Doogie Howser, M.D. Explained

Genre:	Medical drama Sitcom
Theme Music Composer:	Mike Post
Composer:	Mike Post
Country:	United States
Language:	English
Num Seasons:	4
Num Episodes:	97
List Episodes:	List of Doogie Howser, M.D. episodes
Camera:	Single-camera
Runtime:	21–23 minutes
Network:	ABC
Related:	Doogie Kameāloha, M.D.

Doogie Howser, M.D. is an American medical sitcom that ran for four seasons on ABC from September 19, 1989, to March 24, 1993, totaling 97 episodes. Created by Steven Bochco and David E. Kelley, the show stars a young Neil Patrick Harris in the title role as a teenage physician who balances the challenge of practicing medicine with the everyday problems of teenage life.^[1]

Plot

Dr. Douglas "Doogie" Howser (Harris) is the son of David (James B. Sikking) and Katherine Howser (Belinda Montgomery). As a child, he twice survived early-stage pediatric leukemia^[2] after his father—a family physician—discovered suspicious bruising. The experience contributed to the younger Howser's desire to enter medicine.

Possessing a genius intellect and a photographic memory,^[3] Howser participates in a longitudinal study of child prodigies until his 18th birthday.^[4] He earned a perfect score on the SAT at the age of six, completed high school in nine weeks,^[5] graduated from Princeton University in 1983^[6] at age 10, and finished medical school four years later. At age 14, Howser was the youngest licensed physician in the country. As a newspaper article (one of several noting some of Doogie's aforementioned accomplishments that are shown in the series' opening title sequence) stated, he "can't buy beer... [but] can prescribe drugs".

The series begins on Howser's 16th birthday; the cold open of the pilot episode shows him stopping his field test for his driver's license to help an injured person at the scene of a traffic accident. Howser is a second-year resident surgeon^[7] at Eastman Medical Center in Los Angeles, and still lives at home^[8] with his parents. His best friend and neighbor, Vinnie Delpino (Max Casella), is a more typical teenager—climbing through Howser's bedroom window to visit—and connects him to life outside of medicine. Howser has kept a diary on his computer since 1979;^[9] episodes typically end with him making an entry in it, making observations about the situations he had experienced or learned in the episode.

Howser seeks acceptance both from children his age and from his professional colleagues. Many episodes also deal with wider social problems: AIDS awareness, racism, antisemitism, homophobia, sexism, gang violence, access to quality medical care, and losing one's virginity are topics, along with aging, body issues, and friendship.

Howser initially has a girlfriend, Wanda Plenn (Lisa Dean Ryan), but they break up after she leaves for college; he also begins a trauma surgery fellowship and moves into his own apartment. Bochco intended to end the show with a "season-long story arc for Doogie where he becomes disaffected with the practice of medicine and quits medicine to become a writer".^[10] ABC abruptly canceled the show due to low ratings, preventing Bochco and the show's writers from implementing that storyline, other than Howser's resignation from Eastman and departure for Europe in the final episode.

Production

The weekly, half-hour dramedy was created by Steven Bochco. He originated the concept and asked David E. Kelley to help write the pilot, earning Kelley a "created by" credit. Harris was the first actor the show's staff had found that could convincingly play a teenage doctor, but ABC executives opposed his casting. Bochco's contract required that the network pay an "enormous" penalty if it canceled the project, so ABC was forced to let him film the pilot. The network still opposed Harris's casting and disliked the pilot, but after positive reception during test screenings, ABC greenlit the show.^[11]

