He still believes in Addison and Pete.
“This is the deal: Every great TV romance in success plays out over a really long period of time,” said Tim Daly when asked by the TV Addict on a recent one-on-one if there is any hope at all for the coupling that was so clearly telegraphed at the start of the series. “If Pete and Addison had been in some kind of relationship in the first or even the second season, it may have foreshortened something so delicious to let unfold as the series continues. I still think there is room for that spark between Pete and Addison to combust, but how and when that comes to be is a subject for debate.”

Enjoys the lighter moments of PRIVATE PRACTICE.
In spite of the show finding its footing placing babies in peril week-in-and-week-out, Daly, who got his start with 172 episodes of the hit NBC sitcom WINGS enjoys the lighthearted moments at Oceanside Wellness the best. “I really enjoy when we get a chance to do something funny, particularly the funny camaraderie between the guys,” explained Daly. “Obviously we’ve got a lot of sick babies on this show, I mean my God we’re doing our best to reduce the population on the planet by scaring woman all over the world from having babies! That said, I do try to find humour whenever I can.”

Calls Pete and Violet was his idea!
Okay, so perhaps not entirely his idea, but Daly is quick to point out that the relationship between Pete and Violet that resulted in an unexpected baby did stem from his fantastic working relationship with co-star Amy Brenneman. Elaborated Daly, “Violet and Pete was not something that was planned from the beginning. It was something that happened because [Amy] Brenneman and I worked well together and the writers thought, ‘Hmmm… this is interesting, let’s explore that.’ That being said, the character of Pete has given Violet a tremendous amount of leeway to go through her emotional difficulties and I don’t know how far he’ll continue to bend.”

Sex, Lies and… Tim Daly.
Tim Daly’s career could have taken a very different career path had it not been for the untimely end to the 1988 Writer’s Strike. “I was actually cast is Steven Soderbergh’s first film Sex, Lies and Videotape. But when the Writer’s Strike ended, I couldn’t get out of my obligation to a pilot [David Chase's first show],” said the actor. “Long story short, at the time my agent was like, ‘Steven Soderbergh, some guy with a stupid little movie that may never see the light of day!’ Until a few months later when it won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and I was heartbroken! Who knows what my career path might have been.”

Staunch supporter in the Arts.
Did you know that entertainment is the second largest export in our country? Tim Daly certainly does, and as part of the Creative Coalition has taken it upon himself to make sure you too know about the importance of arts in North America. “We view Arts as some kind of luxury item, some extra thing that’s not really necessary and that couldn’t be further from the truth,” explained Daly, a passionate advocate for the arts. “We’re approaching a one-third high school drop out rate in the United States and kids that study a rigorous curriculum in the arts are three times more likely to graduate from high school. Art is part of our lives, anywhere you look, be it your pants, your wall, the floor, all of it has been designed by artists. It’s my mission to get people to start people talking about the arts in the same way they start talking about manufacturing automobiles or growing crops.

Photo Credit: ABC/Andrew Eccles

PRIVATE PRACTICE airs on Thursdays at 10PM on ABC (A Channel in Canada)

Sarah Chalke is officially a mother! Unlike that other show where the identity of the mother is shrouded in secrecy, Chalke puts to rest all those pesky ‘mother’ rumours (See: belly!) when she makes her much-anticipated return to SCRUBS on Tuesday January 5th.

Giving hope to nerds, geeks and dweebs everywhere comes this spy shot from the January 8th instalment of DOLLHOUSE. Topher Brink finally gets the girl Glau, when Bennett (Glau) and Brink (Fran Kranz) take a break from (hopefully) bringing down the evil Rossum Corporation to share an intimate moment.

Joining DAMAGES for its upcoming third season is funny-man Martin Short. Yeah, this should be interesting.

Just when you thought THE BIG BANG THEORY couldn’t get anymore WONDER-ful, enter Danica McKellar. Best known as Winnie Cooper on THE WONDER YEARS, McKellar will play a love interest for Raj when Sheldon and Koothrappali attend a university mixer on the upcoming January 11th episode.

