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Private Practice Rundown: Episode Seven, "Tempting Faith"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 13:00:25 -0800

Wow! This week's Private Practice has many a heart-pounding moment, including an actual punch-out in the Oceanside Wellness lobby and a gun-wielding SWAT guy protecting Addison. I feel satisfied with how a lot of the different plot lines turned out in this episode, as I think many of these threads were due to either end or hit some kind of dramatic climax. And yay for the addition of Addison's brother Archer! I have to admit the prospect of yet another character seemed daunting, but after talking to Grant Show about this guy, I was intrigued, and now I think he'll be a great addition to the show. Ready to talk about it? Just

Grant Show on Private Practice and the Melrose Place Reboot

BuzzSugar — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:00:55 -0800

Grant Show is one of those actors who's been a part of my life ever since I can remember having crushes. The Beverly Hills, 90210 episode where he waltzed in as Kelly Taylor's love interest/carpenter is clear as day to me, and it's also what launched the show's steamer, nuttier '90s spinoff, Melrose Place.

Well, the '90s moved on, and so did Show. Most recently, he played the big-hearted Tom on CBS's Swingtown, and tonight, he'll make his debut on Private Practice for the first installment of his multiepisode arc as Addison's brother Archer (how great are those sibling names?). He was gracious enough to let me chat him up about this new character, the fate of Swingtown, and his thoughts on the Melrose Place reboot. Here are highlights:

How did you get involved with Private Practice? Did you know Shonda Rhimes?
I do now! They were looking for someone to play Addison's brother. I just went in and met them — I had never met them before — just sat down . . . and as it turned out, the kind of character I was looking to play was what they wanted out of this guy, so it just kind of worked out. I've been playing Tom, who's this sexual character, he's a nice guy, he's a good guy . . . So I wanted to play that kind of character just the other side of the coin, not such a nice guy, and that's kind of what they were looking for in Archer.

Was it a relief to toss the mustache?
Yeah, as soon as they called wrap on the [last] episode of Swingtown, I went into the makeup trailer and shaved it off.

Oh, that was a real mustache?
Yeah, it was really mine. I wore it for a year and half.

To see the rest of our chat (caution: a couple of light spoilers), just

Private Practice Rundown: Episode Six, "Serving Two Masters"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:30:56 -0800

On this week's Private Practice, Addison dives in headfirst to her trust issues stemming from her marriage with Derek. Just as the good doctor is settling into a fun and easygoing relationship with her cute SWAT guy, he goes and says something that brings everything to an awkward halt. And while Naomi thinks Addison's hang-ups are clear as day to anyone with eyes, it takes a sweet elderly couple to reveal to her and Sam how to move on from the shambles of their marriage. There's all kinds of psychodrama going around once again, so let's not waste time — just

Tim Daly on Pete's Friendship With Addison and More

BuzzSugar — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 11:30:33 -0800

While Private Practice takes a break tonight for the airing of the CMA Awards, I thought it a good time to share some insights I learned from chatting with Tim Daly on the future of Oceanside Wellness's Eastern medicine guru, Dr. Pete Wilder.

The good doctor has been toiling away this season in his corner of the practice helping patients with holistic remedies while attempting to be a friend to Addison. I was glad when his old friend Meg showed up to give his character a new dimension, and I look forward to Pete's character mixing it up with the other doctors. Based on my conversation with Daly, it's clear he feels the same way.

I'm glad Meg showed up because it's a catalyst for helping us get to know about Pete's past. Why is he so tight-lipped around the office about life before Oceanside?
I had a talk with Shonda [Rhimes] at the end of last season about Pete and where he came from, and I think it sounds a lot more interesting to have him immersed in a Western medicine world in sort of a badass way, you know? Doing something like Doctors Without Borders. In terms of why he doesn't talk about his past, I don't know when we'll see this, but a traumatic moment in Pete's life was the death of his wife. How he was sort of navigating the world and finding a way to connect with people in a way that's more intimate and more useful than just kind of slicing and dicing. When we'll find about more about that, I don't know, but that’s what we've decided, so . . . I think it makes him very interesting.

To see the rest of my interview with Tim, just

Private Practice and Grey's Anatomy Are Crossing Over

BuzzSugar — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 11:30:05 -0800

Remember how fun it was to see Addison return to Grey's Anatomy last Spring? Well, she's coming back — and this time, she might be bringing some of her Oceanside Wellness colleagues with her.

TV Guide is reporting that Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice will have a multiepisode crossover for February sweeps. While the exact number of episodes and characters involved is still being hammered out, one certain thing is that Addison will be returning to Seattle.

