane, AZ
Janet S. Morris
Jen Ratcliffe
Carol S., St. Louis, MO, 63109
Katherine B, Bidwell OH 45614
Eric W, Waverly OH 45690
Erika W, Bidwell OH 45614
John W, Bidwell OH 45614
Amanda B, Chillicothe OH 45601
Sean K., New York, NY 10024
Israel B., Spring Valley, NY 10977
Joanne L., Woodmere, NY 11598
William M., Union, NJ 07083
Beverly H., New York, NY 10011
Christopher O., Middletown, NY 10940
Nancy Z., New York, NY 10023
Jane P., New York, NY 10024
Brian P., New York, NY 10024
Scott L., New York, NY 10016
Judith K. New York, NY 10021
Vitaly S., New York, NY 10016
Andrew H., Hewlett, NY 11557
Michael K., Woodbury, NY 11797
Regine T., Miami Beach, FL 33137
Sheila S., Danbury, CT 06811
Magda G., Riverdale, NY 10471
Ann B., New York, NY 10021
Kimberely F., Staten Island, NY 10301
Vilma V., Whitestone, NY 11357
Angela R., Rosedale, NY 11422
Catherine T. Lincroft, NJ 07738
Alicia C., New York, NY 10027
Rita F., Brooklyn, NY 11238
Claire P., New York, NY 10003
Magda G., New York, NY 10003
Elizabeth D., New York, NY 10021
Yvonne C., New York, NY 10021
Judith B., Englishtown, NJ 07726
Michael C., Bronx, NY 10465
Elizabeth G., New York, NY 10024
Sharon F., Hillsboro, NJ 08844
Beatriz G., New York, NY 10028
Lina J. New York, NY 10128
Amy G., New York, NY 10025
Erika G., Old Westbury, NY 11568
Molly D., Pearl River, NY 10965
Anna P., New York, NY 10023
Elizabeth S., Stamford, CT 06902
Marilyn M., Staten Island, NY 10303
Gil K., New York, NY 10025
Vanessa O., Summit, NJ 07901
Christina C., Flushing, NY 11358
Jon-Paul M., Glendale, NY 11385
Mary B., Brooklyn, NY 11211
Angela M., Bronx, NY 10473
Beverly P., South Ozone, NY 11436
Alyse S., New York, NY 10021
Maria D., Long Beach, NY 11561
Samuel F., New York, NY 10029
Sylvia W., New York, NY 10019
Marilyn G., New York, NY 10021
Eva L., Brooklyn, NY 11211
Michael E., Old Bridge , NJ 08857
Leslie L., New York, NY 10003
Thomas O., Manorville, NY 11949
Erik M., Somerset, NJ 08873
Marc K., Los Angeles, CA 90025
Sandra B., New York, NY 10016
Jennifer E., Brooklyn, NY 11233
Janet S., New York, NY 10025
Gwenette P., Brooklyn, 11234
Minna M., Fort Lee, NJ 07024
June S., Montville, NJ 07045
Linda B., New York, NY 10021
Ann P., Brooklyn, NY 11201
Amy R., New York, NY 10017
Ronni E., New York, NY 10022
Penny C., West Hampton, NY 11552
Christopher H., Edison, NJ 08817
Kristen D. Brookyn, NY 11229
Gregory H., Rocky Point, NY 11778
Kristi C., New York, NY 10017
Pamela V., Huntington, NY 11743
Judith C., New York, NY 10128
Jane T., New York, NY 10017
Ann G., Greenfield Park, NY 12435
Jennifer H., New York, NY 10017
Fern L., Rahway, NJ 07065
Lisa Y., Pomona, NY 10970
Catherine M., New York, NY 10014
Amber-Dawn S., Jamaica Hills, NY 11432
Maureen M., Pleasantville, NY 10570
Diane G., Pleasantville, NY 10570
Sybil H., Brooklyn, NY 11219
Barry S., Savannah, GA 31406
Barbara B., Great Neck, NY 11021
Melissa S., Long Beach, NY 11561
Dollet K., Queens Village, NY 11428
Sandra B., New York, NY 10006
Faye M., New York, NY 10463
Susan T., Freehold, NJ 07728
Jackie E., New York, NY 10003
Annette T., Pompano Beach, FL 33069
Marianna L., New York, NY 10021
Jean G., Edison, NJ 08820
Barbara W., Jamaica, NY 11433
Caroline A., Staten Island, NY 10301
Robert R., New York, NY 10022
Katherine M., New Rochelle, 10801
Lorraine D., Staten Island, NY 10301
Louise K., New York, NY 10022
Irene-Gene M., New York, NY 10009
Claire M., Pearl River, NY 10965
Barbara G., Livingston, NJ 07039
Lana B., Livingston, NJ 07039
Robyn S., New York, NY 10023
Patricia E., Haworth, NJ 07641
Michael S., New York, NY 10028
Alan E., Plainview, NY 11803
Michele V., Ozone Park, NY 11417
Panir I., Rego Park, NY 11374
Paula L., Topsfield, MA 01983
Kalinka M., Brooklyn, NY 11217
Dina A, Ridgewood, NY 11385
Robert D., Armonk, NY 10504
Dennis S., Woodmere, NY 11598
Grace C., Brooklyn, NY 11211
Diane K., Horthorne, NJ 07506
Lili T., New York, NY 10128
Sonja C., Scarsdale, NY 10583
Sarah C., Chester, NY 10918
Monica M., New York, NY 10016
Christina G., Woodside, NY 11377
April Krzak, Lorain, OH 44055
Annmarie G., Jamaica Estates, NY 11432
Laura Morton, Vancouver, Canada
Casey Seay
Jasmin S., Maplewood, NJ 07040
Anna Lea King, Monroe, LA 71203
Melissa R., Raleigh, NC 27640
