The problem is convincing people who watched "Private Practice" and gave up on the show — the ratings faded from a strong start — to come back.

One of the major criticisms of the show was the Addison — who had been such a strong character on "Grey's Anatomy" — softened considerably on the new show. Rhimes refused to concede that point, although she did somewhat acknowledge it.

She said her characters "end up sort of doing what I'm doing at the moment." And even as Rhimes was trying to find her way running two shows at once for the first time, Addison was adjusting after moving from Seattle to Los Angeles.

"Addison was finding her footing. I was finding the show. So I feel like both of those things are stronger now," Rhimes said. "I feel like, yeah, it's the Addison you know and love in the new setting that you've come to know and love."

That remains to be seen.

BABIES ON BOARD: Given that Addison is an obstetrician and the "Private Practice" team includes a pediatrician and a fertility specialist, it's not unusual to have babies on the set. And that presents its own set of problems.

"I'll tell you right now, the worst part of working with babies is the parents," Daly said. "Always."

Hmmmmmmm ...

And Brenneman pointed out that, "It's really wrong that they are earning money when they are 6 months old."

Hmmmmmmm ...

Chris Lowell (who plays nurse/office manager Dell) said it's "a little weird" to have babies in the show because it's "always really cold" on the set. So, when they're not being filmed, the babies end up in "like a storage closet where there's not a lot of air conditioning."

And then a lot of those infants are prepared to play newborns.

"They always put the kids in there and then cover them in cream cheese and jelly," Lowell said. "So there's this major ethical dilemma that we have as a cast dealing with the children."

Hmmmmmmm ...

"'Stop putting cream cheese on that baby!"' said McDonald, who plays Dr. Naomi Bennett.

Hmmmmmmm ...

Looking a bit concerned about where this was headed, Rhimes interjected, "We take wonderful care of all the babies."

"We do," Brenneman agreed. "It's all good. It's all good.

"The cream cheese is especially delicious."

Hmmmmmmm ...

---

E-mail: pierce@desnews.com