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Private Practice Seasons
Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Season 4 Season 5 Season 6


The fifth season of Private Practice premiered on September 29, 2011 and ended May 15, 2012. The first seventeen episodes were broadcast Thursday nights at 10 PM on ABC before moving to Tuesday nights at the same timeslot starting with the eighteenth episode. The season consists of 22 episodes.

Summary[]

Relive all the excitement, tragedies, and triumphs of ABC's "Private Practice". Addison and her family at the practice face a whole new set of challenges as Addison decides she wants to have a baby, with or without Sam. Pete's health scare puts a strain on his marriage to Violet, Charlotte's past comes back to haunt her, and Amelia succumbs to her destructive habits. Plus, with the arrival of an attractive new doctor and the discovery of Cooper's illegitimate son, the doctors' relationships are pushed to the limit. It's primetime drama at its very best.

Plots[]

  • Pete suffers a heart attack and is saved by Cooper and Sam. This opens his eyes and he and Violet realize their marriage has become an empty darkness. Since Violet knows Pete wouldn't ever leave her, she offers to leave him. He accepts her offer and they figure out a way to make it work with Lucas. After Violet has a short-lived relationship with paramedic Scott, the two try to reconcile in marriage counseling. Pete eventually crosses a line when treating a patient and ends up in jail, which makes them realize what they feel for each other.
  • Addison and Sam give their relationship another shot, but with Naomi gone, Addison asks for the help of the practice's new fertility specialist Dr. Jake Reilly, whom she happened to have flirted with earlier, to get her a baby. Sam and Addison agree that they'll stay a couple while she does everything for the baby on her own, but after failed IVF treatments, Addison decides to take a break from the baby drama. However, unexpectedly, a patient from Addison's decides to give her newborn baby up for adoption, choosing Addison as the mother of her child. Meanwhile, the baby experience has brought Addison closer to Jake, leaving her to choose between two men who've declared their love for her, all the while Sam deals with the mental problems of his sister, who resurfaces after been missing for years.
  • Amelia continues her downward spiral, starting to drink again and having to deal with the suicide of her best friend Michelle, which leads her back to drugs. Eventually, Amelia ends up with Ryan, a drug addict she met at a party and consequently sleeps with. The two grow closer and bond over drugs. Amelia crosses the line when she writes drug prescriptions for personal use, alarming her colleagues. Addison throws her out of her house, so Amelia and Ryan go to stay in a hotel room. Amelia disappears for 12 days, worrying her colleagues, who stage an intervention when she resurfaces to announce her engagement to Ryan. During the intervention, Amelia personally attacks everyone, hurting her friends and burning bridges. Ryan comes to rescue her and they decide to get clean, but not until one last time. Ryan dies of an overdose, making Amelia hit rock bottom. She agrees to go to a rehab facility, where she gets clean. After returning to work, she slowly starts to repair her relationship with her  friends. She eventually discovers she's pregnant with Ryan's baby, but the baby turns out to have no brain. Amelia shuts out Addison, whose baby is completely healthy, but the two reconcile as Amelia's in labor. Amelia decides to donate her baby's organs.
  • Cooper and Charlotte are shocked when they discover Cooper has a son, Mason, with Erica, who he had a one night stand with. Cooper is excited to have a son, and after some initial struggles, even Charlotte welcomes the boy into their life. Things take a turn for the worst when Erica reveals she has an inoperable tumor. Amelia and Derek try to remove the tumor, but it later turns out it had spread further than they knew. She ultimately dies, leaving Mason in the care of Cooper and Charlotte. They struggle to raise the boy and find an appropriate way to address his grief, but Charlotte's proves her worth, eventually becoming Mason's "mama".
  • Sheldon struggles to stay supportive of Amelia as he sees she's on a downward spiral. Their friendship is threatened when she embarrasses him by telling him she'll never love him back during the intervention, but Sheldon quickly forgives her and helps her through her recovery. Sheldon later starts treating Sam's sister and remains Amelia's confidant throughout her pregnancy.
  • Jake Reilly joins the practice as the new fertility specialist. He helps Addison to get a baby, all the while growing closer with her and eventually declaring his love for her. Amelia's drug problems bring back painful memories of his first wife, who died of an overdose. He becomes Amelia's doctor during her pregnancy, as Amelia has a fallout with Addison.

