Private Practice

One of the things I like about Private Practice is the music. The producers do a great job of choosing just the right tune to go along with the scene.

Perhaps the most famous example of this is in the very first Private Practice episode titled, “In Which We Meet Addison, A Nice Girl From Somewhere Else.” This is the great scene where Addison gets out of the shower and dances around her brand new house naked to the song of “I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’” by Scissor Sisters. Here’s a clip:

The music provides the perfect vibe to Addy’s new life, and Kate Walsh does an awesome job of dancing around with (and without) a towell. I can’t imagine doing that in front of a whole crew of people! The privacy of my house? Maybe. (Probably.)

Another great song choice was in the most recent episode of Private Practice, “In Which Dell Finds His Fight.” If you’ll remember, Cooper and Charlotte are in bed again, Dell kisses Naomi, Addison arrives at the police station[/tag] looking for that adorable cop, and this song plays in the background:

The song is both sad and sweet. When I first heard it I thought it was actually Nora Jones singing it. But no, it’s by Sonya Kitchell.

Another favorite choice is from the episode “In Which Sam Gets Taken for a Ride.” This was the episode with three births: the one in the birthing pool, the one at the convenience store, and the one with the woman that had three boys and wanted a girl.

The woman who gave birth in the tub had just lost her husband who happened to be a cop. That’s how Addison ends up meeting the cute cop to begin with. (He asks her out but then she has to say no because she’s supposed to meet up with Pete. Of course, later Pete stands her up and doesn’t tell her why. Oh… the drama!)

Back to the woman in the tub, though. She’s freaking out (and rightfully so) because her husband isn’t there and “You Have Been Loved” plays in the background:

Later, as the episode comes to a close, Pete arrives at Violet’s house (instead of Addison’s) and Cooper goes by Addison (after leaving Violet’s) and Sam arrives late to the office where Naomi is working. As all these storylines wrap up, “Say It’s Possible” by Terra Naomi plays in the background:

What a great voice this girl has, and so uplifting and moving all at the same time. Here’s the original video for this song which is very well done:

Perhaps the best song choice in Private Practice is in the episode, “In Which Addison Finds the Magic.” Pete is coming to grips with his wife’s death and goes to her grave to let out his frustrations and feelings and pent up emotions. Violet is still trying to get over Alan and finally has the courage to delete his one remaining voicemail message.

While all this is going on, Matthew Perryman Jones’ “Save You” plays in the background:

In Which We Meet Addison, A Nice Girl From Somewhere Else, Addison gets out of the shower, dances around, I Don’t Feel Like Dancin, Scissor Sisters, Kate Walsh, Dell kisses Naomi, Addison, Sonya Kitchell, You Have Been Loved, Say It’s Possible, Terra Naomi, In Which Addison Finds the Magic, Matthew Perryman Jones, Save You

I’m always amazed at how busy the actors from Private Practice are even when the show is in production. Now that it’s on a “hiatus” of sorts due to the writer’s strike, the actors have remained just as busy.

Taye Diggs has been doing some good deeds of the victims of Katrina of late, but that doesn’t stop him from using his acting muscles as well. According to a rumor in Vanity Fair, Diggs might just be be starring in the upcoming Chicago 7 directed by Steven Spielberg along with Sacha Baron Cohen and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Well, Mr. Speilberg… HELLO.

Roma Torre from NY1 News is praising Audra McDonald’s work in 110 in the Shade, calling it “phenomenal.” McDonald IS a talented actress. Even if she is the wrong Naomi.

But I digress!

Here’s her belting out “Simple Little Things” on The View a few months back. I think she’s talented, no doubt, but her performance on was a little too over the top. Yeah, yeah, I know Broadway IS over the top… but her voice is just too… much like watching an obnoxious kid sing “Silver Bells” on Christmas. (Like a certain cousin of mine who used to think she was Barbara Friggin Streisand. You know who you are.)