It's unclear whether the plot would take place both in Seattle and in Santa Monica, but it's definitely an intriguing idea — and maybe a good reason to keep watching Private Practice! Which Grey's docs do you think would have the most interesting trips to Oceanside? And which members of the Oceanside family would you like to see rubbing elbows with the residents and attendings at Seattle Grace?

Private Practice Rundown: Episode Five, "Let It Go"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 09:30:48 -0800

If last week's Private Practice was all about getting elected, this week's is about what happens to all the lofty campaign promises once the election is over. All of our doctors have lofty dreams or plans for the future (and chips on their shoulders about the past), and this episode sees everyone realizing that sometimes, you've just got to . . . let it go. To chat about it, just

Private Practice Rundown: Episode Four, "Past Tense"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:30:41 -0700

Well, now Naomi and Sam have really made Addison mad, and she's had it up to here with all the dysfunction at the office. She is still jogging alone and gets all pumped up on this week's Private Practice to do something about how icky going to work feels. She's successful in persuading the rest of the office to confront those two, because they too are sick of the bitter divisions within Oceanside Wellness. Well, Naomi and Sam aren't into setting their differences aside and instead decide it's best to campaign for the votes of the staff to decide who will be in charge. Thus begins a nifty election-themed episode full of timely metaphors! To see my thoughts,

Private Practice Rundown: Episode 3, "Nothing to Talk About"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:34:31 -0700

As the title suggests, this week's episode of Private Practice was sort of all about how no one is really talking to anyone else at Oceanside Wellness these days, even as their economic woes continue to get worse. But the thing is, I feel like everyone did a lot of talking (as usual), just not to the people they want to be talking to. Addison would love to talk to Naomi, but Naomi's still mad; Naomi needs Violet to be her new BFF and listen to her talk about Sam, but Violet feels like that ship has sailed; and Pete and Addison have never really talked as friends but now, because there really aren't many options left, they're feeling it out. To see the rest of my thoughts,

Buzz News Roundup, 10/22

BuzzSugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:32:07 -0700

Private Practice has been picked up for a full second season. — TV Week
Anne Hathaway will star in the romantic comedy The Fiance. — ComingSoon
Dominic Monaghan will guest-star in Chuck's 3-D episode in February. — Entertainment Weekly
Whoa — NBC might make a few more episodes of ER. — The Hollywood Reporter
Ashton Kutcher will star as a former hit man in the action-comedy Five Killers. — Variety
Tony Hale and newcomer Ben Koldyke have been cast as the leads in the Fox pilot Boldly Going Nowhere. — Zap2it
Naomi Watts is in talks to take the lead role in the based-on-a-true-story drama My Name Is Jody Williams. — The Hollywood Reporter
Kenny Chesney has scored his fifth No. 1 album on The Billboard 200. — Billboard

Kate Walsh Goes Public About Private Practice

BuzzSugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 08:30:03 -0700

As Addison Montgomery, Kate Walsh has gotten to play one of the smartest, sassiest women on TV. Addison entered Grey's Anatomy at the end of the first season and quickly became a favorite — so much so that she scored her own spinoff, Private Practice, last year. Earlier this week, I got a chance to chat with Walsh about some of the changes to Private Practice this year and her all-time favorite Addison moments. Here are highlights:

What do you think has changed about the show between season one and season two?
I think that the show has really found its voice and center this season, and everything is flowing a lot more seamlessly between medical cases and the character relationships. In every case, there's an issue of ethics to debate. And then of course, the personal dynamics playing out as well. It's action-packed and there's more surgery so you get to see Addison back in that position of strength, while you still have this dichotomy of her personal vulnerability and fallibility. I liken it to a good bottle of wine that's opened up and breathed and it's ready to be tasted.

Are there any similarities between working on this show and Grey's, and are there differences?
As soon as I'm in the scrubs I feel kind of like old Addison. It's a familiar archetype for me and I really love playing that, so I'm happy that there's more surgery for me to do this season. And then it's totally different in the practice and the dynamics, and we're all sort of adults who sometimes behave like adults and sometimes behave like kids. But I think in Grey's I was definitely more the adult as the attending and the interns were a little more the kids, at least professionally. It's interesting — it's totally different in the sense that the hospital is much more the kind of archetypal structure where the doctors sort of ping-pong around like little pinballs but they're confined by the walls of the hospital, where this is much more about progressive medicine and ethics and social issues and the city plays a character in itself. You see people at home, and you see everybody sort of coping with where they are in their adult lives that didn't turn out the way they might have thought they would.

