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'Grey's Anatomy': Ready to Love Again?

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[BOLD {ON THE COVER}] Shonda Rhimes teases a McBumpy ride for the Mer-Der relationship; ABC hopes that doesn't describe [ITALIC {Grey's}] ratings, too

If that's the case, the show is a little less durable than it was before the strike. Upon its much-anticipated return on April 24, Grey's attracted 16.4 million viewers — its smallest audience ever for a Thursday airing. Granted, almost every series has taken a hit since the strike, and Grey's still won its time slot in the 18-49 demo — that's probably why the network isn't particularly concerned. For now. ''We all feared the audience for network TV prime-time was going to be down in the wake of the strike and it would be difficult to get people back into their routine,'' confesses Suzanne Patmore-Gibbs, ABC's executive VP of drama development.

To help rouse the masses, Rhimes has some good news (and some not-so-good news) to report: She's packed lots of drama into the show's final four hours. Newly single mom Bailey (Chandra Wilson) tries to keep up a game face at work; McSteamy (Eric Dane) will be forced to follow a new hospital-wide ''date and tell'' policy at Seattle Grace after his trysts with various nurses catch up with him; Izzie becomes Alex's (Justin Chambers) confidante as he tackles new complications with Rebecca/Ava (Elizabeth Reaser); the Chief (James Pickens Jr.) will attempt to reconcile with Adele (Loretta Devine); and Cristina (Sandra Oh) will be faced with the ghost of Preston Burke when news of his career achievement rocks her world. Meanwhile, George will lean on the Chief for support and Callie (Sara Ramirez) will find love in the arms of someone completely unexpected.

And now, the not-so-good news: Rhimes still plans to serve as head writer for both Grey's and Practice next season, though she and the network swear she can handle it — perhaps because she plans to hire another exec producer on Practice to help lessen the load. ''She's a machine in the best way,'' reassures Patmore-Gibbs. ''If anybody can do it, it's her.'' Oh, and just one more thing about that much-anticipated reunion: Rhimes has no intention of delivering it in a neat little package. We've already seen Meredith begin to consult with a psychiatrist (Amy Madigan); who's to say that Derek couldn't use a little therapeutic intervention of his own? ''Derek has a lot of crap he hasn't brought to the table yet,'' warns Rhimes. ''I mean, he is the man who never told Meredith he had a wife.'' So we're in for a McBumpy ride? ''I did say they were going to be together, but I don't think I ever said they were going to be happy,'' teases Rhimes. ''Happily ever after means the show is really over — so nobody ever lives happily ever after.''

More Grey's Anatomy:
Ellen Pompeo Q&A: How long will she stick with Grey's?