Private Practice (TV series)
Private Practice | |
---|---|
Created by | Shonda Rhimes |
Starring | Kate Walsh Tim Daly Audra McDonald Paul Adelstein KaDee Strickland Chris Lowell Taye Diggs Amy Brenneman |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 2 (3rd in production) |
No. of episodes | 31 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producers | Shonda Rhimes Marti Noxon Betsy Beers Mark Gordon Mark Tinker Jon Cowan Robert Rovner |
Production locations | Los Angeles, California, USA |
Running time | 42 min. |
Original release | |
Network | ABC |
Release | September 26, 2007 – present |
Related | |
Grey's Anatomy |
Private Practice is a medical drama television program created by Shonda Rhimes. A spin-off of Grey's Anatomy, the series chronicles the life of Dr. Addison Montgomery, played by Kate Walsh, as she leaves Seattle Grace Hospital in order to join a private practice in Los Angeles. The series premiered on September 26, 2007 on ABC. Rhimes also serves as executive producer alongside Betsy Beers, Mark Gordon, Mark Tinker and Marti Noxon; the latter serving as showrunner due to Rhimes's duties on Grey's Anatomy.[1]
Cast and Characters
Actor | Role | Specialty | Starring |
---|---|---|---|
Kate Walsh | Addison Forbes Montgomery | Neonatal surgeon, OB/GYN, Genetic medicine fellow (see also: Grey's Anatomy) | Season 1 - Present |
Tim Daly | Peter Wilder | Alternative Medicine Specialist, Former Doctors Without Borders physician | Season 1 - Present |
Audra McDonald | Naomi Bennett | Endocrinologist, Fertility Specialist | Season 1 - Present |
Taye Diggs | Sam Bennett | Internal Medicine Specialist | Season 1 - Present |
Amy Brenneman | Violet Turner | Psychiatrist | Season 1 - Present |
Paul Adelstein | Cooper Freedman | Pediatrician | Season 1 - Present |
KaDee Strickland | Charlotte King[2] | St. Ambrose Hospital Chief of Staff, Director of Pacific Wellcare[3], Internal Medicine Specialist | Season 1 - Present |
Chris Lowell | William "Dell" Parker | Receptionist and nurse studying to become a midwife | Season 1 - Present |
- Merrin Dungey played the role of Dr. Naomi Bennett in the backdoor pilot but was replaced by Audra McDonald in June 2007.[4]
Source: ABC.com, accessed May 18, 2007
Production history
Origins
On February 21, 2007, The Wall Street Journal reported that ABC was pursuing a spin-off of Grey's Anatomy featuring Kate Walsh's character Addison Montgomery.[5] Subsequent reports affirmed the report, stating that an expanded two-hour broadcast of Grey's Anatomy (which aired May 3, 2007) would serve as a backdoor pilot for the spinoff. The backdoor pilot episode features Montgomery on leave from Seattle Grace Hospital, the clinic in Los Angeles is named the Oceanside Wellness Centre.[6] The broadcast served as the 22nd and 23rd episodes of the season (out of 25), and was directed by Michael Grossman, according to Variety.[7] Gossip columnists Kristin Veitch and Michael Ausiello reported that the spinoff would be set in Los Angeles.[8][9]
Broadcast history
On May 3, 2007, the backdoor pilot of Private Practice aired on ABC, the pilot was in the double episode of Grey's Anatomy entitled "The Other Side of This Life", and gave a brief description of the characters in Private Practice. The cast included Amy Brenneman (Judging Amy), Paul Adelstein (Prison Break), Tim Daly (Wings, The Nine, The Sopranos), Taye Diggs (Kevin Hill, Day Break, Rent), Chris Lowell (Veronica Mars, Life As We Know It) and Merrin Dungey (Alias, Summerland). The 2-hour episode averaged 21 million viewers, 1.9 million more viewers than Grey's Anatomy's third season 19.1 million viewers-per-episode average at the time of its airing. The episode was also #1 in the 9pm and 10pm timeslots.[10] On May, 5, 2007 it was announced, On The Ellen Show, that Private Practice was part of ABC's 2007 fall line-up.[11] The first television promotion for the series aired during the season finale of Grey's Anatomy. The series premiere aired on September 26, 2007 averaging 14.41 million viewers being the most watched show in its time slot. The series premiered on British television on July 15, 2008, on LIVING. It was later moved to Thursday at 10:00 p.m. after Grey's Anatomy during mid-season 2009, to make room for the return of Lost.[12]
Casting
On June 29, 2007 it was announced by ABC that Merrin Dungey, who played the role of Naomi Bennett, would be replaced by four time Tony winner Audra McDonald. ABC gave no reason for this change.[13] On July 11, 2007, it was announced that a new character, played by KaDee Strickland, had been added to the main cast.[14]
Numerous guest spots have been played by actors of Joss Whedon's shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, such as Amy Acker, Emma Caulfield, D.B. Woodside, Alexis Denisof, and Amber Benson. This is due to the fact the Marti Noxon, who used to be one of the executive producers for the show, was also a writer for both "Buffy" and "Angel" and the executive producer for "Buffy".