To hear how Addison has changed this season and learn Walsh's favorite Addison moment, just

Private Practice Rundown: Episode Two, "Equal and Opposite"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:30:33 -0700

Well, it looks like things at Oceanside Wellness will probably get worse before they get better. On this week's Private Practice, Sam and Addison solemnly try to get things back on track financially while encouraging the others to drum up new business. It's an unnatural state for this group to be in because no one likes the way Sam rules, and "drumming up new business" when you are in the business of helping people be healthy seems wrong. Staying in business while sticking to your ideals was the basic dilemma each character struggles with, and it's at times powerful stuff. I'm not gonna lie: I got teary several times last night. So let's talk about it — just

Buzz In: Have You Broken Up With Any "Relaunched" Shows?

BuzzSugar — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:30:18 -0700

The Fall of 2007 came in with great fanfare in the TV world, only to be squashed just weeks later by the writers' strike. For this Fall, some networks focused on "relaunching" those shows cut short because of the strike: Chuck and Life on NBC, and Pushing Daisies, Private Practice, and Dirty Sexy Money on ABC. (Though it's now in its third season, Heroes probably falls into this category, too.)

The good news: Many of those shows might not have gotten renewed without the writers' strike. But the bad news has been coming in droves ever since, with many of these shows finishing last in their time slots and hitting series lows. In fact, not a single one has broken 10 million viewers yet — Heroes included.

A lot of longtime returning shows are down a little this year, too, but not this dramatically. So I'm wondering: Have you dropped any of the "relaunched" shows from your TV lineup? Have you replaced them with anything? And why do you think viewers aren't coming back for this "re-freshman class"?

Private Practice Rundown: Episode One, "A Family Thing"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 12:30:44 -0700

At this Summer's TCA press tour, a lot of shows talked about "hitting the reset button" after the writers' strike — but maybe none more than Private Practice. The Grey's Anatomy spinoff had a rough go in season one, and the producers wanted to refocus it to be more about medicine and moral dilemmas. Wednesday's premiere was a step in that direction, though I didn't think the actual "reset" came till the closing minutes. To hear my thoughts, just

Interview: Paul Adelstein on Being Private Practice's "Big Kid"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 06:30:01 -0700

Private Practice had its ups and downs last year, but there was one consistent good thing about the show for me: Paul Adelstein as Oceanside Wellness's pediatrician and unlucky-in-love bachelor, Cooper. When I spotted Adelstein after the Private Practice session at the TCA press tour in July, I convinced him to stop for a quick chat. In person, he was quite charming (and even laughed off my good-natured ribbing about his bright-white sneakers), and he gave me some hints about what's coming up for Cooper, who's still involved with the uptight Charlotte (KaDee Strickland) when season two begins. Here are highlights from our chat:

I hear from a lot of people that Cooper is their favorite part of the show. Does that surprise you?
Yeah, that surprises me. I think that one of the things with Shonda [Rhimes]'s writing — being a longtime Grey's fan — is that people identify with different characters differently, and I think that everybody has a favorite Grey's character, and so on. But it's nice to hear! I'm a little surprised — I don't think I'm my favorite character.

What are some of the things you do like about Cooper?
As an actor, it's a great gift to have to show up to work as loose as possible because that's who your character is. It's a challenge as an actor to try to be really loose and present, and when the character is loose and present, it's easier to do that. It kind of demands that you come and have a good time, and so that's a nice way to go to work every day.

Is the whole idea that he is the comic relief? And does that come from you, or is it kind of built in there?
I really try not to think about it that way because you never want to be the schticky guy. But I think Cooper is a funny guy. I think he uses humor as a defense. You try not to think about how it's fitting into the show too much, 'cause I think you can drive yourself crazy and go down the wrong path, so I just try to do whatever he's doing and hope that it translates. You know, last year, I think that we were all struggling a little bit with the tone of the show because [Rhimes's] writing is so good, you can play things very differently. I think that we're better at figuring out where we all sit this year.

To hear about the real pediatricians he met while preparing to play Cooper and what might be coming down the pipeline romantically for his character, just

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 08:30:44 -0700

All of the new DVD releases hit stores (and Netflix) on Tuesdays. So each week in What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday, I sort through the best of the batch and tell you what to add to your queue. In addition to my selections below, you can also add Speed Racer, Made of Honor and a little independent film starring Kate Beckinsale called Snow Angels to your lists.

TV-to-DVD Debuts
Today's a big day for several television series that are now available for the first time on DVD. Whether you love these shows and want to cherish them forever or just need a refresher before the next seasons start up again, here's a guide to what's out this week.

Pushing Daisies: Season One
Special features include the cast and creative team members chatting about the show secrets.
Dirty Sexy Money: Season One
Special features include bloopers, deleted scenes, and creator commentary on the inspiration for the Darling family.

