Private Practices Pushes Bio-Ethical Envelope

I stopped watching Grey's Anatomy because the drama just got too frivolous for my taste. I was reluctant to make the switch to Private Practice, but after a string of successful episodes the show is quickly rising to the top of my must-see list.

At the very least, last night's season premiere earned Private Practice a season pass on my Tivo. The episode featured five relationships on the rocks and a medical practice about to crumble under some serious financial burdens.

But the show takes a non-traditional trajectory by tackling some dicey bio-ethical dilemmas. Is it okay for parents to conceive a child with the express purpose of using the blood from that child's umbilical cord to save the life of one of their other children? Should a doctor go outside of the law and against a family's wishes and tell a teenager who's planning to have sex that he's HIV positive?

Both of these issues were examined Wednesday night and they lead to some great debates today around the copier near my desk at work. Unlike it's parent program, Private Practice continues to do a fantastic job of combining new romance, relationship drama, family squabbles, comedy but above all--medicine. That's something the folks over at Grey's leave out more often than not.

This episode's central debates reminded me of one of my other favorites, Picket Fences. Both programs take traditional genres (police, medicine, and/or family dramas) and turn them on their ears a bit. It also intrigues me when shows can manage to be familiar and refreshing simultaneously.


Photo: Abc.com

The Hospital Is Always Greener

I am a huge fan of old school ER. I love the stretch of seasons from 1998 to about 2004. It was action-packed, it was dramatic and I had the chance to learn a lot of medical jargon. Compared to Grey's Anatomy, ER (at least the old stuff) was like a medical text book.

Take for instance this direct quote from a nurse on an old episode of ER I saw a few weeks ago:

" I'm going to change your pad and massage your uterus to firm it up a bit."

Yikes. And this wasn't said to just any patient or a bit character, this was someone important. Can you imagine a nurse firming up Izzy's uterus? They just don't make TV like they used to.

So imagine my surprise and excitement when I hear the news this week that Dr. Mark Greene (played by America's nerd Anthony Edwards) is returning to ER this season. Now I know what you're thinking, "Isn't he dead?" Yes and that episode was beautiful. (I dare you to watch it without crying.) Since ER isn't crazy enough for zombies, Edwards is returning to ER in flashback form for the show's final season.

Regardless of the reason, I'm happy he's back. Hopefully he'll bring some of the spark back from earlier seasons of the show.

Photo: erheadquarters.com

eduTV Guest Blog: I like When Girls Kiss Girls

SPOILER ALERT!!

Ok, I just finished catchin' my breath after what I thought was a pretty solid Grey's Anatomy. Yang sprang out of her funk (finally), Meredith was her usual dramatic self, George is retaking the intern exam, and some stupid kid jumped into a pool of cement and almost died. Whew, a fun-filled two hours and what did I decide to blog about? The end of show lip locks. Go figure.

• George and Lexie Grey--Who didn't see this one coming? This potential romance had been building all season long and should make for an interesting storyline next year, especially since they're living together.

• Chief and his sassy wife--The writers have been hinting at a possible reconciliation for a few episodes, and it was good to see those two crazy kids back together. Only thing that creeps me out is the chief looks like my dad and his wife looks kinda like my mom, so lets keep the pillow talk scenes to minimum, I'm trying to keep my psych bills down.

• Meredith and McDreamy--After 11 failed clinical trials, the 12th was the charm. They saved a life and in the process may have rekindled their relationship. Meredith and Derek shared a moonlight kiss amidst a sea of candles, that would have made any pre-teen girl shed at least a couple of tears. I'm sure they will break up atleast 7 times next season, but hey, I'm just loving the ride man.

• Izzie and Karev--Whats the cure for your quasi girlfriend getting diagnosed with a multiple personality disorder? Ummmmm, oh yeah, begging a hot blond friend to make out with you. Not the classiest thing Karev has ever done, but neither is that beard he's been sporting this season. I don't see this going anywhere, but lets keep an eye on it.

• And finally, the big one, you thought it might happen, but you and your other cubicle monkeys didn't think the writers had the balls to do it. Well they did, Torres and Hahn totally kissed...with tongues. Yikes, I actually just cringed writing that. I thought this kiss was for pure shock value and maybe to freak out the red states a little bit. I can't wait to see how they weave this one into the story line next year. The on call room just got a little more awkward.