On January 14, things at Oceanside Wellness are about to heat up when McSteamy himself, Mark Sloane follows Addison back to Santa Monica in a last-ditch effort to help his just-discovered pregnant daughter (Leven Rambin) get some much needed medical attention.

If there is a silver-lining to the fact that tonight’s Thursday night schedule is devoid of GREY’S ANATOMY, it’s that fans of that other Shonda Rhimes medical drama — you know, the one where all the drama happens on-screen — will have the pleasure of enjoying back-to-back helpings. And here to help preview tonight’s two-hour PRIVATE PRACTICE even is none other then actor who portrays Sam — Taye Diggs ± with his take on the connection between Sam and Addison, Sam and Naomi and most unexpectedly of all, Sam and Jay Harrison (Trust us, it all make sense when you’re done!)

I suppose I should start with the one question on every PRIVATE PRACTICE fan’s mind: What’s up with Sam and Addison?!
Taye Diggs: The fact that we’re really good friends and that we’ve made this pact with each other to not sleep with anyone and just spend some time alone has really kind of brought us closer together which I know the writers are having a lot of fun with. Especially since we’re the only two truly single doctors in the Practice that aren’t already caught up in some other business. That said, I don’t know just how far we’re going to go with it.

Would you like to see the writers take the relationship to the next level?
I think it would make great drama considering Addison, Naomi and Sam are so closely knit. Plus Naomi certainly would fly off the handle!

From what I understand, tonight’s episode has Sam and Naomi ‘dealing with a family crisis.’ Does a pregnancy scare for your teenaged daughter bring Sam and Naomi closer together?
It will certainly bring us closer physically, but as parents, I play the stereotypical make where I feel that Naomi is simply jumping to conclusions whereas Naomi, as a mother is a little bit more concerned.

Is there any hope for Sam and Naomi?
I think the writers have done a really great job of portraying an accurate view of a relationship and while I would never say never, it sure is fun to play single Sam.

Photo Credit: idinamenzel.com

With PRIVATE PRACTICE having a proclivity for putting kids in peril, how has being a new father [Note: Wife Idina Menzel recently gave birth to the couple's first child Walker) influenced your acting?
Because I'm in it, see the fake blood on set and know it's fake, it hasn't been a problem for me. But now that I'm a father, I'm much more aware of how other parents feel and can better appreciate the fact that many parents have told me how hard it is to watch certain episodes because they're comparing whatever is happening on screen to their own lives and own children.

How has it been juggling fatherhood with the grind of shooting a weekly television drama?
It can be tough, but PRIVATE PRACTICE is a sizeable ensemble. On an average week I'll work a couple of days for a couple of hours and then I'm home to spend time with the wife and the kid. So it's actually kind of a dream job.

And I can't let you go without mentioning your upcoming guest appearance on one of my favorite new comedies. How did you end up on BETTER OFF TED?
Jay Harrison, who plays Ted is one of my very best friends from college [Syracuse University]. So after he did some guest work on PRIVATE PRACTICE, we just thought it would be cool if I got to do some work on his show as well.

Was getting a break from the drama of Oceanside Wellness refreshing?
It was. I love comedy and it was great working with one of my best friends.

On Thursday, ABC will air back-to-back episodes of PRIVATE PRACTICE, the second of which will bring to the forefront Dell, when a terrible explosion at his house lands daughter Betsey and wife Heather in the hospital. And here to talk a little bit about the episode, where Dell has been all season long, and of course VERONICA MARS is Chris Lowell.

Dell has really been pushed to the background this season. Can you talk a little bit about why that happened, and if this Thursday’s episode will mark somewhat of a resurgence for your character?
When Shonda [Rhimes] and I talked about doing less episodes this season [Lowell will reportedly be in 13 of the season's 22 episodes] the idea behind it was instead of putting Dell in every episode — where a lot of the times he wasn’t doing anything particularly significant to the episode, show, or plot — give Dell less episodes, but make his roles in them more significant. Thursday is a huge episode, I certainly prefer coming to work and having really meaty stuff to do everyday. And from what I understand you’ll be seeing Dell around more and more.

Being significantly younger than the rest of the cast, how challenging has it been as an actor to fit into the practice?
I think I had a similar struggle to my character in the sense that the whole plot-line for Dell in the first season was him trying to prove himself and trying to establish himself as a central member of the practice. And when you sign onto a show — especially this show, a Shonda Rhimes show, with a cast which is so strikingly talented and when GREY’S ANTOMY was at its peek, where I’m like the wildcard essentially — for me, it was a similar struggle, and not one imposed by anyone but myself wanting to prove to these other actors that I was good enough to work with them. The ironic thing is that I don’t think they ever treated me as anything less than equal. Getting to work with actors and writers this talented has been a really beautiful thing.

The first two seasons really had fans thinking that Naomi might one day reciprocate Dell’s feeling for her, do you think there’s any chance the story will go there during the latter half of the season?
I hope so, I’ve been wanting Dell to get laid for a long time. I feel like the last time Dell had sex was when he impregnated Heather with Betsey! So I’m hoping that he’s gonna get a little action before the season ends, and frankly, I have absolutely no objection to that action being gotten with Audra McDonald (Naomi). That would make me very happy. But Shonda keeps her cards very close to the vest. I certainly didn’t see myself getting married in episode 8, that definitely came out of left field.

Do you still get recognized from VERONICA MARS?
VERONICA MARS fans are the craziest fans of them all, and I mean that in a good way. I’ve never met any fans of any show who are as die hard as them. When I started on VERONICA MARS I remember the producers coming up to me and saying, “Look, don’t be offended but every one of the fans are going to hate you because you’re essentially breaking up Logan and Veronica! But we cast you because we’re hoping they won’t hate you as much.” I still hang out with those guys all the time. Ryan Hansen and Kristen Bell are two of my best friends out here. It was definitely a fun ride and I had a great time on that show.

And finally, your penchant for scoring roles with some of my favorite actors continues this December with the release of Up in the Air What was it like working with George Clooney and Jason Batemen on a Jason Reitman film?
It was as cool as it sounds and just about sums it up in terms of the people who you want to be working with right now. Clooney, Batemen and Jason Reitman are just incredible professionals and when I say that I mean that not only do they have a very dedicated work ethic, on top of it they make it seem painless. I mean you wouldn’t want to leave the set. It was one of those rare occurrences when you’re just like, “Nah, let’s just stay for a couple more hours.” And I think it’s really all due to the atmosphere that Reimtan and Clooney create on set.

Not to be outdone by his fictional small screen son David Gallagher, who will be swooping into Metropolis this Friday as one half of “The Wonder Twins” comes Stephen Collins. Yes, the artist formerly known as Reverend Camden will be descending upon Santa Monica for an unwelcome face-to-face with daughter Addison on the November 19 episode of PRIVATE PRACTICE entitled “Sins of the Father.” More first look photos of the man Addison lovingly refers to as “The Captain” can be seen after the jump.

Apparently we’re not the only ones who are obsessed with THE VAMPIRE DIARIES. Turns out, when she’s not busy acting, singing and promoting her hit show GLEE, star Lea Michele is hooked. “Getting ready to pick Mr Groff up from the airport! Let the week of fun begin!!! But first Vampire Diaries. Why is this show SO good!” Now all that’s left is for @msleamichele to publicly proclaim her loyalty: Team Damon or Team Stefan?

Did actress Leven Rambin (TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES) just spill the beans on yet another GREY’S ANATOMY/PRIVATE PRACTICE crossover? Maybe, maybe not, but one thing’s for sure: According to this tweet, the actress, who is on the set of GREY’S ANATOMY as we tweet speak is poised to be hitting up both shows in the not-to-distant-future, “The Lord answered all your prayers! Thank you all so much! I’m going to be on Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice this season, y’all!” Hmmmm, perhaps @shondarhimes would care to shed a little light on this?

We have a feeling that life just got a little less UneXpected for the the CW’s new heroine-to-be Lux. Who, according to LIFE UNEXPECTED showrunner Liz Tigelaar will soon be joined by what we are going to go ahead and irresponsibly speculate is a love interest. Tweeted Tigelaar, “some of the cast to portland. one new member of the cast soon on his way to the couve. welcome, austin butler. our jones.”

This week’s awkward tweet of the week goes to VAMPIRE DIARIES star Nina Dobrev who tweeted her addiction to time-slot competitor FLASHFORWARD, “@kevwilliamson LOVE FLASHFORWARD. I’m addicted. We shouldn’t be though…lol conflict of interest, don’t you agree?”

And finally, while this doesn’t exactly come as a surprise considering his Canadian pedigree, BONES showrunner Hart Hanson has a sense of humour pertaining to what some (certainly not us!) might call eerily similarities between his show and that other procedural. Tweeted @HartHanson, “@geekiskhan I don’t have to watch “Castle”. I see “Bones” so I can watch the original. Oh, snap! That’s right.I said it! I do like Fillion.” Snap indeed.

Hey, we love Sarah Drew as much as the next EVERWOOD Addict, but after casting her in PRIVATE PRACTICE, INSIDE THE BOX (which for those not in the know was Rhimes ABC pilot that wasn’t picked up this season) and now GREY’S ANATOMY, we can’t help but wonder, where your infatuation stems from?

Do you think it was fair to loyal fans of GREY’S ANATOMY that you dropped a fairly large bombshell about Bailey’s personal life during last week’s crossover episode of PRIVATE PRACTICE?! With a difference of around four million viewers, that’s a whole lot of GREY’S ANATOMY fans who just missed out on the fact that Bailey’s husband Tucker was ‘emotionally’ cheating on her.

Where is Del?

Whose not-so-bright idea was it to name Seattle Grace’s merging hospital after NBC’s freshman medical drama MERCY?

And speaking of mergers (a story-line which by the way we’re loving!) (a) Does it disappoint you as much as it does us that all the suspense was removed from which doctor was getting the axe thanks to the the public way in which Katherine Heigl likes to deal with her off-screen issues. And (b) If Heigl is so enamoured with leaving the show that put her on the map for a shot at big screen stardom, would you ever consider not bringing her back and replacing her with one of the hundreds of Seattle Grace Docs who are so desperately trying to keep their job (both on screen and off!)

If there is a silver-lining to be taken away from the horrific happening in last May’s PRIVATE PRACTICE season finale. You know, where Dr. Violet Turner (Amy Brenneman) was left for dead, bleeding out and unconscious after falling victim to an unthinkable crime courtesy of her former psychiatric patient Katie (Amanda Foreman) who ran off with Violet’s baby she so desperately believed was hers (hence, the crazy). Is that for the first time in a long time, audiences spent the summer talking about a Shonda Rhimes series for what happened on camera, rather than off.

Whether you fell into the ‘loved it’ camp, or the ‘loathed it’ one, there is no denying the fact that you talked about it. A LOT!

Which is why, this TV Addict was thrilled to recently be given the opportunity to to check into Oceanside Wellness in person for an exclusive Q&A with the topic of conversation herself: Amy Brenneman. Who shares her thoughts on the controversial finale and what fans can expect from tonight’s season premiere. Spoilerphobes, you’ve been warned.

How shocked were you that [PRIVATE PRACTICE showrunner] Shonda Rhimes put Violet in such a horrific situation?
Amy Brenneman: Well, Shonda took a big old risk and recently said something to me that really made an impression on me. When she was pitching the idea to the [ABC] studio execs, they said, “That’s terrible, that’s so upsetting, you can’t do that!” And Shonda said, “Wait a minute, this very studio produces CRIMINAL MINDS where every week there’s a woman mutilated, raped and killed.” And the studio said, “The difference is that’s not a character we know and love.” And Shonda said, “Well, that’s the point. Violet is someone you know and love, she’s not a guest player you’re never going to see it again.”

Did the tonal shift surprise you?
Actually, I was really excited because I knew Katie was going to come back and the actress Amanda [Foreman] is just brilliant. I also loved the idea that dramatically, when ambivalent Violet seems to finally have this moment of peaceful clarity, it’s snatched away.

