 The first season received positive reviews which steadily built up , with Gary Levin of USA Today calling Grey 's Anatomy one of the top shows on television . New York Daily News named Grey 's Anatomy a " winner " , whereas Newsday expressed a positive opinion by stating " You simply can 't stop watching . " The Washington Post 's Tom Shales was critical of season one , finding it reminiscent of ER and commenting that : " The show is much more a matter of commercial calculation than an honest attempt to try something fresh and different . " Shortly after its initial airing , the Chicago Tribune 's Maureen Ryan called Grey 's Anatomy the new Friends ; a concluded National Broadcasting Company ( NBC ) sitcom following the lives of a group of young adults , that all of its ten @-@ year run in the top @-@ five for viewer ratings . The second season received critical acclaim , top critics like Todd VanDerWerff of The A.V. Club called the show a " phenomenon " not just TV adding the show was , " one of the best TV shows around " , Samantha Highfill of Entertainment Weekly later during the tenth season called the second " the show ’ s best season to date " however , Kevin Carr of 7M Pictures opined that Grey 's Anatomy is a mere combination of Scrubs , ER , Sex and the City , and The Love Boat . It further garnered positive reviews , Christopher Monfette of IGN Entertainment added : " The second season of this medical drama expertly wove its signature elements of complex relationships , whimsical banter and challenging life @-@ lessons ; all to a montage @-@ fetish , indie @-@ rock soundtrack . " Todd Gilchrist also from IGN called the season " terrific " adding , " Indeed , one of the best currently on television . While it remains to be seen what the creators do with it , now that it 's become an outright event program , the season demonstrates that Rhimes and co. know what to do with the opportunities presented them. whether you 're male or female , this is the kind of entertainment that small @-@ screen devotees and folks fed up with television need to see . " 