Cast[]

Main Cast[]

Special Guest Stars[]

Recurring Guest Stars[]

Prominent Guest Stars[]

Recurring Co-Stars[]

Notes and Trivia[]

  • Private Practice was officially renewed for a fifth season on January 10, 2011. It was the first time for the series that it was renewed before the previous season ended.[source?]
  • The two-hour event that consists of Who We Are and The Breaking Point is also known as The Intervention.[source?]
  • This is the only season of Private Practice not to feature Audra McDonald as Naomi Bennett.
  • This is the last season to feature Tim Daly as Pete Wilder.
  • Benjamin Bratt was upped to series regular as of this season after being a special guest.
  • Caterina Scorsone was pregnant with her first child while filming the back half of the season. Her pregnancy was written into the show.[source?]
  • This season has ten main cast members, the largest in the show's history.

Episodes[]

No. in series No. in season Title Directed by Written by Original air date
77 1 "God Laughs" Mark Tinker Craig Turk September 29, 2011
PP5x01-6
Sam, Cooper, Charlotte and Amelia team up to save the life of their friend Pete after he suffers a heart attack, while Violet, who was in the middle of leaving Pete and LA, is nowhere to be found. Meanwhile, Addison's desire to have a baby leads her to see Jake Reilly, her recent mystery man, in a most surprising place, and Sheldon tries to help Amelia in her battle with alcohol.
78 2 "Breaking the Rules" Tom Verica Steve Blackman October 6, 2011
PP5x02-8
The Oceanside Wellness doctors interview potential replacements for Naomi, including Jake Reilly, and no one understands Addison's resistance to hiring him. Cooper breaks the law and crosses his wife, Charlotte, in an effort to get cord blood for a young, sick patient and Pete directs his post-heart attack frustrations towards Violet.
79 3 "Deal With It" Randy Zisk Jennifer Cecil October 13, 2011
PP5x03-8
Addison and Jake work with a patient who wants to have a baby even though she doesn't have a uterus. Amelia, back in AA and seemingly back on track, treats a Parkinson's Disease patient who habitually cheats on her husband. Violet, struggling to be a stay-at-home mom, attends a mommy group and finds it's not for her and Cooper receives the surprise of his life.
80 4 "Remember Me" Mark Tinker Barbie Kligman October 20, 2011
PP5x04-10
Cooper receives the surprise of his life when a woman from his past arrives at the practice. Addison consults her patient, Jodi, who is eight and half months pregnant and suffering from severe memory loss after a traumatic car accident and Sheldon and Violet clash when their patient, Jodi's husband, Zach, considers leaving his wife and taking the baby with him.
81 5 "Step One" Ann Kindberg Adele Lim October 27, 2011
PP5x05-17
Addison begins in vitro fertilization treatments with Jake's help, unbeknownst to Sam, Amelia is deeply conflicted when her terminally-ill friend, Michelle, asks her assistance in her suicide, and Sam and Violet contend with a patient who refuses his anti-psychotic medication.
82 6 "If I Hadn't Forgotten..." Jeff Bleckner Krista Vernoff November 3, 2011
PP5x06-7
Charlotte's painful memories of a horrible tragedy are triggered as Amelia continues her downward spiral. Addison takes one step closer to motherhood when she finally chooses a sperm donor. Cooper faces a difficult decision when he realizes his patient's parents have been drugging their son in an effort to control his supposed ADHD and Pete's trust issues prevent him from repairing his fragile relationship with Violet.
83 7 "Don't Stop 'Till You Get Enough" Bethany Rooney Fred Einesman November 10, 2011
PP5x07-15
Amelia's drug addiction spins further out of control as she plays hooky from work with a new fling, starts writing pill prescriptions for herself, and has a run-in with the cops. Addison and Jake are at odds when they must make the impossible choice between donating their patient's organs or saving the life of her healthy, unborn baby. Violet begins working at Seaside Wellness again, and Cooper, Charlotte, and Mason begin to form a family bond, much to Erica's chagrin.
