Pompeo shines in new medical melodrama

Grey's Anatomy may be the worst show title since Andy Richter Controls the Universe. And yes, I got the pun.

Fortunately, the medical melodrama that focuses on the 48-hour days of four first-year surgical interns more than makes up for its nominal failures with a witty script, a well-deserved twist on the traditional hospital dramatic series and one of the best ensemble casts I've seen since, well, the premiere of Desperate Housewives—a show that served as Anatomy's launching pad last Sunday. Sandra Oh of Sideways fame and theater veteran T.R. Knight smartly clash as the series' respective over- and underachiever. As the cast's second-tier blonde, Katherine Heigl from Roswell and Bride of Chucky seems a little lost here but that's only because her rival Ellen Pompeo (Old School) as Meredith Grey completely captivates the small screen.

After just one episode's broadcast, it's too early to tell if this show has the requisite staying power, but the pilot does speak to Pompeo's star quality. Her guileless stare steals just about every scene that she's in and her performance is gently nuanced. It’s this acting ability that transforms her character from just another girl coming of age to a vivid character who, even while frazzled by the hourly stresses of her job, retains a shred of sanity and grace. She's inimitably recognizable; she's the kind of actor who would've been on E.R. during its heyday.

The show is not flawless. It's prone to some of the timeworn clichés that seem to get recycled in every new show. Examples include the following: a guy with whom Meredith has anonymous sex turns out to be one of the presiding surgeons; the interns solve the mystery case; and the mom has Alzheimer's.

Grey's Anatomy otherwise sparkles with the jumpy, must-see fuel only a few shows can boast. And unlike those O.C. poseurs, it boasts one of television's greatest soundtracks, including tunes from Jem, Thirteen Senses, Butterfly Boucher and Rilo Kiley.