Private Practice: Season One
Special features include a featurette titled, "Practice makes perfect — Journey with Kate through her acting career to see how she landed one of TV's most sought-after roles," behind-the-scenes footage, extended episodes, deleted scenes, and outtakes.
Chuck: Season One
The DVD includes special featurettes like, "Chuck's World: Character development and original casting sessions," "Chuck vs. the Chuckles: Gag reel," and "Chuck on Chuck: Series stars join creators for some point/counterpoint."

Two more movies out on DVD, so

Friday Funnies: Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy, and More

BuzzSugar — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:39:19 -0700

Nothing gets me laughing like some good blooper reels from my favorite TV shows. Grey's Anatomy, in particular, has delivered some pretty good blooper reels in the past, and I always look forward to when the next season's will make its way to YouTube.

This year, ABC put out teasers of the blooper reels for a bunch of its shows, including Grey's, Ugly Betty, Desperate Housewives, and Private Practice. The whole reels are on the DVD sets for the shows, but this is a pretty good taste of all the funny on-set moments that viewers don't get to see. Once again, I'm particularly fond of the Grey's one, but the Private Practice one is a surprisingly funny reel, too. To check out a bunch of the bloopers, just

TCA Tidbits: Private Practice, Ashton, Dancing With the Wii

BuzzSugar — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 05:30:12 -0700

Between Katie Holmes, Katherine Heigl, and that hilarious Scrubs panel, ABC's session at the TCA press tour has already been action-packed. And it's only getting nuttier today, when Shonda Rhimes, Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse, and the ladies of Desperate Housewives take the stage. Before we get to that, here are some great stories I didn't get to share on Wednesday:

One of the reasons I'm looking forward to the Private Practice panel: The show is apparently going to go through something of an overhaul. There will be a greater emphasis on strong medical cases, with the hospital playing a greater role and Kate Walsh's character getting back to doing surgery. "When it just became a soap opera about these people's lives it was just a lot of talking," ABC Entertainment President Steve McPherson said. "That's not what Shonda does well."
At the start of ABC's session, a special reporter addressed the crowd. Identifying himself as "Tom Weinerman from the Sarasota Star-Herald-Tribune," he asked a series of awkward questions of McPherson, including whether ABC was courting Jay Leno and how McPherson keeps his hair so nice. The secret: "Tom Weinerman" was Jimmy Kimmel, relatively incognito as he sat among the reporters.
McPherson insisted that Life on Mars, ABC's remake of the popular BBC series, isn't troubled — despite the fact that it hasn't shot a pilot, is still casting, and only had two actors (Jason O'Mara and Michael Imperioli) in place in time for its session. The show is ABC's only new drama for Fall, so for the network's sake I hope he's right . . .

A couple of other bits, including a special treat for Dancing With the Stars fans, so just

Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice Casts to Sing for Cash

BuzzSugar — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:30:37 -0800

Wondering how you're going to get your Shonda Rhimes fix before new episodes of Grey's Anatomy return in late April? Well, if you live in LA, and you have 85 bucks and no plans for Feb. 29, you can go see the casts of Grey's and Private Practice as they throw a singing benefit.

Yup, singing. The casts are putting on a variety show called Good Medicine to benefit crew members who were out of work during the writers' strike.

Now, some of these people have actually been paid to sing before — and they're even quite good at it. Sara Ramirez and Audra McDonald have five Tony Awards between them, Taye Diggs was an original cast member in the stage version of Rent, and Chandra Wilson has been a Broadway star, too. As for the rest of them, well, I guess we'll find out in a couple of weeks. Can you imagine TR Knight singing? Kate Walsh? McSteamy? Which cast members would you most like to hear belt one out?

Practice, Daisies, Sexy, Samantha All Get Second Seasons

BuzzSugar — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:30:06 -0800

Here's a sign television is returning to normal now that all signs point to the writers' strike ending this week: ABC today became the first network to announce which of its shows will be back in the Fall. Nine series were officially renewed, including new series Private Practice, Pushing Daisies, Dirty Sexy Money, and Samantha Who?

The other five series were the usual suspects from ABC's stable of hits: Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, Lost, Brothers and Sisters, and Ugly Betty will all be returning as well. Those were no-brainer renewals, but still, confirmation is nice.

Now, whether the shows will be back before Fall is still up in the air. The New York Times is reporting that Lost will air 13 instead of 16 episodes this season, Pushing Daisies boss Bryan Fuller told E! that his show will stay off the air til fall, and TV Guide has heard that many of the series can finish between four and seven episodes to round out this season.

All of that is still tentative at this point, so stay tuned as the shows sort things out after tomorrow's WGA vote. In the meantime, isn't it at least good to know that some of these first-season shows made it through the strike relatively unscathed?

Bad News for Big Shots — But Good for Private Practice?