Tony Award Winner Idina Menzel appeared in two episodes during the second season. Menzel is married to Private Practice star Taye Diggs. David Sutcliffe,[15] Jayne Brook,[16] and Josh Hopkins[17] also appeared in Private Practice.
Location
Private Practice films a lot of their exterior shots (as well as some of their outdoor storylines) in Santa Monica, California. The Oceanside Group building can be found at the corner of 4th and Wilshire in Santa Monica, California. It is actually a bank.
Series Overview
Season | Episodes | Originally aired | DVD release date | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Region 1 | Region 2 | Discs | |||||
1 | 9 | 2007 | September 16, 2008 | March 16, 2009 | 3 | ||
2 | 22 | 2008 – 2009 | September 15, 2009 | TBA | 6 | ||
3 | TBA | 2009 – 2010 | TBA | TBA | TBA |
Episodes
Season One (2007-2008)
Private Practice was picked up for a full season order as of October 19, 2007.[18]
The first season deals with Addison's move from Seattle to Los Angeles and her attempts to adjust to a very different type of working environment at Oceanside Wellness Group, a co-op private practice. The first season also deals with her budding relationships with her new co-workers. Among them include her best friend Naomi Bennett, a fertility specialist, and her ex-husband Sam Bennett, who specializes in internal medicine. Also working within the practice is psychiatrist Violet Turner, pediatrician Cooper Freedman, alternative medicine specialist Pete Wilder, and receptionist Dell Parker. It is revealed early on that the Bennetts established the practice with the rest of the doctors owning a share of it as well. Charlotte King, who serves as chief of staff at St. Ambrose Hospital, works with Oceanside Wellness through her dealings with Sam and her sexual relationship with Cooper.
Season Two (2008-2009)
The show was renewed for a second season on February 11, 2008 by ABC, along with fellow freshmen series Pushing Daisies, Samantha Who?, and Dirty Sexy Money.[19]
On October 21, 2008, the network picked up the show for a full second season.[20]
On November 6, 2008, TV Guide reported that Private Practice would feature a multi-episode crossover arc with Grey’s Anatomy in February.[21]
The first half of the second season dealt with the practice's financial troubles. Naomi reveals to Addison that they are in danger of losing the practice due to unpaid debt causing Addison to tell Sam. This in turn causes a shift within the practice making Addison the new boss. Adding to the drama was the competition of a new practice, Pacific Well Care. This new practice, located within the same building as Oceanside Wellness, was run by Charlotte causing turmoil for her and Cooper.
Another happening within this season is the dynamic between Sam and Naomi who by the finale realise they can no longer be friends as well as the deepening romantic relationship of Cooper and Charlotte. Addison was romantically linked with Kevin Nelson (played by David Sutcliffe), a police officer, but later realised their relationship was going nowhere. Towards the end of the season, Addison falls in love with cardiac surgeon Noah Barnes, who as it turns out, is married and is expecting his first child. Matters become more complicated when Addison realises that Noah's wife is one of her patients.
Archer Montgomery (Grant Show), Addison's playboy brother, also made sporadic appearances causing trouble for her and Naomi. Archer was found to be with an aggressive brain tumor which was later diagnosed as parasites. Addison sought the professional help of her ex-husband, Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey). After Derek successfully saved Archer, Addison discovered he was back to his old tricks cheating on Naomi.
Violet stirred some of her own drama when she began dating Sheldon (Brian Benben), who works for Pacific Well Care, and Pete. During the latter half of the season, Violet was found to be pregnant although she did not know who the father of her baby was. Meanwhile, Dell struggled with his own issues caused by his former girlfriend's drug habits and the fight for custody of his daughter Betsy.
Some of the medical cases that caused a stir and tension among the doctors at Private Practice was the issue of abortion (a first for the practice), the sex re-assignment of a newborn, the sexual activity of a 12 year old, the switching of embryos for two mothers-to-be and a young couple who later discovered they were siblings.
Season Three (2009-2010)
ABC announced the show renewal for a third season on April 23, 2009.[22] the series is set to premiere on Thursday, October 1. Series creator Shonda Rhimes announced that the third episode of the season will feature Grey's Anatomy's Chandra Wilson, as she flies to Los Angeles to operate on a patient on a particular medical procedure.[23]
Violet Turner will turn out to be alive in the season premiere.[24]
Reception
Private Practice's first episode was somewhat panned by critics and the New York Times described the show's characters as "collectively offer[ing] one of the most depressing axe wound portrayals of the female condition since The Bell Jar."[25]
U.S. television ratings
Seasonal rankings (based on average total viewers per episode) of Private Practice.
