She's Back! Audra McDonald to Return for Private Practice Series Finale!

Well, it looks like Dr. Naomi Bennett is returning to Seaside Health & Wellness one last time before the doors close!

Audra McDonald will be returning to the Private Practice season finale, slated to air at the end of January, TVGuide.com announced, yesterday.

Why is Naomi coming back, you ask?

Details of her return to the practice are being kept quiet, but we can only hope it will be her best friend Addison’s wedding that will bring her back, rather than more depressing considerations.  Naomi left Seaside Health & Wellness at the end of Season 4 to join Fife (Michael Patrick Thornton) in New York.  Just think of all that she’s missed!

Cooper has a son, not to mention his newly expanded family with Charlotte.  Amelia became a drug addict, recovered, had a baby, and donated his organs to save the lives of many other infants.  Ex-husband Sam found out who his biological father is.  Pete lost his life to a heart attack.  And, oh yeah, Addison has a baby!

Audra McDonald left the show after the show’s fourth season in order to be closer to her own family in New York.  Since her departure, McDonald stared as Bess in The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, for which she won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical.  She also wed fellow Broadway star Will Swenson in October, and has been named the new host of PBS’ “Live From Lincoln Center” series.

Are you excited for Naomi’s return?  I can only imagine what the finale will bring!

Private Practice airs Tuesdays at 10/9c on ABC.