KaDee Strickland and Paul Adelstein, meanwhile, are supporting the striking writers by their participation in “Diversity Day.” Check out Adelstein’s bearded up face – the typical “I’m out of work” sign for any actor.

Speaking of which… when’s that writer’s strike gonna come to an end already?

actors from Private Practice, Taye Diggs, Chicago 7, directed by Steven Spielberg, Sacha Baron Cohen and Philip Seymour Hoffman, 110 in the Shade, KaDee Strickland, Paul Adelstein, Diversity Day, writer’s strike

Tuna tartar shaped like a butterfly. That’s romantic. Right?

Sounds pretty romantic to me. But hey - I have a feeling anything would be romantic with Kate Walsh and her cute hubby Alex Young involved.

Anywho, Kate tells TV Guide that her hubby proposed to her over a dish of tuna tartar. Since she digs butterflies, he also arranged to have it shaped like a butterfly.

Awww…..

She also praised the benefits of being slightly older. Especially when it comes to fame, saying:

“If this all had happened to me when I was 25, I would have been shaving my head and driving over people’s feet!”

Now, she wouldn’t happen to be talking about everybody’s favorite train wreck Britney Spears, would she?

Naw, that can’t be it.

Seriously, Kate Walsh’s sense of humor is so awesome. That’s one reason she stood out on the Grey’s Anatomy set. She seems to take everything in stride and doesn’t let anything rattle her. Love that. Of course being older helps with that as well.

Speaking of Kate’s wedding, her dress is listed as second best of the year on LoveTripper. Katherine Heigl’s is third. I know those two are buds, but I really can’t see Kate and Kat actually hanging together. Ya know? Kate seems fun and Katherine seems…. what’s the word…. annoying.

Anyways, Kate’s Cadillac commercial is also voted sexiest of 2007. Kate is having THE YEAR OF ALL YEARS, what with the new hubby, new show, new commercial… what can be next? New baby?

No. Not yet anyway.

She did help inspire the name “Addison” as one of the most popular of 2007. (Along with Aidan and Ava.) I can’t help noticing the name “Izzy” isn’t one of the more popular ones. Hmm… wonder why?

shaped like a butterfly, Kate Walsh, Alex Young, Britney Spears, new hubby, new show, Addison, one of the most popular of 2007

Happy Birthday, Taye Diggs!

The Private Practice hunk is 37 today.

celebrity birthdays, taye diggs birthday, january birthdays, famous people born in january

Since this is the time many of us make New Year’s resolutions, I thought it might be fun to make a few for the characters of Private Practice. (After all, they can’t make them themselves these days. What with the writer’s strike and all.)

Here’s what the gang at Oceanside Wellness should resolve to do for 2008:

Dr. Pete should get over his dead wife already.

I know, this sounds callous. But it isn’t. It’s for his own good. After all, he’s missing out by not having the courage to move on. It’s been years since she died, and he hasn’t made peace with their relationship or the fact that she’s gone now. By holding himself in limbo, he’s unable to move forward and find happiness. Getting over his wife’s death doesn’t necessarily mean he has to jump into a new relationship. It does, however, mean he’s got to find that part within himself that is happy and secure. It will help his patients, his health, and yes, his love life.

Naomi needs to quit pining over Sam, and start up a fling with some young buck. But not Dell.

Don’t get me wrong here, I love the fact that Dell grabbed Naomi and kissed her. But it’s never a good idea to dip your nub in the company inkwell. Especially when Naomi writes Dell’s paychecks.

What Naomi needs is fun. She’s too darn serious and matronly. Sure, she did it with Sam on the conference room table, and that was pretty sexy, but even after being ravished by hunky Taye Diggs the character of Naomi still managed to come off like an old lady. She needs to find a great young guy that just wants sex from her and nothing else.

Violet needs to get her head out of her bottom.

