MDs (TV series)

MDs
Created by Gary Tieche
Starring William Fichtner
Jane Lynch
John Hannah
Leslie Stefanson
Aunjanue Ellis
Michaela Conlin
Composer(s) Mark Mothersbaugh
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 11 (3 unaired) (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) Gary Tieche
Running time 44 minutes
Production company(s) Marc Platt Productions
Touchstone Television
Distributor Disney-ABC Domestic Television
Release
Original network ABC
Picture format 1080p (HDTV)
Original release September 25 – December 11, 2002 (2002-12-11)

MDs (Medical Doctors) is an American television medical drama that aired on ABC in 2002. It starred William Fichtner as Dr. Bruce Kellerman, Jane Lynch as Aileen Poole, and John Hannah as Dr. Robert Dalgety. The series only lasted one season, and though 11 episodes were filmed, only 8 were ever aired. The series was never released on DVD and it is very hard to find. The only known full length episodes of MDs can be found on YouTube. MDs was written and created by Gary Tieche.

Dr. Robert Dalgety, a dedicated and brilliant general surgeon, and Dr. Bruce Kellerman, head of cardiothoracic surgery, are two renegade surgeons working together in a megasized, megafrugal, aging HMO. With the help of Dr. Quinn Joyner and Dr. Maggie Yang, they buck the system any way they can in pursuit of the care patients need and deserve. On the opposing team are Shelly Pangborn, the new hospital administrator, and assistant hospital administrator, Frank Coones. Together with Nurse "Doctor" Poole, they are more concerned with the bottom line than patients' health.

Cast and characters

Production

Very little is known about the production of MDs. The show was pitched by Gary Tieche to ABC under the working title The Oath. The name was later changed to Meds, and finally changed again to MDs although still pronounced as 'Meds.' Twelve episodes were filmed, and they were aired out of order, which some blame for the ratings decline evident during its run. The third episode filmed "Connective Tissue" (with production code H232) was never aired; however, "Wing and a Prayer," the final episode filmed (with production code H241), aired seventh on December 4, 2002. The episode with production code H239 was filmed; however, no information on the episode title, director, or writer have been released. Throughout its run, eight episodes of MDs aired. A ninth episode entitled "Family Secrets" was scheduled to air on December 18, 2002; however, the show was cancelled on December 17, 2002, and was permanently removed from ABC's schedule.[1]

