Private Practice

It's hard to imagine reinventing the concept of the doctor show. But in a way, that's what Private Practice sets out to do in its new-look second season Wednesday--and it doesn't do a bad job.

ABC's eagerly awaited spinoff of "Grey's Anatomy" initially qualifies as a disappointment -- hitting completely familiar medical-drama beats while pursuing a whimsical tone it never fully achieves.

Tonight's opening episode is somewhat better than the pilot, although it's clear there is still work to be done in defining the characters and setting an overall tone.

Though it’s better, Private Practice is not good enough.

The problem is that Private Practice attempts to drum up comedy from things that aren’t funny and to wring drama from situations that are melodramatic, predictable or reek of barely repressed anger.

This lightweight medical drama still needs serious script surgery.

Private Practice is just plain McLousy, from its stock cast of whiny healers down to the hokey, gimmicky medical cases of the week.