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Private Practice: A New Crossover and Violet's Future

BuzzSugar — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 05:50:49 -0700

The last thing I was expecting from Private Practice and Grey's Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes when a bunch of reporters descended on the Private Practice set on Tuesday was a spoiler. But she must have been feeling generous toward the TCA crowd, because we didn't even have to work for our news: Dr. Miranda Bailey of Seattle Grace (the Emmy-nominated Chandra Wilson) will be guest-starring on the third episode of Private Practice's third season.

I suppose it would be too much to ask, though, for Rhimes to reveal exactly why the crossover takes place. The most we could get was that she'll be "performing a very interesting medical procedure" and "will have her own comments about what's going on" over at Oceanside Wellness. I like the sound of that second idea: I think the Southern California doctors could use a patented Bailey smackdown every now and then.

The Bailey visit wasn't the only thing I learned on the set. What follows is spoilery, but if you want to hear details of Violet's fate after that freaky season finale and what's up next for Addison's romantic life, just read more.

Amy Brenneman was on set, so it was clear pretty quickly that Violet survives the attack by her unstable patient. But that doesn't mean she's unharmed. "She gets hurt. Big time," Brenneman said. "She is saved - I mean, she survives. But she gets hurt. It's ugly." We won't have to wait long to find out the details: The first episode of the new season picks up just 20 minutes after the last scene we saw.

After that, though, the episodes will jump a bit forward in time, and things in Violet's relationship with Cooper won't be the same. "There is an emotional fallout for him," Brenneman said, explaining that not only are Violet and Cooper no longer roommates in the first part of this season, they haven't even really spoken for a while. Added Paul Adelstein: "Cooper is kind of avoiding her. He's avoiding going back to the house. . . . He's trying to pay a lot of attention to her, but he feels this guilt that he can't even quite identify, I think." Adelstein said Cooper thinks he's just giving Violet space to bond with her baby - which means, yes, there is a baby!

Some other hints about the new season:

Cooper and Charlotte are still together and just as dysfunctional as ever - and the stress of dealing with their own reactions to Violet's trauma isn't doing them any favors.
Naomi really has moved downstairs to the other practice (her on-set office was practically empty).
"There's a lot of Pete" and Violet, Brenneman said - though Sheldon will also continue to appear. The first episode of the season involves a lot of flashbacks with Violet and Pete, including Pete's early days at Oceanside.
Addison is going to start the season single. "And maybe to a comedic extent," Kate Walsh said. "There might be a pet cat involved."

Will you follow Bailey to Private Practice? Do you have thoughts on what's next for Violet? And are you glad Addison will try to be happily single for a change?

Buzz News Roundup, 1/28

BuzzSugar — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:30:52 -0800

Prize-winning author John Updike died at the age of 76 on Tuesday. - AP
Grey's Anatomy's Shonda Rhimes is executive-producing an ABC pilot about a TV news bureau called Inside the Box. - The Hollywood Reporter
Netflix's profits have actually spiked recently, attesting to the appeal of its mail-delivered DVD service during the onset of the recession. - Variety
Despite efforts to postpone it, the digital TV switch is still set for Feb. 17. - AP
The Steven Spielberg-directed Tintin movie has found its star: Billy Elliot's Jamie Bell will take the title role. Daniel Craig has also joined the project. - ComingSoon
Bonnie Somerville has been cast in NBC's pilot Off Duty, opposite Bradley Whitford and Romany Malco. - Zap2it
Taylor Swift starts an eighth week with her album Fearless at No. 1 on The Billboard 200. - Billboard
The Love Guru director Marco Schnabel will direct the comedy Girlfriend in a Coma, based on Douglas Coupland's novel. - The Hollywood Reporter
Brendan Fraser will star in yet another family film, this one a live-action comedy titled Furry Vengeance. - ComingSoon

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Looks Like TR Knight Is Leaving Grey's Anatomy

BuzzSugar — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 10:01:11 -0800

Whoa - is George O'Malley really leaving Seattle Grace? It looks like the Grey's Anatomy star is on his way out, as Entertainment Weekly reports that Knight "has asked to be released from his contract, a request that both ABC and Grey's show-runner Shonda Rhimes appear poised to grant."

Knight seemed to be the target of some blind items about a TV star's discontent last week, but the rumors really picked up on Monday, when one report said Knight had walked off the set. That rumor was quickly denied by ABC, who said Knight was filming just like any other week. But that doesn't mean he doesn't want to leave. Entertainment Weekly says the details of his departure are being worked out, including how long Knight would stay with the show.

