That's a brilliant piece of advertorial.

"Through its sizzling love triangles and sexy cast, "Grey's Anatomy" producers noticed the opportunities of the show and began production on "Private Practice" in May 2007. The show follows Dr. Addison Montgomery as she moves away from her job with the cast of "Grey's Anatomy," to a private practice in Los Angeles to escape her complicated failed love with "Dr. McDreamy," aka Dr. Derek Shepherd. This successful spin-off plans to premiere its new season in the fall."

Dear ABC - one can't declare a spinoff to be a success before it has aired. At least, not if you don't want people to laugh at you.

Plus, they fail for not mentioning Boston Legal (bizarrely, also an ABC show. Maybe they were so busy pimping "Private Practice" they completely forgot?)

spooforbrains | June 10, 09:48 CET

They did aired it, I just wouldn't called it such an outstanding success. It was mostly critically bashed, if I remember it right.
Anyway, this type of brand pimping reminds me of piece about Press Releases, I read yesterday.

Numfar PTB | June 10, 10:29 CET

This successful spin-off plans to premiere its new season in the fall."

Dear ABC - one can't declare a spinoff to be a success before it has aired. At least, not if you don't want people to laugh at you.

Yeah that's season "premiere" spooforbrains ;) I.e. it was on last year for 9 eps before they stopped production for the writer's strike. Wasn't that well received by critics IIRC but I think it did OK ratings wise (I paid next to no attention since I don't watch it or Grey's but it was given a full season order just before the strike so either they were giving it a chance to build an audience or it was doing OK).

Also, Joey was "known for his witty personality" ? Huh ? Wasn't he more known for being lovably dumb and liking food ? Never thought of him as witty.

Not sure why they characterised 'Angel' as a surprise success, on paper it sounds easier to sell than Buffy in many ways. Did people expect it to struggle ? How did the two shows compare ratings wise BTW ?

(and those John Ritter shows sounds a lot like "Man about the House" and "Robin's Nest", didn't realise/forgot if I knew that they'd been remade for the US)

Saje | June 10, 10:50 CET

I agree Saje I was puzzled about the 'surprise success'. What was so surprising about it?

angeliclestat | June 10, 10:54 CET

Saje: Rating wise Angel usually performed slightly better than BTVS.

Spikeslady | June 10, 10:55 CET

"Private Practice - Season One" was critically and creatively a mess, but ratingswise a success, it was the most-watched new show of the last season. Don't know why, because it's really far away from being outstanding or good.

I'm also surprised by the "surprise success"-mention, because Angel was a very popular character and with the show airing after its mothershow, one could only expect a success.

Donnie | June 10, 11:15 CET

Ta Spikeslady ;). Suspected 'Angel' had non-Buffy-fan fans (?! ;) and I guess that proves it.

Saje | June 10, 13:49 CET

That article loses so much cred by neglecting to mention All in the Family and its slew of spin-offs, both good and bad.

Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner | June 10, 15:17 CET

I think the key to a successful spin-off is to both extend the original show's world, while still doing different things. Angel's success to me is that, I never think of it as being a spin-off when I watch it, but I know intrinsically that it belongs in the same universe as Buffy.

Honestly when I watch Buffy Season 3, as much as I love it, and watch Wesley play the part of the "bad watcher" I cringe a little bit.

I think that's actually Angel's shining achievement. Despite the fact that it had an uneven start, it never tried to be like Buffy. It takes a lot of skill as a storyteller to take such a succesful show and try something so new.

rabid | June 10, 23:32 CET