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« Grey's Anatomy
May 3, 2007: The Other Side of This Life
Raise your hand if you're already hooked. Shonda, you have just sold me on Grey's 2.0, or what you are currently planning on calling it: Private Practice. I can't imagine ABC not picking the show up for the fall. To make this easier for me to write, but more importantly, to give it a more reader-friendly approach, I'd like to split this in two. I'll get to my comments on the very well-executed Kate Walsh pilot later. First, let's talk about Grey's...
I. GREY'S ANATOMY
When I heard that Meredith was going to be experiencing another family death, my initial thought was Thatcher, but then I felt that it would be silly to kill off her father right after her mother. When her step mom Susan (Mare Winningham) showed up again at Seattle Grace, this time with perpetual hiccups she claimed were due to her acid reflux, I agreed with Meredith and Thatcher. I figured Susan was faking it as an excuse for Thatcher to spend needed quality time with his daughter. As Susan kept returning with worse symptoms, it was apparent she wasn't faking. The last time I mentioned Ellen Pompeo's awesome acting talent, it was when Meredith suddenly realized that her mother's Alzheimer's disease had kicked back in. Ellen gave another fabulous performance, the best scene being when Meredith had to tell Thatcher that Susan had died. Jeff Perry attention Emmy voters made this scene even more powerful when Thatcher slapped Meredith in a sort of knee-jerk reaction to losing his wife: "You told me she had the hiccups!" The slap was uncalled for, absolutely. But as a viewer, I somehow accepted it estranged father to daughter under major stress receiving horribly tragic and unbelievably shocking news and you could tell Meredith somehow accepted it as well.
Comic relief throughout the two hours was certainly Cristina and her sudden new best bud Callie. Funniest moment was perhaps Callie giving Cristina, Izzie and Meredith her rules as a bridesmaid: "I will not be wearing pink or baby blue. I do not do flowers in my hair. And I will never be seen with a bow on my ass, OK?" Sounded exactly like something Cristina would say, so Callie being asked to join Cristina's bridal party turned out to be not as absurd as it first seemed. You knew Izzie wasn't going to be thrilled, even though she showed a rare chipper side earlier, literally cheering about Cristina's wedding.
It was nice to see TV legend Diahann Carroll back as Burke's mother Jane, as well as Tsai Chin as Mrs. Yang, but I would've preferred a few more mama scenes like the one when Burke declared to Jane: "'I trust you' is code for 'learn from your mistakes'!" At least "traditional man" Burke was honest with Cristina, confessing to preferring a big wedding over a city hall ceremony.
I am liking where the Ava/Jane Doe story seems to be going. You can tell Alex keeps getting more and more smitten with her. That surgery scene was quite fascinating when Derek kept causing her to speak in multiple languages. Too bad she couldn't remember any of it. Pretty soon she'll figure out the big reason why Alex didn't fall for Addison he's falling for Ava. Another heads up to Emmy committee members two words: Elizabeth Reaser.
The brief kiss between Izzie and "I'm not a cheater" George on the (of course) elevator bothered me, but I was happy it wasn't one of those mad, passionate kisses (I'll get to one of those a bit later). The "we can't" followed by the "I know" just had to immediately be followed by the elevator door opening up poof there's Callie. Please. But hey at least she didn't see the kiss. All hell is going to break loose when Callie does find out, but having her witness Frick and Frack kissing on the elevator would've annoyed me to no end.
I enjoyed the several awkward male bonding scenes involving two pairs of dudes who don't normally bond: Mark and Derek, and then Burke and George. How ironic for Mark to mope to Derek about how much it sucked to have to discover Addison was sleeping with someone else. Derek: "Must've been so hard for you." I was glad Mark was able to fess up to Derek about lying to Addison regarding breaking their no-sex bet. Then, per Bailey's insistence, Burke asked George for marriage advice. That's like asking Cristina for congeniality advice. Best lines were George: "Is it possible to love two people at the same time?" Burke: "I'm still hoping it's possible just to love one person." Back to Mark Sloan. I was surprised he admitted to Alex that he knew about the Alex/Addison pairing and "whatever you didn't do" was why Addison took her leave of absence.
