This is Spoilers Anonymous In-Depth, a weekly column here at TV Squad where we discuss and give our two cents on recently released spoilers and how they may affect the storylines, shows and fans.

This in-depth version of the column goes hand-in-hand with our weekly spoilers column, in which we supply you with the dirt on some of the more popular shows on the air.

This week, we discuss spoilers about a regular character leaving the series at the end of the current season of 'Private Practice.'

It's been announced that Audra McDonald is leaving 'Private Practice' in what's said to be an "amicable" split.

McDonald is quitting the 'Grey's Anatomy' spin-off in order to spend more time with her family in New York, and she'll leave at the end of the current season. However, from what she and series creator Shonda Rhimes have said about her departure, it seems likely that she'll be back for guest spots in Season 5.

In an interview with TVLine.com, McDonald said "I have spent four amazing years working with the best cast and crew on television at 'Private Practice'. ... Though I am stepping away from the series as a regular in order to spend more time in New York with my family, I am not closing the door on 'Private Practice' or the character ... I am beyond grateful to Shonda Rhimes, ABC and the team behind the show."

Let's be honest: Last season of 'Private Practice' was a real downer. But this season is starting off with a bang, a surprise and some life-changing orgasms, according to the cast.


I stopped by the set while they were shooting their farewells to Dell over his grave (we'll miss you, Chris Lowell!), and they were all incredibly eager to talk about the theme of Season 4: adult relationships.

Check out what Kate Walsh, Taye Diggs, Amy Brenneman, Tim Daly, Audra McDonald, Paul Adelstein, KaDee Strickland, Caterina Scorsone and Brian Benben teased about the sexy new season (premieres Thurs., Sept. 23, 10PM ET on ABC), wedding bells and more.

'Private Pracitce' has had some pretty great guest stars over the last three seasons. JoBeth Williams, Stephen Collins, Grant Show, Jay Harrington, Rosanna Arquette, D.B. Woodside and star Taye Diggs' wife Idina Menzel have all stopped by to play, not to mention certain members of the 'Grey's Anatomy' cast.


So it got me thinking: Are there any celebs the cast is dying to have on the show? I visited the set to find out and got answers ranging from an Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning actress to an outpouring of love for Alec Baldwin.

And all that guest star talk prompted Tim Daly to get fired up and say this: "Oh, I can kick Kevin Bacon's ass!" Watch and see why.

'Grey's Anatomy' and 'Private Practice' boss lady Shonda Rhimes is one of my favorite people to follow on Twitter (hi @shondarhimes!). She answers fan questions in what can only be called entertaining bursts of rapid-fire tweeting, then often puts an abrupt end to things when she's sick of answering the same "when will AddiSam happen for real?" question over and over agian.

While we all know the 'Grey's' cast is pretty anti-Twitter, the gang over at 'Private Practice' is much more tech-savvy and loving the instant connection with the fans. I hit the 'Private Practice' set -- a full set visit video is coming closer to premiere -- and the amount of Twitter talk warranted its own post.


Kate Walsh (@k8_walsh) says she treats it like her diary, while Tim Daly (@TimmyDaly) says he can't stand people who do that. Amy Brenneman (@TheAmyBrenneman) gives us the real reason Taye Diggs won't tweet, while Taye just tries to come to terms with the word tweet. And Audra McDonald (@AudraEqualityMc) reminds us that sometimes there's more to the oft-maligned social media tool than meets the eye.

Also of note: Caterina Scorsone (@caterinatweets), a.k.a. Amelia Shepherd, is also on. And since my visit, KaDee Strickland (@KaDeeStrick) has joined the ranks as well. I'm not taking credit or anything, but ... well, you're welcome. Enjoy!

Mainly because I watch Pushing Daisies at 8, but also because I can't find much else to watch at 9, I've tuned into the first two episodes of Private Practice's second season. During last year's aborted first season, I tuned in and out, curious to see how the Grey's Anatomy spin-off was progressing. What I found was a) a show that was too busy making its thirty- and forty-something doctors act as immaturely as the twenty-something residents at Seattle Grace and b) that Kate Walsh's character of Addison Montgomery went from strong and funny to whimpering and lovelorn.

The second development was especially disheartening, since Addison had become my favorite Grey's character by far, mainly because through sheer force of her acting ability, Walsh was able to turn Addison from a one-dimensional enemy of the Meredith-Derek relationship to the surgeon we rooted for the hardest.

But in the first two episodes, most of what I liked about Addison has returned. And what isn't there is on the way to coming back.

My first true TV crush was probably Jordan Catalano on My So-Called Life. Dreamy, troubled, with eyes like pools of water -- and he sure leaned great, didn't he? And then there was Casey McCall on Sports Night, Josh Lyman on the The West Wing ... OK, so maybe I have an overactive fantasy life.

