Medical shows have been a popular genre on television for many years. They cover a wide range of styles and stories. For example, shows like General Hospital and Grey’s Anatomy focus on dramatic moments and romantic relationships.
On the other hand, shows like ER and Chicago Med present intense, hard-hitting dramas that keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Additionally, comedies like Scrubs offer a lighthearted perspective on life in a hospital.
The hospital setting provides a lot of exciting opportunities for storytelling because healthcare workers often deal with life-and-death situations.
A successful medical show captures the attention of viewers by featuring a cast of attractive doctors with complicated personal lives.
These doctors work in an already chaotic environment, where they face various challenges daily. Their struggles and triumphs in the workplace create engaging narratives.
The humor in medical shows can also come from the patients themselves. Many times, the human body can be incredibly funny.
Patients bring unexpected twists to the plot, providing a necessary break from the more serious moments in the hospital. This combination of high stakes, emotional depth, and humor makes medical shows an appealing genre that attracts a broad audience.
The Rise of Mockumentaries
In recent years, mockumentaries have become a significant part of television programming. These shows use a unique filming style that mimics documentaries but often incorporates humor.
American version of The Office didn’t invent this format, but it played a huge role in popularizing it.
The show ran for nine successful seasons and featured employees of the Dunder Mifflin paper company. The characters frequently broke the fourth wall by staring directly at the camera, creating a relatable and comedic connection with the audience.
Modern mockumentaries like What We Do in the Shadows and Abbott Elementary keep the format fresh while introducing new and surprising elements to hold viewers’ interest.
These shows maintain the core ideas of mockumentaries but also find ways to keep the storytelling engaging and relevant. The combination of humor and real-life situations makes them appealing to audiences.
NBC’s upcoming sitcom, St. Denis Medical, seems ready to follow in the footsteps of these successful shows. It aims to merge medical themes with mockumentary humor, creating a unique and charming viewing experience.
What Is ‘St. Denis Medical’ About?
St. Denis Medical Center is described as an “underfunded, understaffed Oregon hospital.” Despite facing many challenges, the hospital and its staff hold big dreams for the future.
The goal of St. Denis is to become a “destination medical facility” where all patients receive quality care, regardless of their financial situations or insurance coverage. The journey toward this ideal is slow and often filled with obstacles.
The hospital’s executive director, Joyce, played by Wendi McLendon-Covey from The Goldbergs, has big dreams and a hopeful outlook.
She believes that every patient deserves good care. Joyce’s optimism and determination shine through, even as she faces the everyday struggles of managing a hospital.
On the other hand, Joyce’s staff is constantly trying to find a balance between their work and personal lives. This can be very challenging in a profession that often takes up all of their time and energy.
The staff at St. Denis often work long hours and earn low salaries. They deal with unexpected medical emergencies and must face the drama that comes from working with strong personalities.
What Makes ‘St. Denis Medical’ Unique?
St. Denis Medical brings a fresh perspective to the mockumentary format. The show is created by Eric Ledgin, known for his work on Superstore and American Auto, along with co-creator Justin Spitzer, who also worked on The Office.
Based on the six episodes provided for review, their collaboration captures the chaos and unpredictability needed for a successful weekly mockumentary.
For each complicated medical case the staff faces, there is often a funny subplot that adds an extra layer of humor to the show.
Ledgin and Spitzer have experience with this format, and it shows in the way they develop the storylines. The show starts strong, moving quickly with a sense of confidence that keeps viewers engaged.
Many of the situations faced by the staff at St. Denis are either common in the healthcare industry or relatable aspects of workplace culture.
This balance between the serious and the silly makes St. Denis Medical enjoyable to watch. Joyce’s hopeful goals often clash with the realities of running a hospital.
For instance, when she insists that St. Denis install an expensive 3D mammogram machine, only for it to cause significant issues with the hospital’s computer system, viewers can relate to the humor in the chaos.
Character Dynamics and Humor
The relationships between characters at St. Denis are a key element of the show. The social dynamics can be tricky to face, with some characters resembling high school cliques.
Tension exists between doctors and nurses, with nurses feeling overlooked and overworked due to their higher patient load.
Meanwhile, doctors often complain about the tedious paperwork that takes up their time, making it harder for them to provide patient care.
These interpersonal dynamics lead to humorous moments that can quickly spiral into chaos. The characters sometimes create their own problems, while other times, their challenges arise from the demands of their busy profession.
No one at St. Denis Medical is immune to making mistakes, acting petty, or having their plans go awry. However, the show does not mock healthcare workers; instead, the characters use humor to cope with the stresses of their jobs. This approach humanizes their flaws, making them relatable and endearing.
A Talented Ensemble Cast
The success of St. Denis Medical can be attributed in large part to its talented cast. Ledgin and Spitzer’s experience in the mockumentary genre helps the show shine, but the performances of the actors upgrade the material.
The characters’ humorous reactions to various situations — whether they are disbelieving, pleading, or giving a stink-eye — add depth to the comedy.
Wendi McLendon-Covey plays Joyce, who embodies awkward enthusiasm and idealism. Her character is earnest and relatable, and despite making decisions that can frustrate her staff, her genuine care for her team sets her apart from typical sitcom bosses. She faces her role with humor and heart, making Joyce a character viewers can root for.
Allison Tolman portrays Alex, a newly promoted supervising nurse who stands out as a voice of reason. As an empathetic character, she struggles to manage her increased responsibilities while balancing her role as a mother.
Alex tries to address the problems created by her colleagues while also attending her daughter’s school play, which adds depth to her character.
Mekki Leeper plays Matt, the naive new floor nurse whose inexperience often leads to mistakes. His blunders create chaos in the hospital, earning him some good-natured teasing from the more experienced nurses, Serena and Val, played by Kahyun Kim and Kaliko Kauahi, respectively.
David Alan Grier takes on the role of Ron, the grumpy emergency doctor, who is quick with a sarcastic remark and has little patience for nonsense.
Lastly, Josh Lawson plays Bruce, the serious trauma surgeon obsessed with rare diseases, which complicates his ability to focus on patient care.
As the show progresses, there is still much to learn about the characters. While they have not fully distinguished themselves from other mockumentary characters yet, the talented ensemble cast shows great potential for development.
With 18 episodes planned for the season, viewers can look forward to deeper character scheme in future episodes.
The Promise of ‘St. Denis Medical’
Although St. Denis Medical has just begun its journey, it has already established a strong identity. The blend of humor, relatable workplace challenges, and a diverse cast creates a foundation for success.
The show’s ability to tackle serious issues while maintaining a comedic tone is a formula that has worked well in the past for other mockumentaries.
The interactions between characters and the ways they face their complex work environment make St. Denis Medical a promising addition to the television show.
With its unique take on the medical genre and a talented creative team behind it, the show has the potential to capture the hearts of viewers.
St. Denis Medical is set to premiere on November 12 on NBC in the U.S. Viewers can also stream new episodes the following day on Peacock.
Fans of medical dramas and mockumentaries alike will want to tune in to see how this new series unfolds.
