Following the season five finale of ‘Private Practice,’ which saw Addison (Kate Walsh) stuck with the decision of choosing between on-and-off again love Sam (Taye Diggs) and new love interested Jake (Benjamin Bratt), fans have been anxiously awaiting for her decision and the start of season six.
Executive producer and creator Shonda Rhimes, along with many of the cast members, have given quite a few spoilers leading up to the new season.
Two cast member departures have been confirmed by the show. Walsh, who plays the main character of Dr. Addison Montgomery, announced that the sixth season would be her last.
The actress, who first played the character on Rhimes’ hit show ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ was left with the big decision regarding her love life in the previous season finale. Bratt told TV Line, “We pick up three months later with her decision having been clearly made, but we don’t know what that is until the end of the episode.”
Fellow cast member, Tim Daly, who plays Dr. Pete Wilder, also announced in May that he would not be returning at all for the upcoming season. Daly made the announcement on Twitter and said, “Wonderful fans of PPP. Shonda informed my agent today that Pete wont be returning for season 6. It was a great 5 yrs. R.I.P. Pete Wilder.”
All other cast members have, until now, been confirmed for the new season. However, Daly’s loss will be acknowledged through his on-screen wife and mother of his child, Amy Brenneman, who plays Dr. Violet Turner. Brenneman told E! Online, “My character at the beginning of the season, it’s all about loss. Tim is not coming back, and that’s pretty much what I’m dealing with.”
The actress also told Hollywood Reporter that fans will see more of an interaction with her on-screen son Luke (Jack Bobo). Brenneman said, “He has lines and we practice them and they end up being a fair amount of improvisation, but I've done a number of scenes now of just me and Jack, which I love.”
Walsh told TV Line that the premiere episode will hold surprises for all the characters present. “Everybody has a huge, huge revelation in that episode or [receives] information that’s life changing,” the actress said.
TV Line also provided details on ‘Private Practice’ couple Charlotte King (KaDee Strickland) and Cooper Freedman (Paul Adelstein). Strickland told TV Line, “You’ve never seen them like you’re going to see them this season and you’ve seen them a lot of different ways and positions, honey, so this is all new.”
Costar Adelstein also added, “They have a son now so everything that happens to them or everything they want to do in their lives, they have this residual and major effect on this child. I don’t think they’ve really maybe thought that one through.”
As for Amelia Shepard (Caterina Scorsone) and Sheldon Wallace (Brian Benben)? Their friendship will allow Amelia to work through loosing her baby and boyfriend, although Hollywood Reporter said that someone from Sheldon’s past may reemerge to shake things up.
‘Private Practice’ season 6 premieres on September 25 at 10 p.m. EST on ABC.
WATCH THE SEASON 6 PROMO OF ‘PRIVATE PRACTICE’