Image via WikipediaThe first medical drama I can ever remember watching was Marcus Welby MD way back in the sixties. Over the years I have watched many more enjoying them as they always are a microism of life, life, death, love, hate, joy, tragedy, pain, sickness, we could go on and on.Over the years they have changed from dramas about single doctors like Marcus Welby and Doctor Kildaire to multi-character dramas like ER and Chicago Hope in America and Casualty and Holby City here in the UK.My particular favourite medical drama that was I think responsible for the change from the sort of drama we saw in Doctor Kildaire to the move to dramas like ER was St.Elsewhere.This was a drama by the same production company that produced the ground breaking Hill Street Blues that changed police dramas forever and had a large cast of great actors that combined both drama of the highest order and comedy.It treated its viewers with respect by having multi-story lines in each episode some of which run over many episodes and it tried to not just tell stories but to say to viewers this aspect of our country and the way we treat people is wrong and there should be a better way. Some people would say it preached I think it tried to make a difference.
One scene I remember very well which I remember to this day as if it happened yesterday when it was shown nearly thirty years ago now was when the doctors were trying to save a patient in the ER and suddenly the scene went totally black and all you heard was the voice of a doctor saying the time of death. This wasn`t just drama it was art!
I think we should be grateful to those who were responsible for St Elsewhere as it changed medical drama for the better and many series like ER who have gave so many people enjoyment over the years would never have been made if it wasn`t for the lead and innovation it showed back in the eighties.
