'St. Denis Medical' Reviews: Medical Comedy Has the Right Vitals

         On November 12, 2024, NBC premiered 'St. Denis Medical', which has earned rave reviews from critics. In the series, "Devoted nurse Alex has just been promoted to Supervising Nurse in the emergency department at St. Denis Medical Center in Oregon. She works alongside an eclectic team of underfunded yet dedicated doctors, nurses and hospital staff, including her boss, Joyce, who wants nothing more than to turn the hospital into an international medical destination, and Dr. Ron, who's done it all, seen it all and is pretty much over it all. They're all doing their best not to lose their patience in a hospital overrun with patients -- while caring for everyone who comes in the door, including each other." The ensemble cast includes Wendi McLendon-Covey, David Alan Grier, Allison Tolman, Josh Lawson, Kahyun Kim, and Mekki Leeper. But what did the critics say?

        Kelcie Mattson of Collider notes, "St. Denis Medical hails from showrunner Eric Ledgin (Superstore, American Auto) and his co-creator Justin Spitzer (The Office, Superstore). Based on the six episodes provided for review (out of 18 total), the pair's latest collaboration nails the anarchy required for a weekly mockumentary series. For every perplexing health condition that needs fixing, St. Denis' pandemonium-prone ensemble also finds themselves stuck solving an outrageously silly B plot." Adding, "Given Ledgin and Spitzer's past credits, this format is old hat for them, but it's still impressive to see St. Denis hit the ground running with self-aware assurance and a satisfyingly snappy pace. Many dilemmas faced by the St. Denis staff are either standard practice for the healthcare industry or a relatable side effect of corporate culture — a counterintuitive but realistic balance that St. Denis takes extra glee in exploiting. Joyce's optimistic goals and go-getter attitude frequently clash with the messy day-to-day practicalities of everything a hospital floor requires; as someone with family members in the industry, when Joyce insisted that St. Denis install a $300,000 3D mammogram device, only for the state-of-the-art machine to fry the building's entire computer system, this writer cackled at the accuracy."

       Nicole Gallucci of Decider says, "St. Denis Medical feels familiar, but it radiates an infectious energy all its own. Like a patient who bounces back from a code blue, it’s here to remind us that when done right, network sitcoms have a lot of life left in them." Continuing, "After the Ruben Fleischer-directed pilot, which successfully finds meaning in the mundane, there’s no doubt that comedy lovers will want to be admitted to St. Denis Medical every week. Since NBC canceled American Auto after just two seasons, however, the challenge will be whether or not the broadcast sitcom can find its audience fast enough to survive in the age of streaming. Fingers crossed."

Photo by Yasaman Abedini on Unsplash

           Daniel Fienberg of Hollywood Reporter writes, "Tolman is particularly good as the everywoman at the center of this assemblage of wacky medics: exasperated but caring, devoted to her profession yet vaguely agog by everything she’s watching unfold. Grier expertly blends grouchy and avuncular, skeptical and devoted, without making either extreme feel like a cliché. The character work is less finely balanced elsewhere. Especially in the pilot, St. Denis Medical seems not to get that while a bumbling newbie archetype like Leeper’s Matt can be very funny in a workplace context, the humor doesn’t apply in medical situations where lives hang in the balance. But subsequent chapters refine Matt’s oddness, and when the stakes are lower — as when he questions the faith of the hospital chaplain, or tries to get two patients from a nearby prison to resolve their differences — his naivete plays much better. Similarly, there’s a broadness to McLendon-Covey’s Joyce in the premiere — she tries to inspire employees with a cheerleading routine ending in a cartwheel — that subsequently gets toned down."

'Brilliant Minds' Reviews: "Being crabby but brilliant is a prerequisite for good TV doctoring"

          On September 23, 2024, NBC premiered 'Brilliant Minds', which has received predominantly positive reviews from critics. In the series, "Dr. Oliver Wolf is an eccentric but incredibly gifted neurologist who suffers from a rare condition that gives him a unique perspective on care, fueling his mission to change the way the world sees his patients. After his unusual methods result in his dismissal, he takes his unconventional approach to a new hospital: Bronx General, where he leads a team of bright young interns in tackling some of the world's most puzzling psychological cases. With their help, he must also challenge his own personal and social limitations by navigating all the expectations, politics and complicated relationships that come with the job." The ensemble cast includes Tamberla Perry, Zachary Quinto, Ashleigh LaThrop, Alex MacNicoll, and Spence Moore II. Read the full review round-up below.

        Sherin Nicole of RIOTUS says, "Being crabby but brilliant is a prerequisite for good TV doctoring. Okay, that’s an exaggeration, but the prickly doctors with good hearts are fun to watch. Deny it if you want, but NBC’s upcoming series Brilliant Minds proves it. Starring Zachary Quinto as Dr. Oliver Wolf, the show finds its lane at the intersection of neurology and mental health. Inspired by real-life neurologist Dr. Oliver Sacks, Quinto’s Wolf is a lone wolf who thrives in the comfort of a pack (more on that later). He’s an anti-authority genius, navigating the complexities of the human mind with a rebellious compassion that can’t be stymied. Early on, we learn his traumatic backstory couples with his disability to make sure he never gives up on people in need. His prosopagnosia, or face blindness, allows him to go past the obvious and truly see his patients—a duality that serves this series well." Adding, "What I enjoy most about Brilliant Minds is how it frames its group of leading doctors as a cohesive team You might see them as a sports squad with chemistry, or you could call them ‘gang gang’—either way, you’d be right. Each member brings a unique skill set to the table, and they play their positions well. There’s Wolf as the MVP and his bestie Carol (Tamberla Perry) as the coach. Ericka (Ashleigh LaThrop) is the rising star and a sweetie. Dana (Aury Krebs) is the bad girl with a sensitive side, while Jacob (Spence Moore II) plays the injury-prone hotshot, and Van (Alex MacNicoll) is the emotional hype-man. Together, they tackle medical mysteries with an engaging procedural style and a darker edge, balanced by well-placed lightheartedness that keeps you cheering for this squad."

       Robert Lloyd of Los Angeles Times notes, "Having been booted from a series of hospitals for his unorthodox, rule-ignoring ways, he has recently fetched up at Bronx General, where his mother (Donna Murphy) is his boss and old friend (Tamberla Perry) is his other, lower boss; their routine exasperation will be mitigated of course by Wolf’s eventual successes. A variety pack of interns attends him, striking poses from sweet to doubtful to caustic. As Quinto plays him, he’s a warmer version of his big-screen Spock — his best friend, seemingly, is a plant — and much humor is mined from Wolf’s utter unfamiliarity with popular culture. In the context of the series, he’s similar to a sensitive, empathetic version of Gregory House; like “House M.D.,” this is the medical show as mystery, and as in all such shows, the investigators will get it wrong before they get it right, offering plenty of occasions for sudden emergencies that lead into commercials. And as in most medical dramas, there are big questions about life and death one might find disturbing depending on one’s own life and circumstances. However, some comfort may be drawn from Wolf waxing thoughtful on a relevant element of human condition."

          Rob Owen of Pittsburgh Tribune-Review praises the series, stating, "The role suits Quinto. Wolf is a bit of a loner but having him work with his longtime friend, Dr. Carol Pierce (Tamberla Perry), and oversee a batch of interns who serve as audience stand-ins makes this series work quite well."

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