Most people hate hospitals. Those lumpy mattresses, revealing gowns and putrid corridors could make a well person feel sick. Even paying a short visit to a stricken loved one is something to be dreaded and avoided at all costs. And yet, the television viewing public obviously finds something about those germ-infested sanatoriums fascinating.
From “St. Elsewhere” to “General Hospital” to the most-recent incarnation of “Chicago Hope,” television history is riddled with the trauma and romance within those sterile-green hospital walls.
This season, a medical drama appears on the line-up for each of the top three networks. “Presidio Med” debuted this year on CBS; “MDs” makes its home on ABC; and of course, “ER” remains one of NBC’s highest-rated shows.
“Presidio Med” and “MDs” have set themselves up for a new series showdown. Both take place at San Francisco medical centers, and, probably more importantly, both occupy the Wednesday 9 p.m. timeslot, battling NBC’s “Law & Order” (the original) for ratings.
Apparently, whoever did the prime-time scheduling for both ABC and CBS had either way too much faith in their respective med-dramas or was planning to kill them off and make room for the mid-season replacements as soon as humanly possible. Despite the motives behind the madness, both of these shows will have to find their own devoted audiences pronto before being swallowed up by sagging ratings. So far, neither has lived up to its burden.
The audience for “Presidio Meds,” assuming it will have one, will most likely consist of upper-middle aged women. The show features an incredible, almost entirely female, cast, leading with Dana Delaney (“Tombstone”) as world-renowned oncologist Dr. Rae Brennan and Blythe Danner (“Meet the Parents”) as Dr. Harriet Landing, the older but spunky ob/gyn. (As if spunky is really what we all look for in a gynecologist.)
Despite its combination of tried-and-true dramatic icons and promising newcomers, “Presidio” isn’t turning any heads. The plotlines are familiar and trite. In fact, given that “ER” exec John Wells is one of the “Presidio” creators, they could be reusing old scripts, changing the names and adding a little more dialogue about the symptoms of menopause (to appeal to its target demographic). Bottom line: The show has a faint pulse, but without a quick shock it will be on its way to the TV morgue.
“MDs” features two rebellious, but loveable, surgeons played by veteran film actors William Fichtner (“Black Hawk Down”) and John Hannah (“Sliding Doors”). Remember when George Clooney played Dr. Ross on “ER?” Well, it’s like that, but there are two of them. Sounds interesting, right? Wrong.
“MDs” has been compared to “M*A*S*H*” in an inadequate, stepsibling kind of way. This new drama starts with a good concept: brilliant MDs fighting against HMO suits for the good of their patients. But the show takes its admirable premise a few steps too far, until it has become something you would see nominated for a daytime Emmy: Angelic, super-heroic surgeons battle against satanic, soul-stealing executives for the good of all humanity.
Bottom line: “MDs” has flatlined; ABC needs a transplant.
And so we are left with the old favorite, NBC’s must-see classic “ER.” It may be the oldest of the medical dramas, but its characters and stories remain fresh and exciting, for the most part. In an attempt to stay at the top of the game, “ER” sometimes goes overboard. They apparently have now resorted to chopping off limbs to draw in viewers.
But for the most part, “ER” is what it has always been: entertaining and touching, shocking and charming. As original cast members have moved on, fresher faces have risen to the challenge of carrying this drama. The writing team continues to come up with compelling stories that range from touching to depressing and, most often, somewhere in between.
Bottom line: A little tired, but alive and kicking.
Indeed, throughout the years, television has created some excellent dramas within the walls of medical centers. “St. Elsewhere” and “M*A*S*H*” remain two of the most respected programs of all time.
This season, fans of the med-drama will have to wait a little longer to see another program of that quality. Although each of the networks is taking a stab at producing a successful medical drama, the already established favorite remains the best bet for behind-the-scenes trauma.
