Grey's Anatomy & Private Practice: Two Can't-Miss Dramas!

I was a latecomer in my discovery of both Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice. I didn't discover Grey's Anatomy until its 3rd season and Private Practice until its 2nd. Grey's Anatomy is now in its 7th season and Private Practice in its 4th. Ever since discovering these shows, however, I have been hooked. Of course this was after I watched the previous seasons online in order to see what happened from the beginning. For those of you who are yet to discover these two shows, you really are missing two very entertaining and moving Thursday night dramas, and there are several reasons why you will want to watch Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice.

Characters '" The characters on both dramas are very likeable. Each one has his or her own unique personality that brings something important to each show. Even characters known for being "idiots" or uncaring can really grow on viewers, causing viewers to look forward to seeing what will happen in their lives on future episodes. For instance, Alex Karev on Grey's Anatomy was previously thought to be a womanizer, but he turned out to be quite a caring guy and actually settled down and got married. Unfortunately the marriage didn't work out, but he's still looked upon as a not-so-bad and very interesting guy.

Medical Conditions-The medical conditions portrayed on Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice are unique and unlike many other medical dramas. From rare conditions like "tree-man disease" to brain tumors to teenage boys with breasts, these shows can actually teach viewers about different conditions and possible treatments. Private Practice even deals with controversial issues such as one that was aired on a recent episode where a man had impregnated his comatose wife and doctors had to decide whether the man had sexually molested a non-responsive woman or if he was severely mentally disturbed and felt he was merely making love to his wife.

Real-life Drama- The characters in both these compelling dramas are very realistic and must deal with difficult issues that people in real-life are faced with on a daily basis. These issues include Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, homosexuality, life-altering decisions, teen pregnancy, miscarriage, friendship, self-image, morbid obesity and a great deal more. Watching television shows that focus on these issues and more helps viewers to realize that they aren't alone when it comes to handling these issues and it can also give them some pointers for coping as well as finding a solution.

Romance-For those who love romance, there's always plenty of it on both of these shows. The relationships on these shows may not always have fairy tale endings, but the romance is so utterly breathtaking that you will enjoy it no matter what happens in the end. Fortunately many of the relationships that viewers want to last usually do. Private Practice tends to be somewhat more provocative than Grey's Anatomy, so make sure the kids are in bed before watching.

If you're busy on Thursday evenings, you might want to set your DVR so you won't miss these awesome shows. Of course you can always watch them online on abc.com as well. Either way you choose, you will definitely not want to miss either show because they are not only thoroughly entertaining, but they will enrich your life in ways you never thought possible.