When Alex Cooper sits down with a guest, you usually expect the chaos of the Daddy Gang. But when Ellen Pompeo showed up on Call Her Daddy in March 2025, the vibe shifted. It wasn't just another celebrity press tour stop. It felt like a passing of the torch between two women who have mastered the art of the "uncomfortable" conversation.
Honestly, the most surprising part of the Alex Cooper and Ellen Pompeo sit-down wasn't even the Grey’s Anatomy tea. It was how it happened. Pompeo didn't even think Cooper’s audience would know who she was. She literally told Alex, "I'm like 105." It took her 15-year-old daughter, Stella, to basically stage an intervention and tell her mom that Alex Cooper is the one following her on Instagram.
Kids really do keep you humble.
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The George O'Malley Scene That Traumatized Everyone
We have to talk about the George scene. You know the one. Season 2. Meredith and George finally hook up, and it’s arguably the most painful-to-watch moment in medical drama history.
On the podcast, Pompeo didn't hold back. She revealed that both she and T.R. Knight were actually crying during the filming of that sex scene. Not "acting" crying—real, "I don't want to be here" crying. They were such close friends in real life that the intimacy felt almost incestuous and completely wrong.
To make matters worse, the network apparently complained there was "too much thrusting."
They had to re-shoot it. Twice.
Pompeo admitted to Cooper that she has never actually watched the scene. She can't. For her, it wasn't just a plot point; it was a workday that felt like a fever dream. It’s a rare moment of vulnerability where you see the gap between what fans find "iconic" and what the actors find genuinely taxing.
Alex Cooper and Ellen Pompeo on the "Pick Me" Legacy
If you’ve spent five minutes on the internet in the last decade, you’ve seen the "Pick me, choose me, love me" meme. It’s the ultimate Meredith Grey moment. And Ellen Pompeo hates it.
She told Alex that she fought Shonda Rhimes on those lines. She didn't want to beg. She didn't want to be the woman standing there pleading for a man’s attention. But Shonda knew better. The line "popped," and now it’s etched into the digital zeitgeist forever.
Pompeo’s take now? "Girl, bye!"
That’s the beauty of this interview. We’re seeing a 55-year-old woman look back at her 30-something self with the kind of "what was I thinking" energy we all have when we look at old Facebook photos. Alex Cooper, who built her entire brand on female empowerment and navigating messy relationships, was the perfect person to bridge that gap.
The Salary War and Knowing Your Worth
You can't talk about Ellen Pompeo without talking about the money. She’s famous for being one of the highest-paid women on television, but that wasn't a gift. It was a siege.
Pompeo detailed the "double standards" of Hollywood negotiations. She mentioned how Patrick Dempsey was paid more than her for eleven seasons, even though the show is literally called Grey’s Anatomy.
Alex Cooper, who recently signed a massive $125 million deal with SiriusXM, clearly resonated with this. They spent a significant chunk of time talking about:
- The "bossy" label used to silence women.
- Why "no" is a full sentence in a boardroom.
- The importance of having "fuck you" money so you never have to stay in a toxic situation.
It wasn't just gossip; it was a masterclass in business.
Parent-Teacher Conferences and "Super Intense" Vibes
Then things got weirdly relatable. Pompeo described herself as a "very strict" parent. Like, "I will break their fingers" if they sneak out kind of strict. (She was joking, mostly).
She’s a Scorpio. She’s intense. She doesn't let her 10-year-old watch the show because she doesn't want her kid seeing her "in my underwear on television just yet."
Imagine being a 10-year-old at school and your friends have seen your mom's most intimate scenes on Netflix. That’s the reality for the Pompeo-Ivery household.
Why She Never Fully Left Grey's
A lot of people wondered why she kept coming back for voiceovers and guest spots after "leaving" in Season 19. The answer is Refreshingly honest: It’s the money.
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She told Alex that walking away completely would be "financially illiterate." If she stays involved, she continues to profit from the 20 years of literal blood, sweat, and tears she put into that set. She refuses to let "everyone else" make money off her hard work while she sits on the sidelines.
It’s a gritty, unsentimental view of Hollywood that you rarely hear from A-listers.
Actionable Insights from the Interview
If you’re looking to channel your inner Meredith (or Ellen), here is the takeaway from the Alex Cooper and Ellen Pompeo conversation:
- Advocate for your pay early. Don't wait 11 seasons to realize the "McDreamy" next to you is making double for half the work. Use data, not just feelings.
- Trust the "No." If a creative choice—like a cringey sex scene or a "pick me" speech—feels wrong, voice it. Even if you lose the battle, you've established your boundaries.
- Listen to the younger generation. Ellen wouldn't have reached millions of new fans on Call Her Daddy if she hadn't listened to her daughter. Don't let your ego tell you that you're "too old" or "too established" for new platforms.
- Embrace the "Bossy" label. If being passionate and demanding excellence makes you bossy, so be it.
The interview ended not with a cliffhanger, but with a sense of mutual respect. Two women, decades apart in age but identical in their refusal to play small. Whether you’re a member of the Daddy Gang or a die-hard Grey’s fan, the message was clear: stay in the game, but only if you're the one holding the cards.