St. Denis Medical is sporting high viewership numbers for its premiere, having reached 7.4 million viewers across NBC, Peacock, and other platforms.
The sitcom has only aired three episodes thus far and I can already tell that Nurse Matt will be my new favorite character. He’s like the clingy annoying puppy that you just can’t help but pet. If the pilot is any indicator, this show can manage its ensemble cast well with each member of staff getting dedicated screen time and incredibly funny lines to boot.
"Weird Stuff You Can't Explain" - ST. DENIS MEDICAL, Pictured: (l-r) Nephew, Kaliko Kauahi as Val. Ron Batzdorff/NBC©2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
(Also, I am with Alex on the horoscope thing; the science might not support it completely but it’s true! Look at Bruce, the typical Capricorn - they aren't interested in all that ‘phony’ stuff until they see some fact in it, i.e. it relates to them.)
The cast makes fun use of the script, breaking that fourth wall by “Jimming” the camera - thank you to The Office for that terminology - and each look from Alex is utterly relatable.
"Weird Stuff You Can't Explain" - ST. DENIS MEDICAL, Pictured: Mekki Leeper as Matt. Ron Batzdorff/NBC©2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
The fun dynamic of the floor staff between believer and skeptic bleeds into the subplot of Chaplain Steve and the rightfully distrusting Matt. Not to purposely incorporate another canine simile but he’s truly like a dog with a bone and will stop at nothing to “expose” Chaplain Steve even airing his grievances to Joyce, blaming his outburst on his consumption of green tea. Matt’s got Dwight Schrute’s (The Office) cynicism and drive.
"Weird Stuff You Can't Explain" - ST. DENIS MEDICAL, Pictured: (l-r) David Alan Grier as Dr Ron, Josh Lawson as Dr Bruce. Ron Batzdorff/NBC©2024 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Bruce’s astrology monologue is so representative of that moment when you first start reading your horoscope and start questioning everything you thought you knew. “You might think, are Capricorns actually tough? But a baby born in winter would have to be more resilient, from an evolutionary standpoint.” I mean he’s got a point there! Well, then he goes on to use astrology as an excuse for his romantic indiscretions so maybe he doesn’t have a point after all.
Dr. Ron’s refusal to believe in all that “nonsense” ends with him taking a deep breath, looking upward, and closing his eyes before continuing the procedure on his patient in distress. Of course, he claims it wasn’t “prayer” but counters with his belief that there are no atheists in the foxhole, an idea that most medical personnel can agree with.
Did I mention that Chaplain Steve gave Matt the finger? Bless him Father for he has sinned…
How did you like this week’s episode? Let me know!
