News about the Grey's Anatomy spinoff have been pouring in since late February when it was announced that Grey's character Addison would possibly get her own show. Since then, fans and critics have been speculating as to whether this was a good or a bad idea.Earlier this week, ABC gave official details about the two episodes that will serve as a test to see if the spinoff will indeed be part of their 2007-2008 lineup or if Addison will stay at Seattle Grace.
Even if the two-hour spinoff episodes will only air on May 3, we can already start speculating as what series we will like better: Grey's Anatomy or Private Practice (the spinoff's tentative title).
Personally, the more and more I hear about the spinoff episodes, the more and more I warm up to the idea. Actually, being tired of Meredith whining in every episode and of Gizzie just making me want to scream as I do NOT want to see them become a couple, I embraced the spinoff news from the start. Addison is a strong character that has a good following of fans (even though people hated her at first since she was coming between Meredith and Derek) and if I have to follow one of the characters to a spin-off, she is #1 on my list.
The behind the scenes antics on the set of Grey's Anatomy have also put a strain on my relationship with the show. Somehow, I cannot take some of the cast seriously anymore. Every time I see Burke on screen, I am reminded of what he said about T.R. Knight. When I see Izzie, I can't help but think of her battle for more money per episode when it'll take me a few years to even make what she asks for an episode. No matter, I'm still watching the show due to its writing, wacky storylines, compelling cases, and because McSteamy and McDreamy aren't too shabby!
Knowing that the spinoff will be helmed by Shonda Rhimes, one can only expect the same quality of show we've been used to with Grey's. With a cast composed of people we have seen on TV before and grown attached to when watching other series, the spin-off starts off well. All of them have not been in hot water recently, so when watching the actors I will see them as their characters and not be reminded they said bad things about other cast members or demanded more money, etc. Afraid the spin-off will not have a McSteamy or a McDreamy? Have you seen Tim Daly? The man has strong presence in every show he does and is not too shabby either!
Without having seen the two Grey's Anatomy episodes that will help to set scene for the potential spin-off, which of the two series are you most compelled to watch?
We will do a follow-up to our "Grey's Anatomy vs. the spinoff" after the two-hour May 3 special airs
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
4-20-2007 @ 11:44AM
e said...
When I voted, a window popped up w/funky code on it. Anyway, I can't WAIT for the spinoff. I am so over the original GA.
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4-20-2007 @ 11:46AM
Walt said...
It depends on the level of humor injected by "Addison". The type of humor doesn't have to rise(sink?) to the level of Gilmore Girls banter, but humorous wisdom along the lines of Addison's bar scene from last night's episode would probably work well. If any serious approach is taken, they're wasting their time.
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4-23-2007 @ 12:17PM
C C said...
I loathe Grey's Anatomy, but I have to admit, the spin-off actually sounds promising! Tim Daly is in it, and I'm hearing that they're going to incorporate "alternative medicine" topics into the storylines. I would like to see a medical drama treat alternative medicine with respect, not portrayed as quackery as all the others have done.
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4-23-2007 @ 12:53PM
The Midnight Penguin said...
I don't watch Grey's, just can't get into the characters. I will, however, due to the announced cast, watch the spin-off. Whether or not it's a drama or a comedy doesn't really matter to me. If it's not good, I'm not going to invest too much time in it - since I'm not invested in Addison anyways, it'll just be another "new" series for me.
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4-23-2007 @ 1:09PM
Jimmy said...
Kate Walsh was the best thing to ever happen to Grey's Anatomy. She's an excellent actress capable a playing comedy, drama, and bitchiness quite well. I'm planning to watch the spin-off for no other reason than that. Add what looks to be an exceptional cast of well known actors -- Merrin Dungey, Tim Daly, Amy Brenneman (it's about time someone got this great actress back on television!), Taye Diggs -- and it's surely worth watching if for nothing else to see how it all works. I do hope Shonda Rhimes doesn't try to do just a Grey's clone because I think that will be boring and doomed to failure.
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4-23-2007 @ 2:06PM
lambman said...
I'm excited for the spinoff! Addison is my fav character, Tim Daly rocks as does Tay Diggs...and if I can purge all memory of "Judgy Amy" from my brain I quite like Amy Brenamin too!
Though I think the original Grey's will be a mess! They've lost their 2nd strongest female character (#1 being Christina), Izzy and George plotline sucks, the Mer/Der thing is getting a little Ross and Rachel for my taste, and TR Knight and Kathrine Higel both clearly still hate Isiah Washington...its kinda a hilarious trainwreck lol
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4-23-2007 @ 2:15PM
Hill said...
I am so sick of Grey's Anatomy and I've been an avid fan since the start. Gizzie just makes me puke...Izzie has always been the weakest character on the show in my opinion and her hooking up with her best friend was ludicrous. I Callie and think the character is good for George. Addison is by far the most likable character on GA. The character interaction between her and the rest of cast seems the most believable. I've rooted for her from the beginning. So Addison getting a spin-off is great news for me. I may not watch GA anymore if Private Practice is good!
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4-23-2007 @ 2:45PM
KC said...
I'm with you guys.
