'Private Practice' Recast: Merrin Dungey out, Audra McDonald in, on the 'Grey's Anatomy' spinoff

“Private Practice” is getting a new fertility specialist, even though 21.2 million “Grey’s Anatomy” viewers already met her original incarnation.

ABC Studios, which produces “Grey’s” and its fall spin-off, confirmed Friday that four-time Tony winner Audra McDonald has been hired to play Dr. Naomi Bennett, Dr. Addison Montgomery’s best college pal.

Naomi, who was played by Merrin Dungey in the May episode that introduced the new characters, talks Addison (Kate Walsh) into moving to California to join a health cooperative where she works with her ex-husband (Taye Diggs) and colleagues played by Tim Daly, Amy Brenneman and Paul Adelstein. Dungey, who starred in "Alias" and “Summerland,” has also guest-starred on several television series, including “The King of Queens” and “Malcolm in the Middle.”

McDonald, known mostly as a Broadway actress, has guest-starred on several television series and was nominated for an Emmy in 2001 for her supporting role in the made-for-HBO movie, “Wit.”

No reason was given for the change in direction.

But in a press conference at the network upfront presentations in May, ABC Entertainment President Steve McPherson said “Private Practice” would be fine-tuned before it premieres on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. in September.

"They were spending a lot of time on introducing the characters and not enough time on the stories," said McPherson of the two-hour “Grey’s” episode that served as the pilot. "We've really got to get the stories stronger."

Will the talking elevator also be recast?

-- Maria Elena Fernandez

For the Record: Thanks, vigilant posters, for pointing out an error. An earlier version of this story said that "Wit" was on USA Network. "Wit" was an HBO movie.

(Photo courtesy ABC / Getty Images)

Comments

[Robert]

Audra Mcdonald starred in "Wit" which was an HBO FILMS production, not USA.

[Chris DuBois]

Wit was not on USA, it was an HBO movie.

[Bob in Jersey]

"Will the talking elevator also be recast?"

Isn't Majel available?

[Charlene Ayers]

I saw the May spin-off episode for this series. It was soooo old timey. All the "New Age" stuff was so tiresome.

[David Ferguson]

Grey's Anatonmy is just a nighttime soap-opera. It's no good. Watch House MD, if you care about the quality of programming. The final nail in the coffin for me was the bigoted remark from Isiah Washington. I guess all press is not good press.

[Sheldon Wiebe]

Next to Kate Walsh, Merrin Dungey gave the best performance in the pilot.

Makes you wonder what the heck these people are thinking, making such
a ridiculous cast change at this point...

[Just my humble opinion]

THANK GOD! I could not for the life of me see what the other actress was communicating in any scene. She was just plain boring and outright wooden as an actress and totally out of her league. Sorry.

[Griff]

WIT was Mike Nichols' HBO movie of Margaret Edson's award-winning play; the USA Network may well have aired WIT at some point, but it certainly didn't produce the film.

[Monica Joyce]

Audra McDonald is a wonderful actress and a fabulous addition to the show. Many will tune in to see her. Also hope they do keep the elevator lady....she's funny!

[Elly]

Why has Merrin Dungey been replaced? How rude and disrespectful of them to the public by just replacing a wonderful and competent actress without giving the reason. I think we deserve that since we've all met the whole cast.

Nothing against Audra McDonald. I'm sure she's a fine actress, but we don't know her.

Again, it's a matter of respect.

[Kate]

Good! I'm glad they booted the old one! While watching, that was all my friends and I were commenting on -- was how POOR of an actress the woman who played her best friend was. Her acting was so ridiculous bad that it was very unenjoyable to watch her. So glad they noticed too!

[Shannon]

I liked the original actress in the May episode....she was very good and you could feel for her and the tough situation she was in....she was hysterical in the scene where they were watching the guy with the surf board walk through the office. BTW....I would not mind if they replaced him. He was cute, but in a boyish way and I would not think that grown woman would fawn over a younger man that even looked younger than he was supposed to be....maybe a little more Paul Walkerish than Harry Potterish...a guy that at least looks early twenties and not eighteen (or less). It was an amazing scene and I loved the music, but the really young guy without much to look at sort of ruined it for me.....Nick Zano maybe???? Yeah, replace him not her!! She was great!

[Ian]

THE BEST RE-CASTING DECISION...EVER!

[JENN T]

That is soooooooooo incredible!!!! Im so proud of her and she totally deserves it, that is sucha great move for her and since this show is sure to be a sucess for a long time, we will get to see a lot of audra in th years to come!!!!!! YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYYAYAY!!!

[Gen]

Seems to me, just like the Fresh Prince of Bel Air before it, they've re-cast the leading black woman as a lighter-skinned leading black woman....Hmmm...interesting how this happens quite a bit.

[Sal]

Audra also previously starred with Josh Brolin in the short lived television drama Mr. Sterling. It was good.

[Ally]

I much prefer Merrin. I think she's a great actress. Her not being on the show kinda makes me not want to watch it...

[Powers]

Gen,

It slays me how some people see a racist in every woodpile.