II. PRIVATE PRACTICE
Speaking of that leave of absence, let's now discuss the Addison pilot! My roommate, not even half-way through the two hours goes: "I am more excited about seeing this show then Grey's this fall!" Although I won't go that far, I will say that I am equally excited. I cannot recall a time in TV history where an established show devoted an extra hour to the introduction of new characters so effectively. I especially liked how they intertwined the Kate Walsh pilot scenes into a Grey's episode. Normally, when spin-offs are introduced, the entire hour is devoted to the character leaving the established show and spinning off into a new one. Doing it this way going back and forth made me really pay attention to what was happening and I never lost interest in the new characters and happenings.
I've got to point out right away the powerhouse casting job they did! Let's go through each of the cast members:
Taye Diggs: Always been a fan and I wished ABC had aired all of the Day Break episodes. I love that there's already a mystery just why did Sam decide to leave his wife Naomi? Just woke up and decided it was time to leave. No other woman was involved: "It was bad what I did. I have no good reason. I don't know why." Hmm...
Merrin Dungey: I live for her. Plain and simple. I kept waiting for fertility specialist Naomi to turn around and morph into Francie, or even better, the anti-Francie Allison from Alias and try to kick Sydney's, I mean Addison's ass. She and Taye make a super couple, even though Naomi and Sam are divorced and have a beautiful daughter Maya (Shavon Kirksey). How about Naomi's reaction to Addison's utilizing the terms "post-McSteamy" and "post-McDreamy"? Naomi: "McWhat?" Naomi's already my favorite new character.
Tim Daly: I was never a Wings fan, but I did watch both Eyes and The Nine while they were on and he was one of the best parts of both short-lived shows. His character Pete plays really well opposite Addison and he was the just the thing she needed after Naomi told her she couldn't have children. Poor Addison. Back to Pete: can we talk about that kiss? I nominate that for TV's Hottest Kissing Scene 2007 if there's a contest. Shonda, you dirty bird: "I'm gonna kiss you. I'm gonna kiss you with tongue. I'm gonna kiss you so you feel it. OK?" Addison: "OK." Then, after the kiss, Addison: "Why did you do that?" Pete: "To remind you that you're not dried up. If you need me to remind you again, let me know." Addison: "OK." Later, when he gave her acupuncture, the close-up shot of Addison complaining that it wasn't working, followed by it kicking in was brilliant. That was Kate Walsh's best scene, especially Addison crying out: "I hate L.A.!" Since it was revealed that Pete's wife died eight years ago, and, according to Sam, this makes it difficult for Pete to connect with women, Pete should be a challenging conquest for Addison.
Amy Brenneman: I never saw an episode of Judging Amy, but judging this Amy, I've become an instant admirer. She is a phenomenal actress and I already know Violet the therapist will be my second favorite new character. What a terrific acting moment when Violet, shopping at Whole Foods, saw her ex-boyfriend Allan (D.W. Moffett), who never wanted to get married, with his new wife Cami (Parisa Fitz-Henley).
Paul Adelstein: Now here is a sign of a really good actor. He plays (or depending on whether Kellerman indeed is dead, played) a hateful character on Prison Break. But he's so lovable on this show as unlucky-in-love Cooper from pediatrics. His crying scene was fantastic after Cooper found the car that the "Internet hooker" stole. I related to Cooper during the moment when he went to kiss Violet at the bar. Violet: "But I'm your friend." Sorry to admit that I've been there, done that with several of my (now) friends throughout the years. My answer (always): "I have enough friends."
Chris Lowell: Speaking of sorry, I regret to inform you that I've never seen an episode of Veronica Mars (much to the dismay of my pal Chana) so I was not familiar with this actor. How oh-so-L.A. for them to have a surfer boy be the receptionist? How Sex & the City of them when Violet and Naomi (as observed by Addison) timed it so they'd be sitting in the lobby when Stud Boy was leaving on his lunch break in nothing but a swimsuit, surfboard and a smile. One of my other favorite scenes was Naomi having to break the news that she wasn't going to kiss him: "You're a fetus. You can be my fetus. Never gonna happen."
