Private Practice

Private Practice is a spin-off of the television series, Grey's Anatomy. Created by Shonda Rhimes, the series chronicles the life of Dr. Addison Montgomery as she leaves Seattle Grace Hospital for Los Angeles in order to join a private practice. Rhimes also serves as executive producer alongside Betsy Beers, Mark Gordon, Mark Tinker and Marti Noxon; the latter serving as showrunner in lieu of Rhimes' duties on Grey's Anatomy. The backdoor pilot which aired on May 3, 2007 was directed by Michael Grossman. Produced by ABC Studios, The Mark Gordon Company and Shondaland Productions, the series was officially greenlit and given a thirteen-episode order on May 11, 2007. It aired on Wednesday nights on 9:00PM Eastern/8:00PM Central. Due to the Writers Guild of America strike, the show only completed a production of 9 from the 13 ordered episodes for its first season. On October 18, 2007, ABC ordered a full season for the show, completing a total of 22 episodes for its first season. The show premiered on September 26, 2007 on ABC, airing between Dancing with the Stars and Dirty Sexy Money.

Private Practice was shown in encores on Thursday nights at 10:00PM Eastern/9:00PM Central following Grey's Anatomy due to the hiatus/cancellation of Big Shots.

On February 11, 2008, ABC picked up Private Practice for the 2008-09 television season. With the order, the show is slated (as of September 2008) for a second season of at least 24 new episodes.

On April 25, 2008, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment announced a DVD release. Private Practice: The Complete First Season – Extended Edition — a DVD set including all 9 original episodes and exclusive bonus features including bloopers, audio commentary, deleted scenes, two extended episodes, featurettes and more. — was released September 16, 2008.

Cast and Characters

 * Merrin Dungey played the role of Dr. Naomi Bennett in the backdoor pilot but was replaced by Audra McDonald in June 2007.

Source: ABC.com, accessed May 18, 2007