Come Emmy season, does a series win extra points if its characters engage in some off-camera drama of their own?
Grey's Anatomy docs Isaiah Washington and Patrick Dempsey--who's no stranger to the on-camera tussle--threw down Monday, resulting in a temporary halt in production while the two hunky attending physicians cooled off in separate corners.
A source told E! Online TV columnist Kristin Veitch that tensions mounted while the two were off on location last week shooting a camping sequence. By the time the crew returned to Los Angeles, something was apparently bothering the actors enough to cause a skirmish on the set.
Per on-set intelligence, Washington was prepared to shoot a particular scene Monday and was peeved that his fellow cast mates weren't ready to go. Sources say he ended up making a nasty remark to T.R. Knight and Dempsey stepped in on Knight's behalf.
According to the New York Daily News, Washington then grabbed Dempsey by his McDreamy throat and shoved him. Washington told People Wednesday that no punches were thrown.
Not confirming that two of the stars from its biggest hit were engaged in an altercation that turned physical--but not denying it either--ABC has remained mum on the subject.
But all is well now, on the surface at least, back at Seattle Grace. E! Online's source said that Washington and Dempsey both met with the big cheese, executive producer Shonda Rhimes, and proceeded to metaphorically hug it out.
"There was an argument on set," a rep for Dempsey said. "In any close-knit family, sometimes people argue. But everybody made up and went back to work."
Washington's publicist echoed the sentiment, saying in a statement to E! News: "Differences are inevitable. They were aired, resolved, and everyone has moved on."
With their superhuman good looks intact, luckily.
And as for those outdoorsy scenes that the gentlemen were filming last week, Dempsey told E! Online Sunday (the day before the "incident") that it was good being away with the guys and nice to not have to shave for awhile.
"We have a good time together," the actor, whose wife is expecting the couple's second child, said. "We bonded a little bit, in a good way."