Are we going to find out who the daddy of Violet’s baby is?
I guess so, you tell me.

Will Violet choose between Pete and Sheldon?
There’s a lot with Pete and Sheldon continues as well.

What are your thoughts on this love triangle?
I like it, although I feel like it’s a love quadrangle, because I always feel like Cooper is her husband and these other guys are her lovers. But you know, the Cooper/Violet thing that starts out this season is so poignant with him not having saved her. Shonda just writes to that beautifully, it’s great. I don’t know how my husband would feel me saying this but I do think we get our emotional needs met in different areas and you know Shonda writes that in a more explicit ways. You have your friendship over here and sensual life over here. The first episode has a beautiful series of flashbacks, mostly with Violet and Pete that takes the audience back to his arrival at the practice.

DId you find yourself frustrated by Violet’s inability to make a decision between Pete and Sheldon last season?
I thought it was unrealistic. I had writers come up to me one day and ask, “Would you want to know [who the baby-daddy is]?” And I’m like of course, Violet’s a mother over 40, she’d definitely get genetic testing. So yeah, I did find the fact that we skipped over genetic testing a little… well, whatever. But what really helped, at least for me, was Violet’s monologue, where she said to the guys, “I need to do this in my own quirky way.” Plus, as soon as Cooper moved in she didn’t need the baby-daddy to go with her to appointments, which of course infuriated them.

Will Violet continue living with Cooper this season?
Cooper is not my roommate anymore. Actually, I haven’t seen Cooper for a while at the beginning of the season, there is a serious emotional fallout for him.

So Cooper really doesn’t’ come back to save Violet? Even though, as the finale faded to black, there was definitely a little part of me that was sort of hoping that maybe he forgot his keys or something!
Oh no, Violet gets hurt big time. She is saved, she survives, but she gets hurt. It’s ugly.

How much time has passed between the season finale and the season premiere?
We pick up 20 minutes after, second episode is a month.

PRIVATE PRACTICE airs on Thursdays at 10PM on ABC (’A’ Channel in Canada)

2. Thursday’s season premiere of that other Shonda Rhimes medical drama opens with a not-so private funeral.

3. Get ready to Dial M… for Mode, when a loved one of a Mode employee finds themselves under investigation for murder.

4. Expect the unemployment rate of Metropolis to shrink this week when a familiar face finds themselves returning to work at The Daily Planet.

5. Gossip Guy Dan Humphrey will soon himself wishing he’d spent a little less time buried in his books and a little more time renting movies. Particularly the one about the girl, who stands in front of a boy, asking him to love her.

Getting to the question that has been on every fan’s mind since the moment last season’s credits rolled — Yes, Violet is alive. Picking up a mere twenty minutes after what turned out to be last Spring’s most buzzed about season finale, actress Amy Brennenman (Violet) promises that, “You’re going to see me again.” Yet the question remains, in what condition? Teased PRIVATE PRACTICE creator Shonda Rhimes on this TV Addict’s recent visit to the set, “Obviously Amy is here on set. But the interesting thing is how she lives and whether or not there will be a baby.” ‘Whether or not there will be a baby?’ WhatchutalkinboutShonda! Unfortunately Rhimes, a notorious spoilerphobe isn’t talking — and we should add — has the uncanny ability for saying a lot without saying, well absolutely anything. Thankfully, what she will confirm is that what happened to Violet, in addition to Addison’s choice to walk away from Noah and Naomi’s decision to leave the Practice are going to reverberate for a while. And, rest assured, things won’t be all doom and gloom at Oceanside Wellness. “Last season there was a synthesis of both the dark and light stories that we were really happy with,” reassures co-executive producer Betsey Beers. “And we certainly want to restore that sense of balance that these characters are neurotic and can have fun.” Hey, we’re up for anything as long as it doesn’t involve a talking elevator. Shot back Rhimes, “I liked it, but we were the only ones.” Amen sister!

PRIVATE PRACTICE returns on Thursday October 1st on ABC at 10PM ['A' in Canada]