Episodes

No. Title Directed by Written by Original Air date Production
code		 Household
Rating/Share		 Viewers
(millions)
1"Time of Death"Michael HoffmanGary TiecheSeptember 25, 2002 (2002-09-25)H2303.4/9[2]8.73[2]
In the opener, Kellerman and Dalgety rope intern Maggie Yang into helping them treat an uninsured patient. Meanwhile, Mission's new administrator gets off to a rough start; and a heart patient refuses to undergo surgery that could save his life.
2"A La Casa"Michael M. RobinRene Echevarria &
Jonathan R. Hiatt		October 2, 2002 (2002-10-02)H2312.9/8[3]6.88[3]
When Pangborn allows an ER-set TV show to film at Mission, Kellerman gets in on the act to snag some much-needed medical equipment being used as props. Meanwhile, Quinn and Maggie square off over the treatment of a stroke patient; and Dalgety's fling with a staffer lands him in hot water after it begins to look like a case of sexual harassment.
3"Open Heart"Rick RosenthalTodd Ellis KesslerOctober 9, 2002 (2002-10-09)H2333.0/8[4]6.43[4]
A car crashes into a group of people at a bus stop outside Mission General. Kellerman has problems with his superstitions while doing open-heart surgery on a Buddhist dignitary. Gina places a sacred charm in the hands of a patient recently pulled off life support.
4"Heartland"Dan LernerJonathan R. HiattOctober 16, 2002 (2002-10-16)H2342.8/8[5]6.50[5]
Kellerman and Dalgety are flown to Vegas by Dr. (Wiseguy) Wiseman in hazardous weather as they try to get a heart to a transplant recipient before the heart 'expires'. Maggie Yang faces the consequenses when she rejects the advances of Dr. Posner. Donge reveals amorous feelings for Nurse Poole.
5"Cruel and Unusual"Vondie Curtis HallSharon Lee WatsonOctober 23, 2002 (2002-10-23)H2362.9/8[6]6.16[6]
Dalgety and Maggie Yang try to sabotage Donge's latest moneymaking scheme which involves a "virtual doctor" who prescribes treatments for patients via email only. And two transplant candidates -- a death row prisoner and a private citizen -- both need the same heart to survive.
6"R.I.P."Peter HortonRobert DohertyOctober 30, 2002 (2002-10-30)H2354.5/8[7]6.60[7]
Maggie is spooked at Halloween after reading about a spate of murders that took place 50 years ago, and a hospital administrator is arrested following an altercation over a parking space. Joyner uncharacteristically joins forces with Kellerman to perform emergency surgery to save the life of a mother and her unborn child, while Dalgety tries to help the distressed girlfriend of a recently deceased patient.
7"Wing and a Prayer"Vince MisianoJoan Rater &
Tony Phelan		December 4, 2002 (2002-12-04)H2412.9/7[8]7.55[9]
Maggie Yang treats a female blues singer for a condition that could end her career; a patient with "wings" seems to have the power to heal other patients by his touch; and a beloved hospital volunteer is in critical condition after being shot by burglars. Meanwhile, when a patient is caught smoking a marijuana cigarette, Nurse Poole is determined to find the source; the hospital brass search for an escaped monkey; and Dalgety performs an unauthorized surgery on an illegal alien who could be deported if caught.
8"Reversal of Fortune"Peter O'FallonDavid SchulnerDecember 11, 2002 (2002-12-11)H2372.0/5[10]4.67[11]
A man who refuses surgery because he thinks he is a space alien sorely tries Dalgety's patience. Meanwhile, Donge plots to become the new chief hospital administrator -- but collapses from a weak heart -- a wife seems strangely indifferent to her husband's life-threatening surgery, and Kellerman is angry when he finds out his ex-wife is pregnant.
9"Family Secrets"Peter O'FallonLisa Michelle Payton
Unaired
H238
N/A
N/A
When a Christmastime baby is found abandoned in the hospital parking lot, Dr. Joyner quickly grows attached; Dalgety tries to save a homeless man who was stabbed in the hospital waiting room; authorities bring dozens of homeless people to Mission General to "clean up the parks;" and Kellerman assists in surgery with a seductive female physician who was once his lover.
10"Connective Tissue"PeterO'FallonJonathan R. Hiatt
Unaired
H232
N/A
N/A
11"Risk Management"
N/A
N/A
Unaired
H240
N/A
N/A

Awards and nominations

Cinematographer Robert Primes won an award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Episodic TV Series from the American Society of Cinematographers for the seventh episode: "Wing and a Prayer".[12]

References

  1. ↑ Kissell, Rick (December 17, 2002). "NBC leads season-to-date". Variety. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  2. 1 2 Kissell, Rick (September 26, 2002). "ABC's trophy 'Wife'". Variety. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  3. 1 2 Kissell, Rick (October 3, 2002). "'Law' rules for NBC; ABC, WB gain". Variety. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  4. 1 2 Kissell, Rick (October 10, 2002). "Aud flocks to 'Birds'". Variety. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  5. 1 2 Kissell, Rick (October 17, 2002). "NBC has 'Law' on its side". Variety. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  6. 1 2 Kissell, RIck (October 24, 2002). "'Bachelor' throws baseball a sinker". Variety. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  7. 1 2 "Episode List: MDs". Retrieved October 17, 2014.
  8. ↑ Kissell, Rick (December 5, 2002). "'Primetime' power". Variety. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  9. ↑ Lowry, Brian (December 11, 2002). "'Sopranos' ends its season with punch". Los Angeles Times: Calendar Live. Archived from the original on December 22, 2002. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  10. ↑ Kissell, Rick (December 12, 2002). "ABC 'Makeover' proves cut above". Variety. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  11. ↑ Lowry, Brian (December 18, 2002). "Rudolph guides CBS to victory". Los Angeles Times: Calendar Live. Archived from the original on December 21, 2002. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  12. ↑ "17th Annual ASC Awards – 2002". American Society of Cinematographers. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
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