Private Practice (TV series)

Private Practice
Format	Medical Drama Dramedy
Created by	Shonda Rhimes
Starring	Kate Walsh Tim Daly Audra McDonald Paul Adelstein KaDee Strickland Chris Lowell Brian Benben[1] Caterina Scorsone[2] Taye Diggs Amy Brenneman
Country of origin	United States
Language(s)	English
No. of seasons	3
No. of episodes	54 (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Shonda Rhimes Marti Noxon Betsy Beers Mark Gordon Mark Tinker Jon Cowan Robert Rovner
Location(s)	Los Angeles, California, USA
Running time	42 min.
Broadcast
Original channel	ABC
Original run	September 26, 2007 – present
Chronology
Related shows	Grey's Anatomy
External links
Official website

Private Practice is a medical drama television program which premiered on September 26, 2007 on ABC. 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 was created by Shonda Rhimes, who also serves as executive producer alongside Betsy Beers, Mark Gordon, Mark Tinker and Jon Cowan & Robert Rovner, who serve as showrunners due to Rhimes's duties on Grey's Anatomy.^[3]

Cast and characters

Main characters

• Merrin Dungey played the role of Dr. Naomi Bennett in the backdoor pilot but was replaced by Audra McDonald in June 2007.^[5]

^{Source: Go.com, accessed May 18, 2007 Source: [1], accessed July 22, 2010}

Recurring guest characters

• David Sutcliffe as Officer Kevin Nelson (13 episodes, season 1-2): LAPD officer, then SWAT officer, dated Addison
• Geffri Maya as Maya Bennett (10 episodes, season 1-3): Naomi's and Sam's daughter
• Michael Patrick Thornton as Dr. Gabriel Fife (8 episodes, season 3): Genetics specialist working for Pacific Wellcare Group
• Hailey Sole as Betsy Parker (7 episodes, season 2-3): Dell's daughter
• Grant Show as Dr. Archer Montgomery (6 episodes, season 2): Addison's brother, world-class neurologist
• James Morrison as William White (6 episodes, season 2-3): Pacific Wellcare Group owner
• Jayne Brook as Dr. Meg Porter (5 episodes, season 2): Doctors without Borders physician, Pete's ex-girlfriend
• Jay Harrington as Dr. Wyatt Lockhart (5 episodes, season 2): Medical oncologist working for Pacific Wellcare Group
• Sharon Leal as Dr. Sonya Nichols (5 episodes, season 2): Sam's girlfriend
• Amanda Detmer as Morgan Gellman (5 episodes, season 2-3): Addison's pregnant patient, Noah Barnes' wife
• Josh Hopkins as Dr. Noah Barnes (5 episodes, season 2): Morgan Gellman's husband, had an affair with Addison, cardiothoracic surgeon employed at St. Ambrose Hospital
• Agnes Bruckner as Heather (5 episodes, season 2-3): Dell's wife, Betsy's mother
• Christina Chang as Dr. Vanessa Hoyt (4 episodes, season 3): Attending Neonatologist/Perinatologist from St. Ambrose Hospital, Sam's girlfriend
• Amanda Foreman as Katie Kent (4 episodes, season 2-3): Violet's patient, who attacked her
• Stephen Lunsford as Dink (4 episodes, season 3): Maya's husband
• Stephen Collins as "The Captain" Montgomery (3 episodes, season 3): Addison's father

Production history

Origins

Private Practice intertitle

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.^[6] 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.^[7] The broadcast served as the 22nd and 23rd episodes of the season (out of 25), and was directed by Michael Grossman, according to Variety.^[8] Gossip columnists Kristin Veitch and Michael Ausiello reported that the spinoff would be set in Los Angeles.^[9][10]

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 & NYPD Blue), 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.^[11] On May 5, 2007 it was announced, On The Ellen Show, that Private Practice was part of ABC's 2007 fall line-up.^[12] 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.^[13]

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.^[14] On July 11, 2007, it was announced that a new character, played by KaDee Strickland, had been added to the main cast.^[15]

Tony Award Winner Idina Menzel appeared in two episodes during the second season. Menzel is married to Private Practice star Taye Diggs. David Sutcliffe,^[16] Jayne Brook,^[17] and Josh Hopkins^[18] 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.

Addison Montgomery and Sam Bennett live in rare Santa Monica beachfront houses right on the sand, which in reality would cost upwards of $4 million each.

Episodes

Season One (2007)

Private Practice was picked up for a full season of 22 episodes on October 19, 2007.^[20] This was subsequently reduced to 9 due to the writers strike.

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)

Private Practice 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.^[21] On October 21, 2008, the network picked up the show for a full second season.^[22] On November 6, 2008, TV Guide reported that Private Practice would feature a multi-episode crossover arc with Grey’s Anatomy in February.^[23]

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 Wellcare. 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 realize 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 realized their relationship was going nowhere. Towards the end of the season, Addison falls in love with cardiovascular surgeon Noah Barnes, who as it turns out, is married and is expecting his first child. Matters become more complicated when Addison realizes 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 Wellcare, 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 renewed Private Practice for a third season on April 23, 2009.^[24] The third season premiered on Thursday, October 1, 2009. 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.^[25] This season marks the first character death in the series with the departure of Chris Lowell as William "Dell" Parker due to subdural hematomas and hemorrhaging sustained from a collision with an intoxicated driver while driving Maya to the hospital to deliver her baby.^[26]

The severity of Dell's condition was overlooked while Maya was being attended to in the operating room. Dr. Amelia Shepherd, younger sister of Derek Shepherd (Addison's ex-husband,) operated but was unable to resuscitate following Dell's heart failure. Maya survived her operation to save her spinal cord and prevent paralysis while at the same time she gives birth to a baby girl, who also survives the ordeal.