Celebrities are no different from you and me. On AOL TV's new video interview series Outside the Box -- in which TV actors interview each other -- 'Private Practice' stars Kate Walsh, Taye Diggs, Tim Daly and Audra McDonald sit down and rap about stuff like Addison and Pete's "carnal destiny" and Taye's "tiny little dog" (not a euphemism ... I don't think).

"I thought, if I could feather my hair like Shaun Cassidy, he'd love me." -- Audra McDonald

Oh, Audra, millions of young girls were right there with you.

The stars of 'Private Practice' revealed their first TV crushes and more when they sat down for our inaugural Outside the Box interview, where they answered questions submitted by fans.

Check out Kate Walsh, Audra McDonald, Taye Diggs and Tim Daly talk about "carnal destiny," shiny heads and men giving birth. Plus, someone laughs hard enough to fall off the couch.

Outside the Box is an upcoming video interview series from AOL TV, where stars of your favorite shows sit down and answer questions from fans. This is your chance to (sort of) talk to celebrities!

We've already asked you to submit questions for the cast of Scrubs and the stars of Dirty Sexy Money, and next on deck are Kate Walsh, Tim Daly, Taye Diggs and Audra McDonald from Private Practice.

Practice has one of the sexiest casts on TV. Daly and Diggs and Paul Adelstein and Chris Lowell AND David Sutcliffe? Come on. That's not even fair. The show's first season was interrupted by the strike, but I'm hoping that the time off gave creator Shonda Rhimes space to refine the storylines, just like she did with Grey's Anatomy. When we left off, Addison had gotten her mojo back and asked police officer Kevin on a date. I'm hoping to see more of that (and "I don't get stood up. I'm Addison.") when season 2 starts.

If you've got a burning question for the four Practice stars, submit it in the comments below by Tuesday, July 15. Don't forget to include your first name and city/state. And try to come up with something other than "ur hot, will you marry me," OK?

(S01E09) "He's fighting for her." - Dell about Sam

What could be the last Private Practice episode in a long while (this was the last episode completed before the writers' strike) finally gave Dell a good amount of screen time. However, it felt like it was too little too late.

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(S01E08) "If they talk about us, we should talk about them." - Sam to Pete and Cooper

I'm not sure I like the port Cooper found in his storm and I'm pretty sure I'm not alone thinking this (let your voice be heard in our poll). It's clear they are trying to make Charlotte more meaningful but for me, it's too little too late. The character was almost as poorly introduced and as useful as Nikki and Paulo were on Lost. Let's hope that the Private Practice writers know where they are going with this because it could ruin the show's best character: Cooper.
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(S01E06) "Don't wake the tiger." - Pete about Charlotte

And down the rabbit hole Charlotte went. (For those who didn't get the title twist, it refers to Alice in Wonderland in which Alice goes down a rabbit hole and ends up in a fantasy/dream world.) Per our poll in last week's review, out of the 306 people who voted by the time I typed this line only 1 said they liked Charlotte the best. I'm not sure that this somewhat Charlotte-centric Private Practice episode will have viewers relate more with the character.

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(S01E05) "You guys are so not friends. You are like a corporation." - Violet to Sam

In case you didn't know, Private Practice was picked up for a full 22-episode season. That means more Pete and Addison flirting, Cooper and Violet circling around one another, and, sadly, more of angry Naomi! Even if reviews of the first episodes were not stellar, the show has been improving. Most importantly, Private Practice has been strong in ratings, which led to its pick up.

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Kristin from E! Online reports that ABC has picked up Grey's Anatomy spin-off Private Practice for a full season. Even if fan comments (including my own) about the first episodes were not all positive towards the writing and acting of the show, enough of viewers watched the series (that's 12 million viewers just last Wednesday) to grant the show a pick up.

Yep, that means we are stuck with angry Naomi for a complete season! It also means that Addison will not go back to Seattle Grace, something a good number of Grey's Anatomy fans wanted to see happen.

(S01E03) "I don't fit here." - Addison

In my last Private Practice review, I mentioned that I didn't like Naomi much, mostly because she is always angry and rarely smiles. A little over 40% of the TV Squad readers who participated in our Naomi poll agreed that the character needed to lighten up while about 31% doesn't care for her at all. That's over 70% not liking her! I hoped that in time, I would start to at least tolerate her. But this week's episode didn't help me achieve that goal. She is just not an enjoyable character and I really don't relate to her. I'm starting to wonder if changing the actress to play Naomi was a mistake. This whole Naomi situation worries... especially when I add it to the other flaws the show has.