Doctors' Hospital
Doctors' Hospital is an American medical drama that ran on NBC during the 1975–1976 season.[1]
| Doctors' Hospital | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Medical drama |
| Created by | James E. Moser |
| Starring | George Peppard |
| Opening theme | Don Ellis |
| Composer | Don Ellis |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Matthew Rapf |
| Producer | Jack Laird |
| Cinematography | Isidore Mankofsky |
| Camera setup | Single-camera |
| Running time | 48 mins. |
| Production company | Universal Television |
| Release | |
| Original network | NBC |
| Original release | September 10, 1975 – January 14, 1976 |
Synopsis
The series follows the neurosurgery team at the fictional Lowell Memorial Hospital in Los Angeles, led by Dr. Jake Goodwin (George Peppard) and his staff, including residents Norah Purcell (Zohra Lampert), and Felipe Ortega (Victor Campos), and nurse Hestor Stanton (Adrian Ricard). Other cast members included John Larroquette and John Pleshette. Toward the end of the season, Peppard announced that he did not wish to continue in his role on the series. Producers reportedly wanted to retool the series and make Lampert's character the central figure, but NBC did not feel the actress had the name recognition to carry the show (despite the fact that she had just won an Emmy for a guest appearance on an episode of Kojak), and decided to cancel the series.[2]
Though it lasted only one season, the series was noted for injecting a sense of realism not otherwise seen in medical shows of the day (e.g. Marcus Welby, M.D., Ben Casey). It has often been cited as setting a tone that later shows like St. Elsewhere, ER, and Chicago Hope would expand on.
Episodes
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Point of Maximum Pressure" | Leo Penn | Teleplay by : Barry Oringer | September 10, 1975 | |
| Goodwin introduces four interns of varying promise to the pressures of life in the hospital's neurosurgical wing. | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Come At Last To Love" | Vincent Sherman | Teleplay by : Chester Krumholz | September 17, 1975 | |
| Two separate stories unfold as a pregnant woman refuses needed brain surgery out of fear for her unborn child, and a nurse becomes a human guinea pig to test an anti-viral serum developed by the doctor she loves. | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Sleepless and Pale Eyelids" | David Friedkin | Teleplay by : Morton S. Fine | September 24, 1975 | |
| A staph epidemic threatens the hospital | ||||||
| 4 | 4 | "But Who Will Bless Thy Daughter Norah?" | Edward M. Abroms | Teleplay by : Barry Oringer | October 1, 1975 | |
| Engulfed in personal and professional crises, Dr. Purcell considers quitting her job for a less hectic, better-paying position with an industrial firm. | ||||||
| 5 | 5 | "The Loneliest Night" | Unknown | Unknown | October 8, 1975 | |
| A suicidal young woman is brought to the hospital after she was hit by a car while wandering down the freeway under the influence of codeine. | ||||||
| 6 | 6 | "Vital Signs" | Edward M. Abroms | Teleplay by : Jeff Freilich and Chester Krumholz | October 29, 1975 | |
| The doctors become involved in childbeating cases. | ||||||
| 7 | 7 | "Knives Of Chance" | David Friedkin | Teleplay by : Howard Dimsdale | November 5, 1975 | |
| Goodwin questions the quality of work performed by two staff physicians | ||||||
| 8 | 8 | "My Cup Runneth Over" | Lawrence Doheny | Teleplay by : Chester Krumholz and Adrian Spies | November 12, 1975 | |
| A resident suspects that an experience physician has misdiagnosed a concert pianist's condition and insists that the patient be given a definitive test that in itself could prove fatal. | ||||||
| 9 | 9 | "Watchman, Who Will Guard Thy Sleep?" | Edward M. Abroms | Teleplay by : Chester Krumholz and Sue Milburn | December 3, 1975 | |
| A hospitalized movie magnate (Robert Loggia) rebels at being assigned a homosexual orderly. | ||||||
| 10 | 10 | "And Sorrow For Angels" | Larry Yust | Teleplay by : Chester Krumholz and Charles McDaniel | December 10, 1975 | |
| A young priest (Andrew Robinson) and a strong willed intern (Barbara Feldon) are severely tested by duty in the neurosurgical wing. | ||||||
| 11 | 11 | "Surgeon, Heal Thyself" | Sigmund Neufeld Jr. | Teleplay by : Oliver Crawford | December 17, 1975 | |
| A brilliant neurosurgeon (William Windom) avoids grave responsibilities by working himself to the point of exhaustion. | ||||||
| 12 | 12 | "And Hear a Sudden Cry" | Jeannot Szwarc | Teleplay by : Chester Krumholz | January 6, 1976 | |
| Seeking relief from excruciating pain, a fashion model (Lara Parker) turns to heroin and eventually to prostitution and thievery. | ||||||
| 13 | 13 | "Swan Dive aka Lullaby" | Edward M. Abroms | Teleplay by : Chester Krumholz, Barry Oringer, and Halsted Welles | January 14, 1976 | |
| An empathic resident (Robert Walden) finds a particular challenge in a policewoman (Talia Shire) who can't cope with recurring attacks of impaired vision. | ||||||
References
- Terrace, Vincent (1985). Encyclopedia of Television: 1974-1984. VNR AG. p. 114. ISBN 9780918432612. Retrieved September 13, 2017 – via Google Books.
- Garfinkel, Perry (February 24, 2002). "Television/Radio; As Doctors on TV, Women Still Battle The Old Clichés". The New York Times. Retrieved September 13, 2017.