Grey's seems to be turning into a giant fireball of doom these days, with crazy departures and crazier storylines. If this turns out to be true, will you be sad to see George go? Or is his character one the show can get along just fine without? Personally, I think he should have left either a) when he broke up with Izzie or b) when he failed his intern exam - both of those would have been a lot more natural than this!

Grey's Anatomy Rumor Roundup! Killers, Ghosts, and More

BuzzSugar — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:30:06 -0800

Well, it's certainly been a crazy couple of days for Grey's Anatomy gossip. Just today, there's news about what might be behind the Izzie/Denny story, plus news about a wild new plot coming up later this season. And a couple of days ago, rumors and "blind items" started flying about a character possibly leaving the Grey's universe. Looking back, doesn't my most ridiculous Grey's Anatomy moment poll from '07 seem awfully tame? If only we'd known what was coming up. Anyway, to start talking about the news and rumors (it should be obvious, but there be spoilers ahead!), read more.

Story 1: What's ailing Izzie?
Over at Entertainment Weekly, Michael Ausiello has gotten multiple sources telling him what's making Izzie see Denny: not a brain tumor, but something else illness and brain related. "And although the specific name of the ailment is being kept in the safe underneath [Shonda] Rhimes's desk, I'm told it's similar to an aneurysm," he writes. "And every time it flares up, she sees Denny. And sometimes when it really flares up, she shags him." But it's not meant to be fatal, according to his sources - just meaty and maybe Emmy worthy.

Story 2: Is someone leaving?
Many of you have noted the odd absence of George O'Malley for much of this season - it's kind of hard not to notice - and so it caught my eye when E!'s Watch With Kristin posted this blind item earlier this week saying a certain character (she wouldn't say if it was male or female) hadn't been on screen much because "[he or she] has been a pain in the ass lately, trying to change scenes and dialogue, being hard to work with and putting up an attitude." Coupled with this near-simultaneous Ausiello blind item, it seemed TR Knight could be the answer. However, Kristin later noted that most commenters were guessing wrong, and most are guessing George. So, who else fits that description? Less screen time, potential for being obnoxious behind the scenes . . . ?

Story 3: A serial killer at Seattle Grace?
Back to EW for a second: Eric Stoz hltas been cast as a serial killer who needs medical attention, and he's on board for three episodes starting next year. Now, it's possible that he's just your average Grey's patient . . . but the way things are going, I wouldn't be shocked to see him take out a few Seattle Grace doctors while he's around.

For those of you who think this all sounds ridiculous, you might get a kick out of this challenge to "out-awful" the Grey's writers. And now, seriously: How do you feel about the Izzie story knowing some sort of medical problem is driving it? Who do you think is in the doghouse? And is it wrong that I'm more excited to watch the show now than I've been in years?

Grant Show on Private Practice and the Melrose Place Reboot

BuzzSugar — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:00:55 -0800

Grant Show is one of those actors who's been a part of my life ever since I can remember having crushes. The Beverly Hills, 90210 episode where he waltzed in as Kelly Taylor's love interest/carpenter is clear as day to me, and it's also what launched the show's steamer, nuttier '90s spinoff, Melrose Place.

Well, the '90s moved on, and so did Show. Most recently, he played the big-hearted Tom on CBS's Swingtown, and tonight, he'll make his debut on Private Practice for the first installment of his multiepisode arc as Addison's brother Archer (how great are those sibling names?). He was gracious enough to let me chat him up about this new character, the fate of Swingtown, and his thoughts on the Melrose Place reboot. Here are highlights:

How did you get involved with Private Practice? Did you know Shonda Rhimes?
I do now! They were looking for someone to play Addison's brother. I just went in and met them - I had never met them before - just sat down . . . and as it turned out, the kind of character I was looking to play was what they wanted out of this guy, so it just kind of worked out. I've been playing Tom, who's this sexual character, he's a nice guy, he's a good guy . . . So I wanted to play that kind of character just the other side of the coin, not such a nice guy, and that's kind of what they were looking for in Archer.

Was it a relief to toss the mustache?
Yeah, as soon as they called wrap on the [last] episode of Swingtown, I went into the makeup trailer and shaved it off.

Oh, that was a real mustache?
Yeah, it was really mine. I wore it for a year and half.

To see the rest of our chat (caution: a couple of light spoilers), just read more.

From the previews, it looks like Archer comes to town and sleeps with Naomi?
Yeah, the basis of what's happening is, I'm trying to get Addison to come back. The Montgomerys are extremely wealthy - they’re like the Vanderbilts - and I think, I mean, the kids, the siblings that I’ve met in those families, they have a really strange dynamic. Not quite incestuous, but it's really kind of like "us against the world." Archer was really wanting her to come home, and so I come out to California and am just, "Enough of this. Enough fun and games out here. Get your ass home." I do everything I can to try to screw up her life, and one of those things is to sleep with Naomi, but I come back in like five episodes from now. I come back, and I think it's going to start to develop a little bit more real, the thing between me and Naomi.

