The team behind Superstore is back with the all-new series St. Denis Medical, a mockumentary that will debut on NBC with back-to-back episodes on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at 8 p.m. It will stream on Peacock the following day.
Eric Ledgin (The Glue Factory, American Auto) is the showrunner, and Justin Spitzer (Superstore, The Office) is the executive producer. Both Ledgin and Spitzer created the show. The committed physicians and nurses at St. Denis Medical, an understaffed and underfunded hospital in Oregon, do their utmost to care for patients while preserving their own sanity.
Wendi McLendon-Covey (The Goldbergs, Bridesmaids) serves as the hospital director. The Medical director over sees all doctors, nurses and surgeries. Audiences may know her for her many comedic roles over the past few years such as Blended, Blush, and Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween 2018.
McLendon-Covey’s character “Joyce” says “The most infectious thing in a hospital is a smile. “
The show is unlike any other medical series to date. An unwritten rule in film and television is that performers never look directly at or talk to the camera. In most shows, they capture the character’s essence in that scenery. When the shows include scenes of actors and actresses looking into the camera, they are called confessionals or breaking “the fourth wall.”
There are only a few shows and movies where audiences see them look directly into the camera, which is typically seen in other mockumentaries such as Abbott Elementary, Saved by The Bell, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Fresh Prince of Belair and so many more. Additionally, St. Denis Medical is not a drama like Grey’s Anatomy or The Resident, but it can be considered a comedy.
David Alan Grier’s (The Wiz Live, The Color Purple) character, Ron, in the trailer, comments, “Yeah, we used to drill holes in patients heads to release evil spirits, But hey that’s the 80s for you.” Which was obviously a sarcastic joke.
“What drew me to St. Denis Medical was the idea of getting to talk to camera,” said Allison Tolman’s (The Gift, Krampus) Alex. “Honestly that just seemed like so much fun. It feels like a workplace docuseries and the office and parks and recs people love those shows. and so, I’m hoping we join the ranks.
Bridget Kyle (Superstore, Lot), Vicky Luu (The Grinder, Lot), Ruben Fleischer (Venom, American Housewife) and Simon Heuer (American Auto, St, Dennis Medical) will be executive producers. The highly anticipated cast will include Josh Lawson (Mortal Kombat, Cobra Kai), Tolman, Grier, Kahyun Kim (Cocaine Bear, Freaky Friday), Mekki Leeper (Jury Duty, Christmas) and Kaliko Kauahi (Ghosts, iCarly).
However, with such a strong cast, St. Denis Medical has quickly become good enough for audiences to make it worth seeing or checking out when it debuts in November, giving it time to develop its own vibe and voice. Hopefully, within a few months, the views will start to skyrocket.
Sitcoms frequently use “dumb characters” to make their miscommunications and actions funny. These characters, such as Kevin from The Office or Joey and Phoebe from Friends, offer comedic relief and draw attention to the peculiarities of more serious characters. Their innocence and simplicity frequently result in amusing scenarios that keep viewers laughing and coming back for more.
Kauahi, who plays Val, said, “But I can’t believe I get to work with these people. I couldn’t be happier to be back on NBC and to be back with my old friends.”
Kauahi, a comedian, has been making people laugh aloud for years. She is well-known for her work on Superstore and is preparing to carry on that success in this new series. She returns to screens with her former cast from Superstore Kyle, Lawson and Spitzer, and since fans of the show are familiar with their work, they know this will be just as good as well.
With a talented ensemble cast and the comedic genius behind St. Denis Medical, it promises to be a unique addition to NBC’s lineup. It will debut with back-to-back episodes on the network and blends humor and mockumentary style, which is sure to captivate audiences. Don’t miss the premiere on November 12, with all episodes streaming on Peacock the following day.