Last season, Private Practice and Grey's Anatomy viewers got to know more about Addison's past as her brother Archer battled through a life-threatening disease.

From her tenure on Grey's Anatomy to her role as the leading lady of Private Practice, her history has been hinted at more than it has been explored. Until recently.

Fans will soon learn a lot more about her privileged background in this third season, according to reports, in a November episode aptly titled "Sins of the Father."

That's when Addison's dad drops in to Oceanside Wellness Center. Barry Bostwick will guest star as the man known as The Captain, so you know he's important!

To the surprise of no one, the redheaded daughter and her father “have bad blood between them,” the show insider revealed. “It’s a very tense relationship.”

Bostwick is best known for his former role as the Mayor on Spin City. But in 2009 alone, he has appeared on Nip/Tuck, Ghost Whisperer and Supernatural.

Private Practice is all-new tonight after Grey's Anatomy.

Michael Ausiello has some scoop on Grey's Anatomy in his spoiler column today, mainly pertaining to Katherine Heigl and Ellen Pompeo, and when we can expect to see less (or, temporarily at least, none) of their characters, Izzie and Mer, going forward.

Here are excerpts from his Q&A ...

Q: There’s speculation that Izzie cheats on Alex on Grey’s Anatomy. Is it true?

A: No, but the newlyweds will be dealt a major blow at the end of next week’s episode (the best of the season, IMHO). In fact, the crisis that takes place is so big that Izzie disappears for roughly five non-consecutive episodes.

BTW, even though I knew Katherine Heigl’s mini-hiatus was coming, Izzie’s exit was no less powerful or emotional. And man, Heigl knocks it out of the park. She can be a real handful (Emmygate, 17-hour work day-gate, etc) but girlfriend delivers when it’s called for.

Q: When will Ellen Pompeo’s maternity leave from Grey’s Anatomy kick in on screen?

A: Unlike Izzie, Meredith isn’t going anywhere, although we’ll begin to see less of her (literally and figuratively) after this week’s episode. And her diminished screen time will make perfect sense given what happens tonight.

Q: Anything good on Grey’s Anatomy, specifically Callie and Arizona?

A: The aforementioned October 15 episode is a big one for these two, but mostly for Callie. Hector Elizondo is back as her gay-fearing dad and this time he’s brought backup!

With all the new doctors joining the staff at Seattle Grace (one played by 24's Kim Raver being the newest addition) and some of our current mainstays taking time away, a logistical question arises: How is the show going to write in all these comings and goings?

Here's what TV Guide had to say about that in its spoiler Q&A today ...

Q: Other than character-centric episodes, how else will Grey's Anatomy account for cast absences?

A: Rumor has it that the sixth episode of this season will feature a Rashomon-style story, as a death in the ER is told from the perspective of many characters.

But don't worry, Grey's Anatomy won't abandon its tried-and-true storytelling methods.

"People shouldn't expect the series to be wholly reinvented, but we are asking people to take a leap of faith with us and shake things up a little," executive producer Krista Vernoff said. "It's going to be a different experience for our audience, but I'm loving the episodes."

Now that Violet and her baby are safe, everything is back to normal Private Practice, right? Not in your life. Cooper, Pete and especially Violet herself are having a tough go of it.

Everyone's a bit shaken up by that and more, it turns out.

In the sneak preview below, Addison and Sam agree to ... be in denial about their respective problems. Strong, but in denial. Check out the funny clip from "The Way We Were" ...

For two more clips of the show Thursday night, and all the latest on the Grey's Anatomy spinoff taking place in L.A., follow the link to TV Fanatic's Private Practice spoilers!

Grey’s Anatomy has enlisted Jack Bauer’s ex and a former Lipstick Jungle star to throw a monkey wrench into Owen and Cristina’s burgeoning romance, Entertainment Weekly reports.

Sources confirm that Grey’s Anatomy has tapped former 24 heroine Kim Raver to join the cast as a new SGH surgeon and a possible love interest for Kevin McKidd’s Dr. Owen Hunt.

Back in August, Kevin McKidd revealed some Grey's Anatomy spoilers, namely that a major skeleton would tumble out of Owen’s closet in this transitional season of Grey's Anatomy.

“Someone comes to the hospital that he was connected to in his past, not his ex-fiancée, but it’s somebody we didn’t expect,” the actor said in an interview with E! Online.

“I think it could get a little tricky, to say the least, but also exciting and interesting."

"Hopefully it will bring [Owen and Cristina] closer in the long run.”

Raver’s role is recurring and she will debut on November 12. Who do you think she's playing, and are you excited? Or are all these new doctors just making the cast too crowded?

Below are some sneak previews from this week's episode of Grey's Anatomy, "Tainted Obligation." In the first, Alex receives a wake up call from a bear (and we're not talking about Cristina's Mr. Bear toy here). He then decides he wants to move back to Mer's.

Izzie's not up for that, though, because she just can't move backwards ...

Follow the jump for two more clips from the episode, in which Izzie treats a patient suffering from cancer and waiting for the right moment to propose to his girlfriend of eight years.

Also, Mer and Lexie's father, Thatcher, arrives at SGH in terrible shape ...

Continue Reading...

As we're sure you're aware by now, Seattle Grace and Mercy West are merging, and that means a new crop of doctors aiming to put our favorite Grey’s Anatomy characters out of work.

October 15 is the day the staffs merge, fittingly in a tense episode titled "Invasion." Word is that specifically, Izzie Stevens and Lexie Grey find their heads are on the chopping block.

