Grey's Anatomy

The heavily anticipated Kate Walsh led Grey's Anatomy spin off finally has a name -  at least, a tentative one.   ABC unveiled the moniker for the new show at a star studded media buyers event during network development week.  ABC exec's lauded the Grey's Anatomy spin off's spectacular cast that in addition to Walsh, includes Taye Diggs, Tim Daly, Amy Brenneman, Chris Lowell, and others.  The spin off is being touted for its stand alone premise that will take Walsh's character out of the realm of nightmarish medical emergencies and incorporated hospital trysts into a setting they think less hardcore medical drama fans will appreciate.   In that sense, the proposed name for the Grey's Anatomy spin off is quite apt, indeed.

'Private Practice', is the name the Grey's Anatomy spin off will be called by for now, but ABC exec's are quick to caution that this may change.  The two hour episode set to sample the themes of the series will debut May 10th, but don't think of it as a pilot.  Grey's Anatomy is riding a high enough wave at this point that the second series is virtually a lock whether the initial sample piques interests or not.

It has been noted, in some cases not very kindly, that the bulk of the supporting cast is made up of refugees from failing shows.  Diggs from 'Day Break, the LOST stand in that died after only three episodes; Daly from 'The Nine', which failed to retain enough from its LOST lead-in to remain viable; and finally, Lowell from the thought to be doomed Veronica Mars, which may be getting a new life sans 90% of its more expensive cast.

Does ABC anticipate big things from 'Private Practice'?  The feedback from attendees was that the show is expected to quickly occupy a top spot in their fall line up.  there is still no proposed air date or time for the new series which will premiere with the rest of ABC's new fall lineup.
- Jon Lachonis, BuddyTV Senior Writer

(image Copyright © 2007 ABC)