How have you found the cast and set dynamic?
Oh they're great I love working with Kate [Walsh], I absolutely love working with her. She's so up for any idea. She's such a wonderful actress. So's the whole cast!

What about the new Melrose Place? Have they contacted you at all?
Nope, no. No one has. I don't think they're anywhere near that stage, though. I don't think they've written it. I don't think they have any idea what they want to do with it yet. Would I want to do it? I don’t know. Depends on what it is, you know what I mean?

Yeah - what do you make of these reboots? Is there a part of you that wishes they'd leave the '90s alone?
You know when I think it'll be a good idea? If people watch it or not - you know what I mean? [90210]'s working, right?

Well . . .
Is 90210 working?

Um, it’s improving.
[Laughs] As far as whether I'd do that show or not - I don’t know . . . I have no idea. You know, I kinda think not. I don't really want to be the old guy on a show with a bunch of kids. But if it wasn’t that, if it was something else, maybe I would.

What’s the status of Swingtown?
I think it's dead, unfortunately. They haven't told me that it is, but, you know, my contract is up [in December]. I think it was a little bit more than CBS thought it would be [laughs]. I had a great time playing Tom.

Is there much of a difference between heading over to Private Practice and working on a period piece set in the '70s?
For me, it doesn't feel all that different, other than the wardrobe and the stuff around me. I guess the really big difference is I can breathe in the clothes that I’m wearing . . . Those tight-ass pants I was wearing all the time! They were miserable!

If they asked, would you stay on Private Practice forever more?
Oh, I think we could work out a deal, yeah.

Photos courtesy of 2008 ABC, Inc.

Tim Daly on Pete's Friendship With Addison and More

BuzzSugar — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 11:30:33 -0800

While Private Practice takes a break tonight for the airing of the CMA Awards, I thought it a good time to share some insights I learned from chatting with Tim Daly on the future of Oceanside Wellness's Eastern medicine guru, Dr. Pete Wilder.

The good doctor has been toiling away this season in his corner of the practice helping patients with holistic remedies while attempting to be a friend to Addison. I was glad when his old friend Meg showed up to give his character a new dimension, and I look forward to Pete's character mixing it up with the other doctors. Based on my conversation with Daly, it's clear he feels the same way.

I'm glad Meg showed up because it's a catalyst for helping us get to know about Pete's past. Why is he so tight-lipped around the office about life before Oceanside?
I had a talk with Shonda [Rhimes] at the end of last season about Pete and where he came from, and I think it sounds a lot more interesting to have him immersed in a Western medicine world in sort of a badass way, you know? Doing something like Doctors Without Borders. In terms of why he doesn't talk about his past, I don't know when we'll see this, but a traumatic moment in Pete's life was the death of his wife. How he was sort of navigating the world and finding a way to connect with people in a way that's more intimate and more useful than just kind of slicing and dicing. When we'll find about more about that, I don't know, but that’s what we've decided, so . . . I think it makes him very interesting.

To see the rest of my interview with Tim, just read more.

Do you have more fun as an actor exploring Pete's emotional side, or do you prefer it when he's sleeping with Cheetah Girls?
Well, I think both, but let me say this: I think what we'll discover about Pete is that he's ready to evolve a little bit. Another thing with Pete and learning about his medical background is that it opens up storylines, I think, that everybody last year realized that acupuncture is terribly nondramatic. You know there's not a lot of acupuncture emergencies. [Laughs] It's like, “Just relax for 20 minutes, I’ll be right back."

Because Pete practices alternative medicine, it seems like it's hard for his storyline to interact with the other doctors'. Do you want that to change? Is there anyone you hope Pete spends more time with?
Well, with all due respect to our guest stars who are fabulous, fabulous actors, I crave more time with the regulars. I never act with Audra McDonald (Naomi Bennett), I mean, I never act with her! It’s crazy, I want to act with her really badly. I've got to act with her a tiny bit but it's like I always really want to work with the people who are already there.

Paul Adelstein's character, Cooper, is getting a lot of the funny, quirky stuff this season with Charlotte, etc. Pete's been a bit more brooding and serious. Do you wish Pete got more funny stuff?
Well, I mean, the answer is yes, and I remember back to the pilot or whatever the hell that was that we did, but Pete was pretty quirky and funny in that with Addison. I really loved him, so yeah, I would love to have that. But you know, I think you'll see he's not totally devoid of fun.

