"Grey's Anatomy" has introduced a hot new doc in the ER -- and ET has the 411!

Kevin McKidd is no stranger to television. He starred in HBO's toga drama, "Rome," and played a time traveler in NBC's short-lived "Journeyman." But this season he is scrubbing in to "Grey's Anatomy" as a former military doctor who has been hired to head Seattle Grace's ER.

ET: You had worked with Patrick Dempsey in 'Made of Honor.' Did he have anything to do with you getting the role?

Kevin McKidd: On the first day, I started on "Grey'"'s because I assumed Patrick had said, "Yeah, use Kev," but he had no idea I was on the show until I turned up in scrubs. That was funny!

ET: What is going to be your Mc Nickname?

Kevin McKidd: There are several kicking around.

ET: How about McHottie?

Kevin McKidd: That is one I have heard. But there are several kicking around.

ET: Is there going to be a romance with Cristina (Sandra Oh)?

Kevin McKidd: I think you can bet on that. Even though he is struggling with [the idea of] becoming close to someone, there is an undeniable connection between those two. There is chemistry between them and a definite attraction that will play out this season. Hopefully, it will be fun to watch because it is so intense.

ET: Nobody seems to stay faithful on this show, so who else would Owen like to hook up with?

Kevin McKidd: (Laughs) He only has eyes for Cristina at the moment.

ET: What can you tell us about this week's episode [airing Thursday at 9 p.m. on ABC].

Kevin McKidd: The story in this episode is really interesting because it is about a guy who has very vivid nightmares and his daughter is not sleeping either. She is suffering from severe exhaustion because he constantly gets up. Eventually he throws himself out of his bedroom window because he thinks he is being chased by demons. It is a very touching story this week.

ET: Did you have any second thoughts in the episode where you had to stab the pigs?

Kevin McKidd: That is a very controversial technique that is being used at the moment. It was brave of ABC to attack that issue. I was, "Wow, if people react badly to this, I could be looking for a new job next week." The story was written so well and both points of view were put across intelligently, so I think most people who watched it understood what they were trying to do, which was talk about this. It is a moral issue about animals being use in trauma surgery training.

ET: Is it easier to wear scrubs than a toga?

Kevin McKidd: It definitely is. When you wear a toga, you sit and cross your legs and everybody can see your underpants and it is really embarrassing because men aren't used to wearing skirts. I am much more comfortable in scrubs. It is like walking around in your pajamas all day. This is the most comfortable I have been on a set.