(S02E22) “Yours, Mine and Ours”

According to E! Online Private Practice! Online will most likely be returning for a third season. Even after this pathetic attempt at a second run, the boost the show receives from post- Grey’s Anatomy fans has kept it alive. Switch the time and let’s just see how it survives.

Speaking of surviving, in tonight’s finale, Violet was left with her life dangling on a cliffhanger ending. Her one chance of survival seemingly left when Cooper didn’t walk into the life-ending drama going on in his living room but instead turned his sights towards the life-changing drama Charlotte was facing. Meanwhile, poor Violet is about to have her baby literally cut out of her by a psycho patient that believes the baby really belongs to her.

As for also possible partings that next season may see, Naomi has decided to take over Charlotte’s job and leave Sam and their practice behind for good. Seeing as her new digs will be just one floor up I’m sure that doesn’t mean she’s gone for good. God knows they love to mix the love dramas between the two floors.

Dell is another character that just may have seen his curtain call. After committing, perhaps the biggest faux pas to date at Oceanside Wellness when he accidentally switched patients embryos, the word “fire” is of course being thrown around. However, since Addison can’t keep her cool long enough to deliver her “almost-lover’s” wife’s baby, Dell’s act of kindness in taking over may just help him since Addison will most definitely owe him big time.

And did you just note how soap opera-esque that last line sounded? Such is Addison’s life apparently. Ever since Noah showed up, they’ve turned into the TV world’s worst couple and the viewers most unrealistic characters. I can hardly stand how wish-washy and pathetic the two act due to their uncontrollable lust. Save it for One Life to Live. I don’t watch daytime TV for a reason.

(S02E21) “What You Do For Love”

I find myself asking, again and again, what went wrong with “Private Practice“? “Grey’s Anatomy” was so good, and then bam, you get this new sister show that has such potential, so you watch it for a season or two but it just keeps falling short. Not always, but most nights, it’s just missing something.

I couldn’t believe it when Sheldon asked Violet to marry him. Sure, it was incredibly romantic, especially when he declared that he didn’t care whose baby she was carrying. But there’s just no chemistry there. I’d buy it more if Cooper asked. Sheldon asking seems almost ridiculous. Even Pete would have better odds of seeming a more suitable mate.

And what is with Addison? Does she like to get burned or what? Every time that girl sees fire she can’t help but putting her finger in to see if it’s still hot. Oh she’s great at playing the disapproving good girl with Noah but in the end she leaves just that little hint of pleased smile at seeing him around you just know what’s really on her mind. It’s pathetic.

Then, out of the blue tonight, Sam decides that he can no longer have a friendship with Naomi. Now, had he decided this maybe two to three episodes ago when they were both having relationships with other people and he was exploring any potential lingering feelings he might have for her, that would have made sense. Now it just seems cold and unbelievable. If anything, she should be pushing him away, in a brutal attempt to start fresh with this new career opportunity that has been offered to her, not the other way around.

I’m just so disgusted by how far astray this show has gone from the potential it once had. Hope is not lost, of course there’s always another episode with another story line, but it sure is lacking.

(S02E20) “Do the Right Thing”

I was thrilled to see Taye Digg’s wife, Broadway star Idina Menzel on Private Practice tonight (in fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if this wasn’t the last we see of her), but I must admit, that’s about the only thrilling thing that came to Oceanside Wellness.

Mostly the show was full of love-sick drama. Who’s the primary guilty party? Addison of course. Could her and Dr. Noah’s on-again off-again romance get any more pathetic and over exaggerated? How could any one fall in love with a man like that? I mean he all but blamed Addison for his mistakes in missing his pregnant wife’s symptoms and causing her to almost die. How romantic. Worst off, you can tell she was super proud of herself after making out with him in the rain then pushing passion aside to shut the door in his face. Yea, way to go Addison, you sure put your own feelings aside for the greater good.

As for Cooper and his high opinions on how to parent children, well there’s our controversial subject for the day. A twelve year old child’s having sex so her mom puts her on the pill and in steps an authority figure with a different point of view. I’m not saying he was wrong in his opinions, and I’m also not saying he was right. What I am saying is that once again Private Practice manages to take a controversial subject and present it in a very opinion-skewed view. There’s nothing that bothers me more than when a show does that to an audience. When they make the decision on how they should feel for them.

(S02E18) “What Women Want”

Okay, so I was a little harsh when it came to last week’s episode of Private Practice. And before I began singing tonight’s episode’s praises, don’t think I’d take last week’s comments back for an instant. I stand by my critiques.

