Doctor Doctor

I, unfortunately, have really poor quality copies of the episodes on VHS and I wasn't able to get any of the original summer replacement episodes, but I have to say this was the funniest sitcom I ever saw.

This was one of those rare shows where you got the feeling that the actors raced out of bed to get to the studio because it was just too much fun. They managed to combine some serious social issues with the outright insanity of improv in a way that did not stretch credibility. I especially liked the interactions between Dr. Stratford and his brother Richard. Richard's open homosexuality was a source of some of the most cutting, and honest, brother to brother humour I have ever seen. Even by todays "Will and Grace" gay humour standard, this stuff still far-and-away exceeds it in wit and spontinaity.

Matt Frewer has never really seemed to capitalize on his amazing talents, and more is the shame. While the show centered on him and his amazing energy, none of the other characters seemed like set dressing. Each of the supporting cast seemed to draw energy and inspiration from Frewer's antics and together they were (and in my mind still are) the best comic ensemble ever to come out of TV

CBS cancelled the show because the then president of programming said his wife thought is was stupid and didn't understand the humour ... you may notice they have gotten a new president who actually has that network back on track

pentax12101 hit it right on the head. I still clearly remember the night my wife and I watched the "Doll" episode as it came to be known in our house. We laughed so hard we were crying. Our sides hurt for days. We were on the floor, literally! It was the funniest television scene ever. Nothing from Seinfeld, Cheers, MASH, All in the Family or The Dick Van Dyke Show can top it, and I have greatly enjoyed all these shows (and I'm showing my age as I did not need to watch them on Nick at Night).

CBS in its infinite bureaucracy and mediocrity canceled this show so quickly. As soon as anyone hears of a DVD release, please send me an email. I have only bought three other TV shows, Star Trek, Monty Python and The Prisoner, so you can see that I don't generally buy TV shows. But I'd be willing to plunk down good money to be rocked by this great show again.

I just rediscovered this series due to having to transfer the videos I taped off USANetwork on to DVD. Doctor, Doctor is one of those rare TV series which still works 10 plus years after its production. Some of the humor is tied to pop culture at the time, but if you were alive then, you can pick up on it.

The show had a good balance of zaniness and pathos. Matt Frewer as Dr. Mike Stratford played the character as not a total goof ball, but as a real person in extraordinary circumstances. As hard as it is to imagine, Mike Stratford was the straight man for all the craziness happening around him. Much like Frasier Crane would later do for his family and friends.

I am hoping this show would find some sponsorship for a DVD release. The humor is mild but intelligent, but not too high brow. Stand it up against most shows today and the present shows should curl up in shame. A true classic, CBS should be ashamed of itself at canceling this show. It could easily had had the life of a show like Frasier. But this only says Doctor, Doctor was ahead of its time.

P.S. Am very chuffed, I found some original recordings I made at the time the show first aired on CBS. I don't have all the episodes, but I think I have most of them anyway.

I loved every second of this show, and hated how the network just kept bouncing it around until it died.

My favorite episode was when Dr. Mike's Dad was getting a divorce and Dr. Mike was dressed as a clown.

And who could forget the way he messed up deidre, erm deedree I mean diedri's name all of the time.

Classic comedy the likes of Lucille Ball and Robin Williams.

If anyone knows how I can get tapes of the series episodes please let me know.

Thanks!

Matt Frewer, best known for his "Maxx Headroom" Coke commercials, had a great series going with "Doctor, Doctor". I was pretty young when it was on, but I remember my Dad and I used to laugh and laugh. It was one of those shows he'd anticipate watching (a big deal, as he's someone who regards watching T.V. as a huge waste of time). If you have an opportunity to see it, you should. Personally, I'm emailing networks that air reruns and suggesting DD. Funny stuff. Makes you wonder: how does a great show like DD get canceled, yet insipid tripe like "My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance" is a huge hit. To quote Sideshow Bob, TV has become a "chum bucket". Bring back shows like DD and let's obliterate 95% of "reality" shows.