Sara Ramirez Movies

Having proven that it could stand on its own two feet without Desperate Housewives as its lead-in, Grey's Anatomy remained in its new Thursday-night slot as the seriocomic medical series entered its third season. In addition to established stars Ellen Pompeo (intern Meredith Grey) Patrick Dempsey (Dr. Derek Shepherd), Katherine Heigl (intern "Izzie" Stevens), Isaiah Washington (Dr. Preston Burke) et. al.. former recurring players Eric Dane (as plastic surgeon Mark Sloan) and Sara Ramirez (Dr. Callie Torres) have now been promoted to "regular" status. The season begins as the Seattle Grace Hospital medical team's favorite bartender Joe (Steven W. Bailey) provides those who came in late with a quick run-down of the events of the previous two seasons. Meredith is now torn between two lovers, Derek Shepherd and Dr. Finn Dandridge (Chris O'Donnell). The prickly relationship between Derek and his estranged-wife Dr. Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh) is made even more so by the reappearance of their daughter. Intern Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh) has decided to remain with her current amour, Preston Burke. And after seriously considering giving up the medical profession after the death of her beloved heart patient Denny, Izzie changes her mind when the Denny Duquette Memorial Clinic is established. The first of the season's two most crucial story developments occurs when Chief of Surgery Richard Weber (James Pickens) announces his impending retirement, sparking a tense competition amongst Derek, Burke, Addison and Mark to take Weber's place. The apparent dark horse in this competition is Dr. Colin Marlow (Roger Rees), though Marlow makes his mark on the proceedings by coming between Cristina and Burke. Another major plot deveopment involves a disastrous collision between a cargo ship and a ferryboat, which threatens to claim the life of protagonist Meredith Grey (it also provides Izzie's former beau Dr. Alex Karev (Justin Chambers) the opportunity to become overly involved with an unidentified accident victim, played by Elizabeth Reaser). At season's end, Dr. Weber's successor is announced, Cristina and Burke are about to be wed, Callie demands that her husband George O'Malley (Sara Ramirez) make a commitment, and the interns sweat out the results of their first-year medical exams. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Izzie (Katherine Heigl) tries again to get to know the "real" George (T.R. Knight), with minimal success. Derek (Patrick Dempsey) has a revealing discussion with divorce attorney Gwen Graber (Jayne Brooks). Addison (Kate Walsh) treats a staunchly Catholic woman (Rose Ward) who, after bearing seven children, has decided to secretly have her tubes tied--only to look on in horror as the ever-tactless Alex (Justin Chambers) spills the beans to the woman's family. And Burke (Isaiah Washington) attempts to talk sense to his idol, concert violinist Eugene Foote (Albert Hall), who demands that his pacemaker be removed immediately. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the concluding half of Grey's Anatomy's Season Two finale, Denny (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) appears to have survived his heart transplant, and in the ensuing euphoria he proposes to Izzie (Katherine Heigl)--but we're still some distance removed from a happy ending. Elsewhere, the relationship between Derek (Patrick Dempsey) and Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) is soured a bit by the presence of Finn (Chris O'Donnell), while Callie (Sara Ramirez) and George (T.R. Knight) wonder if they can be in lust rather than love; Cristina (Sandra Oh), placed in charge of the ER, nearly suffers a meltdown over the plight of the seriously wounded Burke (Isaiah Washington); and Webber (James Pickens Jr.) arranges a "prom night" for his terminally ill niece. To keep audience interest piqued until the opening episode of Season Three, two life-changing events take place just before fadeout time. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Burke (Isaiah Washington) is on the verge of kicking George (T.R. Knight) out of his place. Meredith unearths yet another carefully guarded family secret when her stepmother Susan (Mare Winningham) shows up. To regain her much-feared stature as "the Nazi", Bailey (Chandra Wilson) demands to assist Derek (Patrick Dempsey) as he operates on an ailing child, but succeeds only in revealing her softer side (again!) And Alex (Justin Chambers) is forced to fine-tune his bedside manner after he blurts out the truth about a terminal patient (Laurie Metcalf) to the woman's daughter. Chris O'Donnell makes his first series appearance as handsome "McVet" (veterinarian, that is) Finn Dandridge. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Bailey (Chandra Wilson) refuses to stay on maternity leave, saddling a reluctant Cristina (Sandra Oh) with babysitting duty--as if Cristina doesn't have enough trouble with Burke (Isaiah Washington). Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) has yet to get over her night with George (T.R. Knight), while Derek (Patrick Dempsey) and Addison (Kate Walsh) can't get past the problem of Mark Sloan. In a similar "triangle" situation, Alex (Justin Chambers) feels like the proverbial fifth wheel out as Izzie (Katherine Heigl) and Denny (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) grow closer. Meanwhile, the roster of patients is a strange one indeed, ranging from a terminal ill woman (Anne Moore) with a fork stuck in her neck, and a hockey player (Teddy Dunn) who demands that Callie (Sara Ramirez) amputate his least useful finger. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Carlos (Manny Perez) is a talented artist who draws comics for a living. He's desperate to move out of his Washington Heights neighborhood. His girlfriend, Maggie (Andrea Navedo) feels more connected to the neighborhood. She's not so eager to leave. Carlos's best friend, Mickey (Danny Hoch), works as a super in the building his father owns, but he dreams of being a professional bowler. He's scheming to raise three grand to enter an open tournament in Las Vegas. Carlos's father, Eddie (accomplished Cuban-born actor Tomas Milian, who starred in Michelangelo Antonioni's Indentificazione di una donna), owns a neighborhood grocery store, and is well-liked in the neighborhood for his friendly way of doing business. Despite his advanced age, he's also a ladies' man, and was so even before Carlos's mother passed away. His philandering ways account for a lot of the tension between father and son. Carlos wants to draw his own comic book, but his boss, David (David Zayas) tells him that while he's got technical ability, his work is soulless. But Carlos's plans for the future are disrupted when Eddie is shot and critically wounded during a robbery at the store. Carlos resentfully takes care of his ailing father, and runs the store until Eddie can go back to work. Carlos's growing understanding of his community, and his father's importance to it, is reflected in his work, and he has a creative breakthrough. Meanwhile, Mickey's moneymaking schemes get him into trouble with Angel (Bobby Cannavale), Maggie's gangster brother. Washington Heights was directed by Alfredo De Villa, who wrote the script with Nat Moss. Novelist Junot Diaz (Drown) wrote additional dialogue. The film was shown at the 2002 Urbanworld Film Festival, and at the 2002 Tribeca Film Festival, where it received a Special Mention. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi