Grey’s spinoff a no-brainer — Literally.
I think this is a still from the show, though I’m not entirely sure since I don’t watch it.
It seems like a sure thing. Take a likable (but not altogether necessary) character from ABC’s No. 1 show and give her a spin-off. Assemble a strong ensemble cast (Taye Diggs, Amy Brenneman and Tim Daly). And, finally, tease the show in a two-hour backdoor pilot that will be seen by 21.2 million people, essentially guaranteeing a spot on the network’s 2007-08 schedule.
But here’s the problem: The spin-off sucks so far.
Replace Seattle Grace with Oceanside Wellness Group, McDreamy with Dr. Feelgood, and surgical interns with old med school buddies and you have Private Practice. The cookie-cutter cast include a gynecologist who knows nothing about women (get it?), a fertility specialist who wants love (of course!), and a therapist who is as neurotic as her patients (d’oh!). And Addison? She became a babbling Ally McBeal knock-off.
What makes Grey’s great television (and PP not) are, simply, the characters and the writing. Sure the Grey’s doctors are emotionally stunted and sleep around and complain a lot. And it’s not that they are relatable (unless you are a horny intern too) because which characters on TV really are these days. In short, they are appealing and sexy and smart and you want to get to know them. This is thanks in large part to the writing. I can’t recall another show in recent history that has so affected the national lexicon (i.e. “Seriously?†and va-jay-jay). The mix of soapy goodness, romantic comedy and intense medical drama makes for perfect escapist television.
Prediction: The spin-off will happen, duh. ABC will air a sneak preview after Grey’s this fall and then move it Monday, its weakest night of television (Sorry What About Brian and The Bachelor). It will take on another hit in the CSI franchise, CSI: Miami. Ratings-wise it will do less than Miami and Grey’s but will improve on the timeslot ratings for the network, thus ensuring its renewal. During November, February and/or May sweeps I smell a crossover. Grey’s and PP can coexist, albeit on different nights. And Grey’s is here to stay on a competitive Thursday night for the foreseeable future. If only Addison stayed when she returns to Seattle Grace tonight). Seriously.
–AeA
May 11th, 2007 at 1:03 am
It’s sad that a 2-hour episode of Grey’s Anatomy (a normally joyous occasion) could end up being so dreadful. Granted it was more about establishing the basis of Private Practice than fowarding the story on Grey’s, but my girlfriend and I were tempted to change the channel or stop watching TV altogethr, which is completely unheard of during any typical Grey’s epsiode. By the end, I realized that the idea of mixing a pilot in with a well-established show is actually detrimental, because I was more annoyed with it bogging down the show I wanted to watch with a show I didn’t want to watch.
July 24th, 2008 at 11:02 am
[...] What I say: See our review from last week. [...]