The phrase “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” didn’t become popular because people enjoyed booking appointments. But thanks to TV and movie medical professionals like “Doctor Zhivago” and “Doc Hollywood,” there’s always a doctor in the “House” — because Hugh Laurie can’t be everywhere.
George Clooney famously got his big break as Dr. Ross in “ER” while Zach Braff’s quirky voice-overs have been known to make a few hearts flutter on “Scrubs.” His goofy personality is no match for Edie Falco’s no-nonsense portrayal of “Nurse Jackie,” but he’d probably find friends in Hawkeye, Hot Lips and Max in “M*A*S*H*” — laughter is the best medicine after all. Maybe together they can find a remedy for all the heartbreak the 17th season of “Grey’s Anatomy” has in store. But it is no match for the too short-lived “Red Band Society,” which proves you shouldn’t mess with a nurse on a mission. And modern medical dramas such as “The Resident,” “The Good Doctor” and “New Amsterdam” show it’s good to bring some new blood into the operating room.
Reality TV doctors are a whole other category with series like “Botched” and “Dr. Pimple Popper” set up for binging. But just because they can be easily streamed doesn't mean health care professionals stray from the silver screen. Robin Williams has been known to walk around in a lab coat, either in “Awakenings,” “Good Will Hunting” or “Patch Adams.” And Ben Stiller proves nursing is nothing to laugh at in “Meet The Parents,” and that doctors aren’t always the heroes they are made out to be — we’re watching you, Dr. Bob. At the end of the day, we salute those hospital heroes who are committed to saving lives on and off screen.