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Post by topbilled on Apr 14, 2023 16:36:02 GMT
These shows were at the height of their popularity the year I was born (1971). So of course, I was too young to have seen them first-run, though both ran until 1976.
All seven seasons of Medical Center have been released on DVD, but only the first two seasons of Marcus Welby were issued on home video.
I am wondering if there still are fans of these shows, and for those who've watched and enjoyed both, which series do you prefer...and why?
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Post by NoShear on Apr 14, 2023 17:11:29 GMT
These shows were at the height of their popularity the year I was born (1971). So of course, I was too young to have seen them first-run, though both ran until 1976.
All seven seasons of Medical Center have been released on DVD, but only the first two seasons of Marcus Welby were issued on home video.
I am wondering if there still are fans of these shows, and for those who've watched and enjoyed both, which series do you prefer...and why? It probably depends on which of the pair's storylines you prefer. I think of MARCUS WELBY, M.D. as smaller with intimate plots, whereas MEDICAL CENTER seems to reflect the outsized facility its doctors operate in - no pun intended - which presented a broader range of problems. So broad as to actually have influenced a law which first was enacted in California and later went national... It concerned job discrimination against those with catastrophic conditions, but I don't recall the name of the episode(s?), TopBilled.
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Post by topbilled on Apr 14, 2023 21:27:28 GMT
These shows were at the height of their popularity the year I was born (1971). So of course, I was too young to have seen them first-run, though both ran until 1976.
All seven seasons of Medical Center have been released on DVD, but only the first two seasons of Marcus Welby were issued on home video.
I am wondering if there still are fans of these shows, and for those who've watched and enjoyed both, which series do you prefer...and why? It probably depends on which of the pair's storylines you prefer. I think of MARCUS WELBY, M.D. as smaller with intimate plots, whereas MEDICAL CENTER seems to reflect the outsized facility its doctors operate in - no pun intended - which presented a broader range of problems. So broad as to actually have influenced a law which first was enacted in California and later went national... It concerned job discrimination against those with catastrophic conditions, but I don't recall the name of the episode(s?), TopBilled. Thanks for the reply. I watched my first episode of Medical Center today, and I did like it. I think Chad Everett does a good job. I will probably buy the whole first season and starting going through them, then I will be able to let you know which one affected a change in laws.
I agree that from what I've read, it does seem as if Marcus Welby has a small town feel (though Santa Monica is NOT a small town), while the other show seems more urban in scope. Another difference seems to be that the older doctor (Robert Young) in MW MD is the dominant character; while in Medical Center the dominant character is the younger doctor.
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Post by kims on Apr 14, 2023 21:36:36 GMT
TB, you're killing me. I graduated in '71.
I liked Medical Center best, but Marcus had an edge with James Brolin
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Post by NoShear on Apr 14, 2023 22:13:20 GMT
It probably depends on which of the pair's storylines you prefer. I think of MARCUS WELBY, M.D. as smaller with intimate plots, whereas MEDICAL CENTER seems to reflect the outsized facility its doctors operate in - no pun intended - which presented a broader range of problems. So broad as to actually have influenced a law which first was enacted in California and later went national... It concerned job discrimination against those with catastrophic conditions, but I don't recall the name of the episode(s?), TopBilled. Thanks for the reply. I watched my first episode of Medical Center today, and I did like it. I think Chad Everett does a good job. I will probably buy the whole first season and starting going through them, then I will be able to let you know which one affected a change in laws.
I agree that from what I've read, it does seem as if Marcus Welby has a small town feel, while the other show seems more urban in scope. Another difference seems to be that the older doctor (Robert Young) in MW MD is the dominant character; while in Medical Center the dominant character is the younger doctor. You're welcome, Top Billed, and I'm still pushing Doc Martin for you: medicine, humor and love's pathos... In addition to MARCUS WELBY, M.D. and MEDICAL CENTER, there are also at least four other medical-related television shows which ran during what may have been the most prolific period of the genre - 1970/71 - for you to eventually tap: The Interns, Julia - Lloyd Nolan played an aerospace physician, MATT LINCOLN - Vince BEN CASEY Edwards returned as a doctor of psychiatry, and the medical cog in the following wheel: One of the stars of "The New Doctors" segments, E. G. Marshall, was a big proponent of health care in this country if I'm not mistaken, TopBilled.
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Post by topbilled on Apr 15, 2023 0:46:00 GMT
TB, you're killing me. I graduated in '71. I liked Medical Center best, but Marcus had an edge with James Brolin I think I will probably watch both series. Not sure if I will write reviews on all the episodes, but these productions provide us with an interesting time capsule, of how healthcare was evolving.
Are there any specific episodes of Medical Center you recommend?
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Post by topbilled on Apr 15, 2023 0:47:57 GMT
NoShear...I have never seen Ben Casey, and I have never seen any episodes of the Dr. Kildare TV series.
But I do like this period of late 60s through 70s television, so I am going to start with Marcus Welby and Medical Center.
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Post by topbilled on Apr 15, 2023 15:01:13 GMT
I watched two episodes of Marcus Welby M.D. last night, plus an episode of Owen Marshall Counselor at Law where Robert Young was a special guest star playing Mark in a crossover.
I may be a bit premature saying this, since I've only seen these few episodes of the show, and I have only seen one episode of Medical Center...but my initial impression is that MW MD is geared more for a traditional conservative audience, and some of the stories seem to play on fear and hysteria, while MC seems (to me at least) more progressive with liberal ideas about the study of medical issues and newer treatments and solutions.
Am I wrong about this? Am I over-generalizing?
