Everyone loves a good medical show. In fact, if there’s a type of show that’s delivered gems in basically all genres—and been the launching pad for the career of some of the most beloved stars of our generation—it’s the medical drama. From Denzel Washington in St. Elsewhere to George Clooney in ER, there’s a medical drama and a big name story to be found in most of these.
It’s not just about the cases with these medical dramas, either. We’re not invested in The Pitt because we care about every patient that comes into the ER, and we are certainly more interested in the doctor drama in Pulse than we are in anything else. The list of medical dramas keeps getting longer and longer, from newer shows like New Amsterdam, to older shows like Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. But which ones are the cream of the crop? Here’s a list of the best medical shows of all time and where to watch them.
ER (1994)
The quintessential show about working in an Emergency Room, ER made household names out of Anthony Edwards, George Clooney, Julianna Margulies and Noah Wyle, among others. Less soapy than Grey’s Anatomy, but never devoid of drama, ER had its share of romance, killed off quite a few doctors—one even had a helicopter fall on top of him—and was really one of the shows that set the standards for a genre that has now become a staple on TV.
Scrubs (2001)
When all other medical shows were going for full-on drama, over-the-top-cases, and very complicated romantic entanglements, Scrubs dared to go funny, and it did so very well. At its heart a dramedy, the show follows a group of medical interns at Sacred Heart Hospital, and though it has some romance and it does focus on cases, the vibes are much more relaxed than some of the other shows on this list.
House (2004)
If you think of medical mysteries, you think of House. The show, which takes place at the fictional Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, follows prickly genius Dr. Gregory House, who tackles medical mysteries as if he were a medical Sherlock Holmes. You might never be able to guess the mystery alongside House, or be as helpful as the show’s very own Watson, Dr. James Wilson, but if you like your medicine with a side of suspense, this is just the show for you.
Grey’s Anatomy (2005)
When you’ve been on the air for over twenty seasons, it’s because something is working, and Grey’s Anatomy has done a lot right over two decades. From great friendships, to epic romances, to iconic moments that will live in people’s memories forever, without forgetting lines that have become part of pop culture, this show has changed TV for the better. “Pick me, choose me, love me,” indeed.
Call the Midwife (2012)
A feel-good show featuring different stories at different periods of times, Call the Midwife is an educational and emotional look at different health crises—from the Baby Boom of 1957 to polio to neonatal withdrawal—all from the point of view of various midwives. Not the type of medical drama you’re expecting and not the type you’re likely to find anywhere else.
M*A*S*H (1972)
Following a medical unit during the Korean War, M*A*S*H was revolutionary TV for its time, and it still remains pretty remarkable to this day. The show is mostly comedic in tone, but it mixes in drama pretty well. It’s ironically pretty anti-war and very bold in experimenting with the TV format. Warning, though, the finale remains one of the most heartbreaking episodes of TV ever made.
Chicago Hope (1994)
At its time considered the lesser show to ER, Chicago Hope actually holds up pretty well in the annals of medical dramas. And it’s not even just because the cast consists of Mandy Patinkin, Hector Elizondo, Christine Lahti, Mark Harmonn and Rocky Caroll, among others. But there is that. This one just has good vibes, and feels very different than ER. Maybe it’s just that this is set in a private hospital.
The Good Doctor (2017)
It’s funny how all these medical shows are actually very different from each other! The Good Doctor stars Freddie Highmore as Dr. Shaun Murphy, a surgical resident with autism at the fictional San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital. The show focuses on how Shaun sees the world, and how he adjusts and adapts to life at the hospital—and how the hospital adapts to him. An interesting procedural that never really goes where you expect, The Good Doctor is a chance for Highmore to showcase his acting chops.
St. Elsewhere (1982)
TV shows now do a pretty good job of exploring both the personal and professional lives of doctors in a realistic and nuanced way, but St. Elsewhere was really one of the first shows to do so. And boy, was it a tearjerker! Not in a bad way, either. It was just emotional. And it’s now fun to look back at what the show was able to achieve, especially considering it was one of the first to do so.
Doogie Howser, M.D. (1989)
You don’t really watch Doogie Howser, M.D. for realism, you watch Doogie Howser, M.D. for fun. And boy, is this show fun. A fourteen-year-old as the youngest licensed doctor in America? It’s a ridiculous premise, and yet a young Neil Patrick Harris pulls it off as admirably as possible. This one’s good for a laugh, and sometimes, it’ll be good for a heartfelt message too.
Where To Watch The Best Medical Shows Of All Time Online
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