Shonda really knew how to introduce the above characters and successfully made it so Addison would fit right in. Of course Oceanside Wellness Group needs a neonatal surgeon. Shonda also expertly started out with a very unique slew of patients/clients. Never thought I'd see a surrogate mother situation quite like this one: Carol (Stephanie Niznik) was married to Rick (Cameron Watson), but is now married to Doug (Gary Hershberger). Rick is now married to Keith (Garon Grigsby). The surrogate Lisa (Becky Wahlstrom) had sex with three men around the same time: Rick, Doug and her own husband (David Anders having a bit of a Sark/Allison Alias reunion with Merrin Dungey). So her baby ended up being her own, not from the one that was supposed to be produced via Carol's egg and Rick's sperm. How much did we love Addison when she gave all of them crap for asking who the father was after Lisa risked her life giving birth?
Meanwhile, there was the husband (Raphael Sbarge) who didnt want to have sex with his wife Kathy (Bellamy Young). Luckily for Kathy's sanity, it was due to a hormonal imbalance that led to a tumor on his kidney. Boy, did she feel bad for being a complainer and then sleeping with that stranger.
One thing that temporarily bothered me was Addison hearing the voice on the elevator. I said to my roommate: "There had better be a logical explanation." Yes! The voice ended up being Tillie (Mary Joy), the elevator security guard whose voice was coming through a hidden speaker. Oh, Shonda...too funny.
So I look forward to ABC picking this show up. Do you agree with me that it's a keeper? Or are you not-too-fond-uh Shonda's latest creation? If it gets picked up, where do you think ABC will air it? We shall see...
Will you be watching? Vote now in our poll.
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May 4, 2007 7:38 AM
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I can't believe they let Susan, Meredith fake mommy die. How sad. Wait let me take that back, if ABC wouldn't have shown that it was Thatcher slapping Meredith I wouldn't have guessed her death was coming up at the end. TOO MUCH IN THE PROMOS!!!
I liked the pilot for Addison's show but I wanted more Grey's last night.
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May 4, 2007 7:53 AM
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What a wonderful epi. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole 2 hours.
George and Izzy = Yuck. I just cannot get into this relationship.
Burke and Christina are wonderful together. They just crack me up each week. Who hasn't been overwhelmed by their mothers. Callie I just love her. Her rules for being a bridesmaid were so funny and so true for many of us.
Can we please have the manure wagon stop dumping on Meredith for a while. Pretty soon she will run out of family members to die,Then what?
My heart broke a bit for Sloane lastnight. I like him and Addison together. His heart felt talk to Derek was well "Heartfelt". The "karma is a bitch" smile on Derek's face changing to a look of understanding and empathy was very well done. These two should remain friends. They really balance each other well.
Alex and Ava storyline is really allowing Alex to grow as a human. I really like the directon his character is going. Didn't much care for the Alex/Addie tryst last week. At least tey kept it short and over.
Next 2 weeks look really good. Cant wait.
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May 4, 2007 7:58 AM
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I agree with Debgal, the George/Izzie relationship is sooooo ick. I actually covered my eyes until they were done kissing. Even thinking about it now makes me throw up in my mouth a little.
I enjoyed the Addison in LA story, and I want to know what happens next with the docs there. Loved Tilly the elevator, and Addison's TMI about the horny elevator back at Seattle Grace. I love the Cooper character, and I volunteer to be on the show as a potential love interest for him. And any show with Taye Diggs is a winner in my book.
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May 4, 2007 8:04 AM
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By the way I am so going to miss Susan. She was really starting to become a calming influence on Meredith. I felt the slap from Thatcher was out of line. I think it would have been better if he grabbed Mer up in a huge hug and sobbed his heart out. That would have been more confusing for her than the slap. She really isn't use to parental love.
Mer pushing Derek away after the slap was very telling. Shie is pissed and has every right to be. Maybe now Derek will get his head out of his butt.