This May Confuse The Regulars

Addison Montgomery is heading back to Seattle Grace...but just on a vacay. Kate Walsh is on break from Private Practice which is returning to ABC in the fall. In the interim she's doing a guest spot on Grey's just to confuse the hell out of people.

I'm sure the conversation with my mother will go something like this:

Mom: Doesn't this show come on Wednesday?
Me: This isn't Private Practice.
Mom: But it has the redhead on it. The one who looks like a horse.
Me: No, it's a guest spot.
Mom: So her show is canceled?
Me: She's just visiting.
Mom: But is she playing the same character as before?
Me: Before what?
Mom: Oh forget it. This is why I can't keep up with this mess.

And cue her falling asleep on the couch. Why does ABC insist on toying with the minds of our greatest generation?

Edward Herrmann is The Man

I was watching Grey's Anatomy tonight. I know, I know. I said I quit. And I did. But there was nothing on TV and I got sucked in on a one-liner. But truth be told, I was glad I watched. It's probably not for the reasons you think. 

I still hate Yang. I don't want to hear about Lexie Grey, and George is a fool for leaving a fox like Callie for an annoying bitch like Izzie. But I digress. 

I enjoyed tonight's episode because it featured a guest appearance by my favorite old-man actor, Edward Herrmann. On Grey's he plays the old-man intern Norman, who starts medical school after 30 years as a pharmacist. Herrmann is better known to our generation as Mr. Rich in the Richie Rich movie, and Grandpa Richard Gilmore on Gilmore Girls.

I was reminded of how much I enjoyed Herrmann's acting and comedic timing when I watched a recent episode of 30 Rock. His stint on Grey's only solidified my thoughts. He always gets stuck playing the uppity, know-it-all rich white guy, but he does it with a charm that makes The Man so much more tolerable. 

Kudos to you Ed. That's a feat very few people could manage. 

Golden Globe Nominations Day!

The Golden Globe nominations came out very early this morning and the nominees in television aren't that shocking. More surprising is who isn't nominated. If you're curious, you can find the entire list here.

Here are the nominees for musical or comedy television: 30 Rock,Californication, Entourage,Extras, and Pushing Daisies.

Some solid choices. I would like to see 30 Rock win again, and from this slate of candidates they probably will. But let's discuss who's not on here. Where's The Office? Maybe not they're best showing recently, but it's still better than Entourage this season. Or how about Weeds? Weeds had a great run, and was more compelling than ever before. But no love from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association? Douches.

Here's another category; drama series: Big Love, Damages, Grey’s Anatomy, House, Mad Men, and The Tudors. I finally watched an episode of House and while I still don't like it, I can see why other people do. Would I nominate it for a Golden Globe? Probably not, but Hugh Laurie is pretty good and he was recognized by the HFPA as well.

However, selecting Grey's Anatomy is just getting lazy. That show has been truly poor in recent months. Not only have the storylines suffered but the actors seem disenchanted with the whole process. Katherine Heigl just came out recently saying she's having a hard time with the direction her character is going.

The awards should be interesting this year. Assuming the Writers Strike is still going the celebrities may not even cross the picket line to show up. And the presenters will have to write they're own material. So if you thought the corny jokes were lame, just wait, it can get worse.

Mark your calendar, the Golden Globes are on TV January 13.

Hump Day Updates!

The holiday has forced me into the kitchen for most of primetime this week. Luckily, I caught a few things that are worth mentioning:

• Never is Charlie Brown more adorable and cringe worthy as he is in A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. The boy makes a meal out of toast and popcorn. I also enjoyed the role reversal of Peppermint Patty and Marcy. That dinner almost turned into a scene from The L Word...not that there's anything wrong with that.
  

• Planes Trains & Automobiles is all over the TV. If you haven't seen this movie, or hell even if you have, I only have 8 words for you: I want a fucking car. Right fucking now. If that and the picture above don't inspire you, then I'm done.
  

• Grey's Anatomy is doing a special episode tomorrow night where the doctors face their scariest crisis ever: their ratings! I kid! I think an ambulance crashes into them or something.
  

• Project Runway was fun again! I've purchased clothes from Sarah Jessica Parker's line before and the tonight's winner doesn't have me running to the store. In fact, it makes me want to run into H&M. And I am kind of over the entire cast constantly saying, "Make it work!" Sweet P must have done it 15 times. That's a sentence I never thought I'd write.