This Day in Pop Culture: March 27

Ironically, Grey’s Anatomy premiered on ABC on this day, the same day when one of the U.S.’ most notorious hospital patients had to be quarantined. Again. More bad behavior happened years later – live on stage – at the Oscars. It is March Madness after all, right?

2005: ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Begins Its Long Journey

Creator Shonda Rhimes made a huge name for herself when Grey’s Anatomy began airing on this day. The show focused on surgical interns and residents at the fictional Grace Hospital (later changed to Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital) in Seattle. Despite the locale, most of the series is filmed in Los Angeles and Vancouver, BC. However, a few scenes over the years have been shot in Seattle.

Although greatly an ensemble series, the soapy Grey’s Anatomy centers on Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), whose mother had been a legend at the hospital. Over the years, the show has brought on and later released numerous actors and actresses including Chandra Wilson, James Pickens, Jr., Sandra Oh, Katherine Heigl, Justin Chambers, T.R. Knight, Isaiah Washington, Kate Walsh, Sara Ramirez, Eric Dane, Sarah Drew, Jesse Williams…and a lot more. Only Wilson and Pickens, Jr. have stayed with the show (at least through season 22). Pompeo herself only makes brief appearances these days.

Here’s a fun fact: Originally, Rob Lowe was offered the part of Dr. Derek Shepherd but he turned it down to star in the short-lived series, Dr. Vegas. The part went to Patrick Dempsey, but Lowe has taken it in stride. He once told Variety, “If it’d been me [the fans] wouldn’t have called me ‘McDreamy’, they would have called me Rob Lowe.”

Even after all these years, the show consistently gets good ratings. The show also helped to launch spin-off series Private Practice (from 2007-2013), Station 19 (2017-2024) and mini-series, Grey’s Anatomy: B-Team (2018). (Image: ABC)

2022: The Slap Heard Around the World

At every award show, there are perceived snubs, technical glitches and even some shade can be thrown around. Some people get their feelings hurt or get angry, but by and large, most of them are able to maintain some composure. However, that was not the case during the live broadcast at the 2022 Oscars.

Before announcing the nominees for Best Documentary Feature, Chris Rock (unwisely?) took the opportunity to make a few jokes at some celebrities including Jada Smith. Rock said, “Jada I love you. G.I. Jane 2, can’t wait to see it, all right?”

You see, Jada struggles with alopecia, which cause hair loss. She has gone public about it chose to sport a super short haircut rather than wear a wig. And she still looked beautiful! Chris’ joke was in bad taste and Jada scowled but her husband, Will Smith, was having none of it. Smith marched on stage and took a swing at Rock with an open palm. With the sound turned off, Rock apparently said, “Will Smith just smacked the [expletive] out of me on live television.”

Cameras were then turned to Smith (but the sound was still off) who was apparently shouting, “Keep my wife’s name out [of] your [expletive] mouth!.” Rock finished his set with, “That was the greatest night in the history of television.”

The incident shocked many in attendance as well as those watching at home. And yes, all around the world. This is just something you don’t do at the Oscars.

1939: The Madness in March

The first NCAA men’s basketball tournament finished up on this day in 1939. The University of Oregon beat the Ohio State University 46-33. The Final Four or March Madness has grown considerably since then and not just with fans, but with gamblers too. It is said that by 2005, the sport become the second most popular game among them. (The first was the Super Bowl of course.) At first, only eight teams were invited to participate. Today, 65 teams are broken down into four groups of 16. The winning teams of those groups become the Final Four.

1915: Something About (Typhoid) Mary

“Typhoid” Mary Mallon *(Wikimedia Commons)*

In 1900, Mary Mallon worked as a cook for a family in New York City. Within two weeks, some of the family members developed typhoid fever. In 1901, she moved to Manhattan to work as a cook for another family where some of them developed fevers and one died. From there she worked for another family but left after seven of the eight people became ill. While working in Oyster Bay, Long Island in 1906, she struck again as 10 of the 11 household members became hospitalized.

This woman must have had an impeccable resume. Since there was no social media back then, these events continued to happen for three more families before one family hired a typhoid researcher to investigate. And wouldn’t you know it, many of these illnesses could be traced back to Mallon.

When George Soper, a typhoid research finally tracked her down (she often left each job without giving a forwarding address), she rejected his requests for samples. That’s when the New York City Health Department stepped in.

Mallon was convinced that she was being persecuted and felt that she hadn’t done anything wrong. However, she did admit to poor hygiene habits. She claimed that she didn’t understand the importance of washing her hands. Later, doctors were able to diagnose that Mallon had typhoid bacteria in her gallbladder. As scandalous as the Kardashians are today, Mallon made headlines being referred to as “Typhoid Mary.”

After being in quarantine for three years (!), Mallon was set free as long as she changed her occupation and embraced good hygiene habits. However, after working for a lower paying job as a laundress, Mary changed her last name to Brown and returned to cooking. For the next five years the cycle began again.

It was on this day in 1915 when Soper finally caught up to her and placed her back in quarantine where she stayed until she died on November 11, 1938 from a bout of pneumonia at the age of 89.

1952: Those Singers in the Rain’

Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor. *(TVDB)*

On this day, the film Singin’ in the Rain premiered at Raio City Music Hall in New York City. The musical romantic comedy featured the activities of Hollywood actors struggling to make the change from silent movies to “talkies”. One character in particular, Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) really struggled when it became apparent that the blond beauty had a rather nasally voice. And when the movie was turned into a musical, it was actress Kathy Selden’s (Debbie Reynolds) voice dubbed in,

Singin’ in the Rain also starred Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor and Rita Moreno in a supporting role. Kelly creating much of the film’s choreography with Stanley Donen. Despite those smiles shown on the poster, this was a tough project for all of them.

Kelly was sick with a fever when he literally went singing (and dancing) in the rain. It took three days to film in its entirety. It is ironic that when Kathy is dubbing the singing voice for Lina, Reynolds’ voice was actually being dubbed over by Betty Noyes. Reynolds once said that the film and childbirth were two of the hardest things she ever had to do in life. As for Kelly, he was sick with a fever when he literally went singing (and dancing) in the rain. It took three days to film in its entirety.

Though considered iconic today, Singin’ in the Rain was only a modest hit. However, O’Connor won the Golden Globe for Best Actor and Hagen was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.