Cast

Main cast

• Neil Patrick Harris as Dr. Douglas "Doogie" Howser, the show's protagonist.
• Max Casella as Vincent "Vinnie" Salvatore Delpino, Doogie's best friend since they were five years old.^[12] A typical girl-crazy teenager, Vinnie resists his father's demands to join the family business and instead attends film school to pursue a career as a film director.
• Belinda Montgomery as Katherine Howser, Doogie Howser's mother. Originally a housewife, she later returns to work as a patient advocate at her son's hospital.^[13]
• Lawrence Pressman as Dr. Benjamin Canfield, head of Eastman Medical. Canfield is an old friend and classmate of David Howser, and persuades him to join the hospital to run its family practice.^[14]
• Mitchell Anderson (seasons 1–2) as Dr. Jack McGuire, a resident at Eastman and Doogie's friendly rival. A visit to rural Mexico inspires him to leave the hospital to serve the poor overseas.^[15]
• Kathryn Layng as Mary Margaret "Curly" Spaulding, a nurse at Eastman. Spaulding occasionally dates McGuire and, briefly, both Canfield^[16] and Howser.^[17]
• James B. Sikking as Dr. David Howser, Doogie Howser's father. He's a Vietnam War MASH veteran with a family practice.
• Lisa Dean Ryan (seasons 1–2, recurring in season 3) as Wanda Plenn, Vinnie's high-school classmate and Doogie's girlfriend. After her mother dies in an automobile accident, Wanda's relationship with Doogie suffers. After she leaves for the School of the Art Institute of Chicago they end their relationship.
• Lucy Boryer (seasons 1–3, two episodes in season 4) as Janine Stewart, Vinnie's girlfriend and Wanda's best friend. She drops out of college^[18] and becomes a buyer for a department store.
• Markus Redmond (seasons 2–4, guest star in season 1) as Raymond Alexander, an orderly (and later an EMT) at Eastman. While he was a gang member, Alexander meets Doogie after taking him hostage during a convenience-store robbery;^[19] after finishing his sentence, Doogie helps him get a job at the hospital as an orderly.^[20]

Recurring cast

• Rif Hutton as Dr. Ron Welch, a fellow doctor who is also friends with Howser.
• Robyn Lively as Michele Faber (seasons 2 and 4), a nursing student. She becomes Howser's girlfriend shortly before he decides to leave Eastman and go to Europe.
• Barry Livingston as Dr. Bob Rickett (seasons 2–4), a fellow doctor working at Eastman.

Episodes

See main article: List of Doogie Howser, M.D. episodes.

Syndication

In the United States, reruns of Doogie Howser, M.D. ran in syndication between September 1994 and September 1996. Repeats of the show aired on cable on the Odyssey Network (now Hallmark Channel) from 1999 to 2001.^[21] The Hub began airing reruns of the show on October 11, 2010^[22] lasting until May 26, 2013.

Home media

Anchor Bay Entertainment released all four seasons of Doogie Howser, M.D. on DVD in Region 1 (United States and Canada) between 2005 and 2006.^{[23] [24] [25] [26]} A Complete Collection release was announced on August 28, 2008, but was eventually canceled.^[27] All 4 seasons had been available to stream on Hulu, but expired on that service on June 27, 2023.^[28] The series was made available internationally on Star on Disney+ beginning March 15, 2023.^[29]

Reception

Critical reception

According to Metacritic, Marvin Kitman of Newsday gave season 1 of Doogie Howser, M.D. a 40/100 score and commented: "What a wasted childhood my kids have had, I got to thinking while watching this otherwise normal Doogie Howser. It makes you look at your kids differently. What lazy bums they must be, still in high school at 16."^[30] Scott Weinberg of DVD Talk recommended season two: "It's not high art, but it's a heckuva lot better than what generally passes for your average weeknight sitcom."^[31] Christopher Smith of the Bangor Daily News gave season three a "C" grade and commented: "No classic, this series. [...T]he show has become gratingly cute, particularly in the episodes “Doogiesomething,” “Double Doogie with Cheese,” and “Lonesome Doog.” Doog, I'm Dooged out."^[32]

