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I think you all know that sometimes I can be a little irrational.
We all remember last year when I was ridiculously irked by the pilot episode of "Men in Trees."
Well, that's kind of where I'm at with "Private Practice" (Wednesday at 9 p.m. on ABC). I know I'm more angry at the show than I should be. Certainly there are worse new shows this season (hello "Cavemen"). But there are none that are more disappointing. Frankly I'm just so mad at the show for taking some of my favorite actors (Amy Brenneman, Paul Adelstein, and Chris Lowell) and creating such a lackluster series.
About two minutes into the pilot, Addison (Kate Walsh) dances around her new house naked. Ugh. Why, why, why would the series start off like this? It's a sign of what? Addison's independence from McDreamy and McSteamy? The start of a new life? The fact that this is what TV producers think women do in "you go girl" moments? And if you are going to dance around your house naked, wouldn't make sure the shades were down?
That was when I started to get a pit in my stomach. If we have such a trite scene right away, where do we go from here? The rest of the hour plays out pretty much as you would expect. It's not awful; it's just not living up to its potential. Audra McDonald is fine as a replacement to Merrin Dungey. But I still wish Dungey were on the show (Faux Francie rocks.) Two and a half stars.
But I want to know what you think of the first episode of "Private Practice." Am I judging the show too harshly? You must watch and post your thoughts to the TV Gal blog or write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com.
I'm much more thrilled with "Dirty Sexy Money" (premiering Wednesday at 10 p.m. on ABC). Peter Krause stars as Nick George, a lawyer who represents the wealthy Darling family. The pilot introduces us to the eccentric family members (including Donald Sutherland, William Baldwin, and Samaire Armstrong) and sets up a mystery that will play out over the season. Krause (who I've been fond of since his days on "Sports Night") is pitch-perfect as the straight man who must react to all the family's antics. And Glenn Fitzgerald, as the bitter Darling son Rev. Brian Darling, could be one of the break out characters of the season.
The series is from Greg Berlanti (the man behind our beloved "Everwood" and "Brothers & Sisters), Josh Reims ("What About Brian") and Craig Wright (who won an Emmy for his work on "Six Feet Under"). So I have high high hopes for this series. Four stars.
After you watch "Dirty Sexy Money" (this is officially the best new title of the season), let me know what you think.
Amy Amatangelo, TV Gal
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Zap2it Twitter Talk 
I don't even want to watch Private Practice. I'm really tired of the Kate Walsh overexposure... everywhere I turn.. magazine covers, Cadillac commercials, print ads... she's THERE. I wasn't a big fan of her character on Grey's, so I'm saying no to Private Practice.
I'm going to be watching Private Practive for at least a few weeks, just to see where it goes. I think the expectations are so very high and Amy hasn't really seemed to be a fan of the whole Grey's thing anyway!
I guess we'll just have to see! :)
Who want's to bet Private Practice will be the first cancelled show of the season??
I've been a big fan of Kate Walsh ever since I saw her on The Drew Carey Show and I'm a big fan of her character on Grey's, emphasis "on Grey's"
I think they made a hugh mistake when they introduced "Private Practice" by interspersing it with an episode of Grey's last season as it only served to highlight just how lackluster this show is. As for the cast change, the fact that they think Dungey - rather than the writing and the characters was the problem shows how little chance this show has of getting better.
Heya, Amy! The news that PP starts with a scene of Addison dancing around her apartment naked actually makes me, a longtime Kate Walsh fan (all the way back to The Drew Carey Show), want to see the show even more than I already do as a Grey's fan.
-- Rob
I'm just about over Grey's. I'm not even planning on trying Private Practice.
But how much do I love that between Dirty Sexy Money and Big Shots, two of my very favorite Sports Night-ers are back in primetime? Oh, I love it a LOT. (These shows better be good!) And yes, I know Felicity Huffman's on DH, as I suffered through the first season just for her, but now I just look at the commercials and say "dana" longingly.
why oh why are you determined to doom Private Practice??? ok - the pilot in May was so so - but the potential was clearly there... give it a rest guys...
"The potential was there?" More like it should have been there. I wrote Private Practice off when Chris Lowell did a slow shot of hit "hot" half naked body and then when another character told Addison that he was going to kiss her with tongue to make her feel better about being barren. Please.
I'm not going to bother with PP and I'm just praying that Kate Walsh will go back to Grey's when it gets cancelled.
I'm really excited for Dirty, Sexy Money, though. I just keep singing the title. Hee
Kate Walsh's Addison was always my least favorite character on Anatomy. I found her character gratuitously *****y, fundamentally uninteresting and wholeheartedly unlikeable. Now she has her own spin-off... I couldn't possibly care less.
Uggh, "Private Practice" seems so forced, just like it was when he premiered in that "special" 'Grey's' episode.