Season | Timeslot (EDT) | Season Premiere | Season Finale | TV Season | Rank | Viewers (in millions) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Wednesday 9:00 P.M. | September 26, 2007 | December 5, 2007 | 2007 | #36 | 11.5[26] |
2 | Wednesday 9:00PM (2008) Thursday 10:00 PM (2009) |
October 1, 2008 | April 30, 2009 | 2008-2009 | #52 | 9.20[27] |
3 | Thursday 10:00 PM | October 1, 2009 | Spring, 2010 | 2009-2010 | TBA | TBA |
Private Practice has reached its series high on September 26, 2007, with 14.41 million viewers tuning in. It was the series premiere.
Awards
The list of awards and nominations for Private Practice
By year
Year | Result | Award | Category | Recipient(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
2008 | Winner | BMI Film & TV Awards | BMI TV Music Award | Chad Fischer, Tim Bright |
2008 | Nominated | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | Taye Diggs |
2008 | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Audra McDonald | ||
2008 | Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series | Shonda Rhimes | ||
2008 | Nominated | People's Choice Award | Favorite New TV Drama | |
2009 | Winner | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | Taye Diggs |
2009 | Nominated | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Audra McDonald |
By award
NAACP Image Awards
- 2008: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Taye Diggs for playing "Dr. Sam Bennett", nominated)
- 2008: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Audra McDonald for playing "Dr. Naomi Bennett", nominated)
- 2008: Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series (Shonda Rhimes for "Private Practice", nominated)
- 2009: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Taye Diggs for playing "Dr. Sam Bennett", won)[28]
- 2009: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Audra McDonald for playing "Dr. Naomi Bennett", nominated)
- 1 win and 4 nominations
People's Choice Award
- 2008: Favorite New TV Drama (nominated)
- 1 nomination
BMI Film & TV Awards
- 2008: BMI TV Music Award (Chad Fischer, Tim Bright, won)
- 1 win
DVD release
Private Practice: The Complete First Season – Extended Edition was released on Region 1 DVD on September 16, 2008. The DVD collection includes all 9 episodes (3 Discs) from the First Season. Also Private Practice First Season is now on iTunes. The Region 2 DVD was released on March 16, 2009.
The second season is scheduled to be released on September 15, 2009. It will contain 6 discs. The reference site contains a picture of the DVD box set. The website also has pictures for all the other television series.[29]
International
References
- ^ 'Grey' shifts for Vernoff, Noxon The Hollywood Reporter
- ^ "Supernatural, Grey's bolster casts".
- ^ "ABC - Private Practice".
- '^ Private Practice' Recast: Merrin Dungey out, Audra McDonald in, on the 'Grey's Anatomy' spinoff, Los Angeles Times
- ^ Barnes, Brooks (2007-02-21). "Delicate Surgery on 'Grey's Anatomy'". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2007-02-22.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (2007-02-22). "Diggs goes for 'Grey' spin". The Hollywood Reporter. The Nielsen Company. Retrieved 2007-02-22.
- ^ Adalian, Josef (2007-02-26). "Director set for 'Grey's' spinoff". Variety.com. Retrieved 2007-02-28.
- ^
Ausiello, Michael (2007-03-14). "Exclusive: Grey's 2.0 Chooses its Host City!". TV Guide. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ "KUDROW SET FOR A RETURN TO TV". contactmusic.com. 2007-03-15. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
- ^ Serpe, Gina (2007-05-04). "Grey's Spinoff Ratings Not Quite Hot". E! News. Retrieved 2007-05-15.
- ^ "Kate Walsh - "Grey's Anatomy" Spin-off".
- ^ http://www.thrfeed.com/2008/11/abc-books-scrub.html
- ^ "'Private Practice' Recast: Merrin Dungey out, Audra McDonald in, on the 'Grey's Anatomy' spinoff".
- ^ "New regulars for Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice".
- ^ [1]
- ^ "Private Practice": Kate Walsh Dishes on What's Ahead, E! Online, October 22, 2008
- ^ [2]
- ^ Exclusive! "Private Practice", "The Big Bang Theory" and "The Unit" Picked Up, EOnline.com, October 18, 2007
- ^ ABC Gives 2008-09 Pick-Ups to Nine Shows, Zap2it.com, February 11, 2008
- ^ ABC picks up "Private Practice"
- ^ Exclusive: Multi-Episode Grey's Anatomy/Private Practice Crossover Is in the Works" TV Guide. November 6, 2008. Retrieved on November 7, 2008.
- ^ ABC Hands Out Early Pickups, Variety.com, April 23, 2009
- ^ "Private Practice" - Episode 3.03 - Bailey and the Crossover, Spoiler TV, August 5, 2009
- ^ "Private Practice": Violet is Alive, But is Her Baby?, E! Online, August 12, 2009
- ^ Bionic Woman - Private Practice - TV - Review - New York Times
- ^ "ABC Medianet: Season Program Rankings". May 28, 2008.
- ^ http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=051909_05
- ^ http://www.playbill.com/news/article/126288.html
- ^ Private Practice Season 2 6-disc DVD Box Set Picture & Information