PRIVATE PRACTICE To End Run in Early 2013

Shonda Rhimes, ABC's darling of drama, confirmed this weekend that PRIVATE PRACTICE, after six seasons, would ends its run in early 2013. 

"I'm sad to say that Private Practice's run will end after episode 613 this season," Rhimes wrote on Shondaland.com. "There was a lot of discussion and debate but, in the end, the guys at the network and the studio and I all decided that Private Practice was reaching its finish line. Creatively, we are all extremely proud of the show and especially proud of this season -- which you will all soon discover is a creative renaissance. I can't wait for you to see it.

It's heartbreaking to end. Truly. I feel so lucky to write for these characters and tell these stories and I truly feel this show has taught me so much as a writer. And there's a family here, of crew and cast, people who have bonded over these past five and a half seasons. It's rare for a show to go for more than 100 episodes and we are incredibly proud to have been such a show. And we're grateful to all of you for spending time with us for an hour every week for the last 6 years. It's meant the world."

The decision is far from unexpected. Series leader Kate Walsh announced in Maythat she would exit the GREY'S ANATOMY spin-off after the 13 episodes she originally signed on for were filmed. From then on out, rumors as to whether this would be the series' end began to accumulate.

PRIVATE PRACTICE also stars RENT alum Taye Diggs, Amy Brenneman, KaDee Strickland, Paul Adelstein, Caterina Scorsone, and Benjamin Bratt. Long-time PRACTICE star departed the series last season, and Broadway veteran Audra McDonald, who was a member of the original cast, left the show in 2011.

Photo Courtesy of ABC