After many years of medical sitcoms that have only gone on to last one or two seasons, NBC’s St. Denis Medical has all the makings of the best hospital comedy since Scrubs. Arguably the best medical sitcom of all time, the universally beloved Scrubs aired in the early 2000s and racked up a number of award nominations. However, since the conclusion of Scrubs, there has not a show of its like.
However, mockumentary St. Denis Medical, which premiered in November of this year, has the ability to end the medical sitcom drought. The St. Denis Medical cast brings together veteran comedy actors and a few newer faces who create a fun mix. The show follows the staff of the fictional St. Denis Medical Center in Oregon as they strive to keep the hospital running despite it being chronically underfunded. The combination of talent on and behind the show is what makes St. Denis Medical, which has broken several streaming records already, so great, contributing to its increasing ratings.
St. Denis Medical’s Ratings And Critical Reception Prove The Show Is Working
The Reception On Streaming Is A Great Sign For The Show’s Future
Only one month into St. Denis Medical‘s run, the show has already received high praise and an increased viewership. After just the first half of season 1, St. Denis Medical has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 88%. The great ratings open the door for the show to succeed and make headwinds against regular network cancellations. While St. Denis Medical‘s Rotten Tomatoes score being higher than Scrub’s Rotten Tomatoes score of 83% is a great sign, it doesn’t mean anything if ratings don’t follow. Luckily, that also seems to be a positive for St. Denis Medical.
The pilot episode of St. Denis Medical had around three million viewers on NBC’s 8 p.m. slot. St. Denis also saw major success on streaming platforms, breaking records for Peacock. Between cable and streaming services, the show doubled its views to seven million, impressive numbers for most shows, let alone a sitcom genre that hasn’t seen much success in a few years. This immediate success bodes well for the future of the series, including a potential St. Denis Medical season 2 being greenlit.
Why St. Denis Medical’s Positive Reception Is Not A Surprise
St. Denis Medical‘s early success is not a surprise when considering its creators. St. Denis Medical was created by longtime late-night writer Eric Ledgin and Justin Spitzer, who is known for his previous work on another fan-favorite sitcom, Superstore. Over the span of its six seasons, Superstore endeared itself to audiences and St. Denis Medical is doing the same. One of the things Spitzer knows how to do well is create an environment that could realistically house an abundance of quirky characters.
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In addition, the creators clearly know what kinds of plot lines really resonate with audiences and keep them returning each week. The best comedies, like Scrubs, know how to blend genuinely hilarious moments with deep pathos and heartfelt interactions, as well as create memorable characters with depth and complexity, and considering the creators’ track records, St. Denis Medical is in good hands.
6/10
St. Denis Medical
In an underfunded and understaffed Oregon hospital, a dedicated team of doctors and nurses struggles to maintain their sanity while delivering care to their patients. Set in a mockumentary style, this workplace comedy brings humor and heart to the high-stakes environment of healthcare, with a standout cast led by Wendi McLendon-Covey and David Alan Grier.
- Release Date
- November 12, 2024
- Cast
- Wendy McLendon-Covey , David Alan Grier , Josh Lawson , Mekki Leeper , Kahyun Kim , Jeff Marlow , Allison Tolman , Kaliko Kauahi
- Character(s)
- Joyce , Ron , Bruce , Matt , Serena , Dr. Andrews , Alex , Val
- Seasons
- 1
Sources: Rotten Tomatoes