Voting Station

St. Elsewhere

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TV Series

The Resume

    (October 26, 1982-May 25, 1988)
    Originally aired on NBC
    Set in the fictional St. Eligius Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts
    Premise: A hospital treats patients not wanted by the more prestigious hospitals
    Ed Flanders as Dr. Donald Westphall (1982-1987)
    Norman Lloyd as Dr. Daniel Auschlander
    Ronny Cox as Dr. John Gideon (1987-1988)
    G.W. Bailey as Dr. Hugh Beale (1982-1983)
    Bonnie Bartlett as Ellen Craig
    Ed Begley, Jr. as Dr. Victor Ehrlich
    Eric Laneuville as Orderly Luther Hawkins
    Sagan Lewis as Dr. Jacqueline Wade
    Howie Mandel as Dr. Wayne Fiscus
    William Daniels as Dr. Mark Craig
    Denzel Washington as Dr. Philip Chandler
    Based on the real Temple Beth Israel Hospital in Boston

Why St. Elsewhere might be annoying:

    It is often compared with Hill Street Blues, and producers pitched this show as Hill Street Blues in a hospital.
    Justifying these comparisons, both Hill Street Blues and this show were made by MTM Enterprises.
    It was known for its inside jokes, and to watch the show now, one would need to know a lot about 1980's pop culture and events.
    St. Eligius (the hospitals namesake on the show) is the patron saint of veterinarians, sick horses, metal smiths and cabmen.
    It never achieved high ratings.
    Democratic presidential candidate Michael Dukakis made a guest appearance on the show.
    During its original run, it was always on the verge of cancellation.
    Its series finale was very strange and confusing.

Why St. Elsewhere might not be annoying:

    It was known for being symbolic and using substantial amounts of black comedy.
    Though never achieving high ratings, it brought in the educated 18-49 year old demographic desired by advertisers.
    It shared a copy machine with the writers with Hill Street Blues, and whenever they needed inspiration, they would look at a script from Hill Street Blues and push themselves to do better.
    It was critically acclaimed throughout its run and won several Emmys.
    It created the serial hospital drama.
    Its series finale inspired the writers of Newhart to write a similar finale that has come to be one of the best series finales ever.

Credit: Captain Howdy


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 70.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 116 Votes: 43.10% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 8 Votes: 12.50% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 42 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 9 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 9 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 11 Votes: 72.73% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 30 Votes: 43.33% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 20 Votes: 35.00% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 15 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 89 Votes: 68.54% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 169 Votes: 46.75% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 28 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 95 Votes: 58.95% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 153 Votes: 52.29% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 292 Votes: 44.52% Annoying
    In 2004, Out of 70 Votes: 47.14% Annoying