Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series that premiered on March 27, 2005, on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) as a mid-season replacement. The series focuses on the fictional lives of a group of doctors at the fictional Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital in Seattle, Washington. The show features an ensemble cast, including Ellen Pompeo as the central character Meredith Grey, Patrick Dempsey as Derek Shepherd, Chandra Wilson as Miranda Bailey, Kevin McKidd as Owen Hunt, Jesse Williams as Jackson Avery, and Caterina Scorsone as Amelia Shepherd. Other characters have included Alex Karev (Justin Chambers) and Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl), as well as several recurring guest characters. The series has been well-received by critics, as well as fans, for its diverse and dynamic characters, strong storylines, and poignant moments. Grey's Anatomy has been renewed for a seventeenth season, making it the longest-running scripted primetime series currently airing on ABC.