Reeve Foundation Paralysis Community

I generally watch very little TV but last week was laid up in bed with the flu. I caught an episode of "Private Practice" that comes on right after Gray's Anatomy.

The show has a new character--Dr. Gabriel Fife who is a wheelchair user.  After the uproar in the disability community about the show  Glee using a non-disabled actor to play a wheelchair user, I decided to do some research.  The handsome and rugged actor with soulful eyes is Michael Patrick Thornton. He has just been given the role of a recurring cast member on Private Practice.

To read more about Thornton, check out this link. Nice to see Hollywood utilizing the talent of one of the numerous actors and actresses with disabilities.

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Thank you,

Every day I wake up is a good one.
phf 59-08

I've gotten hooked on Private Practice's storyline surrounding real life wheelchair user/actor Michael Patrick Thornton. Just this week, it appears Dr.Fife's character will have a romantic relationship with one of the female doctors on the show (they had their first kiss). Hope the show portrays their relationship realistically, since we don't get to see too many romantic relationships being portrayed by PWD/wheelchair users on television very often. I'm looking forward to seeing the progression of the romantic storyline portrayed by the handsome Mr. Thornton.

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Love is like the wind, you can't see it, but you can feel it.

Yes, the story line has indeed been progressing from Dr. Fife being a background actor to last week coming front and center with his first kiss with Naomi. 

I am certain the folks at Perimobile were happy to see their chair used, as Dr. Fife stood to get kissed.

There is a lot of bed hopping in the show---I wonder if he gets to join in the fun?  I really hope so, I would hate to see him portrayed as asexual.

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Thank you,

Every day I wake up is a good one.
phf 59-08

Last night might have been a TV first, Dr. Fife had open chat with Naoimi and they ended up in bed together. The good doctor Fife finally got to jump in on all the sexual escapades going on in the show.

I must say however, I was not happy with the ending.  Last nights episode can be seen at http://www.abc.com and then click on Private Practice.

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Thank you,

Every day I wake up is a good one.
phf 59-08

Humm..

I have never watched the show, but now you have me wondering.  Maybe I'll just have to watch it online.

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Trish

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...it's learning to dance in the rain."

The actor is gentle on the eyes. In January when I had the flu, I couldn't find the remote to turn off the TV after Gray''s Anatomy. Private Practice was on and I started watching it. The show is soap opera'ish but fun. Earlier this season one of the lead characters 15 year old daughter became pregnant and decided to get married---it followed the moral and emotional turmoil and of course, after the wedding---all the adults were hooking up.

For me, it is nice to see a quad depicted accurately, intelligently and to have a love interest.  The writers and researchers are doing a good job.

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Thank you,

Every day I wake up is a good one.
phf 59-08