BuzzSugar — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 12:35:16 -0800

Big Shots, one of those new shows that I wished would be better than it was, has been pulled from the ABC schedule, effective immediately. It's a curious decision given the writers' strike — the show had three finished episodes that could have aired, and you'd think any original programming these days would be better than repeats.

Not so at ABC, apparently; instead of Big Shots, the network will air repeats of Private Practice in the post-Grey's Anatomy time slot for the next three weeks. (Grey's will be in repeats the whole time, too.)

There's speculation that the move could be a tryout for Private Practice in the post-Grey's time slot, but I really hope that doesn't happen. For one thing, Private Practice seems to be doing just fine on Wednesdays. For another, I think putting the spinoff after the original would just make Private Practice look weak. I already miss Addison at Seattle Grace; seeing the shows back-to-back would only make that worse.

I've already said I'd like to see Cashmere Mafia air after Grey's to take on NBC's Lipstick Jungle. But if that doesn't happen, what about Dirty Sexy Money? It's a good show that's being mostly forgotten in its current time slot, and it shares the soapy tone of Grey's but is different enough that viewers might stick around to watch it. I know I would — what about you?

Private Practice Rundown: Episode 9, "In Which Dell Finds His Fight"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 13:34:26 -0800

This week's Private Practice was the last new one ABC has scheduled at this point; one more episode has been filmed, but on account of the writers' strike, there's no knowing when we'll see it. So I figured this would be a good time to take stock of the show. Are you enjoying it? Have you started to like it more — or less — since the start of the season? And when the strike ends, will you come back to watching it?

This week's episode wasn't my favorite, and it reminded me of the persistent problem I'm having with Private Practice: With the exception of Cooper and occasionally Addison, I'm still having a hard time caring about these characters. It wasn't a terrible way to end the series for a while, though, so to talk about it, just

Private Practice Rundown: Episode 8, "In Which Cooper Finds a Port in his Storm"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 10:59:38 -0800

I was pretty excited to see Cooper's name in the title of this episode of Private Practice. He's easily my favorite character, and from the comments on last week's episode, it seems like some of you agree. But the, er, "port" Cooper found in his storm wasn't quite what I was expecting. Meanwhile, Addison's baby fever kicked in again, and Naomi and Sam became convinced they were being punished for their sins. To read my take on the episode and add your thoughts, just

Private Practice Rundown: Episode 7, "In Which Sam Gets Taken for a Ride"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 16:15:38 -0800

Like watching women give birth? Then you'll love this episode of Private Practice! It was baby boom time around the Oceanside Wellness Group this week, as three sets of doctors got to deliver three babies with three different guest-starring patients, including Sara Gilbert as a pregnant woman who held up a convenience store. There was a lot of contraction-groaning and baby-wailing, in the midst of which came a proposal by Violet to have casual sex with Cooper, so to talk about all the drama, just

Private Practice Rundown: Episode 6, "In Which Charlotte Goes Down the Rabbit Hole"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 13:29:17 -0700

If I had to choose a theme for this episode of Private Practice, it would be "hidden pain." Whether through their patients or their personal stories, each character had to face some sort of uncomfortable, repressed secret. To read my take, just

Private Practice Rundown: Episode 5, "In Which Addison Finds a Showerhead"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:26:48 -0700

Remember all that lovely character development Private Practice delivered us last week? This week, not so much. When I said I wanted to learn more about the inner workings of these characters beyond Oceanside, I wasn't asking for an episode largely devoted to the topic of self-pleasure. To read more of my thoughts, just

Private Practice, Big Bang Theory are Sticking Around

BuzzSugar — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 11:56:18 -0700

Hope you're ready for more of the Oceanside Wellness treatment: Private Practice has been picked up for a full season. The CBS comedy The Big Bang Theory will also be with us at least through the spring.

They join Gossip Girl as the only new series to get full-season pickups so far. Networks typically only order 13 episodes of a new show so they can see how it does before promising it a time slot for a whole season. CBS also filled out a full-season order for third-year show The Unit.

Both Big Bang and Private Practice have made their mark on the ratings: Practice has gotten about 12 million viewers each week since its premiere and is the No. 1 new show among adults 18-49, while Big Bang has gotten more than 8 million viewers each week and consistently does better than its lead-in, How I Met Your Mother.

Do you think those shows have enough steam to stick around for a full year?

Big Bang Theory photo courtesy of CBS
Private Practice photo copyright 2007 ABC, Inc.

