SEASON PREMIERE

IN THE SEASON FOUR PREMIERE OF ABC'S "GREY'S ANATOMY," MEREDITH, CRISTINA, IZZIE AND ALEX'S FIRST DAY AS RESIDENTS IS A HECTIC ONE, WITH NEW INTERNS TO BOSS AROUND -- AMONG THEM GEORGE AND MEREDITH'S HALF-SISTER, LEXIE -- A NEW BOSS IN CALLIE TORRES, AND THE VICTIMS OF A MULTIPLE-CAR ACCIDENT AS PATIENTS

Chyler Leigh ("Lexie Grey") Joins the Cast

"A Change is Gonna Come" � Having just returned from her honeymoon with Meredith, Cristina searches for Burke, but he's nowhere to be found. Meredith, Cristina, Izzie and Alex spend their first day as residents with their own groups of interns � among the interns are George, repeating his intern year after failing his exams, and Lexie Grey, Meredith's half-sister whom she has never met. Now that Derek's relationship with Meredith has reached an emotional impasse, he looks to his fellow doctors for friendship; Bailey wrestles with her place within the hospital now that her former interns report to new Chief Resident Callie; and Richard resumes his position as Chief of Surgery, on the season premiere of "Grey's Anatomy," THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 (9:00-10:01 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

"Grey's Anatomy" stars Ellen Pompeo as Meredith Grey, Patrick Dempsey as Derek Shepherd, Sandra Oh as Cristina Yang, Katherine Heigl as Isobel "Izzie" Stevens, Justin Chambers as Alex Karev, T.R. Knight as George O'Malley, Chandra Wilson as Miranda Bailey, James Pickens, Jr. as Richard Webber, Sara Ramirez as Callie Torres, Eric Dane as Mark Sloan and Chyler Leigh as Lexie Grey.

Guest Cast: Mark Pellegrino as Chris, Sandra Thigpen as Clara, Stephanie Childers as Nancy, Steven M. Porter as Joey, Candice Afia as Intern Laura, Amrapali Ambegaokar as Intern Dani, Tymberlee Chanel as Intern Claire, Gloria Garayua as Intern Graziella, Molly Kidder as Intern Megan, Richard Keith as Intern Mitch, Joy Osmanski as Intern Lucy, Winston Story as Intern Leo and Joseph Williamson as Intern Pierce.

"A Change Is Gonna Come" was written by Shonda Rhimes and directed by Rob Corn.

"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") and Rob Corn ("Chicago Hope") are executive producers. The series is an ABC Studios production.

"Grey's Anatomy" is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1-channel surround sound and Spanish audio via SAP. A TV parental guideline will be posted closer to airdate.