From ER and Grey’s Anatomy to The Good Doctor and New Amsterdam, there’s an abundance of hospital dramas to choose from in today’s media landscape. So, what is it with Hollywood’s obsession with hospital dramas? Is it the constantly evolving storylines? All the potential for drama? Below, we’ll unpack some of the reasons the genre might have become so popular of late.
It Makes for Easier Storytelling
I think one reason hospital dramas have become so popular is because they’re an easy conduit for storytelling. Setting the show in a hospital allows you to keep all your characters together in one central location, creating an ease among the storytelling. Shows set in a workplace also force the characters to interact a lot more without interruptions. This constant activity can help create suspense and build tension, depending on the episode.
Shooting in a fixed hospital setting can also save production both time and money. By shooting in only one location, making a TV show becomes infinitely easier. It’s much more convenient to build a hospital set on a studio backlot rather than constantly having to change or find locations. This saves lots of money in the long run. This isn’t just exclusive to hospital dramas, either. Anytime a show can shoot at a studio rather than on-location, production budgets have much more room to play around with other aspects of storytelling, such as costumes and set design.
There’s Consistency
Another reason I think hospital settings are so common is the consistency. There’s sort of a procedural element to the storytelling. Similar to police procedurals, where every episode focuses on a different case, hospital dramas allow each episode to focus on only one or two patients. It’s also easier to write for because, unless you’re a show like Grey’s Anatomy and have already run through two decades of stories, there’s usually a revolving door of plot lines to choose from.
When a show is more consistent in its storytelling, it’s easier to experiment with other components, such as adding more comedic elements. In shows like Scrubs, the juxtaposition of comedy and the seriousness of medical issues makes an interesting pairing. In times like these, the comedic foundation helps bring levity to otherwise darker subjects, making the show a little easier to digest.
What are Some Examples of Hospital Dramas?
Everyone loves some good drama every now and again. Instead of searching for drama in your everyday life, why not tune into fictionalized drama? Without further ado, here’s a list of some of the most popular hospital dramas!
- New Amsterdam
- Chicago Med
- The Resident
- ER
- Grey’s Anatomy
- The Good Doctor
- Nurse Jackie
- St. Elsewhere
- Private Practice
- House
For a more comprehensive list of hospital dramas, click here!
The Longest-Running Hospital Drama
Probably the most famous hospital drama of the 2000s has been Grey’s Anatomy, created by Shonda Rhimes. The show, which began airing in March 2005, follows the doctors of Seattle Grace Hospital as they navigate the extreme demands of the intense job with their ever-evolving personal lives. As you can imagine, lots of drama, medical emergencies, and steamy relationships ensue! And if you’ve already watched Grey’s, here’s a list of other shows you might enjoy!
With around 429 episodes, Grey’s Anatomy has become the longest-running primetime medical drama of all time, a title previously held by ER, which ran for 15 seasons. With the series currently in its 20th season on ABC, it begs the question: How has it survived so long, especially in an era where it seems like TV is only given a season or two before being prematurely canceled?
Conclusion
So, what’s behind the worldwide, record-breaking success of Grey’s? Could it be because it is a network show, rather than a direct-to-streaming one? Or, perhaps the revolving door of cast members throughout the years has helped keep the show fresh and introduce new perspectives to the storytelling? Let’s discuss.
Grey’s is definitely a show that’s going to be studied in the future because their formula for success is something so rare, especially in today’s day and age. I don’t think we’ll see anything on this scale ever again, considering the current landscape of television and the new culture of binging and streaming. It seems almost impossible for a show to run longer than five or six seasons these days; I can’t even imagine a series going for 20 again anytime soon. Therefore, I think maybe we’re beginning to move away from the longevity of shows of this genre. I wonder how many hospital dramas we’ll see in the future, or any long-running dramas for that matter.
Grey’s is also a show that is doing 22-episode seasons, something that’s also so rare these days. While many shows cap out at around 8 or 10 episodes, Grey’s continues to churn out double or triple the episodes of other shows. This consistency might be what makes the show so beloved; no matter what, audiences know that the show will always be there. No matter what, Grey’s Anatomy has achieved a feat unlike any before them, and it will surely still be talked about for years to come.
For More Great Content
Total Apex is an all-encompassing content producer. We provide heavily-detailed articles every day on entertainment, gaming, sports, and so much more! Check out all our great sports content Total Apex Sports. Check us out on X @TotalApexEandG and our other sites: Total Apex Entertainment, Total Apex Gaming, Total Apex Sports Bets, and Total Apex Fantasy Sports. For more articles by Samantha Alves, click here!