Private Practice Rundown: Episode 4, "In Which Addison Has a Very Casual Get-Together"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 11:31:10 -0700

Hi, character development! Welcome to Private Practice. I hope you're settling in for a long stay at Oceanside Wellness, because when you're around, this show is so much better. Downright enjoyable, even! I'm finally starting to feel like this thing is going somewhere. To read my thoughts and add your own, just

"Private Practice" Rundown: Episode 3, "In Which Addison Finds the Magic"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 13:29:52 -0700

This week's episode of "Private Practice" presented me with a whole new problem: overwhelming boredom. I've found previous episodes to be eye-rollingly bad or, in the case of last week's, actually kind of OK. But this one really had me struggling to keep my eyes open. The ratings have been good, so people are definitely still watching — but I really hope the show picks up soon. For more of my thoughts, just

What's Your Favorite Medical Show?

BuzzSugar — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 07:30:00 -0700

With "Private Practice" starting up this season, and old favorites like "Grey's Anatomy," "ER," "House" and "Scrubs" returning for more medical crises and hilarious situations, it seems you can't turn on the TV without seeing someone wielding a stethoscope. What's your favorite medical show on TV right now?"Grey's" and "Private Practice" photos copyright 2007 ABC, Inc. "House" photo courtesy of Fox All others courtesy of NBC

"Private Practice" Rundown: Episode 2, "In Which Sam Receives an Unexpected Visitor"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 13:14:06 -0700

It's week two of the season, and I'm beginning to wonder when I'm going to start tuning into "Private Practice" because of its inventive plot and compelling characters. Mostly, I'm still watching because I can't see Addison on "Grey's Anatomy" anymore. On the other hand, I thought this week's episode was somewhat better than the first one, and there might yet be the makings of a solid series in there. To chat about it, just

"Private Practice": Episode 1, "In Which We Meet Addison, a Nice Girl from Somewhere Else"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 09:30:28 -0700

"This is not my Addison." — Chief Richard Webber

Wasn't that quote, from the very first scene of "Private Practice," a funny way to start the series? It set us up for what we were about to see: an Addison different from the one we saw on "Grey's Anatomy," for better or worse.

Maybe it was a case of having low expectations going in, but I didn't think the first proper episode of "Private Practice" was awful. And yet, it was still a long way from being must-see TV. I didn't think it was bad, per se — just utterly ordinary, without a whole lot to bring me back. To hear my thoughts on it and share your own, just

What Are You Watching Tonight at 9?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 15:18:51 -0700

One of fall TV's toughest time slots is Wednesday at 9 p.m. (that's 8 p.m. for you folks in the Central time zone). Tonight, it will be especially tough with two buzzworthy new shows and Mandy Patinkin's swan song on "Criminal Minds" joining the fray. What will you be watching?

TV Tonight: "Private Practice"

BuzzSugar — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 08:30:00 -0700

There are a few high-profile premieres tonight — NBC's sci-fi update "Bionic Woman" and ABC's glitzy "Dirty Sexy Money" among them — but I doubt any of them will get more scrutiny than "Private Practice." I mean, we've been talking about this show since February, we watched (or, some would say, suffered through) the backdoor pilot, and we've gotten an almost endless stream of promotion for the show and its star, Kate Walsh.

Now it's time to see if all the hype translates into a good show. I haven't seen the full first episode, but most of the reviews I've read say it's still not very good (though a few have said it could redeem itself). My biggest fear is that Addison will turn into a dumbed-down ditz, which seems entirely possible from the previews I've seen so far. (Dancing naked? And then babbling about how hot you look naked? Really, is this the same tough Addy who tormented Izzie and Meredith for the better part of two years?)

Still, I'll be tuning in tonight, even as I brace myself for a letdown. Are you game for giving this spinoff a try? To watch a preview, just

Fall TV Preview: Five Total Toss-ups

BuzzSugar — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 06:30:00 -0700

All summer long, I've been giving you my first impressions of the networks' new shows. Now, with fall TV upon us, it's time to tell you which shows are deserving of space on your TiVo and which ... well, aren't. Yesterday, I told you about five shows I'll be skipping this fall, and on Monday, I'll be revealing my top five picks for the season. But today, I'm focusing on the shows that could go either way, just as likely to become megahits as they are to sink like stones.

5. "Bionic Woman" — "Bionic" has seen quite a bit of upheaval since the pilot I saw was filmed. One supporting part (the bionic woman's younger sister) has been recast and reconceived, and — just within the past couple of weeks — one of the executive producers left the show. In the version of the pilot I saw, lead actress Michelle Ryan didn't seem to have the sort of fearless toughness you'd want in an action star, and the whole thing seemed surprisingly low-energy. But now, "Friday Night Lights" producer Jason Katims will be consulting on the show, and NBC has ensured a steady stream of publicity by hiring Isaiah Washington for a guest spot. I'm still not confident about this remake, but I think it has an equal chance of being a breakout hit and a flop.

