 The series was pitched to ABC Entertainment , who gave the green light , and the show was picked up as a mid @-@ season replacement for Boston Legal in the 2005 television season . Francie Calfo , executive vice president of development at ABC Entertainment , commented that ABC was looking for a medical show that was unlike the others airing at the time . She pointed out that " [ m ] <unk> shows are hard , and it was hard trying to figure out where ours could be different . But where everybody else is speeding up their medical shows , [ Rhimes ] found a way to slow it down , so you get to know the characters . There 's definitely a strong female appeal to it . " 