[CC]

Hello. I dunno. . . I was geeked when I saw a mini-"Alias" reunion with Ms. Dungey and Mr. David Anders briefly in the pilot. She has been in more "mainstream" work than Ms. McDonald - Ms. McDonald is a renowed Broadway actress, having won 3 Tonys before the age of 30, if I remember correctly. But I do remember her being on TV, in the "Homicide" movie, playing the Chief's daughter. Meanwhile, at one point, Ms. Dungey was in three shows at once, I believe - the aforementioned "Alias", "Malcolm". . . and "King of Queens" on and off. So, it is really a matter of taste. Though both are quite talented, I think I would have preferred Ms. Dungey to continue in the role, though I will admit she seemed a bit stilted in the pilot.

[Felicia]

This switch doesn't really matter much, because this show is short-lived. Taye Diggs is TV poison whether we admit to it or not.

[Audra McDonald Fan]

Well I like Merrin Dungey...Alias right?... I do think she's a good actress. It was just a dry performance. And I think that's how it was supposed to be. Didn't really have a problem with it.

Now, as a huge Audra Mcdonald fan, it's really great that many of her followers will be able to see her every week and not pay $115 for two hours. However, it really will suck if this show actually takes off and makes it because her not being on stage is almost a sell-out option. And she's never really done a series where she stays on long. but i think it's because she's easy to forget on tv, but legendary on stage.

Who knows maybe it'll work, but as much as i liked that episode and love Kate Walsh, I really doubt this spin off will make it pass a few seasons.

[cms]

That wasn't the re-cast needed - they need to recast Judging Amy. And then change that character altogether, because she is unbearable. I actually really liked the actress who played the long-time friend - and there was not much to like on that first show. I love Tim Daley, but his character better get a lot better as well.

[Diana]

Bitterly disappointing. We've only just seen the Pilot and I really liked Merrin, as the other actors are relatively unknown here it was nice to see Merrin again.

[Kate]

I don't think the problem was Merrin Dungey (I like both her and Audra McDonald, but somehow Dungey just didn't seem to fit in the role during the pilot, so I'm indifferent to the change). I think the problem was the pilot. These people are oh so quirky and that's why we love them! We just have to! Well, actually, we don't. It works better if we get to know the characters over at least an episode or two. If all of their quirks are revealed at once, it's overkill.

As it is, I have no idea how a medical office--or any office--would function when no one who works there is functional. I've been watching Grey's Anatomy, but I don't know how long I'll continue given the obvious decline of the show. But I'm definitely not watching Private Practice. It's got nowhere to go but up, unless it stays mired where it is. And I suspect that's what's going to happen.

[Alias47]

I HATE it when they recast characters in tv shows, it makes it seem so much like a... tv show and you can't get into it, past the void of tv production, into the story as if it were real

[Aimee]

"I much prefer Merrin. I think she's a great actress. Her not being on the show kinda makes me not want to watch it..."

I totally agree with you there, Ally. Merrin is an AMAZING actress, it's obvious that anyone who is calling her "wooden" has never seen an episode of Alias. I was considering watching Private Practice, but now? I don't think I will.

[Marsha]

I was looking forward to seeing Merrin once again. She is a great actress and was great in Alias. I believe she deserved her time in the spotlight. Creative differences? I doubt that!

[Jules]

I agree with Gen. It does seem like darker females get recast with lighter ones and not the other way around. I'm thinking about the character Claire in my wife and kids. On the other hand The Parenthood featured a dark skinned mother who was afro-centric but not over zealous. I didn't tune in for very long to Private Practice because I didn't enjoy watching two very attractive African Americans arguing about their failed marriage. With the crisis in black marriage it's just not socially responsible. Also, I'm curious to see if Diggs' character will continue to have a black love interest or whether he will be paired with a Latina, or White partner. Yes, I know love is love, but black love is good too.

I do have positive comments about the set. From what little I saw it was inviting and tasteful.

[Sue]

Maybe SHE didn't want to come back to a full-time tv series. Could be they asked her and she declined! :-)

[Victoria]

Replacing Merrin was a horrible mistake. She was the perfect package of brains, beauty and confidence. Now we are supposed to believe that Sam would have married the manly new Naomi? The reality factor plummeted to zero.

[Rene]

Merrin was a better fit and I actually believed that she and the Taye Diggs character were married--better chemistry. Love Audra MacDonald but not in this role.

Also agree with the "light skin vs dark skin" black female comments--and I'm a light-skinned black female. Can't be a coincidence when it happens that often. Fortunately, Hollywood is full of beautiful black women from all hues and we are finally seeing more of them (with and without black men which suits me just fine).

[C]

Watching this show is like watching paint dry now. The pilot wasn't bad but the premiere this season was just dead and dry. Something is off and I think it's the replacement for Naiomi. She is a good actress just bad for the role. Merrim Dungey was great, fit the part and was entertaining to watch. I don't think this show will be around very long, too bad.

[JCR]

I don't agree with the recast either. Merrin is an established and competent actress who proved herself in the pilot. I don't see any chemistry between Sam and the new Naomi. Given Merrin's career to date, I know she will bounce back.

[RJ]

Was going to watch the show for Merrin Dungey - not gonna even try now. Loved Dungey in everything she's been in. She's such an awesome actress. No doubt about it. Honestly don't think it'll go as well now. Sure the new actress is great, but I just loved Dungey.

[Sophia]

Shame about the ill-judged recast, but I'm watching it regardless. Main reason being Kate Walsh is starring- love her!