Some thoughts on a few of the shows that got 2012 off to a (mostly) promising start. Which means I've already forgotten that ABC's grotesquely unfunny Work It exists — and if you thought that was bad, wait until you see (or better yet, don't) next week's comedy disasters: CBS' offensively stereotypical Rob and NBC's rancid hangover of a dud Are You There, Chelsea? But for now, let's accentuate the (mostly) positive.
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Question: I'm not even a Grey's Anatomy watcher, but it was the star power that drew me to the backdoor pilot of Private Practice. I am very disappointed in the recasting of Merrin Dungey, who I thought was just fine when she played Naomi. Audra McDonald does take things too far. As for Amy Brenneman and Paul Adelstein, they are brilliant. I too remember his creepiness on Prison Break, especially his torturing Sarah Wayne Callies last year. His hidden depth in Practice is really great. I enjoy seeing how his love for kids and his work opens him up, and he and Amy have a better shot than Tim Daly and Kate Walsh at the "untouched chemistry" card. I've found myself in situations similar to what his character is struggling with, and it's written perfectly. The nervousness, the desire to not ruin the friendship and the feelings of inadequacy with someone who's having trouble letting go of an ex. It's good stuff, and if they kicked up Violet's interest in Cooper and then hit pause, it would ...
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Question: The thing that really annoys me about Private Practice is that every actor is well known already. In fact, many of them have already been leading men or leading ladies on their own TV shows! There won't be any surprise breakout stars with this series, like there were on Grey's Anatomy. Had anyone even heard of Ellen Pompeo, T.R. Knight, Chandra Wilson or Katherine Heigl before that show's first season? It's like we're watching a veteran actor's workshop or something with Private Practice, and that just isn't fun for me.
Answer: Interesting point, although for my money, it's the writing that sets my teeth on edge most weeks. But this brings up the perennial issue about how TV is so much better at creating new stars (and Grey's Anatomy created a bunch of them) than it is at repackaging familiar faces and asking us to accept favorite actors in roles we may feel are beneath them (Amy Brenneman as the wretched Violet, anyone?). So far, my favorite character is Paul Adelstein's
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Apparently, Addison goes through girlfriends as fast as she does boyfriends: When Private Practice debuts this fall, Kate Walsh's character will have a new BFF — Audra McDonald. A spokesperson for ABC Studios confirms that the four-time Tony winner has been tapped to replace Merrin Dungey in the role of Dr. Naomi Bennet, Doc Montgomery's confidante. The decision was made for creative reasons. Earlier this month, there were rumblings that execs had concerns that the Private lineup wasn't perfect, especially after some of the actors didn't "pop" with audiences. "Grey's Anatomy was cast off whoever seemed to fit the parts best and have good chemistry," says a well-placed source. "The spin-off was cast with actors the network and studio already had under contract." Nevertheless, there are not expected to be any further cast changes coming before the show goes into production next month. Personally, as much as I love Dungey — particulary her kick-ass stint on Alias — I ...
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Daly's Primetime PracticeWhile Tim Daly is excited about his new show Private Practice, he can't help but be a little skeptical. Can you blame him? The last three series he's been on — The Fugitive, Eyes, The Nine — all got nixed during their first seasons. "I approach everything with a healthy amount of optimism," he said while hanging out at the Lucky Suite, where he picked up some Cosabella lingerie and True Religion jeans for his wife and daughter. "I just don't want to get my heart broken again. You just never know." Still, Private Practice is one of the most buzzed about shows this season. "We all figured it would do great since the pilot was embedded in a Grey's Anatomy episode," said Daly. "But it's really exciting." His costar Merrin Dungey is a little more enthusiastic about being cast on the Grey's spin-off. "I actually screamed when I saw myself on next week's clips," Dungey said at ABC's Upfront party. "It's like being cast on your favorite show. I feel like I...
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