St. Elsewhere

::Yes, this is a review that I'm doing because someone promised me something in exchange for the review. ::

That being said, I would have done the review anyway, because the product is my all-time favourite hospital show. As far as I'm concerned, St. Elsewhere set the as-yet-unreached standard for medical dramas. The current crop of doctor shows all owe a hefty allegiance to Eligius.

Let's take a look, shall we?

House

Irascible grouchy doctor who actually knows best most of the time? Dr. House, meet Dr. Mark Craig.

ER

Yes, I guess this show is still on. When it first broke many years ago the most popular thing about it seemed to be that insane rush of people on the brink, and the seemingly superhuman ability of Doctors to pull the rest of us back from the brink. This was often an element inherint in St. Elsewhere at many levels--both in their trainwreck of an E.R. and in the O.R.

You say you preferred E.R. for the hot doctors like George Clooney? Well, then. I humbly submit St. Elsewhere's Mark Harmon for your consideration. Oh yeah. There's that other guy too. What's his name? yeah. That's right. Denzel something or other....

Scrubs

Whacky, zany stunts pulled by a hospital staff to let off steam? Yep. St. Elsewhere has that in abundence. I still think Howie Mandel's best work was in the halls of St. Eligius Hospital.

Grey's Anatomy

Shonda Rhimes has done a great job of humanising doctors, of showing the romance behind the blood. These stories were a large part of St. Elsewhere's stock in trade for many years. The heartbreaking story arcs for Dr. Jack Morrison--so well played by David Morse--were some of the most humanising stories ever to hit prime time.

So, clearly and without reservation I recommend that any of you who love any of these shows give the new St. Elsewhere Season One DVD a try.