<P> "There's a spirit there that's just very interesting to me . She was charming and there was something about her so intriguing to watch", stated Rhimes in response to Pomepo's portrayal of her character . Executive producer Betsy Beers stated that the writing staff was going to focus on the balance between her vulnerability and her courage, also dealing with changes in the relationship with her friends . Pompeo noted that the uncertainty of her character's fate is what helped her evolve into a more adaptable actor . Rhimes also disclosed that an episode with Ellis Grey's unexpected lucidity and eventual death was in plans since the beginning of the series . Rhimes described how Pompeo got through the challenge of sending Meredith in the afterlife: "It was an exciting place to take her . Exciting to watch her find her way back ." In response to Izzie's arc, Shonda Rhimes discussed the impact Denny Duquette's death will have on her, noting that Izzie is forced to abandon her idealism, which in turn leads to her letting go of medicine . In the aftermath of Denny's death, Katherine Heigl came to believe that Izzie was not cut out to be a doctor . Executive producer Betsy Beers explained, however, that Denny's death served to make Izzie more mature, and Heigl affirmed that "At the beginning of the third season they were trying to show how lost Izzie was . She lost her optimism . She realizes now that life is difficult, but she still tries very hard to see the best in people ." </P> <P> Creator Shonda Rhimes compared what she deemed the two "most iconic moments of the season", describing how the season begins with Izzie lying in the prom dress on the bathroom, and ends with Cristina standing motionless in her wedding dress . Cast member Eric Dane described the impact his first scene in the season had on him, stating that it was a spectacular entrance: "It was a brand new towel, which had a hard time staying together . So every time I put it together and let my hands go, it was almost like throwing caution to the wind ." Cast member Sara Ramirez noted that one of the most significant scene in the season was when Izzie and George "have this beautiful moment when neither of them speaks, but they say so much and it was just so rich", describing how their interaction during the scene determined everything that would be developed for their arc later . Betsy Beers, however, noted that the most "powerful" scene in the season saw Cristina Yang and Preston Burke in the on - call room, talking about the future of their relationship: "It's fascinating to see how their entire relationship changes and almost disintegrates in this one exchange". Beers and Rhimes expressed their desire to introduce Patrick Dempsey's passion of car racing in the series, although this ultimately did not occur during the season . "Patrick loved it . He's always driving something new, always trying something out", stated the series creator, regarding Dempsey's response to the storyline . </P> <P> Rhimes also described the difficulty she faced in finding an appropriate love interest for the character of Alex Karev: "We kept meeting with people and it wasn't until we met Elizabeth Reaser and sat down with her, and in two seconds in realized that she was absolutely the one we'd been looking for ." Reaser explained that when she was cast, there were no definite plans for the development of her character, and that only the intrigue of the ferry accident had been explained to her . She also deemed her character "frustrated and scared". As for the make up process, Reaser stated: "The prosthetic changes your outlook on yourself . It can be very disorienting . It's intense ." Beers, however, noted that the focus on Ava was mainly due to her inability to express her feelings through facial expressions, only communicating with her eyes and voice . Executive producer Rob Corn stated that his plan for the original arc was about Jane Doe's inner life, struggling to get out of the situation she is trapped in . He stated that the main characteristics they had been looking for in the actress for the part were strength and vulnerability . He also called Reaser's performance "heart - wrenching and wonderful". Betsy Beers, the show's supervising executive producer, found Izzie to have been marked for life by Denny's death, which matured her "in a very sobering way", but played a major role in making her feel more confident . She also noted the undeniable connection between Izzie and Alex Karev, whose desire to do honorable things has been compared with his "cutting and sarcastic" personality . After Izzie's continuous efforts to change Alex during their relationship in the previous season, Beers announced the possibility of a relationship between the two of them . She also contrasted the female leads on the show with women in film, explaining how the characters on television are shaped in unique ways . </P> <P> On February 21, 2007, The Wall Street Journal reported that ABC was pursuing a spin - off medical drama television series for the series featuring Kate Walsh's character, Addison Montgomery . Subsequent reports confirmed the decision, stating that an expanded two - hour broadcast of Grey's Anatomy would serve as a backdoor pilot for the proposed spin - off . The cast was reportedly unhappy about the decision, as all hoped the spin - off would have been given to them . Pompeo commented that she felt, as the star, she should have been consulted, and Heigl, disclosed that she had hoped for a spin - off for Izzie . The backdoor pilot that aired on May 3, 2007, sees Addison take "a leave of absence" from Seattle Grace Hospital, to visit her best friend from Los Angeles, Naomi Bennett, a reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist, in order to get pregnant . While in Los Angeles, she meets Bennett's colleagues at the Oceanside Wellness Center and even becomes the clinic's obstetrician - gynecologist for the day . The two - hour broadcast served as the twenty - second and the twenty - third episodes of the third season, and was directed by Michael Grossman, according to Variety . The cast included Amy Brenneman, Paul Adelstein, Tim Daly, Taye Diggs, Chris Lowell and Merrin Dungey . ABC officially picked up Private Practice for its 2007 lineup on May 11, 2007 . KaDee Strickland's character, Charlotte King, who would be introduced in the spin - off's first - season premiere, did not appear in the backdoor pilot . Her addition to the main cast was announced on July 11, 2007, prior to the commencement of the first season . She did not have to audition for the role, but was cast after a meeting with Rhimes . Also not present in the backdoor pilot was Audra McDonald, due to her character, Bennett, being portrayed by a different actress, Merrin Dungey . However, on June 29, 2007, ABC announced that Dungey would be replaced, with no reason given for the change . The premiere episode followed the second part of the season debut of Dancing with the Stars, and provided a lead - in to fellow freshman series, Dirty Sexy Money . Pushing Daisies, a third new series for the evening, rounded out the lineup as a lead - in to Private Practice . The series aired a total of six seasons . </P>

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