katewalsh

(S05E14) "Use it wisely." - Owen to Mark about.... well... you know!

Fun fact: The day following the airing of "Stairway to Heaven," the top Google searches where for expressions like "penile fracture" and "broken penis." Thankfully, after getting treatment and not using his tool for a few days, Mark is back in shape! I must admit seeing Owen and Mark quickly enter and exit the exam room to check on it was probably the most hilarious scene of the week. Yes, in my book it was funnier than those scenes with the man who had something (why couldn't they tell us what in the end?!?) lodged in his behind. It wouldn't surprise me if people research that latter case on Google today to find answers as to what was lodged where it didn't belong!

Every year, we at the Squad put together our lists of what we want for Festivus. Most of it has to deal with what we want to see happen to our favorite shows. I try to go for the gold every year, however; I wish for certain phone numbers to make their way into my cell phone's speed dial. So far, though, I'm striking out big time. However, I have met all three of my desired phone pals (Anna Friel, America Ferrara, Sarah Chalke) in my various reporting travels. So I've got that going for me, which is nice.

Anyway, here's my wish list for 2008:

• Some way to record and watch Big Bang / HIMYM, Chuck, and House (all airing at the same time starting in January) so I don't have to resort to watching one of them on my laptop.
• Speaking of Mother, please let them end the season with a bang. And please keep Britney as far away from the set as possible.
• More web series as well-written and funny as Dr. Horrible and Children's Hospital.

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.

The photo to the right is of Dirty Sexy Money (and Eli Stone and Brothers & Sisters) EP Greg Berlanti, from the ABC show-runner panel. The reason why I post it is because ABC doesn't have any web-ready photos of either the DSM or the Private Practice panels for download, many hours after both panels. This despite promises that they would have web-ready pictures from the press tour up quickly. OK, cranky rant over.

Anyway, the panels for the two sophomore Wednesday shows didn't reveal all that much in the way of new info. We found out a little about what both Berlanti and PP creator Shonda Rhimes have in store, and how they deal with returning from such a long break (ABC held back the two shows and Pushing Daisies after the strike, making plans to restart in the fall).

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?

Last fall, Gilmore Girls' David Sutcliffe appeared in two episodes of ABC's Private Practice, the Grey's Anatomy spin-off. His guest starring stint as a potential love interest for lead character Addison (played by Kate Walsh) was set to last a few episodes but was cut short due to the writers strike.

Since the last episode of PP's short season aired, it was unknown if the actor would return as Officer Kevin Nelson, a cop that caught Addison's interest. The actor's schedule could have changed, the writers could have decided to bench his character, who knows?

Sutcliffe fans, fear not! In the latest edition of the "Ausiello Report Vodcast Scoop," Michael Ausiello interviewed Sutcliffe (the interview starts at the 1:17 mark in the video below) and was able to get confirmation that the actor will return to Private Practice.

A familiar face will be popping up at Seattle Grace before Grey's Anatomy goes on hiatus at the end of the season. Kate Walsh, a.k.a. Addison Montgomery, M.D., will return to the medical drama when her character makes a visit to the Emerald City. It'll be for just one episode, though. ABC has already picked up Kate's spin-off series, Private Practice, for the fall.

Executive producer/writer Shonda Rhimes confirmed that Kate Walsh will return to Grey's Anatomy for a guest bit this spring, but a definite date has not been pinned down. Five new episodes of GA are set to air starting April 24.

(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.

(S01E04) "If I were a patient, what would I tell myself?" - Violet

I have to agree with the majority of people who voted in our last Private Practice poll: I, too, watch it mostly because it's the Grey's Anatomy spin-off. I also watch the show for Kate Walsh and Tim Daly. Last week, I asked you to tell me if I was too harsh when critiquing the show. Not surprisingly, most commenters seemed to be in the same boat I find myself in: we are disappointed with the show and don't really know if we should stick with it or not.

In order to see the show differently, which may help me like it a little more, I decided to tackle my review duties differently this week. I usually take notes about the events and my thoughts throughout the show. Not tonight. Let's see if me not analyzing everything as I watched helped me enjoy the ride!