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Result	Category	Recipient
1990		Won	Favorite New TV Comedy Series
		Nominated	Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series	Neil Patrick Harris
			Best Supporting Actor in a Quality Comedy Series	Max Casella
		Won	Best Young Actor Starring in a Television Series	Neil Patrick Harris
		Nominated	Best New Television Series
			Best Young Actor Guest Starring in a Television Series	Michael Bacall
1991		Won	Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy Series or a Special	Joe Kenworthy Bill Thiederman Dean Okrand Mike Getlin
		Nominated	30 Minute Network or Syndicated Television	Nat Bernstein Mitchel Katlin
	Young Artist Awards	Won	Best Young Actor Guest Starring in a Television Series	Christopher Pettiet
			Best Young Actor Starring in a Television Series	Neil Patrick Harris
1992	Primetime Emmy Award	Won	Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy Series or a Special	Joe Kenworthy Bill Thiederman Dean Okrand Mike Getlin
		Nominated	Outstanding Cinematography for a Series	Michael D. O'Shea
	Golden Globe Award	Nominated	Best Performance by an Actor in a TV-Series – Comedy/Musical	Neil Patrick Harris
	Young Artist Award	Won	Best Young Actor Starring in a Television Series
		Nominated	Best Young Actress Co-starring in a Television Series	Lisa Dean Ryan
1993	Primetime Emmy Award	Won	Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy Series or a Special	Joe Kenworthy Mike Getlin Dean Okrand Bill Thiederman

Cultural influence

• Neil Patrick Harris has satirized his years playing a teenage medical doctor several times:
  • In an episode of Roseanne, Roseanne Conner (Roseanne) has a dream after having undergone breast reduction surgery. She goes to the mirror and realizes that her breasts are comically larger than before. Doogie Howser (Harris) comes in and asks an upset Roseanne if they were supposed to be bigger than they are in the dream. Roseanne screams, but then is woken up by her husband Dan. To make sure she was dreaming, she looks under her bedsheet, sees the surgery went as planned, and sighs, "Way to go, Doogie!"
  • Barney Stinson (also played by Harris) writes in his computerized diary at the end of the How I Met Your Mother episode "The Bracket," while the Doogie Howser theme music plays.^[33] In the later episode "The Stinsons," he also comments, "Call me crazy but child actors were way better in the '80s".
  • In the 2004 comedy Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, Harris – playing a fictionalized version of himself – claims to have "humped every piece of ass ever on that show" (except the hot nurse, over whom he expresses regret). Harris is referred to as "Doogie Howser" while stealing Harold (John Cho)'s car from the convenience store. In Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay, Harris remarks, after taking psychotropic mushrooms, "Dude, I was able to perform an appendectomy at 14, I think I can handle a few 'shrooms".
  • In 2008, Harris appeared in commercials for Old Spice deodorant, claiming to be an expert because he "used to be a doctor for pretends".
  • During the opening of the 2009 TV Land Awards, Harris, who hosted the show, travels through "The TV Land Zone" (a spoof of The Twilight Zone), where he finds himself the star of TV classics. At one point, Harris walks into a doctor's office, dressed as Doogie, while the Doogie Howser, M.D. theme plays. After realizing where he is, he storms out, saying, "No no no, not gonna happen! Check my contract!"
  • On the January 10, 2009 episode of Saturday Night Live, an "SNL Digital Short" featured Harris, the episode's guest host, leading a full orchestra version of the Doogie Howser theme. When the song concludes, he turns toward the camera and sheds a tear.^[34]
  • On the March 14, 2011 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, a "real doctor" played by Harris endorses Kimmel's Jim-Miracle Diet, as the Doogie Howser theme plays.^[35]
  • Harris in 2017 joined other actors from medical television shows in Cigna's "TV Doctors of America" advertising campaign for annual checkups.^[36]
• Neil Patrick Harris played Doogie Howser in The Earth Day Special in 1990. In the special, Doogie, along with two other doctors (played by Dana Delany and James Brolin), are informed by the Back to the Future trilogy scientist Emmett L. Brown (played by Christopher Lloyd) on how to save Mother Nature (played by Bette Midler).^[37]
• In Anthony Bourdain's book , any blond, good-looking waiter working in his restaurant is immediately nicknamed "Doogie Howser".^[38]
• Smart mice obtained by genetic engineering have been named "Doogie mice" in honor of Harris's character.^{[39] [40]}