Turning towards a more positive light though, tonight’s episode really made us care about the characters on Private Practice. Not just one or two of them, a patient here or there, but everyone. That’s something they’ve been desperately missing.

Charlotte and Violet become fr-enemies, finally moving onto the next stage past “Mean Girl” and you could tell they were really trying to be bigger people. Sam showed some vulnerability when he had obvious jealousy towards Naomi’s new spree of dates. ( I hate to say though, I think that’s a lot more about what’s he’s missing than what she’s got.) Both Cooper and Violet struggle with very emotionally gripping medical cases and you feel for both patients with sympathy and regret. Then there’s Addison.

You know what? Here’s my get out of jail free card. We’ll pass on my complete disgust for Addison’s last comments. Moving onto Dell…

The boy cried. His ex packed up her bags and took their daughter with her leaving him distraught, angry and yet still putting other people before him as he uses his loss to encourage a patient to face hers. I’ve always liked that character. Hope his character continues to develop and we learn more about his child. I see a major custody battle in Private Practice’s future.

(S02E17) “Finishing”

The title of tonight’s Private Practice should have been One Month Later. Not just once did that boring subtitle flash across the screen post-commercial, but twice. It’s as if the shows writers and producers were just as anxious to get to the end of the hour as I was.

So what did we learn after such a long break from Oceanside Wellness Practice? Not a whole heck of a lot. Addison was tempted into having an affair with one of her patients surgeon husband. She turned him down, showing once again that she’s trying to turn a new leaf. Though, judging from next week’s trailer, this leaf could fall from the tree fast. Sam and Sonja break up after the “you called out your ex-wife’s name during sex” scandal which we saw last week. Not exactly a surprise ending there. Violet is still pushing away both Peter and Sheldon turning towards Cooper as her only source of closeness. And finally, Charlotte is still pushing Cooper away and constantly changing her mind about the status of their relationship. If you were to ask me, it’d be more interesting if they just broke up, her character could leave the show and he could move on to someone a little less crazy. Problem solved.

Whereas Private Practice’s origin show Grey’s Anatomy finds it’s interest factor in the character’s story lines, Private Practice once again proves that it’s characters are generally to melodramatic to invest too much time in, however, their patients are still able to spark our interest. Now whether or not that’s enough to hinge an audience’s interest on, well, you can probably figure out my opinion on that now can’t you.

(S02E16) “Wait and See”

have tried very hard in my past fifteen Private Practice reviews to keep my personal opinions out of it. Primarily, I’ve shied away from taking a stance because the show often hits key controversial issues in which there’s no winning battle at the moment. Everyone is at odds with each other over abortion, the cause of autism and even tonight’s outstanding issue, deciding how to raise inter-sex babies, but tonight the writers of Private Practice pushed me too far.

On two seperate occassions in tonight’s episode the audience is left to believe that in some cases, cheating in a relationships can not only be forgiven, but can strenghten a relationship. I’m sure they’re not the only ones that feel this way. Ceratinly, there may be those of you reading this right now that have reason to believe the truth in this. And who am I to argue? I’ve never been in those shoes. However, as the vast majority of people out there typically consider cheating a ridiculously cruel and selfish thing to do to an individual you were said to love, I’d say I’d have to disagree with their overall message. I’ve said it once and i’ll say it again, but the writers of Private Practice should really consider their audience more and understand that they are intelligent invididuals who would much prefer coming up with their own conclusions about subjects instead of having them force fed. That’s all I’m going to say about that from now on. Please excuse me this one indulgent rant.

(S02E15) Ex-Life

Though according to my TV guide 10 to 11 p.m. was supposed to be Private Practice hour I’d say that the episode had my attention more strongly pulled towards the drama at Grey’s Anatomy’s Seattle Grace hospital. With a seamless transition from one hour long episode to the next, I the crowd was already drawn into the drama surrounding the Grey’s cast and their guests from California; Addison, Naomi, Sam and Archer.

While we saw our fair share of Violet and Cooper’s developing baby drama during the hour, my attention was more tuned into Derek and Addison’s mother and baby trouble. With the tables turned it was time for Derek to turn to Addison and ask her to play God in order to save his patient and her baby’s lives. When mother and baby awoke both alive but seemingly mentally unhealthy one has to question, who exactly failed at their heavenly duties?

Back in Cali Dell was practically absent from the show and Pete only showed up for an angry word or two thrown in Violet’s direction. I have to admit though, it’s endearing to see him care so much about whether or not he’s her baby’s father, and also what role he should be allowed to play in both of their lives. For now though, it’s obvious that the only father figure in this baby’s life is being held by Cooper who acts as much a father as a husband to Violet and her unborn child. Obviously Charlotte’s still in a rage, stating that a man should only have one best friend and as his girlfriend, she should be it. She may not be right about a lot of things but I have to give her this, she’s right that Cooper and Violet are meant for each other. The romance may not shine, but he heart is definitely there.

