As a long-time fan of office comedies and someone who has spent more time than I care to admit in hospital waiting rooms, I must say that St. Denis Medical is a delightful blend of the familiar and the fresh. The mockumentary style brings back memories of The Office, while the chaotic characters and mundane-yet-hilarious situations harken back to my days watching Superstore.
Amidst the gloom of seasonal melancholy and distressing global news, NBC offers a solution to lighten spirits. Their freshly released sitcom titled “St. Denis Medical” has garnered an impressive 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, promising amusement, chuckles, and touching scenes. The show centers around a team of doctors, nurses, and hospital administrators in Oregon, who strive to assist the demanding patients that arrive daily, offering a dose of humor and warmth amidst challenging circumstances.
St. Denis Medical was developed by some talented individuals known for hit shows like Superstore and The Office, and it boasts an impressive roster of comedic stars too. Its inaugural episodes aired on November 12, with fresh installments debuting every Tuesday. You can catch up the day after on Peacock streaming service.
A Collection of Comedy All-Stars
One attractive feature of St. Denis Medical is its exceptional team of comedy veterans, many of whom have worked on popular shows like Superstore, American Auto, Scrubs, The Office, Rutherford Falls, and more. Notably, the co-creators, Justin Spitzer and Eric Ledgin, have recruited two talented actors from Superstore, Kaliko Kauahi and Josh Lawson, to rejoin them in this new project. Kauahi, known for her hilarious portrayal of Sandra, and Lawson, who played the recurring character Tate with great comedic flair, add to the team’s comedy prowess.
The stars of St. Denis Medical, however, are Wendi McLendon-Covey and David Alan Grier, who have been making people laugh for decades. McLendon-Covey, who demonstrated her talents in shows like Reno 911! and The Goldbergs, plays the hospital’s administrator, who’s trying to make it one of the best in Oregon. David Alan Grier, who established his comedy sensibilities through In Living Color and Jumanji, plays an older doctor in St. Denis Medical, who just doesn’t seem to care anymore.
The upcoming series additionally showcases some promising comedic performers. Mekki Leeper, known for his role as Noah in the popular show “Jury Duty“, takes on the character of the latest hospital employee in “St. Denis Medical“. Allison Tolman and Kahyun Kim also assume crucial roles in “St. Denis Medical” following years spent honing their comedic skills.
St. Denis Medical Promises Classic TV
The initial installments of St. Denis Medical promise a hilarious television season ahead. From the outset, the series skillfully introduces intriguing storylines, engaging character interactions, and top-notch humor, setting the stage for an even more captivating experience as it develops its rhythm. The show boasts a varied ensemble of characters, each with unique traits that will create fascinating dynamics as they are paired throughout the season. For instance, the first episode showcases the contrast between Alex’s relentless work ethic and Ron’s easygoing nature, foreshadowing numerous chances for these characters to evolve as they learn to collaborate effectively.
The initial episode subtly hints at a budding romantic storyline, which might continue throughout the first season. It’s evident from the get-go that one of the younger nurses, Serena, shows an initial spark towards the new male nurse, Matt, who expresses mutual interest upon their meeting.
In the first two episodes I followed, there’s some fantastic humor sprinkled throughout. In the second episode’s opening scene, Josh Lawson’s character, Bruce, gets ready for surgery by jamming out to “Intergalactic” by the Beastie Boys. As I observed Bruce from the sidelines, a voiceover from Alex comes in, commenting dryly during a talking head segment, “I’ve crunched the numbers. We could perform three more surgeries weekly if he would only stop his antics.
Almost Like Superstore, but Still Fresh
In terms of comedy, Justin Spitzer has a knack for creating humor from ordinary scenarios, as seen in shows like The Office, Superstore, and American Auto. While St. Denis Medical shares some of the same humor style, it presents a unique twist compared to Superstore and American Auto. One aspect that made Superstore particularly enjoyable was watching the characters deal with the quirky customers who appeared daily. Given that St. Denis Medical is set in a hospital, there’s an opportunity to bring back those eccentric characters once more. Unfortunately, American Auto lacked this element, which resulted in it not being as amusing as Superstore or St. Denis Medical.
St. Denis Medical differs from Superstore since St. Denis Medical follows a mockumentary style, similar to The Office. This is a type of sitcom that has gained significant popularity, but it may not suit everyone’s taste. Unlike Superstore, the mockumentary format in St. Denis Medical results in fewer scenes of characters interacting directly. However, the interview-style segments in St. Denis Medical provide more opportunities for character development.
It’s not a flaw that St. Denis Medical stands apart from Superstore in terms of style; instead, it adds uniqueness to the show. In fact, St. Denis Medical often delves into deeper emotional territories compared to Superstore, offering a unique blend of humor and heartwarming moments that resonate with viewers. It’s worth noting that exceptional shows can sometimes have bumpy beginnings, as demonstrated by The Office, which had a challenging first season. Check it out on Peacock.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-11-18 00:02