Real life comparisons

Balamurali Ambati graduated from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and obtained his medical license when he was only 17 years old, a Guinness World Record, and has been compared to the fictional Doogie Howser, though Ambati himself disliked the association.^[41]

Sho Yano, who became the youngest student to attain an M.D. from the University of Chicago at 21 years old, has also been called a real-life Doogie Howser.^[42]

Doogie Howser has been used as a moniker for several people involved in politics. In 2009, 13-year-old author and speaker Jonathan Krohn was nicknamed "Doogie Howser GOP".^{[43] [44]} 17-year-old Evan Draim, the youngest delegate at the 2012 Republican National Convention, was referred to as a "Doogie Howser of the GOP".^{[45] [46]} Republican congressman Aaron Schock has been referred to as a Doogie Howser for being the youngest member of Congress in 2009 at 27 years old.^{[47] [48]} In 2015, Jon Stewart called Schock a "Doogie Howser wannabe" for his travel expenses and activities while still in office.^{[49] [50]}

Some teenagers who have impersonated physicians are often referred to as Doogie Howser.^{[51] [52] [53]} Others who have excelled at a young age have been called Doogie Howser.^{[54] [55]}

Reboot

See main article: article and Doogie Kameāloha, M.D.. In April 2020, it was announced that a reboot titled Doogie Kameāloha, M.D., was in development for Disney+ with Kourtney Kang writing and co-executive producing with Melvin Mar, Jake Kasdan, and Bochco's wife, Dayna Bochco and son, Jesse Bochco. The new series focuses on Lahela “Doogie” Kameāloha (Peyton Elizabeth Lee), a female 16-year-old doctor in Hawaii given her nickname by others who have seen Doogie Howser, M.D.. Disney+ gave the series a 10-episode straight-to-series order in September 2020.^{[56] [57]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: BBC - Comedy Guide - Doogie Howser, MD . https://web.archive.org/web/20041205054829/http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/d/doogiehowsermd_1299000964.shtml . December 5, 2004 .
2. Web site: Pilot (at 15:00 mark). Hulu.
3. Web site: The Grass Ain't Always Greener – Season 1, episode 25 (April 25, 1990) . Steven Bochco Productions/20th Century Fox Television. Hulu. I can't help it. I remember everything I read..
4. Web site: The Summer of '91 – Season 3, episode 1 (September 25, 1991). Steven Bochco Productions/20th Century Fox Television. Hulu.
5. Web site: Doogstruck – Season 3, episode 8 (November 20, 1991). Steven Bochco Productions/20th Century Fox Television. Hulu.
6. Courie, Katie. Web site: 'Give something back – you're graduating from Princeton!' (Princeton University Class Day address on June 1, 2009). Princeton Alumni Weekly. July 15, 2009.
7. He began his residency in September 1988, a year before the pilot. Web site: Every Dog Has His Doogie – Season 1, episode 12 (November 29, 1989). Steven Bochco Productions/20th Century Fox Television. Hulu.
8. 1782 Amalfi Drive, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272. Web site: Lonesome Doog – Season 3, episode 6 (October 30, 1991). Steven Bochco Productions/20th Century Fox Television. Hulu.
9. Web site: Thanks for the Memories – Season 3, episode 23 (May 6, 1992). Steven Bochco Productions/20th Century Fox Television. Hulu.
10. Doogie Howser M.D., Season 1 DVD
11. Web site: The Vulture Transcript: Prolific TV Creator David E. Kelley on His Career Hits and Misses. March 21, 2011. Adalian, Josef. March 21, 2011. Vulture. New York.
12. Web site: Vinnie Video Vici (October 25, 1989). Steven Bochco Productions/20th Century Fox Television. Hulu.
