The fifth season began on September 25, 2008, directly after the third season premiere of Ugly Bettyfor a two-hour long premiere. (There was the possibility that theproduction of the fifth season could have been delayed because of thepossibility of a Screen Actors Guild strike.)Regular one-hour episodes of the series are expected to begin airing inthe U.S. on October 9, 2008, following a preemption due to October 2coverage of the 2008 Vice Presidential Debate. OK! magazine reported that Katherine Heigl is remaining with Grey's Anatomy.

On February 20, 2008, it was confirmed that Grey’s Anatomy would return on April 24, 2008 for five new episodes. Where the Wild Things Are was the first episode shown after the incubation resulted from WGA strike. The double episode finale (Freedom)aired May 22, 2008. It was centered around Meredith having a hugebreakthrough with her personal life including Derek and her mother.Derek also realized he continually failed Meredith. Meredith and Derekperformed clinical trials on patients with brain tumors. They lost allof their patients except for one whose boyfriend died just before herlife saving surgery. After finally succeeding, Meredith finally took arisk and reunited with Derek. Almost all the cast had a kiss, includingMeredith and Derek, George and Lexie, Richard and Adele, Alex andIzzie, and, Erica and Callie. To prepare for the lesbian story line,which will continue in season five, Grey’s consulted with GLAAD.We also learned about Alex's needy mother and part of his past. AfterMeredith and Derek's resumption of their relationship, Derek left tobreak up with Rose, his girlfriend who had come between the twopreviously.