Noxon Joins "Private Practice"

Can Shonda Rhimes run two major medical shows at the same time? Not without help which is why former "Buffy" showrunner Marti Noxon has been tapped to help Shonda with the "Grey's Anatomy" spin-off "Private Practice" (starring Kate Walsh, pictured above at last week's "Step Up Women's Network" benefit.)

This should put to rest any doubts that some of you might have had about the possibility that ABC might not pick up the show for the 2007-2008 season.

Marti Noxon was involved in the backstage controversy behind ABC's freshman hit "Brothers & Sisters" last year.

After Noxon's vision for the drama (visible in the first two aired episodes) clashed with that of the show creator Jon Robin Baitz, she was replaced with Greg Berlanti.

Noxon then joined "Grey's" and was named the executive producer in March. She will now serve as day-to-day point person on the new series.

Meanwhile, a rising star on "Grey's Anatomy" executive producer Krista Vernoff will have the same position as Noxon on the original series.

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