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Post by NoShear on Apr 15, 2023 15:23:47 GMT
I watched two episodes of Marcus Welby M.D. last night, plus an episode of Owen Marshall Counselor at Law where Robert Young was a special guest star playing Mark in a crossover.
I may be a bit premature saying this, since I've only seen these few episodes of the show, and I have only seen one episode of Medical Center...but my initial impression is that MW MD is geared more for a traditional conservative audience, and some of the stories seem to play on fear and hysteria, while MC seems (to me at least) more progressive with liberal ideas about the study of medical issues and newer treatments and solutions.
Am I wrong about this? Am I over-generalizing? "CBS canceled everything with a tree in it — including Lassie." - Pat Buttram MEDICAL CENTER represented demographic shift that came with the punishing purge of the so-called rural programming of CBS... MARCUS WELBY, M.D. is an example of the paradox of ABC at that time: On one dial's hand, ABC backed futuristic fanfare such as LAND of the GIANTS, but they also offered nostalgia agenda as well.
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Post by topbilled on Apr 15, 2023 15:52:53 GMT
I watched two episodes of Marcus Welby M.D. last night, plus an episode of Owen Marshall Counselor at Law where Robert Young was a special guest star playing Mark in a crossover.
I may be a bit premature saying this, since I've only seen these few episodes of the show, and I have only seen one episode of Medical Center...but my initial impression is that MW MD is geared more for a traditional conservative audience, and some of the stories seem to play on fear and hysteria, while MC seems (to me at least) more progressive with liberal ideas about the study of medical issues and newer treatments and solutions.
Am I wrong about this? Am I over-generalizing? "CBS canceled everything with a tree in it — including Lassie." - Pat Buttram MEDICAL CENTER represented demographic shift that came with the punishing purge of the so-called rural programming of CBS... MARCUS WELBY, M.D. is an example of the paradox of ABC at that time: On one dial's hand, ABC backed futuristic fanfare such as LAND of the GIANTS, but they also offered nostalgia agenda as well. Are you saying Marcus Welby was meant to be nostalgic?
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Post by kims on Apr 15, 2023 16:26:42 GMT
TB, sorry, it's been over 50 years since I saw either show. Don't remember ever seeing either on syndication, so I don't recall specific episodes. To Noshear's point, TV at that time went kinda wack-o. Every network seemed to fall into filmdom's over emphasis on the youth market and imo lost a big swath of middle America. Stories lost out to hippies and radicals popping up in most series and small towns I lived in there were none. At the time most of middle America was conservative, John Ford values, men were men and women were women thing. Welby was a favorite of Mom's because the simple life was her domain-she believed her family was like the Waltons. My sister loved Brolin, story didn't matter. I believe HEE-HAW was a popular program at this same time and as Pat Buttram said CBS apparently didn't want middle America viewers, wanted LA NYC. I liked MEDICAL CENTER because for me it was new. I'd never seen a hospital like that, the equipment. Often I lived in towns that driving yourself to the hospital was faster than an ambulance and the fire departments never lost a basement.
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Post by sepiatone on Apr 15, 2023 16:32:24 GMT
Nostalgic? Maybe in the sense that Dr. Welby still did house calls, and practiced out of his converted home/office.(I remember a few of those when I was a kid) and took more that a distant, clinical interest in his patients, getting involved in the family and home situations that might hinder his patient's recovery from whatever illness or medical issue. MEDICAL CENTER also attempted that sort of thing, but not on consistent a level as WELBY. I liked them both, so you're going to have to decide which one YOU like better, if it does become apparent you do like one better than the other. Sepiatone
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Post by NoShear on Apr 15, 2023 17:50:24 GMT
"CBS canceled everything with a tree in it — including Lassie." - Pat Buttram MEDICAL CENTER represented demographic shift that came with the punishing purge of the so-called rural programming of CBS... MARCUS WELBY, M.D. is an example of the paradox of ABC at that time: On one dial's hand, ABC backed futuristic fanfare such as LAND of the GIANTS, but they also offered nostalgia agenda as well. Are you saying Marcus Welby was meant to be nostalgic? The title character was played by a leading man from the past who lived at the same house as Leave it to Beaver so, yes, a certain amount of nostalgia could've been ascribed the show.
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Post by topbilled on Apr 15, 2023 17:59:44 GMT
Are you saying Marcus Welby was meant to be nostalgic? The title character was played by a leading man from the past who lived at the same house as Leave it to Beaver so, yes, a certain amount of nostalgia could've been ascribed the show. Yes, I can buy that argument. The construct of the experienced wiser older doctor and the young mentee doctor (both male) borrows from the Gillespie/Kildare stories. Also, Jean Hersholt had popularized the country doctor on radio and in movies in the form of Dr. Christian. So I think Welby probably borrows from the Gillespie and Christian models, which are traditional and somewhat old-fashioned.
I don't mean this in a derisory way, because some people respond to these characters better...and in terms of the audience watching these shows in the late 60s/70s, they found comfort in these representations.
It does occur to me (and I think a dissertation could be written on the subject) that a character like Marcus Welby was meant to be a superman doctor, who symbolized the best most trusted answer in medical care. The patients in the episodes, and the audience, would have had the utmost regard for what he said and did. He is almost an indisputable authority and never seems to be wrong or make any diagnostic mistake.
One other difference between the two programs is that Marcus Welby M.D. has the main character in the title, so no story can be told without him. But Medical Center is named after a place, not a character...so if Chad Everett had ever quit, they could have kept going with another doctor.
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Post by Swithin on Apr 16, 2023 3:47:36 GMT
Never watched those two. Occasionally watched Casey and Kildare. A medical show I liked was The Nurses.
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