I lost interest in GA beginning from the fiasco with Isaiah and TR. I am a huge Isaiah fan but the stupidity and childishness that went on have turned me off of both him and the show. I also think that Shonda believes a little too much of her own hype and has stopped writing the show as having any medical basis. It is all cheezy soap opera all the time. It was never a medical drama per se but at least the interns used to learn something!
I adore Addison and my secret hope is that if the show gets a slot next year Callie and maybe Alex will head over to Private Practice.
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4-23-2007 @ 3:13PM
justelise said...
It's sad to see a show that started off so strong devolve so quickly. I'd like to see more medicine and less relationship drama. The show was equal parts medicine and drama and now we sometimes go a whole episode with less than 10 minutes worth of medicine.
I am also very sad that ABC chose not to fire Isaiah Washington after the incident with TR. I am happy, however, that TR was dignified about it, came out, and ended up looking like the better man in the end. I believe that this incident helped feed into public frustration actors and media personalities saying racist, prejudice, and homophobic things which culminated in the Imus firing.
I think that Kate Walsh is an excellent actress and she takes the other female cast members (with the exception of Sandra Oh) to school with her acting chops. I don't know that I am happy about a spin off but truth be told it's time to do housecleaning on GA. There are too many characters and relationships for anyone to get a decent amount of screen time. I am not opposed to the Gizzie relationship but I'm not gung ho about it either. It would be interesting if it did happen and they found out that they really didn't belong together and one of them (Izzie hopefully) jumped ship to the spin off. I am trying to keep hopeful that the spin off will help clean house on GA and allow the Medicine to get screen time as well.
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4-23-2007 @ 8:22PM
marge said...
I VOTE FOR GREYS ANATOMY. no spinoffs. like in friends, joey had a spin off and it was HORRIBLE dont do it. GREYS ANATOMY IS THE PERFECT SHOW ALREADY. DONT CHANGE IT.
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4-23-2007 @ 10:49PM
karen d said...
How strong is this show when you think about the guest stars they are able to pull in?! Look at Sara Ramarize (Tony winner, Richard Rines (SP?/ BIG theater star), Diana Carroll, Elizabeth Reaser (nominne for Independent Spirit Awards/Best Actress) and on and on. Love seeing what quality actors can do with a show like this. And don't get me started on Taye Diggs (heavy breathing here).
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4-24-2007 @ 10:42AM
Zeb Aslam said...
I cannot wait for Addison's Anatomy (it just sounds more fun with this name) for the exact same reasons Isabelle listed in her post. Grey's is just getting on my nerves and since I don't give a crap about McSteamy or McDreamy (Izzie all the way!) and HATE Gizzie I'm all for this show.
Now, if they could only incorporate Callie and Alex into the new show I'd be ecstatic. Both of them are criminally underused and have links to Addison that can easily be used to 'shift' them.
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4-25-2007 @ 8:38PM
Jane said...
Gizzie was the straw that broke the camel's back with GA for me. So I'm really pinning my hopes on the spin-off.
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4-26-2007 @ 12:26PM
Cheri said...
I have stopped watching Grey's Anatomy b/c it has turned into an awful soap opera... I am considering giving the spin off a chance if only to support Shonda (who, by the way, I am convinced is no longer writing GA).
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4-25-2007 @ 9:13PM
Barb Blieu said...
I love GA but you are giving the wrong person a spinoff. The greatest character is the Nazi, Bailey!! Mean, sentimental, strong, a great mentor. I wish I knew her in real life!!!! You are right, tho---a little too much romance and not enough medical. Are you listening, PRODUCERS????
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4-25-2007 @ 9:14PM
Joe's Anatomy said...
I love Addison. She, along with Dr. Bailey, are my favorite characters on GA. I wish Addison will take Bailey on that road trip so that both of them can ditch the increasingly annoying GA forever. MerDer is annoying, Gizzie is not believable, the "behind the scenes" drama of most of the cast are a turn off. I am so looking forward to this new Shonda Rhimes series "Private Practice" starring a new cast that hopefully will leave the drama for the screen.
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4-25-2007 @ 9:20PM
vpd said...
Hey, the best part of the Grey's is Dr. Bailey, it seems like everybody forgets about her. But I am pretty sick of Grey's also, it's just turned into a soap opera. I've always liked Kate Walsh's character and I wish she was taking Dr. Bailey's character with her (Chandra Wilson)
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4-25-2007 @ 9:41PM
linda said...
Grey's Anatomy is a great show as medical shows go. I love it and can't wait for it to be on every week. I do have to think that the spinoff will peak ones interest (at least for a while), and to see some of the not so often seen actresses and actors again will be a good thing.
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4-25-2007 @ 9:44PM
linda said...
Grey's Anatomy is a great show as medical shows go. I love it and can't wait for it to be on every week. I do have to think that the spinoff will peak ones interest (at least for a while), and to see some of the not so often seen actresses and actors again will be a good thing.
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4-25-2007 @ 9:46PM
Saintgabby said...
I love Grey's Anatomy but recent episodes have been disappointing. I could care less about Isaiah Washington and TR Knight's feud. The show must go on! Choose your battles! Katharine Heigl's wages and opinions on comments don't care about that either. I enjoy the show for its entertainment value. I have been disgusted with the lack of a storyline for Derek and Meredith, Addison and Sloane, and Burke and Christina. The entire show seems to rotate around George and Izzie which makes the show boring.
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