The doctor is in. And it’s a good thing for television. Ever since the blurry black-and-white tube invaded homes, the medical show has been the palliative that audiences seem to need. From the clean-cut Dr. Kildare to the acerbic Dr. House, the medicine man has been diagnosing TV drama.
Its earliest renderings included “Marcus Welby, M.D.” who was the kind of doctor you WISH you had. Played by movie actor Robert Young, Dr. Welby would actually listen to his patients and with empathy and authority do his best to cure them.
“Dr. Kildare” was a young intern transposed from radio and two movies, and featured Richard Chamberlain as the earnest Kildare working under the guidance of his august superior.
