Remember When ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Featured Rochester?
The Winter Olympics wrap up their 17 day run on Sunday and next week new episodes of most of our favorite TV shows hit the air again-- including shows like Grey's Anatomy. Which reminded me of the season Grey's actually featured Rochester in one of its story lines.
You have to go back to the fall of 2012, which was season 9 for Grey's Anatomy, to find any mention of our fair city. The main characters had just been involved in a plane crash earlier that year (season 8, actually) and are trying to process their losses.
One of the main characters, Dr. Christina Yang, seeks out a new position at what Grey's called 'The Clinic,' which happened to be located here in Rochester. (Gee, which internationally-known medical facility were they trying to imply?!?)
I'm guessing Mayo Clinic didn't allow them usage of their name-- nor the right to film on their property-- so various other sets were used that kind of looked like the Gonda, Plummer or other actual Mayo buildings.
And, if I recall correctly, there was one scene involved Dr. Yang that was actually filmed here-- though it wasn't on the Mayo campus. It was shot downtown, in the old circle drive of the Mayo Civic Center, and in the background behind Christina, you could see the Rochester Public Library sign.
While the plot lines involved various things I'm guessing would NEVER be allowed to take place at Mayo Clinic, it was still kind of fun to see how Hollywood portrayed our city-- and state. (There was the obligatory Mall of America reference, for example.)
You can check out Season 9 HERE. And if you pause the following trailer at 1:03 to see a screen shot of Dr. Yang-- wearing a big winter coat UNDER her scrubs, because that's what doctors DO here in Minnesota-- as well as 'The Clinic' sign on the door.
Listen to Curt St. John in the Morning from 6 to 10 a.m. on Quick Country 96.5