4. "Carpoolers" — I'm really of two minds about "Carpoolers." On the one hand, the whole idea of inane car banter is why I try not to catch rides with casual acquaintances. On the other hand, this pilot made me laugh surprisingly hard, and I'm finding myself rooting for it. The writing may not be completely there yet, but the comic timing from funny guys like Jerry O'Connell, Jerry Minor, Fred Goss, and potential breakout star TJ Miller gives me hope — as does that Phil Collins video. I'm not sure if I see it getting more than a "Knights of Prosperity"-sized following, but if enough people give it a chance, maybe it will be a small hit.

Three more tossups — plus a brand-new clip of the first few minutes of one of them — so

Fall TV's Five Toughest Tradeoffs

BuzzSugar — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 07:30:00 -0700

"What am I going to watch tonight?" Come the start of fall TV this month, that question gets infinitely more complicated. New shows will duke it out with returning favorites for TiVo space, and some of my favorites will go head-to-head. A gal can only watch one thing at once, so here are the toughest tradeoffs of my fall TV schedule so far — and how I plan to solve them.

No. 5: "Chuck" vs. "How I Met Your Mother" & "Aliens in America" (Mondays, 8-9 p.m.) — "Chuck," one of my favorite new shows, is battling against the underappreciated comedy "How I Met Your Mother," which I've pledged to watch this season, and "Aliens in America," one of the most intriguing new shows. Which has more pull: My goofy TV crush on Zachary Levi, or my curiosity about where "Aliens" will go? Solution: Zach wins, at least so far. I'll watch "Chuck" live and TiVo the other two.

No. 4: "Reaper" vs. "House" (Tuesdays, 9-10 p.m.) — Cranky doctors, or the cranky devil? This one's a tough call. "House" had one of the better cliffhangers of the season last year, ending with House's entire team gone; "Reaper" was one of the most fun pilots I watched. I'll watch them both, but which comes first? Solution: At the start of the season, "House" comes first, but once things get back to normal at PPH, I might switch over to "Reaper."

For the rest of my tradeoffs, just

"Private Practice": Photos, Promos ... and Promise?

BuzzSugar — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 11:00:00 -0700

Oh, you guys, I'm such a sap. I've been secretly preparing all summer to hate "Private Practice" and call it a huge disappointment and a disgrace to the big-name actors and actresses in the cast ... and then I watched four promos in a row, and I kind of got chills. Sigh.

The thing is, I really love Addison. I want to be best friends with Addison. And watching these promos — which are heavy on Kate Walsh's "Grey's" scenes and light on actual "Private Practice" content — reminds me of how cool and determined and strong and kick-ass she can be. If "Private Practice" screws up my Addy, I'm outta there; otherwise, I might love it. (The sneak preview episode was iffy on that count.)

ABC also has released new promotional photos for the cast — including new best friend Audra McDonald — so to check them out and watch the promos,

Shonda & Co. Shed Light on "Private Practice," "Grey's"

BuzzSugar — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 06:30:12 -0700

ABC waited until almost the end of the TCA press tour to trot out one of its most highly anticipated new shows: "Private Practice." The entire cast (save for the recently added Audra McDonald) was on hand to talk about the show, and with Shonda Rhimes holding court, there were sure to be a few questions about her other little show as well. To see what we learned about "Private Practice" and read a few of Shonda's thoughts on "Grey's," just

Big Casting Change for "Private Practice"!

BuzzSugar — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 06:00:45 -0700

When "Private Practice" debuts in the fall, there will be a new Naomi playing the best friend to Kate Walsh's Addison. ABC said on Friday that Merrin Dungey (at right) has been replaced in the role of Addison's best friend. Audra McDonald (at left), who's best known as a stage actress and has four Tony Awards to her name, will be taking her place.

Pilots recast actors all the time — the CBS show "Moonlight" will practically have a whole new cast by fall — but this situation is weirder than normal. Outside the network executives themselves, only TV critics typically see pilots, but millions of us have already watched "Private Practice" and seen Dungey in the role. Did they think we wouldn't notice?

TV Guide's Michael Ausiello said there had been rumblings that some of the actors didn't "pop" with viewers back in May, and he agrees that Dungey wasn't right for the role. I, on the other hand, loved her and thought that her banter with Kate Walsh was one of the best parts of the fairly weak episode. "Private Practice" had its problems, but I didn't think this was one they needed to fix. What about you?

ABC's Fall Schedule: My Take

BuzzSugar — Tue, 15 May 2007 13:30:08 -0700

Now that I've had a while to think through ABC's announcement of its fall schedule this morning, I have some thoughts on which news is good, which is bad and which is still a little baffling. Take a spin through my list, then let me know what you think.

