***You wanted us to check out this show for you, so we put some fresh meat on the case! Please welcome the newest member of the gasm family, DLM Esquire!!
Hello kids! Welcome to the Happy Land of Spinoffville where Shandra Rhymes and friends will be telling us tales of poor little sad-sack, super-hot, brilliant neonatal surgeon Addison Forbes Montgomery (now sans "insert Mc-guy here"). Excited? Let's do this!
Our journey begins back in the world of Grey's Anatomy where Chief Webber from Seattle Grace Hospital is scolding Addison about the error of her decision to leave the land of a thousand Starbucks and move to L.A. to work in a medical co-op owned by her "best friend from med school." The scolding provides an excellent opportunity for Addison to give us the exposition we need, if we don't recall last season's Grey's episode that set up the spin-off. Addison runs down the list of whacky new characters we will all come to know and love, and we are treated to one of my favorite TV writer devices: Fun with Juxtaposition, as Addison describes her new coworkers in glowing terms while we are treated to scenes showing just how freaky and screwed up they all really are.
The aforementioned best friend Dr. Naomi Bennett is described as a fertility specialist and an amazing woman: cut to Naomi on her bathroom floor weeping while shoveling half a cake into her mouth and yelling to her kids that "mommy just needs a moment to herself!"
Cake is food, it's not love.
Naomi's ex-husband Dr. Sam Bennett (played by Taye Diggs) is an internist with amazing people skills, but apparently no skills at wrangling one out of control Chihuahua.
Yo Querro Taco Bell!
Next up is the resident Psychiatrist Dr. Violet Turner (played by Amy Bernneman, who goes from lawyer on Judging Amy to doctor. Next season, tune in for: Amy Brenneman - Indian Chief, Only on CBS!). Addison describes her as incredible, grounded and strong: cut to Violet stalking her now married ex by calling him and then hanging up without saying anything, like some high school freshman. Has there ever been a psychiatrist played on television who wasn't depicted as a total nutjob? TV physicians heal thy selves!
I do it all for the kids
Dr. Cooper Freedman the resident pediatrician (played by Paul Adelstein, who also plays psycho, secret service agent Kellerman on Prison Break, and who is playing perhaps an even creepier character on this show!) is described as a pro and one of the best in his field. We find him cuffed spread-eagle to a bed while beseeching a woman whose name he isn't even sure of to free him. You see, good Dr. Cooper is the co-op's resident Merv the Perv. The pediatrician is the sex pervert, creepy Shandra, creepy!
And finally, we round out or happy little family with "alternative medicine" practitioner Dr. Pete Finch (played by Tim Daly. Personally, I will miss his short-lived, but interesting, Lost-wannabe serial drama from last season, The Nine, but apparently I'm all alone there since None of you watched it! And deep down, I must admit I still blame you all for it being canceled... but I'm working on that...honest!)
You may remember that Addison and Dr. Pete played some tonsil hockey last season in the Grey's setup episode, so he is her built in future love interest and the resident super-confident ladies-man of the show.
You're such a good kisser that I can almost forget about Wings!
As we conclude our exposition, Chief Webber chides Addison about her move and her "new life" in L.A. asking if she plans to "wear jeans, walk on the beach, dance in her underwear?" Addison replies defiantly that maybe she will dance naked! Sniff...sniff...is that foreshadowing I smell? After all, Shandra knows that Nothing helps sell a Grey's...er...I mean Private Practice episode like a nudity teaser scene. If you don't believe me, just go ask Meredith and Izzy...if you can ever get them out of the shower, that is.
With that, we leave the rain of Seattle behind and it's off to La La Land and the parade of stock footage. It's all here: the Hollywood sign...check. Some dude surfing...check. Beach shots...check. Yep, it's L.A., alright. Toto, we aren't in Kansas anymore.
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Comments (14)
Great recap!
So I was pretty excited for this show and my opinion on it is "eh". I'll give it another shot next week and see what happens.
But I LOVED that new show Dirty Sexy Money that came on after it. Looks pretty good!
1 of 14 | Posted by llllstaticllll | Posted on September 28, 2007 12:41 PM
I hate Private Practice. I hate it so much I almost didn't read this recap. But I'm glad I did, because I can tell that I wasn't the only one who thought this episode was blah. This is officially the 2nd episode (counting the Grey's setup as epi 1), so next week will be THREE STRIKES, Shandra!
2 of 14 | Posted by Blahblah | Posted on September 28, 2007 4:55 PM
DLM, I gotta love someone who throws in a "Holy Grail" quote. I will be a devoted follower based solely on that.