13. Web site: The Doctor, the Wife, her Son and the Job – Season 2, episode 21 (March 13, 1991). Steven Bochco Productions/20th Century Fox Television. Hulu.
14. Web site: It's a Tough Job...But Why Does My Father Have to Do It? – Season 4, episode 13 (January 13, 1993). Steven Bochco Productions/20th Century Fox Television. Hulu.
15. Web site: Planet of the Dateless – Season 2, episode 22 (March 20, 1991). Steven Bochco Productions/20th Century Fox Television. Hulu.
16. Web site: Oh Very Young – Season 2, 11 (November 28, 1990). Steven Bochco Productions/20th Century Fox Television. Hulu.
17. Web site: What You See Ain't Necessarily What You Get – Season 3, episode 18 (March 11, 1992). Steven Bochco Productions/20th Century Fox Television. Hulu.
18. Web site: Educating Janine – Season 3, episode 13 (April 1, 1992). Steven Bochco Productions/20th Century Fox Television. Hulu.
19. Web site: Use a Slurpy, Go to Jail – Season 1, episode 20 (February 28, 1990). Steven Bochco Productions/20th Century Fox Television. Hulu.
20. Web site: Guess Who's Coming to Doogie's – Season 2, episode 2 (September 19, 1990). Steven Bochco Productions/20th Century Fox Television. Hulu.
21. News: Odyssey, Other Networks Set Fall Slates . September 5, 1999 . Next Tv . November 1, 2022.
22. News: Doogie Howser M.D.', 'Wonder Years' et. al to Join New Lineup for The Hub Network . August 6, 2010 . Broadway World . November 4, 2022.
23. Web site: Doogie Howser, M.D. - We've Got Dr. Doogie's DVD Cover Art!. David Lambert. February 4, 2005. TVShowsOnDVD.com. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121020140852/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Doogie-Howser-MD/2864#ixzz1XUVS1Ujl. October 20, 2012. mdy-all.
24. Web site: Doogie Howser, M.D. - Take a look at the front cover for Season 2!. David Lambert. August 2, 2005. TVShowsOnDVD.com. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121020140907/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Doogie-Howser-MD/3811#ixzz1XUVvNTQP. October 20, 2012. mdy-all.
25. Web site: Doogie Howser, M.D. - Doogie's Getting Kissed On The 3rd Season Set's Cover. David Lambert. November 2, 2005. TVShowsOnDVD.com. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121020140951/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Doogie-Howser-MD/4424#ixzz1XUWCoPgU. October 20, 2012. mdy-all.
26. Web site: Doogie Howser, M.D. - Package Art For Doogie's Final Season. David Lambert. February 16, 2006. TVShowsOnDVD.com. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121020141032/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Doogie-Howser-MD/5138#ixzz1XUWMVwEQ. October 20, 2012. mdy-all.
27. Web site: Doogie Howser, M.D. - Anchor Bay Preps for Surgery: New Complete Collection Cuts Out in May. David Lambert. March 28, 2008. TVShowsOnDVD.com. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20111118015847/http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Doogie-Howser-MD-Complete-Collection/9269#ixzz1XVcEtaYf. November 18, 2011. mdy-all.
28. Web site: Doogie Howser, M.D.. 2021-10-15. Hulu. en-US.
29. Web site: 'Abbott Elementary' Star Janelle James to Host Writers Guild Awards (TV News Roundup). Variety. Julia. Katie. Charna. MacCary. Reul. Flam. February 16, 2023.
30. Web site: Doogie Howser, M.D. - Season 1 Reviews. Metacritic. 30 December 2014.
31. Web site: Doogie Howser, M.D. -- Season Two : DVD Talk Review of the DVD Video. Scott Weinberg. September 25, 2005. DVD Talk. December 30, 2014.
32. News: DVD corner. Christopher Smith. Bangor Daily News. 28 January 2006. December 30, 2014.