Season Four (2010-2011)

Private Practice was picked up for a 4th season for the 2010-2011 television season.^[27] Brian Benben has been upgraded to series regular.^[1] The fourth season will premiere on September 23, 2010.^[28] Caterina Scorsone has been upgraded to series regular as of July 2010.^[2]

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 portrayals of the female condition since The Bell Jar."^[29]

Robert Bianco from USA Today has stated that "in McDonald, Tim Daly, Taye Diggs, Paul Adelstein and Amy Brenneman (though she's incredibly badly used), Practice has cornered a sizable amount of TV talent, and because of that talent alone, it's worth risking a few more weeks to see if the long-promised improvements take hold."^[30]

The worldwide reception was similar. "The Australian" newspaper noted that although "the show boasts a good cast of solid TV veterans, including Amy Brenneman, Taye Diggs and Tim Daly, the execution lets them down."^[31]

U.S. television ratings

Seasonal rankings (based on average total viewers per episode) of Private Practice.

The series premiere on September 26, 2007 attracted 14.41 million viewers and is currently the series' highest rated episode.

Awards

The list of awards and nominations for Private Practice

By year

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)^[32]
• 2009: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Audra McDonald for playing "Dr. Naomi Bennett", nominated)
• 2010: Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series (Taye Diggs for playing "Dr. Sam Bennett", nominated)
• 2010: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Audra McDonald for playing "Dr. Naomi Bennett", nominated)

1 win and 6 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

Hollywood Music in Media Awards

• 2009: Outstanding Music Supervision - TV (Alex Pastavas, nominated)^[33]

1 nomination

GLAAD Media Awards

• 2010: Outstanding Individual Episode in a series without a regular LGBT character (episode 2.12 "Homeward Bound", nominated)
• 2010: Outstanding Individual Episode in a series without a regular LGBT character (episode 2.17 "Wait and See", nominated)

2 nominations

PRISM Awards

• 2010: Drama Series Multi-Episode Story Line (episodes: 2.11 "Contamination", 2.19 "What Women Want" and 2.22 "Yours, Mine and Ours", nominated)^[34]

1 nomination

Young Artist Award

• 2009: Best Performance in a TV Series - Guest Starring Young Actor (Joey Luthman, won)
• 2010: Best Performance in a TV Series - Guest Starring Young Actress (Emily Rae, nominated)

1 win and 1 nomination

DVD releases

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (formerly Buena Vista Home Entertainment) has released all completed seasons of Private Practice on DVD in Region 1 and currently released in UK Region 2 are Seasons 1 - 2.

Season 1 of Private Practice is also available for download on iTunes.

Season releases

International

Country	Network
Argentina	Sony Entertainment Television
Australia	Channel Seven
Austria	ORF 1
Belgium	RTL-TVI and VijfTV 2010: Voice!
Brazil	Sony Entertainment Television
Bulgaria	Fox Life, BNT 1
Canada	'A' Owned by CTV, broadcaster of Grey's Anatomy
Colombia	Sony Entertainment Television
Costa Rica	Sony Entertainment Television
Croatia	Nova TV
Chile	Sony Entertainment Television
Denmark	Kanal 4
Ecuador	Sony Entertainment Television
Estonia	Fox Life
Finland	MTV3
France	TF1
Germany	Pro7
Greece	Fox life, ANT1
Hong Kong	Star World, ATV World
Hungary	RTL Klub
Iceland	RÚV
India	Zee Cafe
Ireland	RTÉ 2
Israel	yes stars Drama\yes stars HD
Italy	Foxlife, Rai Due
Japan	WOWOW
Macedonia	Fox Life
Malaysia	ntv7, Star World
Mexico	Sony Entertainment Television, Azteca 7
Middle East	Showseries	Fox Series
The Netherlands	NET 5
New Zealand	TV2
Norway	TV2
Paraguay	Sony Entertainment Television
Peru	Sony Entertainment Television
Philippines	Studio 23
Poland	Fox Life
Portugal	Fox Life and RTP2
Romania	Prima TV
Serbia	Fox Life
Singapore	MediaCorp TV Channel 5
Slovenia	Kanal A
South Africa	Mnet
Spain	FOX and Antena 3
Sweden	TV4
Switzerland	TSR, SF zwei
Thailand	Star World
Turkey	DiziMax
United Arab Emirates	ShowSeries
United Kingdom	Living
Uruguay	Sony Entertainment Television
Venezuela	Sony Entertainment Television

References

External links

• Official website
• Private Practice at the Internet Movie Database
• Private Practice at TV.com
• Movie-sat.com
• FOX Life Portugal
• Private Practice Russian Website