ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy has managed to become the longest-running medical drama on television, despite all its ups and downs over the years. As fans may recall, many were once left to wonder what happened to Katherine Heigl’s Izzie after the actress’ exit from the show. Meanwhile, controversy ensued when fans learned why T.R. Knight’s George O’Malley was killed off in season 6.
Despite all this, however, Grey’s Anatomy pulled through. It added to its cast and developed even more dramatic storylines. That said, many still can’t help but think that there are other better medical dramas out there that get less recognition.
Doogie Howser, M.D.
This medical drama is the show that launched Neil Patrick Harris’ career. Here, Harris starred as the titular character who happens to be the youngest surgeon in the country. Throughout its seasons, fans watched Doogie cope with teenage life while trying to do his job.
Recently, it was announced that Disney+ has ordered a female-led reboot of the popular series. Unfortunately, it will no longer be co-creator Steven Bochco at the helm of this show, as he passed away at the age of 74 after battling leukemia. However, Bochco’s widow and son are serving as producers, according to Deadline.
Chicago Hope
This CBS medical drama ran from 1994 to 2000. Throughout its run, the show went on to secure 42 Emmy nominations and seven wins. Towards the end, though, Chicago Hope ran into some trouble and “sweeping changes” were made to try to save it.
David Kelley, the show’s creator, told Chicago Tribune that the show was “in trouble in terms of getting renewed.” This resulted in the firing of Vondie Curtis-Hall, Eric Stoltz, Peter Berg, Stacy Edwards, Jayne Book, and Emmy winner Christine Lahti. Behind the scenes, the exits were reportedly just as shocking to the cast.
The Good Doctor
ABC’s The Good Doctor revolves around the character of Shaun Murphy. He is a relatively young surgeon with Savant syndrome who works at the San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital.
Actor Daniel Dae Kim serves as the show’s executive producer. Based on a Korean drama, the actor originally tried to develop the show for CBS, but it never progressed past the development cycle. Today, the show has amassed a significant following.
The Resident
This Fox medical drama boasts of a cast that includes The Good Wife alum Matt Czuchry and Marvel star Emily VanCamp. Czuchry’s character, Dr. Conrad Hawkins, starts off as a cocky doctor who is known for his unconventional approach to medicine.
But Czuchry assures everyone that his character means well. “He takes care of people who can’t take care of themselves,” the actor told TV Guide. “He helps everyone who comes through no matter what they’re experiencing …” The cast also includes Bruce Greenwood, Manish Dayal, Shaunette, Morris Chestnut, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Jane Leeves, and Shaunette Renée Wilson.
House M.D.
This critically acclaimed medical drama on Fox ran for eight seasons, picking up 25 Emmy nods and five wins along the way. On the show, British actor Hugh Laurie played the titular character, a no-nonsense doctor who is often seen as the counterpart of Sherlock Holmes in the medical community.
For Laurie, one of the reasons the show was so successful was that there was “very, very little sex” on the show. “On television, sex is unsexy,” the actor told GQ. “The sex on House was rare and unspoken and often unseen, and I thought that was better.”
Chicago Med
Chicago Med is the third installment of creator Dick Wolf’s “Chicago” franchise. The show has just kicked off its sixth season and according to showrunners Andrew Schneider and Diane Frolov, it decided to incorporate the current situation into its storyline.
“We are playing the pandemic as it is now,” Frolov told Carter Matt. “The drive to help all these gravely ill patients over so many months has been at times overwhelming for many of our staff.” Meanwhile, if you’re trying to get caught up, check out these hidden details about the show’s main characters.
Code Black
Code Black was a medical drama that ran on CBS for three seasons. Based on a documentary of the same name, the show explores a situation in the ER known as Code Black, wherein the number of patients easily outnumber the amount of medical resources available to treat them.
The show’s cast included Oscar winner Marcia Gay Harden. Later on, she was also joined by Emmy-nominated actor Rob Lowe. CBS decided not to pick up Code Black for a fourth season, despite its solid ratings. Nonetheless, you can stream the show on CBS All Access.
The Night Shift
This medical drama gave viewers a glimpse into the world of night shift doctors, based on the point of view of a fictional ER team at San Antonio Memorial. One of the most prominent members of the medical staff is T.C. Callahan, played by Eoin Macken, who also has extensive experience in combat medicine.
The cast also includes Brendan Fehr, Jill Flint, J.R. Lemon, Ken Leung, Robert Bailey, Jeananne Goossen, and Scott Wolf. The show was canceled in 2017, but you can still stream it on Netflix.
New Amsterdam
NBC’s New Amsterdam revolves around the working lives of the medical professionals working at America’s public oldest public hospital. At the center of its story is the character of Dr. Max Goodwin, who is determined to fight bureaucracy in order to give all patients access to medical care.
It might also surprise fans to learn that the show is based on a book written by Eric Manheimer, who served as the medical doctor of Bellevue Hospital in New York for over a decade and is a producer on the show.
ER
There are at least five reasons why ER is the most definitive medical drama in the history of television. One of them is the fact that the series managed to closely mirror the chaos that often exists inside a busy ER.
Meanwhile, no one can also deny that actor George Clooney was a huge factor in the show’s success. Clooney’s Doug Ross may have exited the show before it ended, but fans were happily surprised when his character reunited with Julianna Margulies’ Carol Hathaway.