Private Practice
Private Practice returns to ABC (Oct. 1, 10/9c) with a bloody good premiere. Yes, it's good. And yes, it's very bloody.
When we last saw Violet (Amy Brenneman), she was being chopped up by her psycho patient, who wanted to steal her baby. The beginning of the premiere kicks off seconds later and — spoiler alert — Violet lives.
Check out the latest Private Practice photos
How does the attack affect the members of the Oceanside Wellness Center, which was also left in pieces? Paul Adelstein reveals the aftermath of that fateful night and also talks about the baby daddy, new relationships and another possible Grey's Anatomy crossover.
TVGuide.com: Cooper has always been there for Violet, but will she let him be so close after what happens in the season premiere?
Paul Adelstein: She certainly has some emotional and psychological obstacles to get over before she can let anybody in...
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Paul Adelstein
With its Season 2 premiere, ABC's Private Practice "grew up" a bit, eschewing flighty romances for bigger drama punctuated by ethical dilemmas. Paul Adelstein promises more of the same, while also previewing what's ahead for Cooper and his strange romance. Plus: Is Prison Break's Kellerman alive?
TVGuide.com: It's so good to see the show back....
Paul Adelstein: It's nice to have it back.
TVGuide.com: The gang was a little rough there on Naomi, at the end of the premiere.
Adelstein: Hey, man, she left us all high and dry! Although in her defense, we probably should have been paying a little more attention. [Laughs]
TVGuide.com: Apparently one and only one partner had their eye on the ledger.
Adelstein: And the rest of us were in the kitchen snacking when we should have been seeing patients.
TVGuide.com: Is that one of the themes this season, that we'll get a bit more into the business of the practice, versus pretty people just flitting around and flirting?
Adelstein: That’s a major thing, that the practice itself is in trouble. We have a high-concept idea of what the practice should do, but that butts heads with the financial realities of keeping a business afloat. So there are some splits in the ranks about how we should proceed. On top of that, [series and Grey's Anatomy creator] Shonda [Rhimes] has added a lot of issues of medical ethics that aren’t so black-and-white.
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If there's one thing I can say about this show, it's that they get some fantastic guest stars. Christopher from Gilmore Girls and, my personal fave, Darlene Connor. With a gun. In the convenience store.But I'll get to that. My first priority is to cover the sex that went on and the sex that didn't. Cooper and Violet — did anyone think that was really going to happen? I'll be honest and say I thought it was going to be Violet who chickened out, but I like how it worked out. I thought Cooper was going to confess his love for her right there in his Skivvies! The dynamic between these two is more intriguing to me than Pete and Addison. There is a lot going on there and I hope it continues to unfold in these awkward ways.Pete and Addison — I was glad that didn't happen. It was way too soon for them to take it to that level. Early in the show, I wondered where their relationship would go if they did the deed at this point. I couldn't figure it out, but I knew it didn't make me h...
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Guest blogger Matt Mitovich here, and this is your Private Practice recap!I know, some of you are like, "But Matt disses PP on the weekly podcast. Infidel!" But those who truly listen to the podcast know that I give the show props where they are due — and this week's episode was one of the best yet. Really.I heart Paul Adelstein as much as a guy with a wife and kids can. I'm about 90 percent there in forgetting what a louse he played on Prison Break, and it's all due to his great work here. Such layers and pathos. Having been an ER fan since Day 1 (and also a Grey's enthusiast), I have seen more than my share of "Is the child being abused?" mysteries, but this one still rang fresh (and threw in a hint of dimension to Chris Lowell's character, to boot). I wasn't wild about the young girl actress at first, but damn if she didn't sell me on the "Why can't Mom's pain be mine?" thinking. In the end, Coop did what was right, and then washed away any guilt by getting "very drunk" at A...
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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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News flash: Women in Connecticut don't pleasure themselves! OK, maybe just Addison. But since she's just a character on a television show, I guess I should take back the above generalization.How funny was Violet's William Jefferson Clinton fantasy? Of all people! It just goes to show you, all women have something or someone that gets their motor going. I'm a Milo Ventimiglia kind of gal myself and his Heroes superpowers definitely add a fun element to my daydreams. Who is your fantasy man? Post below and share with us all! It was kind of nice that Addison and Pete were open about their mutual attraction to one another and we almost saw a kiss. Addison was good — for now — and walked out with a nice mental image to take home to her showerhead: cowboy/gladiator Tim Daly. I liked that thought! We even got to see a glimpse when he socked the runner's coach in the face! Well deserved. Now I was not blessed with a remarkable physical talent like running or walking briskly but I ...
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Audra McDonald, Private Practice
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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Well I don't know about you but I won't be eating cake anytime soon. And that stinks because I really like cake. Not sure how I feel about Dell trying to win Naomi's affections through his grandmother's baked goods but I do know what it's like to want an "in" with someone you care about. He's definitely barking up the wrong tree though and she really gave it to him in the end. Poor Naomi. I want to feel bad for her but she's really just wallowing in her own misery. Why won't she try to reconnect with Sam? And more Taye Diggs please! Not nearly enough Sam scenes tonight.Maybe my memory is fuzzy, but I don't recall ever learning the reason for their split. Shout it out in the comments if I missed something. If I didn't miss it, I want to find out!But back to the wallowing. Wow how old was that message Violet kept listening to? Watching her try to help Sad Sack all the while knowing what a "weak" person she is in love as well was scary. If it's one thing Dr. Melfi on The Sopranos taugh...
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Kristin Chenowith in Pushing Daisies by Scott Garfield/ABC
The early ratings are in, and it looks like the combination of aggressive promotion and laudatory media buzz paid off for the first round of ABC’s delightful Pushing Daisies, which handily won its time period Wednesday and is off to a solid start. Honestly, though, if any of the reality alternatives had prevailed (especially CBS’s snooze-inducing Kid Nation and the is-that-still-on stupid briefcase show over on NBC), I think I’d be wearing a black armband in to work for the rest of the season. I’m dying to see a second episode of Daisies, and am trying to pretend I’m not worried that ABC hasn’t supplied one yet. (A year ago, I was dazzled by the pilot of The Nine, an episode the series never again lived up to.) Still, after watching an opening hour as filled with wonder and whimsy as Daisies’ pilot (or “Pielette,” as the episode was titled), how can anyone express anything but hope?My other top Wednesday night priority was seeing how Priv...
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Wow. Now I know what Ron Burgandy meant when he said he was in a glass case of emotion! So much went on tonight. There was a poison Granny, a baby switch and a nasty stripper with a rash on her bum! Yuck! Speaking of bums, I loved how Sam was more concerned with Stripper Ginger's rash instead of the fact that she was gyrating in his face. He's my kind of guy! Another classic example of how men and women handle break-ups differently. Women bring ice cream over and men send strippers. Whatever works, I guess!Poison Granny was very clever. Malicious and insane, but very clever. I guess a mother really will do whatever it takes for her child. I would have had her butt hauled off to prison but Sam recognized the desperation in her actions and decided to go along with the scheme by telling her son he was allergic to alcohol and staging an intervention to get him help. Did anyone else feel bad for Violet? I did too, then I heard that she spent $6000 on a bike. Did this bike come with wings...
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