Viewers who are rooting for Grey's Anatomy's supercouple can rest easy.  It seems the Emmy-winning medical drama is serving up some more MerDer in the upcoming season, as series creator Shonda Rhimes says she really can't picture Derek (Patrick Dempsey) with anybody else.

"I want to be clear that Derek loves Meredith," Rhimes told TV Guide's Michael Ausiello.  "Derek loves Meredith [Ellen Pompeo] more than anything and I can't imagine Derek going anyplace else other than Meredith."

With the way the previous season ended, fans of MerDer have been worried about the fate of the two characters.  In the third season finale, Derek confronted Meredith about the level of her commitment to their relationship.  Although he affirmed his love for her, Derek told Meredith that she should end their relationship if she is not in it for the long haul.  Meredith failed to address his concerns, leaving a big question mark hanging over the relationship.

While Rhimes' words prove comforting for MerDer fans, those hoping that Gizzie, a moniker for Izzie (Katherine Heigl) and George's (T.R. Knight) romance, will live on through the upcoming season of Grey's Anatomy will not be thrilled to hear about what Rhimes has to say.

"A lot of people aren't sold on Izzie and George," Rhimes told Ausiello.  "I think the mistake that everyone makes is that we are telling you Izzie and George are the love story of the century; they're not the love story of the century.  And when other people find out about Izzie and George — remember, people don't know about them yet — other people might think that's not a good idea either."

The new season of Grey's Anatomy will premiere on Thursday, September 27, with the most apparent change being the absence of two key characters, Addison, played by Kate Walsh, and Burke, played by Isaiah Washington.  Walsh will star in the Grey's Anatomy spin-off, Private Practice, while Washington, who was let go from the show following his anti-gay slur against Knight, will appear on NBC's re-imagining of Bionic Woman.


-Lisa Claustro, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: TV Guide
(Image Courtesy of ABC)