84 8 "Who We Are" Mark Tinker Shonda Rhimes November 17, 2011
PP5x08-19
The Seaside Wellness group stages an intervention for a defensive and volatile Amelia, who has resurfaced after disappearing on a 12-day drug binge with her boyfriend, Ryan. During the intervention, Amelia mercilessly attacks her friends one-by-one, and Addison, in particular, has trouble seeing her sister-in-law in her present condition.
85 9 "The Breaking Point" Jeff Bleckner Christopher Fife November 17, 2011
PP5x09-1
Amelia makes the hard decision to enter a rehab facility, and finds strength in an 18 year-old girl, as they both go through the painful detox process. Meanwhile, Cooper's strengthening bond with his son is tested by his allegiance to a patient in need, Pete and Violet's marriage reaches a tipping point, and Addison collapses from her rigorous fertility treatments.
86 10 "Are You My Mother?" Ed Ornelas Elizabeth J.B. Klaviter January 5, 2012
PP5x10-13
Cooper struggles with whether or not to punish Mason after he catches him stealing. Pete and Violet find it hard to split time with Lucas now that they're living apart. Addison makes changes in her home life to prepare for a potential new baby. Violet and Jake work with two women and a man involved in a polyamorous triad. Meanwhile, Amelia returns to the practice and realizes how badly she hurt Sheldon when she was abusing drugs.
87 11 "The Standing Eight Count" Scott Printz Zahir McGhee January 12, 2011
PP5x11-13
Pete, Violet, Sam, and Addison adjust to their new, singles lives in different ways. Addison questions how much she wants a baby and confides in Jake, Violet considers an offer to go on a date with a young, hot paramedic, and Sam and Pete have a bachelors' night at a local bar. Meanwhile, Charlotte faces a personal, ethical dilemma when Amelia uncovers a secret about Mason's mom, Erica, and Sheldon refuses to bend to the pressure when an old friend from the police force wants him to rubber stamp a fellow cop suffering from PTSD.
88 12 "Losing Battles" Stephen Cragg Gabriel Llanas January 19, 2012
PP5x12-15
Just as Violet's personal life takes a turn for the better with Scott, the paramedic, Joanna (the abused woman she met at the airport months earlier) arrives in need of urgent medical attention, being both pregnant and badly beaten. Cooper, Charlotte, and Amelia all counsel Erica on the toughest decision of her life and Addison and Jake meet with potential surrogates.
89 13 "The Time Has Come" Mark Tinker Jennifer Cecil February 2, 2012
PP5x13-18
Sheldon counsels Sam's friend, Rick, an Army veteran suffering from PTSD who harbors a secreted sexual trauma. Erica and Mason are involved in a nonfatal car accident that forces Cooper and Charlotte to further come to grips with their future. Violet and Pete struggle to navigate life after marriage when he finds her kissing Scott and Addison and Jake attend a medical conference they won't soon forget.
90 14 "Too Much" Karen Gaviola Noah Evslin February 9, 2012
PP5x14-7
Sam finds his estranged sister, Corinne, in jail, heavily medicated and near-catatonic, and brings her to Sheldon for help. Erica begins secret treatments for her cancer and refuses to let Cooper and Charlotte tell Mason. Cooper, Pete, and Addison treat the baby of a drug addict and things between Violet and Scott continue to heat up in the bedroom.
91 15 "You Break My Heart" Allison Liddi-Brown Steve Blackman & Craig Turk February 16, 2012
PP5x15-12
Cooper and Charlotte take Erica to Seattle Grace to meet with Derek, Lexie, and Amelia regarding a very risky surgery. Scott tells Violet that he would like to take their relationship to the next level and Addison finds herself caught in the middle of Sam and Jake's fight about a patient. Meanwhile, Sheldon warns Sam to be cautious as he deals with the return of his sister, Corinne.
Part two of a crossover that began on Grey's Anatomy's Have You Seen Me Lately?.
92 16 "Andromeda" Mark Tinker Gabe Fonseca Febuary 23, 2012
