Kate Expectations

That collection of names, however, wasn't enough to impress Grey's fans: Though the two-parter that aired on May 3 attracted 23 million viewers — 17 percent more than the drama's season average — angry posters lit up Grey's-related blogs with complaints about Addison's uncharacteristic flightiness. ''I thought I was going to DIE waiting for that show to end...'' grumbled one poster on EW.com. ''Grey's has imploded with greed.... Sad.'' Another fired off this missive: ''I've got one word: Joey.''

Walsh disagreed with the criticism. ''It felt like Shonda was peeling off the layers to Addison's tender underbelly. It felt very real to me — �taking a trip to see an old friend, and everything just comes out like 'I'm a mess!' I don't think it made Addison weak.'' Though Rhimes admits she was a ''little naive'' to think fans would embrace the ''enhanced episode,'' she has no regrets. ''I really want Private Practice to have its own identity,'' insists Rhimes (in fact, she's happy ABC chose to air the drama on Wednesdays, not Thursdays after Grey's).''I really don't want it to be Grey's 2.0.''

Walsh will certainly see to that. Back on Practice's set, she is trying to deliver a simple line about childbirth, but she inadvertently twists the words into something out of Stephen King's Kingdom Hospital. ''Let's help her have her baby in pieces.... Let's help get a piece of her baby out.'' Giggling off camera, Adelstein jumps at the chance to rib his costar. ''Piece of baby? Yes, we do things differently at the Oceanside Wellness Center!''

Even more so since they shot the pilot. KaDee Strickland (Fox's The Wedding Bells) joined the cast as Charlotte King, a by-the-book physician from a nearby hospital who frowns on Oceanside's touchy-feely ways. And Broadway veteran Audra McDonald replaced Dungey after Rhimes ''reenvisioned'' the role of Naomi. For McDonald, it was a case of better late than never. ''When they were casting back in February, I was a little upset that I couldn't come in to audition,'' said McDonald, 37, who had already committed to starring in 110 in the Shade on Broadway. ''There are not many three-dimensional African-American roles out there in television, so I thought, Everybody's going to want to go out for that.''

So far, Rhimes has scrapped the much-ballyhooed talking elevator from the pilot, choosing instead to get laughs from Walsh dancing naked in her new beachfront home, and trying to avoid come-hither glances from Pete. But that's as far as the hanky-panky will go. For now. ''I don't think anybody wants to see Addison jump into a relationship,'' says Rhimes. ''I don't think she's ready for that.'' Especially since she still has some emotional ties to Seattle Grace, which is why we'll see her return to her old workplace one last time on the Grey's Sept. 27 season premiere. This is where it gets a little sad for Walsh. ''I'm friends with all of them [at Grey's], but even as my character, I'm thinking, 'Wait, can't I just take a friend with me to California?''' (Unfortunately for Addison, Rhimes has no further crossover plans at this time.)

''There's definitely real melancholy, and a loss,'' continues Walsh, on her big move. ''But I also feel like it was right, just like when it's time to go off to college. This is the right time for me to go.''