Exhibit A: The guy Violet is pining over:

Exhibit B: The guy that is pining over Violet:

Do we really need to go any further with this one? Yes, we do. Because not only is Cooper the most adorable guy in the Oceanside Wellness office, he’s Violet’s emotional soul mate. They balance each other out. He takes her odd obsessing in stride and she manages to remind him that Internet dating is good, while having sex with someone you just met is BAD. Just take a look at this scene and decide for yourself who Violet should be with:

Addison needs to remember what dating is like.

It’s not her fault. When people get a little older in life they naturally begin looking at the single people they meet as RELATIONSHIPS rather than DATES. Dates are fun. Dates are low-pressure. Dates build up your self-esteem. You need to go out on several dates in order to see if you really and truly like a person. It takes several dates to make a relationship. Date, Addy, date!

Dell needs to remember he’s a young guy.

He’s not one of the middle-aged doctors at Oceanside Wellness. He shouldn’t even want to be like them. It’s been hinted at in earlier episodes that he’s had it rough, with possibly an abusive childhood. We already know that he’s the one dealing with Grandpa, too. People that have to grow up fast, like Dell, often forget how young they really are. Dell needs to find a cute girl his own age and spend more time surfing and less pining over ancient Naomi.

Cooper needs to stop having casual sex.

If he ever wants to get with Violet, and we already know he does, he needs to show her that she can take a chance on him. As it stands, his carelessness in dating is one thing that holds her off wanting to be with him. Cooper needs to understand that when you date sluts it’s just plain gross to that great woman you’re gonna want to be with one day.

Sam needs to stop wondering why he divorced Naomi and get with a brand new hot babe.

Sam is caught between wanting to want Naomi and wanting to be with someone else. This will only lead one place: outside his relationship with Naomi. He was well on his way but then slipped and accidentally had sex with Naomi on the conference room table. He just needs to keep going… out of Oceanside Wellness and into the great big world out there.

Oceanside Wellness, Sam on the conference room table, Taye Diggs

A little six degrees of separation thang with the folks from Private Practice.

Hollywood is so incestuous, isn’t it?

Anyways, I was a huge fan of Tim Daly’s old show Eyes, and I remembered a hot redheaded chick that guest-starred as Kendall Judd, Daly’s on-screen wife for a few episodes. If you’ll remember, she came back into town and he thought her place was bugged, so he had to basically protect and watch out for her. (Sparking old romantic feelings, natch.)

In looking through YouTubeVille I finally found who it was: Kate Walsh.

The two of them definitely had chemistry on Eyes as well. See for yourself, here’s part one of Kate’s episode:

And part two:

I’ll be curious to see if any of the past stars of Wings or Judging Amy now show up on Private Practice.

six degrees of separation, Private Practice, Tim Daly’s old show Eyes, hot redheaded chick, Kendall Judd, Daly’s on-screen wife, Kate Walsh, had chemistry on Eyes, Judging Amy, Amy Brenneman, Tyne Daly, played a jerky lawyer

What are the Private Practice stars doing over the holidays?

Kate Walsh started hers by attending Katherine Heigl’s wedding to Josh Kelley[/tag]. The Grey’s girl and her musical beau tied the knot December 23rd in Utah. (Heigl is pictured with Kelley here at the Troubador in L.A. back in October.)

The wedding was apparently low-key, with only a few celebs in attendance. Besides Walsh, T.R. Knight and Sandra Oh, and Justin Chambers were in attendance. According to OK! Magazine, the bride dashed down the aisle in an Oscar de la Renta gown. White, of course. The two lovebirds also wrote their own vows. Awwww……

Heigl met Kelley on the set of his video “Only You” where she played the object of his affection. Here’s a peak for all you folks that haven’t seen it yet:

Tip for all aspiring musicians: If there’s a particular girl you’’e digging, just invite her to do a music video. No actress can resist this, and when you sing to her it automatically makes her fall for you.

Wonder if our girl Kate gave Kat any tips on marriage? How to have your photograph snapped at the grocery store, perhaps? Or how to smooch in public with your new hubby?

