A Look at the Pop Culture Behind Grey's Anatomy

Grey's Anatomy, the hit ABC medical drama is not only an award winning show with an all-star cast, but it contains as ensemble cast that speak in a very contemporary fashion. As a result, the show has spilled off of our televisions and into our pop culture; releasing catchphrases and a new line of lingo.

The trend of "McLabeling" started in Season One of Grey's Anatomy. The act of "McLabeling" is when the character add "Mc" to the beginning of a subject, name or in some cases, even a actions or feelings.

The origin of "McLabeling" comes from the first season in which the female interns refer Dr. Derek Shepard as "McDreamy", making him the original. However, the catchphrase became hot and caused others followed suit; "McSteamy" who was Dr. Mark Sloan, the Plastic Surgeon, and "McVet" who was Finn Dandridge the vet of Meredith's dog in Season Two.

Even the characters mock the "McLabeling" trend leading to phrases like "McSex", "McGuilty" and "McFricking Code of Silence".

"McLabeling" has also spilled into others shows. There is an episode of NBC's long running medical drama, ER, in which a surgeon is caught masturbating in a closet. He is then referred to as "McCreamy".

In the Noggin show Degrassi: The Next Generation, Emma asks Manny to come watch TV, saying "It'll be just you, me and McDreamy", referring to Dr. Derek Shepard.

In addition to "McLabeling" the cast has also created an outbreak of the word "seriously", the most commonly used word in the show. The characters often say "seriously", usually at the end of a sentence, as a question or as a pronouncement. On the "Frequently Asked Questions" page on the show's website at ABC.com and the audio commentaries, creator Shonda Rhimes explains that one of the writers, Krista Vernoff, used the saying all the time and it spread to the writing staff, and eventually, to the dialogue and on to the fans.