Taye Diggs
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Paging Dr. Bennett! A smiling Taye Diggs (alongside co-star Amy Brenneman) looks handsome in this picture taken on the set of Private Practice in Santa Monica ...

As you may have heard, last week Elisabeth Hasselbeck got emotional during a debate with Whoopi Goldberg over the use of the n-word on The View.

To make a long story short, Hasselbaeck insisted that the word should not be used to discuss or used by anyone. Whoopi responded with the idea that only members of the black community are entitled to use the word.

Now in steps Taye Diggs.

The Private Practice star told Access Hollywood Hasselbeck "doesn’t understand, and, no offense — I don’t think any white person has the right to tell a black person or to even weigh in on subject matter such as that. They don’t know what it’s like to be called that; they don’t know what it’s like to be black.”

Taye Diggs continued his discussion of the matter: “They can have an opinion, but... don’t take a word that you created and called me for many, many years, and then me being in my position, have the strength to change what it means in my own culture. Don’t try to take it back now. Now it’s ours. Leave it alone.”

What do you think about Taye Diggs' take - and the n-word debate in general?

Doggone it: Private Practice star Taye Diggs and his wife, Idina Menzel, took their dog for a stroll in Beverly Hills October 24. Check out this cute pic ...

Taye Diggs has said that his small dog provided the inspiration for his character, Dr. Sam Bennett, also a smooth operating hottie who owns a petite pooch.

Regardless, we're just happy every time we come across pictures of Taye Diggs and wife. They really make a gorgeous, happy couple.

One day before the premiere of Private Practice, Taye Diggs sat down with Ellen DeGeneres on her talk show to discuss the new series and what it's like being a new kid on the medical block. A critical excerpt ...

Ellen DeGeneres: "All right so there's McSteamy, McDreamy, is there going to be a McSomething for you? Are you going to have a nickname?"

Taye Diggs: "I think that they're trying to steer away from all those nicknames to try and give us our own style on Private Practice. I always thought if they did go in that direction I could be McChocolatey."

Ellen DeGeneres: "Well, from now, you will always be McChocolatey to me. That's what I shall call you."

There you go. Taye Diggs: McChocolatey. End of story.

Private Practice star Taye Diggs showed up at a charity event on Monday night with a striking brunette on his arm - his wife! Although the 36-year-old Diggs has been seen hitting the club scene alone of late, he and his spouse, the beautiful Broadway star Idina Menzel, were all smiles on this night at least. See below ...

Taye Diggs and Idina Menzel met while starring in the Broadway hit "Rent" and have been married for over four years. Talk about a beautiful couple!

Just seven days remain until Private Practice premieres and TV Guide is counting down the show's arrival with interviews with the cast.

Today: Taye Diggs, a hot actor who typically plays the guy most women would trade anything to date. But he breaks the mold in his newest role as best-selling author Dr. Sam Bennett, a flawed internist who co-owns Oceanside Wellness Group with his heartbroken ex-wife, Naomi.

Here's what the 36-year-old had to say about ABC's decision to cancel his 2006 series Day Break, meeting executive producer Shonda Rhimes and what cracks him up about Private Practice star Kate Walsh.

TV Guide: What attracted you to the show?
Taye Diggs: Day Break had just gotten canceled and I had decided that my next job would be drastically different. I wanted to do something involving comedy. Then, almost as if it were destiny, Shonda Rhimes called me. At the time, I thought it was to come on Grey's Anatomy because of the craziness going on with Isaiah Washington. But she told me that she was going to have this new show about doctors. As soon as she said that, I was in because I'm a huge fan. I follow Grey's Anatomy like nobody's business.

TV Guide: Did she write the character specifically for you?
Taye Diggs: I don't know. The only thing I know is I told her I have a Yorkie and people look at that as being humorous because I'm this big guy walking around with a small dog. I have a small dog on the television show as well.... Other than that, I told her that I wanted to go against type. Instead of being the cool, suave, perfect character, I wanted to explore the more unconventional, awkward, sometimes nerdy side of myself.

TV Guide: Did you audition or did Shonda just offer you the role?
Taye Diggs: It was kind of both. Like I said, she called me into a meeting to see what my vibe was, to see what I was like in the room. Then she expressed her interest. I don't know what goes on behind closed doors.

TV Guide: But you never had to read a script?
Taye Diggs: No, no I didn't. I'm definitely grateful that I've reached that level.

TV Guide: Did you and Shonda Rhimes hit it off right away?
Taye Diggs: They made me feel very comfortable. It was her and two other producers. We immediately started talking about whatever. I forget. It took a while to bring the conversation back to work.

Continue Reading...

As well all know, the new series Private Practice uproots Grey's Anatomy's Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh), placing her in an L.A. wellness center.

Joining Kate are some new doctors, many of them men from action shows. A Canadian magazine took a look at the men of Private Practice, some of whom were killed off on their past shows, while others had their shows killed off.

Either way, Taye Diggs, Tim Daly, Chris Lowell and Paul Adelstein are down for the medical comedy / drama and spin-off of Grey's Anatomy.

Many fans already know about smooth operator Taye Diggs (pictured), but let's take a look at what the other three male leads think about their new gig.

"It's kind of an actor's dream to play an extremist like that, and I felt in very good hands. I felt like my character was in very good hands on Prison Break," said Paul Adelstein.

"I feel like it wrapped up well. Then to go from those hands into Shonda Rhimes' hands is pretty special. It's a different kind of journey but it's a completely different character. You don't pick by genre. You pick by character if you get to pick at all."

"This is not a pick situation. This is a no brainer. This is being called to play in the big leagues and it's just a joy. So to have to, or to get to do that switch, to do it in such good, capable hands, you feel safe, like you can really take a swing at it. I'm just going to keep on using sports analogies."

Chris Lowell got his new job before Veronica Mars got the axe.

"I had signed on for a year of Veronica Mars so I wasn't sure if they were going to be bringing me back, and I don't think they were even sure," he said.

Continue Reading...

Nice robes, guys! Kate Walsh and Taye Diggs are seen here shooting a what looks to be a rather intimate scene for Private Practice. Wonder what it's all about?

The ladies love Taye Diggs.

That much we've known since Isaiah Washington got himself into hot water on and off the set of Grey's Anatomy, prompting some fans to start speculating about Diggs stepping into the role of Dr. Preston Burke.

While Grey's and Private Practice creator Shonda Rhimes was having none of that, Taye Diggs remains extremely popular with the female set... as these somewhat racy photos from a recent jaunt to Las Vegas certainly indicate!

Celebrity gossip site TMZ.com snared some pics of the Private Practice doc doing, shall we say, a little smooth operating with some girls at Vegas' PURE nightclub over the weekend....

Wow. Either his wife, Idina Menzel, is cool with this sort of thing somehow, or Taye Diggs is never going to be allowed to go to Vegas by himself again.