Image Credit: Danny Feld/ABCShonda Rhimes must be upping the wackadoodle quotient next season on Private Practice, because the boss lady is adding a second full-time psychiatrist to the payroll. Sources confirm to me exclusively that Brian Benben — a.k.a. head doc Sheldon Wallace — has been promoted to a full-fledged series regular.
Benben joined the Grey’s Anatomy spin-off on a recurring basis in season 2 as the resident shrink at Oceanside’s rival practice, Pacific Wellcare. When Doc Wallace isn’t offering Addison free counseling in the elevator, he’s jumping into doomed romances with fellow therapist Violet and, more recently, Charlotte.
What do you think Rhimes has in store for Sheldon in season 4? Perhaps he’ll persuade Addison to formalize their doctor-patient relationship (lord knows her romance with Sam will give her lots to talk about). And more important, are you happy Benben is now an official member of the cast? Sound off below!
I like him. I thought he was a regular already.
I think this is a big mistake and will disrupt the whole show. He is not very nice to the grips or the vending machine lady. This will disrupt the set and cause people to be sad. I hope they change thier minds on this, and consider hiring a nice guy like Gary Cole or Jeff Bridges. This would make for a better place for all to work, and peole will smile.
LMAO YEAH. OSCAR WINNER JEFF BRIDGES IS SURELY LOOKING FOR A FULL TIME WORK ON A WEEKLY DRAMA.
love Sheldon! As long as they don’t make Mia a regular. Ugh. Still upset they added Sarah Drew to GA cast members.
well don’t know about the grips and behind the scene folks, but like the character.
ugh… least favorite character ever.
him and derek’s sister both annoy me.
took the words out of my mouth
I agree. He is boring and I don’t want him to get more screen time. And Derek’s sister, like why is she still even around?
She is the most annoying woman on the show and that’s really saying something.
Derek’s little sis is still around so we can get our mega special crossover that happens every single season!
I’ll take a bet and say she’s going to SGH soon and stay there. She doesn’t fit in PP.
agreed! how is it that all derek’s sisters (that we’ve seen) are such bitches? did they have different parents? sheez.
Derek’s sister is beyond annoying (cannot even remember her name). She needs to go.
Copy that.
Agree, agree! Sheldon was some comic humor at first with his idosynchrasies, but we lost Dell (hot in season 1) for this? Ugh, bring back more man candy!
The others fit together so seamlessly, and he just hovers on the edge. Bad choice.
ugh… least favorite character ever.
him and derek’s sister both annoy me.
took the words out of my mouth
The others fit together so seamlessly, and he just hovers on the edge. Bad choice.
Yay!
I hate his character.
I hate his character.
Hmm, I assumed it would be Michael Patrick Thornton joining as a regular. I figured Benben’s arc was dunzo. But what do I know?
Hmm, I assumed it would be Michael Patrick Thornton joining as a regular. I figured Benben’s arc was dunzo. But what do I know?
They upgrade him, but they screwed Chris Lowell over for 3 years? What the hell is Shonda Rhimes smoking? She is turning PP into a joke.
Dell was completely pointless on the show. It’s about time they got rid of him.
I wish they added Christina Chang as a full-time cast member though.
He was only pointless because Rhimes gave him absolutely nothing to do.
Do you mean Cristina Yang??
Cristina Yang already has a full time job at Seattle Grace Hospital…(Grey’s Anatomy, remember?)
Christina Chang is the actress that played Vanessa so that is who was meant, not the Greys character Cristina YANG
LMFAO @ Michelle and English. Thanks for the laugh. I needed one today
Agreed. My first thought when reading this was “You upgrade him but kill Dell, WTF?!” ugh, I think Dell had so much potential but you could see the signs he was going to be killed off a mile away. Shonda always plays it the same, stop writing stories for them, kill them and then say you stopped writing for them because you were going to kill them. Stupid stupid. Dell will be missed (at least by me.)
Chris Lowell wanted to leave! He and Shonda agreed it was best. He moved to NYC.
I would rather that Dell had stayed on.
Same here…and make Fife a regular (if he isn’t already).
Chris Lowell wanted to leave the show Shonda did not fire him.
He wanted to leave the show because the most screen time he got in season 3 was about 7 minutes. And he was a regular for 3 years and had practically no storylines.
They upgrade him, but they screwed Chris Lowell over for 3 years? What the hell is Shonda Rhimes smoking? She is turning PP into a joke.
Dell was completely pointless on the show. It’s about time they got rid of him.
I wish they added Christina Chang as a full-time cast member though.
He was only pointless because Rhimes gave him absolutely nothing to do.
I thought he already was a series regular. He’s been around practically every episode for two seasons. Next they need to promote Caterina Scorsone to series regular. I’d love to see some Shepherd-Addison interaction.
Eww, she’s awful and needs to just go away.
I thought he was already a series regular as well. Who cares anyway? I just caught up on this past season. Blech! I HATE, HATE, HATE, the Sam-Addison thing. The actors have no chemistry, and is Addison really that horrible of a person? Plus the 15 year old having a fairy tale wedding, yuck. Maybe Shonda needs to watch “16 and Pregnant” to see what the relationships of pregnant teens are really like. This season was gross, and I doubt I’ll even give next season a chance.
I agree. It’s not the color thing at all, they are just gross together. Shonda is really irking me with her bad decisions. Pete and Addy forever!
I thought he already was a series regular. He’s been around practically every episode for two seasons. Next they need to promote Caterina Scorsone to series regular. I’d love to see some Shepherd-Addison interaction.
Eww, she’s awful and needs to just go away.
I thought he was already a series regular as well. Who cares anyway? I just caught up on this past season. Blech! I HATE, HATE, HATE, the Sam-Addison thing. The actors have no chemistry, and is Addison really that horrible of a person? Plus the 15 year old having a fairy tale wedding, yuck. Maybe Shonda needs to watch “16 and Pregnant” to see what the relationships of pregnant teens are really like. This season was gross, and I doubt I’ll even give next season a chance.
I agree. It’s not the color thing at all, they are just gross together. Shonda is really irking me with her bad decisions. Pete and Addy forever!
’bout dang time! Congrats to Brian!
His character does not seem to fit with the crazy, selfish characters already in existence on this show. They will drag him down to their level. But I may not be around to watch, as this show is on my short list to drop next season… I have not decided yet.
His character does not seem to fit with the crazy, selfish characters already in existence on this show. They will drag him down to their level. But I may not be around to watch, as this show is on my short list to drop next season… I have not decided yet.