| Grey's Anatomy | |
|---|---|
| Season 6 | |
 DVD cover art for the sixth season of Grey's Anatomy | |
| Showrunners | |
| Starring | |
| No. of episodes | 24 |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC |
| Original release | September 24, 2009 – May 20, 2010 |
| Season chronology | |
The sixth season of the American television medical drama Grey's Anatomy, commenced airing on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in the United States on September 24, 2009, and concluded on May 20, 2010. The season was produced by ABC Studios, in association with Shondaland Production Company and The Mark Gordon Company; the showrunner being Shonda Rhimes and head writer Krista Vernoff. Actors Ellen Pompeo, Sandra Oh, Katherine Heigl, and Justin Chambers reprised their roles as surgical residents Meredith Grey, Cristina Yang, Izzie Stevens, and Alex Karev, respectively. Heigl was released from her contract in the middle of the season, while T. R. Knight did not appear as George O'Malley, because Knight was released from his contract at the conclusion of season five. Main cast members Patrick Dempsey, Chandra Wilson, James Pickens, Jr., Sara Ramirez, Eric Dane, Chyler Leigh, and Kevin McKidd also returned, while previous recurring-star Jessica Capshaw was promoted to a series-regular, and Kim Raver was given star-billing after the commencement of the season.
The season follows the story of surgical interns, residents and their competent mentors, as they experience the difficulties of the competitive careers they have chosen. It is set in the surgical wing of the fictional Seattle Grace Hospital, located in Seattle, Washington. A major storyline of the season is the characters adapting to change, as their beloved co-worker Stevens departed following the breakdown of her marriage, and fellow intern O'Malley died in the season premiere. A new cardiothoracic surgeon, Teddy Altman, is given employment at the hospital. Further storylines include Shepherd being promoted to Chief of Surgery and Seattle Grace Hospital merging with the neighboring Mercy West, which introduces several new doctors. The season culminates in a life-threatening situation when a grieving deceased patient's husband embarks on a shooting spree at the hospital, seeking revenge for his wife's death.
The series ended its sixth season with 13.26 million viewers, ranking #17 in terms of ratings, the lowest the series had ever ranked up to then. The season received mixed-to-positive critical feedback, with the season's premiere and finale given heavier critical acclaim, in contrast to the middle. The season was one of the least acclaimed in terms of awards and nominations, being the show's only season not to warrant a Primetime Emmy nomination. Despite the polarizing aspects of ratings and awards, the season managed to receive a spot on Movieline's top 10 list. Buena Vista released the season onto a DVD box-set, being made available to regions 1 and 2.
The website Screen Rant ranked the season #4 on their 2023 ranking of the 19 Grey's Anatomy seasons.[1]
- ^ Norman, Dalton (May 15, 2020). "All 19 Grey's Anatomy Seasons Ranked". ScreenRant. Retrieved August 22, 2024.