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May 4, 2007 8:05 AM
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Maybe it's because I don't watch Grey's every week so I'm not too emotionally invested in each character, but I saw the Alex/Ava thing coming from the first night Reaser appeared on the show. It makes sense that they would have someone who is known for his womanizing and shallow "like them for their looks" persona fall for a woman while she is damaged beyond recognition. Knowing what Reaser looks like in real life, Alex will be rewarded eventually for his loving her for her heart--when he discovers how pretty she is. In the end, though, I predict she is married and her husband comes for her and she leaves...doubt she'll be a regular on the show...and we need Alex free to roam once again.
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May 4, 2007 8:06 AM
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I was a bit surprised by the kiss on the elevator. It is obvious that what they have is more than a drunk,one-night thing now. I am glad Callie did not see it also, but know that stuff will really hit the fan when she does. Regardless whether I agree with her and George's sudden my-dad-just-died marriage or not, she deserves to know.
Note: My hand is not raised...yet. I will have to give it another try. I really like Tim Daly and most assuredly will though.
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May 4, 2007 8:18 AM
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Loved the episode - and can't wait to read your review of "Private Practice."
I'm going to miss Susan. I've been a Mare Winningham fan for many years, and she is extremely selective about the roles she takes. She was fitting in nicely, though.
I understand why Thatcher slapped Meredith. He needed to lash out - and Meredith was there. Kudos to the actor - he was devastated and lost......
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May 4, 2007 8:39 AM
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Ok. I'm in the minority. I absolutely hated the entire Addison story line. If the premise of the proposed spin-off is shallow, single doctors who spend more time at bars and on break swooning over teenagers, then forget it. I found that whole portion of last night's special a tragic waste of a fabulous cast. The spin-off was nothing but sex, sex, sex and everyone's obsession with some aspect of it. Even the "medical" storylines (if you can call them that) were nothing but "sex." How shallow is that?!
Oh, and speaking as 36-year-old female, we do not sit around watching barely-out-of-high-school boys and drooling. Ick. So NOT going to happen.
The only part of the Addison story line I enjoyed - apart from the talking elevator - was seeing "Francie" and "Sark" in the same room again!
The best solution for this spin-off in my mind would be to move Tim Daly to Grey's Anatomy and be done with the rest of it. There you go, I said it.
I did thoroughly enjoy the GA side of the story - except for George and Izzie. That's got to stop. Meredith's story line was oh-so-compelling and it was very sad to see the incomparable Mare Winningham go.
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May 4, 2007 8:41 AM
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Well...if the writers are trying to make McDreamy a shallow SOB for storyline purposes, they are succeeding. The first real motherly mom Meredith has ever known died, her father, reacting to the fact that medicine, and more particularly Seattle Grace, has symbolically taken another wife from him, turned on her. And because she chooses to drown her sorrow in a few shots of tequila as opposed a bath tub or Puget Sound, he's disappointed in her? PUH-LEEZE.......
I'm still not buying George and Izzie, but that's just my personal preference.
The exchange between Callie and Cristina when Callie got rooked into being a bridesmade was hilarious. But again, Shonda Rimes needs to give the guys on here some backbone. All of Burke's convictions about Prestina (sorry, I hate monikers like TomKat and Brangelina, but I couldn't resist - what can I say, I'm evil) go out the window the minute Mommy shows up? Come on dude!
Alex and Ava - during the surgery I was joking with my friends that Ava's really a spy, but doesn't remember - yet. Then a few scenes from the previews made me wonder if I nailed it - I hope I'm wrong.
Grey 2.0 - I think this is going to be a great companion piece for Grey's, focusing on the latter end of the baby boomers like myself (40-somethings) instead of Gen Y med students. I loved it when Addy said "Are You There, (elevator) God? It's Me, Addison," a pop culture reference for my generation. I can see why some die-hard Seattle Gracers aren't going to like it, but I did, and I'm looking forward to it's debut in the fall.
And does anyone know the name of the song/artist played when the girls did thier own version of a Diet Coke break and drooled over hunky surfer? For some reason it's not posted in the section where they list music from each episode.
