Eye candy surprise as series wraps

Published Feb 21, 2013

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Whoa, there’s new eye-candy in Private Practice! As this is the sixth and final instalment, I would say it’s about time. After all, fans can perv over Taye Tiggs as heart surgeon Sam Bennett for only so long.

And so creator Shonda Rhimes brings in the delectable Matt Long as Dr James Peterson, the new ER attending, to replace Tim Daly’s void as Pete Wilder. The character was killed off after budget constraints. Viewers will remember Long as Joey Baird in Mad Men and he also featured in an episode of The Newsroom, aside from a handful of cameos and movie roles.

Those dreamy blue eyes, disarming smile and suaveness – how could fans not swoon when he entered Seaside Wellness to meet a now pregnant Charlotte King (KaDee Strickland) for an interview.

True to form, Rhimes milked the emotions in the build-up to introducing Pete’s replacement. And Long was on point with his character. Diving into a string of emergencies at the ER on his first night, he also clashed with some of the other attending doctors who got rather precious with their patients.

But he wasn’t there to play nice – he had a job to do and he made it pretty clear that they had to play by his rules. This self-assured streak certainly garnered him respect while unsettling a flattered Amelia Sheppard (Caterina Scorsone), who seems to have caught his eye. And he is pretty brilliant in what he does.

Who knows the tension between the two could lead to a steamy and long-lasting romance? After all, Amelia deserves to smile and love again after making a concerted effort to clean up her act.

It is, however, heartbreaking to accept that, like Brothers & Sisters, this show has reached the end of its lifespan.

However, Rhimes will ensure that it ends on a proper melodramatic high – with Addison and Jake walking down the aisle. Nothing like a fairytale ending to warm the cockles of the heart.

On Addison finally getting her dream family, Walsh told The Hollywood Reporter: “There are surprises all the way around. I really believe that the fans are going to be hugely satisfied with this ending. It’s the first time that Shonda has ended one of her shows, so it’s a big thing to wrap up everyone’s storyline. There are some really juicy surprises in the end.”

Meanwhile, Diggs shared that he will miss the “suits, tied and tie clips” and if he can’t buy them he is going to “try and steal them”.

Lastly, there’s Amelia’s journey. Scorsone shared: “I think Amelia has had her fair share of pathos and tragedy, so moving forward, she gets to have a sweet, juicy love story.”

Aside from Audra McDonald reprising her role as Naomi, it looks like Long is going to inject lots of raciness in the storyline.

Bring on the charming beefcake, I say!

• Private Practice airs on M-Net Series (DStv Channel 114) on Tuesdays at 7.30pm.

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