NBC Fall TV Spotlight: ‘St. Denis Medical’

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

ST. DENIS MEDICAL -- Pictured: "St. Denis Medical" Key Art -- (Photo by: NBCUniversal)

There was a time in television history, where the sitcom was a vastly different kind of show. One that only dabbled in realism and rarely offered depth. For they were seen as the apex of escapism, where audiences could get home after a long day at work and just lose themselves in some laughs with characters that were relatable and fun… but nothing more. And that standard stuck around for decades on end but recently its started to change, at light speed no less. Because over the past decade or so, sitcoms are suddenly a slice of our own world, and they offer lessons and healing, and we can thank one particular duo for this incredible change.
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For Justin Spitzer and Eric Ledgin have both worked on two revolutionary sitcoms: Superstore and American Auto. Both of which offered laughs, absolutely, but also offered so much more. Since they provided audiences with a sense of realism through characters and settings that truly reflected the realities of the industries they highlighted, and in doing so… lessons came forth. As did endearing and human moments and a new understanding of the world of retail and how a C-Suite operates and that has indeed changed the landscape of sitcoms forever and influenced them for certain. Since so many more sitcoms now harbor depth and well, this duo isn’t done exploring what depth can do for the sitcom.

For tonight will see the debut of their latest offering, St. Denis Medical, on NBC, and well… it absolutely deserves a quick spotlight before its debut. Simply because this time around, Justin and Eric have taken the time to explore the world of medicine through a comedic lens. By plunging us into the world of St. Denis Medical. A hospital in Oregon that features everything we’ve come to know and love from this duo’s work. Since this hospital is filled to the brim with quirky doctors and administrators and equally as quirky patients sometimes. Which allows for us to enjoy, another series from this pairing that brings forth the laughs. Because the jokes work here, and they’re relatable and funny and having some comedy legends present in the cast only adds to that. Since Wendi McLendon-Covey and David Alan Grier shine in this series, and they often remind us why they are legends. 

But of course, there was mention of that depth, and that’s present here through the characters and through the heart they exhibit. For no character in this story is a mere caricature, they are once again well-rounded characters with needs and wants and things they stand for, and that allows for the audience to immerse themselves into this story easily. Not to mention, this series also offers up a little biting commentary on the commercialization of the medical field and the competitive nature of it in Modern America. Which is never overwhelming, but welcome, since it does need to be spoken to in this day and age, and speaking of a touch of real-world reflection, well that’s where this series truly shines. 

Because it doesn’t harbor the glitz and glamour that so many medical shows prefer to have, to make hospital life intense. It instead features the mundane, the everyday stuff hospital workers have to deal with, and that’s refreshing. Since it allows for us to get to know the characters and much like Superstore and American Auto, properly reflects the industry that is being lampooned. Which just gives rise to a truly enriching series. One we connect with on a deeper level and enjoy from beginning to end thanks to the laughs, and the best news of all is that we are mere hours of away from enjoying this new series. Since it debuts on NBC later tonight with a two-episode series premiere at 9 p.m. EST/8 p.m. CST, and we here at NTG cannot wait for you to see this delightful and dynamic new show.

Nerds That Geek was also able to attend the NBC Segment of the Television Critics Association 2024 Summer Press Tour, where ‘St. Denis Medical’ was showcased and where multiple members of the cast and production team offered up the following thoughts on this new series. 

Eric Ledgin and Justin Spitzer regarding the show’s setting and the value of its unique mockumentary design.

ERIC LEDGIN: “Yeah, so Oregon was chosen for a couple reasons. One is I just feel like it’s a very underrepresented state. It’s a great and beautiful state that you don’t hear a lot about. But also there was a nurse that I spoke to a lot during the research part of the development process, and it was a little bit of a nod to her. She helped kind of inspire the character of Alex a little bit, and so it started out as a bit of a nod to her, but I think it’s also a fun place for us to discover as we go. We’ve got little references to Oregon throughout season one, but, of course, if we get more seasons of the show, we’ll explore more outside the hospital.”

JUSTIN SPITZER: “I loved ‘Scrubs’ so much but that show, especially over its run, it became a --broad sounds like it’s value-based but it’s not. It had more wacky elements of it from whatever, marching bands coming through or a musical episode. It was great in so many ways but the fact that this is a mockumentary sort of limits us and says we are always going to be the much more grounded version of it.”

Wendi McLendon-Covey (Joyce) and David Alan Grier (Dr. Ron) on what attracted them to this project.

WENDI MCLENDON-COVEY: “All I wanted was to not play another mom right away, because I did that for a long time. I think it’s well-documented that I can play moms, and respect to all moms everywhere. What I loved about this character is that she is not nurturing at all. Don’t come near her wanting a hug. She does not want your germs and she cannot keep a plant alive, but she is devoted to this hospital. That’s her baby, and this is her whole personality. So the fact that this came along right at the tail end of “The Goldbergs,” I’m the luckiest person in the world. I was not being strategic, necessarily. I just knew I didn’t want to be in the ’80s again, since I’ve done it twice now and this was just such a gift.”

DAVID ALAN GRIER: “I mean, my goal is always to say yes to a good script. So it just happened that I was a doctor. It also happens that the character -- we all know, there are some characters that you read and you think I can reach or get to. There are other characters that you just know, and this guy, he’s an old curmudgeon. That’s me. No, it wasn’t the medical stuff. That was incidental. I just responded to the script, and I say this begrudgingly. It was good. It was well written. It was intelligent.”

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