“We’re not the most welcome faces at Seattle Grace,” says newcomer Robert Baker.

But off set, the new blood has welcomed with open arms, especially by Justin Chambers (Alex Karev), who recently took them all out to lunch!

Here's some scoop on what we can expect from the newcomers ...

Izzie and a pair of Seattle Grace's new residents.

• Dr. Jackson Avery (Jesse Williams) “He’s a very confident, competitive, fearless leader and a bit of a cocky, hotshot surgeon,” says Jesse. “He’s cracking jokes left and right and going in there and taking no prisoners. So far, I’ve had a spat with Cristina and shared scenes with Owen, Lexie and Derek.”

• Dr. Reed Adamson (Nora Zehetner) “She’s very feisty and comes on a bit strong at first,” says Nora, a longtime friend of Chyler Leigh (Lexie). “But she’s a good doctor who cares a lot about the patients, especially with the merger getting in the way of that. Everyone is in competition and worried about getting fired, so there’s a lot of fighting with Izzie, Alex and Cristina for the best surgeries.” As for romance with Alex, Nora says only “Perhaps.”

• Dr. Charles Percy (Robert Baker) “He’s a general surgeon who has a problem keeping his mouth shut,” says Robert, who has shot scenes with Bailey, Alex and Derek. “In my first episode, some complications arise between Charles and Izzie, causing head-butting. Then some things happen that the fans will definitely want to see.” Could these characters share more than scalpels? “Izzie’s a married woman, but never say never.”

• Dr. April Kepner (Sarah Drew) “April’s eager, a little insecure, passive-aggressive and tries to undermine Lexie,” says Sarah, who has “really enjoyed playing a bitch.” But April also has a sensitive side. “You’ll see her writing some surprising things in her journal.”

Are you excited for the new cast members? Comment and vote below ...

If you've seen the promos for this week's episode of Grey's Anatomy, you know Meredith Grey has an impossibly difficult problem on her hands. Her father, Thatcher, who saddled her with abandonment issues and made her dark and twisty for decades, needs a transplant.

It looks like Lexie is not a match, but Mer is. She could be his last hope.

Should Meredith help Thatcher, her estranged father, who returns to Seattle Grace? Should she do as Lexie pleads, and give her her dad? Or, as Derek says, does she really not owe Thatcher anything after all the misery he's caused her?

Leave a comment with your thoughts and vote in the poll below ...

Meredith and Thatcher Grey speak briefly last season. This week, he returns to Seattle Grace again, with his fate likely resting in the hands of his eldest daughter. How will she react?

Should Meredith help Thatcher?

Below are some promotional pictures released by ABC from this week's all-new episode of Grey's Anatomy, "Tainted Obligation." Thatcher Grey is back at Seattle Grace, as we know, and forces a remarkably difficult decision upon Meredith and Lexie.

Looks like we're in for an intense episode. Click to enlarge the images below and share your thoughts with us on what you think will happen on Thursday ...

Below is a sampling of Grey's Anatomy quotes from this week's episode.

Follow the link above for the Insider's full list of quotes from "I Always Feel Like Somebody's Watchin' Me" and every episode in our favorite series' six-season history.

Now here are some of the Grey's Anatomy quotes from Thursday night that we liked most. Which was your favorite line? Thanks to Maddie O for help with these ...

Izzie: I forgot he was dead today. For a few hours in surgery, I forgot I had cancer and I forgot he was dead.
Alex: But, George is dead. And you do have cancer. I want you to keep doing what you love. You're a great doctor, and you have a fantastic future ahead of you. But, you've gotta step up and start taking care of yourself. You've gotta take your meds, you've gotta eat. You've gotta pace yourself, 'cause I can't be your nurse. I can't. | permalink

Arizona: I hate, hate, hate this merger because I hate long distance relationships. I don't believe in them. So, you can't move to Portland.
Callie: Well, when you mentioned it this afternoon you didn't seem to mind. You were like... "move to Portland!"
Arizona: I didn't know that I was allowed to mind. I didn't know if we were girlfriends. But, then you said girlfriend. You called me your girlfriend. So, I need to know. Am I your girlfriend?
Callie: Yeah.
Arizona: Ok. Good. So, yeah. No! You're not moving to Portland. No, but what you are gonna do is you're gonna go into the Chief's office and you're gonna beg for...
Callie: I am not gonna grovel.
Arizona: Ah, yes you are. Seriously. You don't wanna mess with me. | permalink

Arizona: Wait, shhh.... I think there's something coming from your pocket. Is Sage inside your pocket?
Cristina: No, no. She's hiding here.
Sage: You've gotta look in your pocket first.
Cristina: No, I don't. Because I found you already. Now, I just need to check your incision site so...
Sage: Don't touch it, it hurts.
Arizona: You know, I bet that Mr. Bear would like to see Sage's scar. Wouldn't you Mr Bear?
Cristina: Oh um, (puts on a big bear voice) Yes I would!
(Sage and Arizona both look at Cristina strangely) | permalink

Cristina: That list is everything - it is my future. It is my salvation. The list is life.
Owen: You're comparing the merger with Schindler's List?
Cristina: I'm Jewish. I'm allowed. | permalink

Meredith (narrating): We're all susceptible to it, the dread and anxiety of not knowing what's coming. It's pointless in the end, because all the worrying and the making of plans for things that could or could not happen, it only makes things worse. So walk your dog or take a nap. Just whatever you do, stop worrying. Because the only cure for paranoia is to be here, just as you are. | permalink