If Pete showed up at Seattle Grace Hospital, which doctor would he be romantically interested in?
I think it would have to be Sandra Oh's character. Pete would calm her down.

How do you feel about this whole Pete and Addison as friends thing? Any hope for more romance?
OK, I'll just try to say this in the most delicate way I can: I think Pete and Addison as friends is bullshit, it's just bullshit! You know? I don't believe it at all. When I first read that I was like, are you kidding me? First of all, we'd never actually seen them have a conversation that indicated they were friends. They're always more endearing when they're really hot for each other. So I don't believe they’re friends. They can say it all they want. Not that they don't like each other, but I don’t think they're friends.

Photos courtesy of 2008 ABC, Inc.

Buzz News Roundup, 8/4

BuzzSugar — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 13:30:01 -0700

Stephenie Meyer's final installment in the Twilight series, Breaking Dawn, sold 1.3 million copies in one day, the AP reports.
The new Metallica album, Death Magnetic will be released on a Friday - September 12 - rather than on a Tuesday, which is the norm, writes Billboard.
Stephen Root of Office Space and NewsRadio is joining Pushing Daisies for four episodes as a character with connections to both Ned's dad and Chuck's dad, Entertainment Weekly reports.
According to ComingSoon, Universal Pictures will make an action-adventure Island of Lost Souls, an adaptation of the Danish film De fortabte sjaeles o.
So You Think You Can Dance has been officially renewed for a fifth season, Variety reports.
Zap2It has the news that Robert De Niro will join Mel Gibson for the dramatic movie Edge of Darkness.
E! reports that, according to Shonda Rhimes, the rumors that Izzie will have a brain tumor on Grey's Anatomy are totally bogus.
Billboard reports that James Taylor is covering songs from the '50s, '60s and '70s for an album put out by Starbucks' music label.

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Shonda Rhimes Says Heigl Asked for Lighter Material

BuzzSugar — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:33:04 -0700

Grey's Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes said she was surprised but not insulted when Katherine Heigl made her now-infamous comments about withdrawing from the Emmy race - and the reason is pretty intriguing.

"In the back half of the season, Katherine asked me personally to write her light so that she could do her movie," Rhimes told critics during a panel for ABC showrunners at the TCA press tour. She also noted that the way Heigl's storyline with TR Knight, who plays George, played out ended up being lighter than many of Izzie's previous stories.

Rhimes said she did find it "surprising" when that news hit the press. "I actually have a really wonderful working relationship with Katherine, and I love and respect her as an actress," she said. "Izzie is one of my favorite characters."

"It was surprising, but Katie is an outspoken person," Rhimes added. "I think we all know that already."

Oh, and no, she wouldn't say anything about killing Izzie.

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Could Katherine Heigl Really Be Killed Off Grey's Anatomy?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:32:52 -0700

Well, I can't wait to ask Shonda Rhimes about this when she stops by TCA tomorrow. Frankly, I didn't think much of it when the first rumors came out that Katherine Heigl could be killed off Grey's Anatomy. But now there's a new story with more details, and it's starting to seem . . . oddly plausible. Ridiculous, but also totally plausible.

To see the latest rumors - and what ABC's boss had to say about Izzie's future just a little bit ago at TCA - just read more.

According to Us, the idea is that Izzie will develop a potentially fatal brain tumor. The one good thing, according to the story: She'll see Denny again in visions brought on by the tumor. (ABC confirmed to Us that Jeffrey Dean Morgan would return as Denny but wouldn't give any more details.)

For his part, ABC Entertainment President Steve McPherson told reporters at TCA this morning that Heigl is "a fantastically talented actress" who is "absolutely staying with the show." He added: "There's an unbelievable story line for her next year. Shonda is really excited about that and is the one who actually crafted that."

So, what's the truth? Does Shonda Rhimes want Izzie dead? Does Katherine Heigl want Izzie dead? Do all of these people want Grey's dead? Because the show would be pretty dead to me if it really goes down the path of killing off yet another main character. I mean, they tried that, remember? In the most ridiculous Grey's moment ever? Sigh.

Photo courtesy of ABC

Do You Want Derek and Meredith to be Together?

BuzzSugar — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 05:30:00 -0700

Grey's Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes is notoriously tight-lipped about her future plans for her show. But with Grey's returning after a several-month hiatus on April 24, Rhimes might have let something big slip to Entertainment Weekly about the future of Meredith and Derek.

I'm not going to spoil it for you here - you'll just have to go read it for yourself if you want to see - but in general, I'm wondering how you feel about the star-crossed lovers of Seattle Grace. Do you hope they end up living happily ever after? Or does Grey's work better for you when they're apart?