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May 4, 2007 8:45 AM
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I agree, Jayhawk. My hand is not raised yet. I love Tim Daly, too ... I liked him in the The Nine (still want to know what the $#@! happened in that bank). It seemed to me that everyone was trying just a little bit too hard to be clever and "establish" themselves in this pilot. I know expectations were high (and low, if that makes any sense), so maybe they'll find their groove soon.
I do not have a problem with the Izzie/George relationship. Well, except for the whole cheating on your spouse thing. I think the two actors are doing a good job of selling it.
When Meredith was slapped, I was shocked since I always skip promos. It was quite upsetting. I understood where the dad was coming from, but I don't know how you forgive that. Also, I'm about ready to kick Derek's *ss. NOW he wants to help her after he basically kicked her out of bed?
Oh well. If we're writing about it, it must have affected us ... good or bad. Good job, Grey's.
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May 4, 2007 8:48 AM
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Oh, well, if we're writing about it, it must have affected us...good or bad.
Absofrackinlutely, MSunshine!
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May 4, 2007 8:53 AM
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Since Dave is treating this as two shows, I'll follow his lead and write about the Grey's section for now.
I loved the Callie/Christina interaction tonight. As much as I enjoyed Callie's rules of being a bridesmaid, my favorite part was right after Christina asked Callie and she is mouthing I'm sorry! I'm so, so sorry! and Callie mouthing back that she is going to kill her. I was glad that Christina told Burke she found a dress in the end. I just hope it's not the frilly one she had on at the bridal shop. (That is, if the wedding happens!)
I felt so bad for Meredith last night. It was good to see her and her father talking and smiling together. When she had to tell him that Susan hadn't made it through the surgery she showed such raw emotion that I started to cry and had a hard time keeping it together so I could see the slap (again, ABC, way too much in the Promos). When is this poor girl going to get a break in life? Every time she takes one step further, she gets pushed back two steps.
Hate the George/Izzy thing. I hope he gets his transfer (but doesn't leave the show) and it ends right now. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like that is going to happen. I did laugh when he asked Bailey for advice and then Burke asked for her advice so she told them to talk to each other.
Even though a better portion of the show was devoted to the Addison storyline, there was a lot going on last night at Seattle Grace, and like the storylines or not, it's going to be an interesting two weeks.
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May 4, 2007 8:58 AM
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Liked the Private Practice a lot. Although there seemed to be too many beautiful people in one office.
As a Veronica Mars fan who didn't really care for the Piz character played by the receptionist dude (forgot his name) my interest is now peaked.
As for Grey's I didn't like the whole George/Izzie affair but its growing on me. I wonder how they will play it all out. I do like Callie's character and don't want her to leave the show.
Derek is my least favorite right now he's being a complete ass.
Meredith's whole interaction with Thatcher tonight was just great acting I'm looking forward to the continuation of this story but they do need to stop with the never ending bad luck.
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May 4, 2007 9:03 AM
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Well, I may be in the minority on this, but I thought Greys 2.0 was a complete rip off of GA right down to the elevator scenes. Tim Daly is McDreamy, Cooper and the female psychiatrist are George and Izzie, Sam is Burke, I just can't figure out who Ramona (?)(Addison's friend)is - Meredith, Christina or Callie. I hated that she called Addison Addy all night, and every time they flipped to Grey's 2.0 I was totally missing my GA. Maybe it will grow on me - Kate Walsh is an awesome actress and if not for her, the show would completely suck IMO.
Now, on to Greys Anatomy. What a great episode. The Thatcher/Meredith scene was awesome. Just when you think they've sorta bonded - BOOM - he slaps her! Poor Meredith - I really did feel bad for her.
Also, when will Burke wise up and get rid of Christina? Is he gonna leave her at the alter - now THAT would be the ultimate slap in the face - to have her all dolled up in her gown with her cotton candy bridesmaids at the church with 250 guests and then he stands her up? Sorry, but I'm kinda liking that scenario! I just don't think they fit together and LOVE Diahann Carroll as mama Burke.
Interesting that Burke and George are both against divorce..............
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May 4, 2007 9:03 AM
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