We've heard the rumors, we've seen the pictures, and we're getting tantalizingly close to watching the "Grey's Anatomy" episode that could become "Private Practice." As if my anticipation weren't already high enough, the Los Angeles Times recently published a fascinating story that addressed some of the myths about the spinoff and made me even more intrigued for Thursday's episode. Scroll down for some of the best revelations.

  • The spinoff was Shonda's idea. My theory was that ABC wanted to capitalize on the success of "Grey's" by starting the second series, but network entertainment president Stephen McPherson said creator Shonda Rhimes and executive producer Betsy Beers approached him with the idea last fall. "I immediately kissed them," he told the LA Times. "I flipped for it."
  • It's not "Grey's 2.0." Don't think of this like a "CSI" spinoff, with essentially the same plot but a different setting and cast. Rhimes described the show as lighter than "Grey's," and Beers called it "more neurotic." More neurotic than "Grey's"? Seriously?

Two more, so read more

  • Kate Walsh wondered why she was still on "Grey's." After Derek picked Meredith and Addison denied Mark, Walsh didn't quite know why the writers kept Addison on "Grey's" instead of sending her back to New York. Her character was only supposed to be in a handful of episodes, Rhimes says, but Walsh's performance convinced the writers to keep her around, and they soon started to see more possibilities for the character.
  • Rumors of jealousy toward Walsh have been greatly exaggerated. Though it was said that Ellen Pompeo, in particular, felt she should have been consulted before the spinoff plans started, Walsh said none of that is true. "Everyone has been truly, truly supportive and lovely," she told the LA Times. "Literally every person, when they let the cast know I was going to be doing this, every single cast member called me and said, 'Congratulations.'"

Photo copyright 2007 ABC, Inc.

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