Ellen Pompeo Got Asked About Grey’s Anatomy’s Infamous ‘Pick Me, Choose Me, Love Me’ Scene, And She Did Not Hold Back: ‘Suck It Up’

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In the course of Grey’s Anatomy’s remarkable 21 seasons, certain Shondalogues have become iconic in the show’s scripts. Remarkable ones are still appearing in the episodes currently airing on the 2025 TV schedule. However, none has resonated as strongly in popular culture as the “Pick me, choose me, love me” scene from Season 2. Ellen Pompeo, who plays Meredith, shared her candid feelings about this memorable line, expressing clear dislike for it.

In 2005, during one of Grey’s Anatomy’s top episodes (available for streaming with a Netflix subscription), Meredith Grey was seen pleading with Patrick Dempsey to pick her over his wife Addison, who were trying to reconcile at the time. On Call Her Daddy podcast, Alex Cooper asked Ellen Pompeo what advice she would give Meredith in that situation today. Pompeo responded promptly:

Girl! Bye.

Ellen Pompeo didn’t hesitate to express her shock over that famous scene, and further elaborated to the interviewer about it.

At one point, there were many tasks I didn’t feel like taking on. I didn’t want to blurt out, ‘Select me, prefer me, adore me.’ And it’s true to Shonda’s insight, she knew that would resonate. I thought, ‘Why should I do this? Why should I beg, why should I?’ But sometimes you just have to grit your teeth and go through with it. As it turned out, it became one of the most significant moments, the most memorable moments ever. So, I’m not always the best at predicting what will work. It wasn’t that I thought it wouldn’t be good; I simply didn’t want to do it.

Regardless of personal feelings, Meredith Grey’s iconic line has become one of the most memorable quotes from the series, even though it carries a negative connotation today as being representative of a “desperate” woman seeking validation. Let’s reframe this situation as a double victory: firstly, for Grey’s Anatomy to be forever etched in pop culture history, and secondly, for countless young women who recognize the importance of self-worth and asserting their own love rather than begging for it.

In the Season 19 episode “I’ll Follow the Sun,” I, as a movie buff, found myself reminiscing about the past, just like Meredith Grey. Her farewell as a series regular was poignant, and while some viewers felt it lacked the expected emotional punch, I appreciated the nod to the iconic moment with Derek. During an intense argument with Scott Speedman’s character, Nick Marsh, over whether he would move yet again to be with her in Boston, Meredith evoked that memorable scene by stating:

I’d be happy to have you in my life if that’s your desire too. However, when it comes to making choices, I prioritize myself, my children, and our collective best interests above all else. I don’t feel the need to ask for your love; it’s something I believe will develop naturally as we spend more time together.

Even though Ellen Pompeo might have had to accept a scripted line that turned out to be popular with viewers, she eventually got her own spotlight. And while Season 19 wasn’t the final chapter, Meredith Grey has reappeared in numerous episodes from Seasons 20 and 21. Moreover, she has continued to provide the framing narration for each episode, as well as serve as an executive producer.

Find her in the upcoming episodes, broadcasted every Thursday at 10 p.m. Eastern Time on ABC. Additionally, these episodes are available for streaming if you have a Hulu subscription, where you can also catch Ellen Pompeo’s latest series, Good American Family.

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2025-03-23 23:37