ABC.COM TO PREMIERE "SEATTLE GRACE: MESSAGE OF HOPE", A NEW WEBISODE SERIES FEATURING CHARACTERS FROM "GREY'S ANATOMY"

ACTOR KEVIN McKIDD DIRECTS

Dedicated to expanding its network and channel brands across multiple platforms and connecting viewers with their favorite shows anytime and anywhere, Disney/ABC Television Group announced the debut of ABC.com's latest season of "Grey's Anatomy" webisodes.

Sponsored by Carma Laboratories, Inc., whose Carmex(R) Moisture Plus ultra hydrating lip balm is integrated into the storyline, "Seattle Grace: Message of Hope" consists of six individual mini-episodes, each 2-4 minutes in length, as well as a special behind-the-scenes "Making of Seattle Grace" episode which chronicles the making of "Seattle Grace: Message of Hope." The first webisode will be available online tonight, October 14, following the broadcast airing of the latest episode of "Grey's Anatomy."

"The purpose of our new webisodes is to extend the storylines that fans are seeing on 'Grey's' every week. I think there's something really awesome about making 'Grey's' mini-episodes for the web. We can only get so much content into 42 minutes of television each week -- so these webisodes are meant to expand the overall 'Grey's' universe. Plus, we get to see yet another side of Kevin McKidd's many talents, as he directed most of the webisodes and did a wonderful job," said Shonda Rhimes, creator and executive producer of "Grey's Anatomy." "The webisodes mainly follow Richard -- as he's been tasked to come up with a way to restore the hospital's public image after the shootings. You'll see him working with his doctors to create 'sizzle reels' for the hospital. The results are pretty hilarious. I hope our fans will enjoy seeing the characters they've come to love in a new light."

"Seattle Grace: Message of Hope" chronicles Chief Webber's attempt to mount a publicity campaign in order repair the image of the hospital following the dramatic events of last season's riveting "Grey's Anatomy" finale. The webisodes star Kevin McKidd as Dr. Owen Hunt, James Pickens, Jr. as Dr. Richard Webber, Jesse Williams as Dr. Jackson Avery and Sarah Drew as Dr. April Kepner. McKidd also directs several of the webisodes which were written by, and in conjunction with, show writers and producers.

"Seattle Grace: Message of Hope" webisodes will rollout as follows:

October 14, Webisode #1
October 21, Webisode #2
October 28, Webisode #3
November 4, Webisode #4
November 11, Webisode #5
November 18, Webisode #6
November 25, "Making of" webisode

About "Grey's Anatomy" - Thursdays, 9:00-10:01 p.m., ET on the ABC Television Network

The doctors of Seattle Grace Hospital deal with life-or-death consequences on a daily basis - it's in one another that they find comfort, friendship and, at times, more than friendship. Together they're discovering that neither medicine nor relationships can be defined in black and white. Real life only comes in shades of grey. "Grey's Anatomy" stars Ellen Pompeo as Meredith Grey, Patrick Dempsey as Derek Shepherd, Sandra Oh as Cristina Yang, Justin Chambers as Alex Karev, Chandra Wilson as Miranda Bailey, James Pickens, Jr. as Richard Webber, Sara Ramirez as Callie Torres, Eric Dane as Mark Sloan, Chyler Leigh as Lexie Grey, Kevin McKidd as Owen Hunt, Jessica Capshaw as Arizona Robbins, Kim Raver as Teddy Altman, Jesse Williams as Jackson Avery and Sarah Drew as April Kepner.

"Grey's Anatomy" was created and is executive produced by Shonda Rhimes ("Introducing Dorothy Dandridge"). Betsy Beers ("Casanova"), Mark Gordon ("Saving Private Ryan"), Krista Vernoff ("Law & Order"), Rob Corn ("Chicago Hope"), Mark Wilding ("Jake: 2.0") and Allan Heinberg ("The O.C.") are executive producers. "Grey's Anatomy" is an ABC Studios production.