 Grey 's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series that premiered on American Broadcasting Company ( ABC ) as a mid @-@ season replacement on March 27 , 2005 . The series focuses on the fictional lives of surgical interns , residents , and attendings as they gradually evolve into seasoned doctors , while trying to maintain personal lives and relationships . The title is a play on Gray 's Anatomy , a human anatomy textbook by Henry Gray . The show 's premise originated with Shonda Rhimes , who serves as an executive producer , along with Betsy Beers , Mark Gordon , Krista Vernoff , Rob Corn , Mark Wilding , and Allan Heinberg . Although the show is set in Seattle at the fictional Grey @-@ Sloan Memorial Hospital ( Formerly Seattle Grace Mercy @-@ West ) it is primarily filmed in Los Angeles , California . The show was originally titled Complications following the complicated medical procedures and personal lives of the cast . 
