NBC Orders St. Denis Medical, A New Workplace Comedy From The Superstore Team
While these kinds of workplace sitcoms have evolved from using laugh tracks to going with a modern mockumentary approach, the sentiment remains the same. Sometimes folks just wanted to see their jobs represented in their media. Look no further than the success ABC is having with "Abbott Elementary," which stars Quinta Brunson, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Janelle James, Tyler James Williams, Lisa Ann Walter, and Chris Perfetti. In addition to winning three Emmys, the mockumentary comedy hit has also been shining a light on the lengths that underfunded classrooms go to in order to get things done.
But let's not forget the stranglehold that NBC has had on the workplace mockumentary with shows like "The Office" and "Parks and Recreation." You also have a single camera-setup series like "Superstore." For over six seasons, the series held strong as one of NBC's biggest sitcoms about the hilarious trials and tribulations of working inside of a piercingly bright Walmart knock-off. Series creator Justin Spitzer has even gone on to create "American Auto," a mockumentary sitcom about working in the automotive field. It appears that Spitzer has been working on a new series that will embrace an environment that usually inspires laughs — the hospital.
What we know about the release date of St. Denis Medical
Although the series received a production commitment back in August 2022, which Deadline reported on, it wasn't until February of 2023 that NBC gave the green light for the pilot episode of the upcoming "St. Denis Medical" to move on ahead. It's uncertain when "St. Denis Medical" will arrive on our TV screens, but pending any pivots to streaming, the show is presumably going to enter the NBC evening lineup. If the team brings the relevant humor that made "Superstore" a success, it's possible to give healthcare workers a good chuckle should the new show go to series.
What we know about the plot and creative team of St. Denis Medical
Little is known about the show besides its brief synopsis, which declares the medical sitcom as "a mockumentary about an underfunded, understaffed Oregon hospital where the dedicated doctors and nurses try their best to treat patients while maintaining their own sanity." As of publication, no one has been cast yet. Luckily, if "Superstore" or "American Auto" are any indicators, the show will be full of talented character actors and new faces that audiences will certainly love.
"St. Denis Medical" will be operated by Justin Spitzer, Eric Ledgin, and Simon Heuer. Spitzer, who wrote every episode of "Superstore," will write the pilot, in addition to serving as executive producer under his production company Spitzer Holding CompanyPilot story. Given his contributions to NBC since becoming an executive story editor for season 3 of "The Office," it's no wonder they'd want to keep on working with him. Ledgin, who also wrote for "Superstore" and "American Auto," will take on a producing position. Lastly, there's the Spitzer Holding Company's Head of TV Development Simon Heuer, who will be producing the series alongside Ledgin and Spitzer.
Although hospital programs tend to lie in reality television or scripted dramas like "Grey's Anatomy," you have a few outliers such as "M*A*S*H" and "Scrubs." Here's hoping that "St. Denis Medical" can continue Spitzer's trend of success.