33. Web site: HIMYM, "The Bracket": No bets, just slaps. Alan Sepinwall. blog.nj.com. The Star-Ledger. March 31, 2008.
34. Web site: Digital Short: 'Doogie Howser' Theme. Saturday Night Live (SNL Studios/Broadway Video). dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090705001253/http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/digital-short-doogie-howser-theme/1037181/. July 5, 2009. mdy-all.
35. The Hottie Body Jim-Miracle Diet. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/YoKoKI_2NlQ . 2021-12-22 . live. Jimmy Kimmel, Neil Patrick Harris. YouTube. March 14, 2011.
36. Holub . Christian . 2017-09-15 . Neil Patrick Harris, Kate Walsh Join TV Doctors of America For New Video . Entertainment Weekly . en-US.
37. A Matter of Time: The Unauthorized Back to the Future Lexicon Page 125
38. Web site: Anthony Bourdain 'Kitchen Confidential'. Anthony Bourdain. Kitchen Confidential. 2000. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130925133625/http://www.scribd.com/doc/2277375/Anthony-Bourdain-Kitchen-Confidential. September 25, 2013. mdy-all.
39. Book: The Next Fifty Years" (Ed. J. Brockman). Swappable Minds. Marc D. Hauser. Vintage Books. 2001.
40. Genetic enhancement of learning and memory in mice. 10.1038/43432. Tang YP, Shimizu E, Dube GR, Rampon C, Kerchner GA, Zhuo M, Liu G, Tsien JZ . Nature. 401. 63–69. 1999. 10485705. 6748. 1999Natur.401...63T. 481884.
41. Web site: Teen doctor: 'Just don't call me Doogie'. The Victoria Advocate. May 17, 1995. April 2, 2013.
42. News: M.D. at 21, Sho Yano Is Real-Life 'Doogie Howser'. Enjoli Francis. ABC News. June 4, 2012. April 2, 2013.
43. News: The Growing Pains of Jonathan Krohn. Susan. Chumsky. The New York Times . April 26, 2013 .
44. Web site: Homeschooler: Jonathan Krohn. www.alabamahomeschooling.com.
45. Web site: Meet Evan Draim of Alexandria, the 'Doogie Howser' of the GOP - Alexandria Virginia News - LocalKicks. www.localkicks.com.
46. Web site: Evan Draim: 17-year-old delegate at RNC. orlandosentinel.com.
47. Web site: Aaron Schock, "Hottest Freshman," Talks Doogie Howser And Dating On "Today Show" (VIDEO). Anya. Strzemien. March 30, 2009. Huff Post.
48. Web site: Young Gun. chicagomag.com.
49. Web site: Jon Stewart Rips Fallen GOP Rep. Aaron Schock: 'Doogie Howser Wannabe' (Video). March 19, 2015. thewrap.com.
50. Web site: Jon Stewart Rips Fallen GOP Rep. Aaron Schock: 'Doogie Howser Wannabe' (Video). yahoo.com. March 19, 2015 .
51. Web site: Doogie Howser Wannabe Busted At Hospital. January 16, 2015. The Smoking Gun.
52. Web site: Florida Teen Arrested for Posing as a Licensed Doctor: Authorities. nbcnews.com. February 17, 2016 .
53. Doogie Howser Gone Wrong: Teen Arrested for Impersonating a Doctor. Ollie. John. Time. February 3, 2013. newsfeed.time.com.
54. Web site: Ansonia teen hailed a "genius" after perfect score on AP chemistry exam. Mario Boone, News 8. Reporter. March 28, 2018. wtnh.com. April 12, 2018. April 13, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180413161032/http://www.wtnh.com/news/ansonia-teen-hailed-a-genius-after-perfect-score-on-ap-chemistry-exam_20180403103741535/1097735461. dead.
55. Web site: 20-Year-Old Prosecutor: Young Cooley Grad Sworn Into Florida Bar. findlaw.com. September 28, 2015.
56. Web site: Andreeva. Nellie. 'Doogie Howser' Female-Led Reboot 'Doogie Kameāloha, M.D.' Picked Up To Series By Disney+. Deadline Hollywood. September 11, 2020. September 10, 2020.
57. Web site: Goldberg. Lesley. Andi Mack' star Peyton Elizabeth Lee will take on the role that Neil Patrick Harris originally made famous three decades ago.. The Hollywood Reporter. January 14, 2021.