ABC is taking a big risk by putting three new shows — "Pushing Daisies," "Private Practice" and "Dirty Sexy Money" — on Wednesdays, but they're three of the shows I'm most looking forward to this season. "Pushing Daisies" is getting amazing buzz already, "Dirty Sexy Money" has my man Krause, and ... well, you know how I felt about the first episode of "Private Practice," but it can grow.
Poor "Men in Trees"! Granted, it's not a show I got into this season, but I know a lot of you love it, and I think ABC's treatment of it is seriously bizarre. First it launches on Fridays, then moves to the post-"Grey's" spot and builds an audience, only to get bumped off the schedule for tryouts of new shows. Now it's back on Fridays. Seriously, way to toy with your fans.
However ... I'm getting the sneaking suspicion that Friday TV might actually be good this year. (Is that a sign of the apocalypse?) Between "Friday Night Lights," "Men in Trees" and the new "Women's Murder Club" — which at least doesn't sound awful — I might actually have a reason to stay in.

Lots more musings, so

ABC Picks Up "Private Practice," "Cavemen," Nine Others

BuzzSugar — Tue, 15 May 2007 10:56:10 -0700

Sheesh, why not just make it an even dozen? ABC, the network that had already renewed a ton of series before this week's upfronts, announced 11 new shows — seven dramas and four comedies — this morning. Amazingly, "Cavemen" — yup, that one based on the Geico caveman, pictured above — was one that made the cut, along with "Dirty Sexy Money" and "Private Practice," whose pickup was among the worst-kept secrets in showbiz.

Among returning shows, here were some of the big announcements:

"Lost" isn't on the fall schedule; it will instead premiere midseason, probably still on Wednesday, though no time slot has been set.
Despite rumors about "Ugly Betty" possibly moving to Sundays, the Sunday lineup of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," "Desperate Housewives" and "Brothers & Sisters" is staying intact.
Once again, we're in for fall seasons of "Dancing with the Stars" and "The Bachelor."
The neglected "Men in Trees" will be back in its original Friday time slot.
Virtually all the other returning shows are staying put in their current time slots.

Gone: "What About Brian," "Knights of Prosperity," "According to Jim," "George Lopez," "In Case of Emergency"

Here's ABC's official press release, and to see the full schedule and descriptions of the new shows,

Rewind: This Week's Buzz

BuzzSugar — Sat, 12 May 2007 08:31:41 -0700

Robert Rodriguez is in talks to direct a live-action movie version of "The Jetsons." Given the chance, which actors would you cast in a Jetsons movie?
If you enter my Kevin Michael giveaway, you could win an exclusive EP.
Check out my rundown of summer comedies and then vote for the one that looks most promising.
Relive the awesome moment when Ellen called ABC's president of entertainment to ask if "Private Practice" will have a run for real. Meanwhile, I've been mulling over whether "Grey's Anatomy" is bad for women. What do you think?
Check out this music video for Lavender Diamond's sweet, springtimey song "Open Your Heart."
Georgia Rule definitely does not rule, but I still love Felicity Huffman. A lot.
I totally have the scoop on fall TV: what kinds of pilots are being proposed, rumors about which shows may be alive for another season, and which might be canceled.

Source and Source

Is "Grey's Anatomy" Bad for Women?

BuzzSugar — Thu, 10 May 2007 05:00:49 -0700

Are the women of "Grey's Anatomy" and its soon-to-be spinoff, "Private Practice," just weak, spineless creatures who can't function without a man? That's the buzz from a couple of recent articles, and I'm curious to hear what you think.

In Entertainment Weekly, critic Gillian Flynn says there's not a woman on "Grey's" worth emulating. (The story isn't on EW's site, but you can read it here.) And in the New York Times, Alessandra Stanley says even Addison is going downhill as the leading lady of a spinoff populated by women even more pathetic than those on "Grey's":

It wouldn't matter, since the show is admittedly over-the-top escapist fantasy for women, except that it is troubling that even in escapist fantasies, today’s heroines have to be weak, needy and oversexed to be liked by women and desired by men.

Stanley goes on to say that Addison has "become dizzier, chattier and very much like the ever confused and self-doubting Meredith" — as well as the queen of neurotic TV heroines, Ally McBeal — since first appearing on the show, so

"Private Practice": A Sure Thing? Just Ask Ellen

BuzzSugar — Wed, 09 May 2007 16:50:28 -0700

That Ellen sure does get things done. While taping an interview with Kate Walsh for an upcoming show this afternoon, Ellen DeGeneres decided the "Grey's Anatomy" star shouldn't have to wait until ABC announces its fall schedule on Tuesday to learn whether her spinoff, "Private Practice," is getting picked up as a series. She phoned up ABC Entertainment President Steve McPherson and asked for an answer on the spot. The episode will air Thursday, but if you can't wait to see what he said,