While Kate attends weddings and helps promote Private Practice elsewhere in the world, Audra McDonald is working on Broadway projects and waiting for the writers strike to end so she can return to work at Private Practice.

McDonald is quite a talented Broadway actress, and if you haven’t had a chance to see her yet, check out this clip from the Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny where she actually sings opera.

Amazing.

Playbill reports that McDonald will once again reprise her role in A Raisin in the Sun (that’s the one she did with P.Diddy) on February 25. This one will be for TV. Where will it air? ABC… of course.

Private Practice, Kate Walsh, T.R. Knight, Sandra Oh, Justin Chambers, Oscar de la Renta gown, own vows, on the set of his video, tips on marriage, Audra McDonald, Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny, A Raisin in the Sun, P.Diddy

Chris Lowell plays hunky surfer dude Dell on Private Practice. Dell’s official title is receptionist, although he’s really the emotional center of the Oceanside Wellness staff. Besides that, he’s also a midwife in training, making for some interesting scenes with the fictional patients of Private Practice.

Like these, for example:

Lowell was born in Atlanta on October 17, 1984, and got bit by the acting bug while taking drama classes there. Ever the ambitious entrepreneur, he helped start the “Film Program” and “Video Yearbook,” which, according to his bio on ABC, “allow students to get a taste of the filmmaking process from script to the screen.”

Before Private Practice, Lowell was Kristen Bell’s love interest, Piz, on Veronica Mars.

Here’s a clip:

He was also a part of the series Life As We Know It with Kelly Osborne.

Lowell’s been busy in the movies as well. He starred in the recently released feature You Are Here, which is about a group of twenty-something friends that wake up after a crazy night out and realize they are affecting each other’s lives in surprising ways. He’s pictured above with Henry Pincus, director, Patrick Flueger, Bijou Phillips, and Lauren Germn at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.

Here’s a preview:

He also starred in Graduation, about graduating seniors that decide to rob one of their parent’s banks. A clip:

In addition to playing tortured teens on TV (and I mean that in the best way possible), Lowell has a passion for photography. His photos can be viewed on his website. He’s also been known to make a few short films of his own, specifically “mockumentaries.” I’d say we’re sure to see more of this young man in the years to come!

In the meantime, we can see him as lovable Dell in Private Practice. The character clearly has many layers, and we’re just beginning to see them. (Much like the man that plays him.) Here’s a recent clip:

Chris Lowell, hunky surfer dude, midwife in training, bit by the acting bug, Kristen Bell’s love interest, Piz, Veronica Mars, You Are Here, Sundance Film Festival, Graduation, passion for photography, mockumentaries

Paul Adelstein’s character, Dr. Cooper Freedman, is one of my favorites on Private Practice. He brings the sheik to geek!

Before Adelstein came to Private Practice, however, he had quite a few key roles in movies and television. Many know him from his role as Agent Paul Kellerman on Prison Break. He was great in that, and so very different from lovable but dorky Cooper.

Here’s a clip that highlights his character on Prison Break:

He also starred in Memoirs of a Geisha, Be Cool, Collateral, and Intolerable Cruelty (pictured above with George Clooney). Do you even recognize him from this picture? There’s no Agent Kellerman or Dr. Cooper there!

He’s also shown below with the cast and crew from the Intolerable Cruelty premiere: Billy Bob Thornton, Ethan Coen, Brian Grazer, George Clooney, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Joel Coen, and Geoffrey Rush.

His character in Be Cool was also very different. It’s a testament to Adelstein’s acting ability that he was able to pull off these characters and have them be so very different from one another. Here’s a clip from Be Cool:

Adelstein started out his acting career in the 1990 film The Grifters, with John Cusack. His other television credits include guest roles on Medium, Scrubs, Nobody’s Watching, and Las Vegas. He’s also had guest appearances on shows just about everyone has had roles on: ER and Law & Order. Why not? They’ve been around for a decade or more.

