‘Private Practice’ series finale spoilers: Audra McDonald is back!

Just in case some of you are still feeling the sting following the lack of a new “Private Practice” episode on Tuesday night, maybe this will help you get a smile back on your face: one of the most-popular stars from the show’s past is back!

According to a new report from TV Guide, Audra McDonald, best known for playing the part of Naomi on the first four seasons of the ABC show, is going to be making an appearance on the series finale slated currently to air early next year. It’s not entirely clear just in what context she will be back, but the last we saw the character, she was moving to New York, and leaving behind her ex-husband Sam (Taye Diggs) at the practice.

It will probably be revealed pretty early on in the finale just what the reason is for the character’s return, but hearing this news is hardly a surprise. It is a long-standing tradition for many actors and actresses to resurface in the final episodes of their series, largely so that it gives longtime fans another reason to tune in and it also provides characters a sense of closure. With this in mind, we still wonder whether or not “Grey’s Anatomy” will somehow find a way to get back Kim Raver and possibly even Katherine Heigl back for when it airs its final episode, possibly as early as next May.

What do you think about Audra coming back, and do you have any theories at the moment as to how her character could be utilized on the show? We want to hear some of your thoughts below! If you want some more scoop on just what Kate Walsh wants to see happen with her character of Addison on the show, you can do so here.

Photo: ABC