Can't believe I missed this eppy, but from the looks of your recap, I didn't miss a whole lot. Wonder it it'll get better over time. Wonder, too, if anyone is gonna recap Grey's Anatomy. That got dropped like a prom date with a head gear last season. What gives, Gasm???
Looking forward to reading more recaps from you, DLM.
-Shaz
3 of 14 | Posted by CornflakeGirl70 | Posted on September 28, 2007 7:25 PM
I watched The Nine! I swear I did!
Great recap. I'll give it a few more weeks.
4 of 14 | Posted by missy1619 | Posted on September 29, 2007 12:35 PM
Good recap. This show is just not very good. I felt the same way as you, with the story at the end about the sick child tugging at my heartstrings. The rest of the show is just so ridiculous. I loved Addison on Grey's and am hoping this show doesn't do well so that she can go back.
I too am disgusted with the sex pervert being the pediatrician. It just feels like the writers (i'm looking at you Shonda) are trying to be too snappy and funny and witty with the writing and the developing storylines and characters are not working out.
Agreed with blah blah that I may give this show its 3rd strike and then I am out.
5 of 14 | Posted by DP Hooker | Posted on September 29, 2007 12:44 PM
Hi Everybody,
Thanks for all of the very nice comments. I will try not to let them go to my head. :-)
I agree that this first episode was rather blah. There wasn’t much character development at all, and the plots were too cliché. I too loved Addison on Grey’s though, so I’m hoping for improvement! At least come back for my next recap.
CornflakeGirl70: I’m glad you liked the Grail reference. Anyone who loves Python is my kind of girl. It looks like I may be recapping Grey’s as well, so stay tuned.
Missy: Since you promise that you watched The Nine, I will take you off of the naughty list.
6 of 14 | Posted by DLMEsquire | Posted on September 30, 2007 1:19 AM
Hi Everybody,
Thanks for all of the very nice comments. I will try not to let them go to my head. :-)
I agree that this first episode was rather blah. There wasn’t much character development at all, and the plots were too cliché. I too loved Addison on Grey’s though, so I’m hoping for improvement! At least come back for my next recap.
CornflakeGirl70: I’m glad you liked the Grail reference. Anyone who loves Python is my kind of girl. It looks like I may be recapping Grey’s as well, so stay tuned.
Missy: Since you promise that you watched The Nine, I will take you off of the naughty list.
DLM
7 of 14 | Posted by DLMEsquire | Posted on September 30, 2007 1:22 AM
I watched THE NINE online (after it was canceled). Does that count? No? Well, I should get points for sticking with DAYBREAK and WINGS re-runs then. :)
P.S.
Yay for possible upcoming DLMEsquire-recaps of Grey's!!!
8 of 14 | Posted by blahblah | Posted on September 30, 2007 8:34 AM
I really like this recap. I read DLM's audition, but I like this even better. Too bad the show is kind of boring. S/he did bring some life to it though. I will watch the next couple of weeks so I can read the recap.
9 of 14 | Posted by ThatsWhatHeSaid | Posted on September 30, 2007 2:12 PM
Shonda has lost it. Even "Grey's" was bleh. I won't watch "Private" again. So long, Kate!
10 of 14 | Posted by talma63 | Posted on October 1, 2007 6:11 PM
Missed it - but based on your recap, I probably saved myself an hour.
Addison was my favorite female character on Grey's - about the only one I much cared about. Hope this show turns around; or if not, that she goes back to Grey's (which could really use her).
Yer doin' a FINE job!
11 of 14 | Posted by fire@will | Posted on October 2, 2007 10:21 AM
Decent recap, but I wanted to point out that the ceator of this show is SHONDA, not Shandra or Sandra as was referenced a few times...
Don't be afraid to get snarky with the comments, thats why most of us read the recaps on this site!!!
12 of 14 | Posted by magzinpa | Posted on October 2, 2007 12:34 PM
Decent recap, but I wanted to point out that the ceator of this show is SHONDA, not Shandra or Sandra as was referenced a few times...
Don't be afraid to get snarky with the comments, thats why most of us read the recaps on this site!!!
13 of 14 | Posted by magzinpa | Posted on October 2, 2007 12:35 PM
Decent recap, but dont be afraid to be snarky with the comments. Thats why most of us read the recaps!!!! Good job for your first one!
Also, its Shonda Rhimes who created this show, not Shandra or Sandra... Just an FYI..
14 of 14 | Posted by magzinpa | Posted on October 2, 2007 12:41 PM