Personally, Adelstein met his wife through his acting vocation (unlike his on-screen half who frequents the Internet.) Adelstein and Liza Weil (that’s Liza with a “Z”!) married in November 2006. To two are reportedly working on a couple projects in which they’ll be able to act together. He was born April 29, 1969.

paul adelstein, paul adelstein’s acting roles, agent kellerman, adelstein on prision break, before private practice, paul adelstein’s wife, liza weil, paul adelstein’s first film role

Caught this great video on YouTube about Addison’s first arrival on Grey’s Anatomy. I love it because it’s told from Meredith’s perspective and talks all about secrets. Like, you really don’t know someone until you KNOW THEM.

So many people feel as if they know someone just because they see them on TV, work with them, or even (choke) read their blog. But you don’t, not until you get inside their lives and find out what makes them tick.

I wonder how many people, upon first seeing Addison on Grey’s, loved her character? Here she was, the “other woman” (even though she technically wasn’t) and she waltzes into the love lives of two characters that seem so much sweeter than she comes off. When she delivers that great line: “And you must be the woman who’s screwing my husband.”

That’s why these next few minutes; also from her start on Grey’s, completely change everything you think about her. Especially the last few. Take a look:

In a few short scenes, she goes from being the bitch, to the wounded ex-wife, to the revenge-seeking ex-wife, to the hurt and yet still professional and fair doctor. No wonder the character got her own show. And Kate Walsh really does a great job with showing the different sides of the character without being typical or boring about it.

This next quick clip brings all the ups and downs of Addison together and makes you understand why she left Seattle Grace Hospital and drove on down to sunny (and sometimes rainy) L.A. Plus, the music on this one, “Porcelain Heart,” is so sad and yet really lovely besides.

secrets, And you must be the woman who’s screwing my husband, Kate Walsh

Love this story from New York Magazine about a waitress who received a $250 tip from Taye Diggs. In the article, the waitress (and also model, apparently) said:

“Taye Diggs used to literally make coffee at the Coffee Shop. He came in last year with a couple of his friends, Oliver Hudson and someone else. They gave me $250 on a $30 check!”

He used to LITERALLY make coffee. Who knew?

Seriously though, it’s good to know some Hollywood stars know how to give back to the regular folks once they hit the big time. Diggs is obviously a generous spirit.

The article also says Dave Chappelle’s been hanging out there as well, and that he gets French toast and is very nice even though he “doesn’t want to be bothered or talked to.”

Yes – sounds charming to me.

Speaking of Taye Diggs, there’s a hilarious rant on film.com about superheroes in movies. Now, being a tremendous geek myself, I actually kind of like that practice, although I do understand Sacha Howells take:

“How long ’til they rescue Aquaman from the purgatory of an Entourage punch line and rush it into preproduction, with Daniel Craig in the lead and Taye Diggs as Black Manta?”

Hmm…let’s see, Daniel Craig in the lead…

…with Taye Diggs at his side?

We like.

$250 tip from Taye Diggs, Dave Chappelle

Found an interesting article about today’s advertising climate and it’s use of a snide or sarcastic attitude to sell cars. I was even more surprised to see that Kate Walsh’s Cadillac commercial was listed as part of the “new advertising snide.”

According to SFGate.com:

Here we get to the crux of advertising snide; communicating that you are far too hip to work up a spit to sell your product; that like most endeavors these days, the ad is hardly worth the effort. “No,” actress Kate Walsh intones in a bored, singsong voice in an ad for Cadillac, “the question isn’t whether you car has features like a 40-gig hard drive, it isn’t about sun roofs, Sapelli wood accents, or any of that.” “No,” she drones, dismissing features that were until recently the essence of auto lux, “the real question is when you turn your car on, does it return the favor?”

Here’s the thing: I actually kind of like that commercial.

I like the fact that a hot, hip, and gorgeous 40-something female is the one selling the car. The fact that she’s “sarcastic” in the ad makes sense, especially if you think of her Private Practice character, Addison.

