Shonda Rhimes News

While Private Practice executive producer Shonda Rhimes says that the show's medical stories will include more surgery and medical / ethical dilemmas this season, she insists there is no "conscious tweaking" going on.

"My characters end up doing what I'm doing at the time," she told TV Guide. "Addison was finding her footing [last season] because I was finding my footing with the show. Addison is stronger now."

So how will Season 2 play out with the rest of the Private Practice cast? Here's what they had to say about their new story lines...

Kate Walsh (Dr. Addison Montgomery): "You actually start to see Addison have a personal life. Addison has never been happy: Derek was always like, 'Get away,' Sloan was just after one thing, and Karev was just this curmudgeon. Now there's some fun and romance for her."

Taye Diggs (Dr. Sam Bennett): "It seems as if we're going in a direction where you see the inner workings of Sam, which are not like his outside, where he seems calm, cool and collected. It's been really fun to play."

Chris Lowell (William "Dell" Parker): "Dell is not the kid," says Rhimes. "I want to find a way to make his midwifery stories interesting and compelling."

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As with its parent series, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice sure doesn't appear to be exempt from the repercussions and ripple effects of the ongoing strike being staged by the Writers Guild of America (WGA).

If the writers' walkout endures, Private Practice, like many other series, may be forced to go off the air, or resort to reruns.

Despite such a grim possibility, Shonda Rhimes, its creator and executive producer, has given her complete support to the writers' cause.

According to the San Jose Mercury News, most new shows like Pushing Daisies and Private Practice, which had been picked up for full seasons a few weeks ago, will be able to churn out no more than 10 to 11 episodes of their debut seasons if current boycott continues.

But Rhimes, the woman behind both Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice, has sent an e-mail message to the members of the WGA stating she would "choose not to render my services as a producer" while they walk out.

"I absolutely believed that I would edit our episodes," Shonda Rhimes wrote in her e-mail, which was widely circulated earlier this week.

"Until a thought hit me: how can I walk a picket line and then continue to work? How am I supposed to look at myself in the mirror or look at my child years from now and know that I did not have the courage of my convictions to stand up and put myself more at risk than anyone else?"

In a separate statement, Rhimes was quoted as having been of the opinion that the disgruntled writers truly do want to return to their duties.

"I feel like the writers really want to go back to work," Private Practice creator and executive producer Rhimes said during an event in New York.

Fans who watched the Emmys may have noticed that right before the cameras started rolling on Michael Ausiello's interview with Shonda Rhimes, there was drama between the show's producer and the TV Guide sleuth.

Well, Ausiello weighs in on the situation as follows: "Let's just say the queen of Shondaland had some issues with the rather harsh review I gave the Private Practice opener and, as a result, was a little hesitant to give me the time of day, let alone an on-camera interview."

But proving that she is a good sport and not above constructive criticism, Shonda Rhimes eventually gave the critic a chance to explain in detail why the May episode of Private Practice left a bad taste in his mouth.

Rhimes was receptive to all points and reassured viewers that if they stick with the show they won't be disappointed. And that may not be mere spin.

Several reliable moles outside of ABC say that next week's premiere, "In Which We Meet Addison ... " is a vast improvement over the May debut.

As long as there are no characters communicating with floor tile, at least this one TV Guide critic be a happy camper... and he says that we will know what he means by that last remark in due time.

Responding to questions regarding Grey's Anatomy at the TV Critics Summer Press Tour this week, series creator and executive producer Shonda Rhimes was asked a particularly intriguing one about Addison.

"Will Addison make her exit to Los Angeles on Grey's Anatomy or on Private Practice?" asked a reporter.

Breaking her own stringent policy about doling out advance story lines, Shonda Rhimes revealed the answer.

"We will see her tender her resignation to [Richard Webber] in the first episode of Private Practice."

Shonda Rhimes, Taye Diggs and Kate Walsh answer questions Thursday.

Meanwhile, at the event, Tim Daly said he is thrilled that his previous series, the critically acclaimed but ratings-imparted The Nine, will be returning to TV August 1 - even if the story lines won't be wrapped up.

And as for whether Kate Walsh (Addison) ever thinks of how she went from a guest spot on Grey's Anatomy to her own series?

"Yeah, I do," she muses. "I feel really fortunate. I could never have dreamed this. I don't mean to sound too Pollyanna-ish - I'm not. I'm actually a cynical bastard with a cold, dark heart."

Okay, then. Well, we love Kate Walsh just the same!