(S02E14) Acceptance

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: If that’s what’s considered a major network television show crossover then I’ve clearly been living a lie.

At the end of Grey’s Anatomy, right as he’s preparing the major proposal to Meredith he gets a phone call from ex-wife Addison from Private Practice. So yes, if you watched one show you knew in the next you’d be seeing a phone call take place.

I, being the naive television watcher that I apparently am, anticipated that phone call to happen early on in the show and the drama to continue unfolding as the shows casts work together to help solve the conflict that Addison is obviously having with her brothers health- but no. No, instead we were introduced to a show which primarily takes place 14 hours earlier where it is discovered that Archer is having seizures.

After an almost half hour long freak out these non-operable cancerous tumors turn into parasites which can be killed with medication. But no, Addison wants to operate instead. Which is fine, I have no beef with the character’s decision, but honestly, did it really have to take a whole hour to come to this moment when she picks up the phone call in a tizzy asking for her surgeon ex-husband Derek’s help? I think not.

Violet spilled the baby beans to Sheldon and Pete who were both left unsure of how they feel towards the news after letting it stew for a good 10 minute chunk of the end of the episode. What a anti-climatic event that turned out to be. Oh, and Dell’s a good midwife. Well congrats Dell. I’m thrilled I’m sure. Honestly writers, I’m just plain old disappointed.

As for next week’s “crossover event,” I’ll be watching, but I’m not thrilled about it.

(S02E13) Second Chances

Private Practice went well tonight. I have to tell you, I’m digging the new (yet unlikely) friendship between Sam and Naomi. Pondering over it,  I think it’s because in real life I bet Taye Diggs and Audra McDonald’s relationship is more like that. The chemistry is most likely already there. So, though it’s surprising for the characters, for the show it works.

A plot line development that I’m not too keen on is the fact that Addison’s smooth talking brother is back in town, and this time it seems like a permanent visit.  In fact, in next week’s Grey’s/Private Practice combo show, Archer Montgomery will be the character that brings them all together. Grant Show’s character is alright as far as interesting guests go, but I’m really not looking forward to one more slick Doctor that thinks he can just have his way with women because he smiles. That’s what Wyatt was there for. He’s gone, so why fill that gap?

Moving on to our next pair, which often define the term “messed up relationships,” Cooper and Violet. We’re still no closer to finding out who Violet’s baby’s daddy is, but I don’t know that I care quite yet. Sheldon’s too twitchy or something, and Pete needs a real honest-to-God relationship before I could consider him with kids, so that leaves just one other likely candidate to help Violet raise this possible child: Cooper. How convenient that his relationship with Charlotte is officially over and he’ll be moving in with Vi. Not bad at all.  I’ll be looking forward to this development.

In the meantime, stayed tuned to ABC next Thursday. This Grey’s meets Private Practice should provide us with plenty of medical drama fodder to keep us turning on our sets. Enjoy!

(S02E12) “Nothing to Fear”

What a night for Private Practice. Charlotte’s pregnant and she doesn’t know who the daddy is (Pete or Sheldon presumably). Charlotte and Cooper decide to get hitched (with or without family?). Then, to top it all off, Dell’s organized adoption goes through the ringer, leaving us to wonder the whole episode, just who will care for this baby?

Judy, played by Everwood’s Sarah Drew, was back tonight and ready to deliver her baby with the steel resolve that at the end of the day the child would no longer be hers. However, when complications ensue and a large operation decision must be made Judy checks out allowing the doctors to tell the adoptive parents that the decision is all theirs. The only problem is, they don’t want to deal with it.

All’s well that ends well they say, and in this case, I’d have to agree. The adoptive parents realize just how badly they blew it and Judy decides that at the end of the day, if the couple is ready to step up to the plate from here on out, then they should be the lucky parents. So, I almost called it, but not quite.

Going forward we have a lot to look forward to. Kevin and Addison called it quits, and it appears that Wyatt’s left town but Big Bro Montgomery’s back. It’s no surprise that trouble will follow. In two weeks check out for more on that when Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice combine into one special medical dramedy that should hopefully rock our worlds. (I’m not going to hold my breath… but we shall see.) As for next week’s episode I am interested to learn who Violet’s baby-daddy is and just how he’ll handle it. I’m sort of rooting for Sheldon but I bet it’s Pete. What do you think?