Private Practice pilot review

Private Practice


various doctors (fertility specialist, psychiatrist, pediatrician, alternative medicine guru, etc.) work together at a private clinic in Los Angeles



Type of Pilot: Soap Opera, Comedy-Drama.


Similar Shows: State Of Mind


Strengths: The cast. Seriously, there isn't a better group of actors on any show this season. Amy Brenneman, Chris Lowell, Paul Adelstein, Taye Diggs and Tim Daly are not only superb actors, they are veterans of some of the finest shows ever shown on TV.


Weaknesses: Seen it all before.


Impressive Characters: None of them.


Impressive Actors: The material is somewhat lacking in quality, but the cast still shines. Amy Brenneman pulls on the heart-strings as the recently divorced doctor, Paul Adelstein is funny as the horny-but-inept-with-women doctor, Taye Diggs is the brooding doctor and Tim Daly is the nice doctor. Chris Lowell is... shirtless as their receptionist, but he was great in Veronica Mars, so I'm prepared to cut him slack. His seduction scene (with a older woman... gasp) was one of the highlights of the pilot, though. Proof that Lowell can do more than look good shirtless.


Less-Than-Impressive Characters: All of them.


Less-Than-Impressive Actors: I thought everyone in the two-hour pilot (actually an episode of Grey's Anatomy) was very good. Even the actress who was dropped (and replaced) for the series was very good. No compliants from me, with regard to the casting.


Continuity: Probably lots. It's a soap. Cases will probably last one episode and the various love stories will continue from episode to episode to episode to episode to episode to episode...


Rewatchability: None. There's not one scene I would want to watch again.


Other Info: Airs opposite Bionic Woman.

Three Things I Really Like About This Pilot:

Tim Daly

Paul Adelstein

Taye Diggs

Three Things I Really Don't Like About This Pilot:

Seen it all before.

I didn't warm to Kate Walsh as the central character. I've never seen her in Grey's Anatomy, so I'm not sure if this is her typical screen persona, but it did nothing for me. What little enjoyment I derived from this pilot occurred when she was off-screen.

It's a waste of talent actors. I'm a longtime Tim Daly fan, but this is the weakest show he's ever done. By a mile.

Miscellaneous Comments:


Seen it all before.

GRADE: B