PP5x16-7
Sam tries to take care of his sister, Corinne, but her mental condition makes that nearly impossible. Sheldon learns that Amelia has life-changing news. The flirtation between Addison and Jake continues, and Cooper rejects Charlotte's suggestion to seek outside help with Erica's care.
93 17 "The Letting Go" Paul Adelstein Barbie Kligman March 15, 2012
PP5x17-14
Sheldon warns Sam that he may be in over his head when he insists on releasing Corinne from the hospital and caring for her at home. A badly beaten Scott arrives at the ER and is placed under the care of Pete. Amelia is encouraged to make a decision about her unborn child and Jake's daughter grills him on his love life when he visits her at college. Meanwhile, Erica's health takes a turn for the worse.
94 18 "It Was Inevitable" Bill Purple Adele Lim & Christopher Fife April 17, 2012
PP5x18-1
As Erica's medical condition rapidly worsens, Cooper and Charlotte do their best to prepare an in-denial Mason. Violet and Pete, both single again, find they still have feelings for each other. Addison encourages Amelia to embrace impending motherhood, and Sheldon and Jake work with a devastating case in which a woman, jailed for killing her two children, is pregnant with a third.
95 19 "And Then There Was One" Tom Verica Jennifer Cecil & Elizabeth J.B. Klaviter April 24, 2012
PP5x19-13
Pete and Violet enter marriage counseling to help patch up their relationship. Amelia shuts down emotionally and avoids her peers upon hearing some devastating news. Addison adjusts to the new man in her life, and Charlotte and Cooper struggle with Mason when he refuses to speak to them. Meanwhile, Violet becomes suspicious of the sister of one of her patients.
96 20 "True Colors" Steve Robin Craig Turk & Steve Blackman May 1, 2012
PP5x20-7
Addison, Pete and the team treat an illegal immigrant facing deportation who self-induces her pregnancy so that her child will be a U.S. citizen. Cooper and Violet work with a young girl who has gender identity disorder - and with her parents - and Violet wants to continue therapy with Pete before they begin dating again.
97 21 "Drifting Back" Jeannot Szwarc Gabriel Llanas & Zahir McGhee May 8, 2012
PP5x21-11
When a patient's partner and father are heatedly divided on his health care, Pete makes a decision that impacts everyone, including himself. Meanwhile, Jake offers strength and experience to Amelia when he suspects she's being tempted to substance abuse, Sheldon and Violet treat a family concerned about the father's new sexual appetite, and as baby Henry draws Addison and Sam closer, they struggle to define their relationship.
98 22 "Gone, Baby, Gone" Ann Kindberg Shonda Rhimes May 15, 2012
PP5x22-9
When Amelia goes into labor, the Seaside doctors - even those she pushed away - come to her side as she faces the hardest decision of her life. Meanwhile, after Pete finds himself in life-changing trouble, he and Violet realize what they mean to one another, and Addison is faced with a choice.

DVD Release[]

PrivatePracticeS5DVD

The "Private Practice: The Complete Fifth Season" boxset was released in region 1 on September 11, 2012 by ABC Studios. On February 3, 2013 and November 14, 2012, the DVD was released in regions 2 and 4 respectively. The run time of the DVD is 946 minutes.

Set Details[]

The boxset contains the 22 episodes of the season. The DVD box contains 5 discs. Other set details are:

  • English (Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround)
  • 1.78:1 aspect ratio
  • Subtitles: English, French, and Spanish

Special Features[]

Additional to the episodes, the season 5 DVD set also contains a couple of special features:

  • The Practice of Parenthood – Filmmakers and cast discuss the addition of children to the series this season, the different kinds of family the show explores, and how being a parent affects the cast, both as actors and in their person lives.
  • Deleted Scenes
  • Bloopers

Gallery[]

Cast Promotional Photos[]

Posters[]

References[]

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