After all, if she’s able to afford a Cadillac, she’s obviously successful and has probably worked hard to get that success. More than that, I think other successful females will relate to her attitude. (Hence, they’ll be more willing to buy the car, too.)

Here’s the commercial, for those of you who haven’t seen it:

What do you think? Does this type of advertising work?

What’s a girl to do when she finds herself out of work for the time being? Say… because of a writer’s strike… or something hypothetical like that? Fly to Spain, of course. At least, that’s what Kate Walsh did this week, to promote Private Practice in the beautiful city of Madrid. She attended a special screening at Captiol Cinema on Monday.

Here’s a clip from her appearance:

Did you catch her new look? Short bangs and all? Not sure I dig this, I like Addison so much better when she’s got the gorgeous red hair flying all over. Then again, Walsh is being herself right now… and not Addy. (I knew what you guys were thinking…)

I do think her dress is fabulous, though. Wonder if her cute hubby came along for the trip?

On another writer’s strike related note, Kate Walsh pulled out of announcing the SAG awards nominations this morning. Can’t cross that picket line, folks! She did the right thing, of course, but what a bummer.

writer’s strike, Kate Walsh, SAG awards

Taye Diggs is making good use of his time off while the writer’s strike persists. Earlier this week he flew to New Orleans to join in a “good Tide - ings” event for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Tide created it’s “CleanStart” truck in 2005 to offer free laundry services to families after the hurricane. The manufacturer has been back four times and washed over 20,000 loads of laundry.

Diggs did his part by carrying laundry and by using his talented singing voice. He entertained the crowd with Christmas carols, sipped hot cocoa, and talked with people about their experience.

“Yesterday, I spent time visiting a number of families in New Orleans. They told me that this is the first time in two years that they will be able to enjoy the holidays in their own homes. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to help Tide support such a worthwhile cause,” said Diggs. “I encourage everyone to join them in doing everything possible to continue to help this city.”

Each family also received new washers and dryers, grocery store gift certificates, and a one-year supply of Tide detergent.

And see that awesome tee shirt Taye Diggs has on? You can help out in the effort simply by buying one of those tee shirts. They’re only $15 from the Tide website, and all proceeds will be donated to America’s Second Harvest to help families whose lives have been affected by disasters.

Taye Diggs, victims of Hurricane Katrina, free laundry services, Tide detergent, America’s Second Harvest

With the writer’s strike lagging on, some of the networks are beginning to switch things around in an effort to boost (or at least maintain) ratings.

According to the New York Times, ABC will temporarily replace Private Practice with Supernanny. They’ll also move Wife Swap to Pushing Daisies usual time spot. These changes are due to happen next month.

This is another reason the writer’s strike is starting to worry me. Today’s television viewer is not the same as it once was. More than that, regular TV can be replaced (at least temporarily!) with reality programming with minimal time and effort.

Apparently ABC is also trying to get some more viewers interested in Lost. Starting at the end of Janaury, they’ll move Grey’s Anatomy (their big ratings cow) out of the way to make room for eight episodes of Lost. Grey’s reruns will then float around on Friday and Saturday nights for a while.

What happens after that? Presumebly, the writer’s strike will then be over and new episodes will be in the works. At least, we can hope.

In other news, came across some interesting figures from TV Guide regarding Private Practice and viewer statistics. For example:

Median income for homes that watched Private Practice: $63,000. Average age for people watching ABC: 49.

Those are AVERAGES? So a lot of older weathly folks seem to like the show. Good to know (I guess.)

Private Practice is reairing “In Which Addison Find the Magic” tonight. In case you haven’t seen it, it’s a great episode. This is the one where Addison first helps a newlywed couple, who incidentally, we do see again later in the season. In the episode Addison needs a recharge of faith, per se, and at this time of year, maybe that’s something we can all relate to. Here’s a highlight: