You know that feeling when you're watching a show and you realize you actually know these people? Not because they're famous actors—though, let's be real, seeing Wendi McLendon-Covey without a 1980s sweater is a trip—but because they capture that specific brand of "I’m just trying to survive the workday" energy. That’s the magic behind the St. Denis Medical characters.
Honestly, medical shows usually go one of two ways. You’ve got the high-drama "everyone is beautiful and dying" vibe of Grey’s Anatomy, or the "doctors are literal gods" trope. St. Denis Medical doesn't do that. It’s a mockumentary about an underfunded, slightly chaotic hospital in Oregon, and the people working there are just... people. They’re tired. They’re petty. They care too much, but they also really want to go home and watch their kid’s musical.
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Alex: The Glue Holding the Chaos Together
If you’ve ever been the only person in a group project who actually did the work, you are Alex. Played by Allison Tolman, Alex is the supervising nurse and the emotional center of the show. She’s a classic overachiever, but not in a "look at how perfect I am" way. It’s more of a "if I stop moving, this whole building will literally collapse" way.
One of the best things about her character is the struggle between being a "super-nurse" and a present mom. In the pilot, she’s desperately trying to leave on time for her daughter’s school show. Spoiler alert: she doesn't make it. It’s a gut-punch moment that balances out the jokes. Alex is the person who corrects your charts and probably has a hidden stash of the good pens that actually write.
Dr. Ron: The World-Weary Legend
David Alan Grier as Dr. Ron is inspired casting. Ron is the veteran ER attending who has seen everything—and I mean everything. He’s not burnt out, exactly; he’s just simmered down to a fine glaze of sarcasm.
Grier has mentioned in interviews that he based some of Ron’s "no-nonsense" energy on his own father, a psychiatrist. There’s a scene where he’s trying to navigate the hellscape of modern dating that feels so authentic it almost hurts. He’s the guy who tells it like it is because he doesn’t have the energy to lie anymore.
Joyce: The Ambitious (and Delusional) Boss
Then we have Joyce. Wendi McLendon-Covey is a master at playing characters who are aggressively optimistic in the face of total disaster. As the Executive Director, Joyce wants to turn this scrappy hospital into a "destination medical property." Think "Mayo Clinic," but with a much smaller budget and more accidents involving therapy horses.
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She’s basically the Leslie Knope of healthcare, but with a slightly sharper edge and a deeper desperate need for her hospital to go viral on TikTok. You’ve probably worked for a Joyce. She’s the one calling a "mandatory fun" meeting at 4:55 PM on a Friday.
The Rest of the St. Denis Squad
The beauty of a mockumentary is the ensemble. Without the supporting cast, the show would just be people yelling in a hallway.
- Bruce (Josh Lawson): A surgeon with an ego the size of the Pacific Northwest. He’s the guy who thinks he’s the main character of a much cooler, more dramatic show. He’s hilarious because he’s so consistently wrong about how people perceive him.
- Matt (Mekki Leeper): The "new guy." Matt is a nurse who grew up in a super-religious, sheltered environment. Watching him realize that the "real world" involves people dry-humping desks or having bizarre medical emergencies is a highlight.
- Val (Kaliko Kauahi): If you liked her in Superstore, you’ll love her here. Val is a veteran nurse who takes absolutely zero nonsense. She’s the one who will tell a patient to sit down and be quiet, and they actually do it because they’re scared of her. In a good way.
- Serena (Kahyun Kim): Alex’s best friend and a nurse who actually has a life outside of the hospital. She’s the one trying to get Alex to do "Botox and Bubbly" side hustles. Everyone needs a Serena to remind them that work isn't everything.
What Most People Get Wrong About These Characters
A lot of critics tried to compare this show immediately to The Office or Abbott Elementary. While the "talking to the camera" thing is the same, the stakes are different. In The Office, if they fail, they don't sell paper. In St. Denis Medical, if they fail, someone might actually die.
The writers (including Justin Spitzer, who worked on Superstore) do a great job of keeping the humor fast-paced without making the medicine feel fake. They don't shy away from "professional grief"—that weird numbness medical staff have to develop to keep doing their jobs after a bad day.
The Evolution in Season 2
By the time Season 2 kicks in, the St. Denis Medical characters really start to find their groove. We see new faces like Ariana Madix (yes, from Vanderpump Rules) popping in as Dr. Emerson, and Kristen Schaal showing up as a sci-fi nerd named Ashley. The show starts leaning into the weirdness of the hospital’s specific community.
How to Get the Most Out of the Show
If you're just starting, don't judge it solely on the pilot. Pilots are notoriously "sweaty"—they're trying too hard to introduce everyone. By episode three or four, the chemistry between David Alan Grier and Allison Tolman becomes the reason to watch.
- Watch for the background gags. Like Superstore, a lot of the funniest stuff happens in the periphery of the shot.
- Pay attention to the "interviews." The characters often say the opposite of what they’re actually doing, which is classic mockumentary gold.
- Look for the heart. Underneath the jokes about weird rashes and budget cuts, it’s a show about people who genuinely want to help, even when the system makes it impossible.
If you’re looking for a new comfort show that doesn't feel like a lecture, give these guys a chance. It’s messy, it’s loud, and it’s probably the most accurate depiction of a workplace you'll find on TV right now.
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Next Steps for Fans:
Check out the Season 2 trailer on Peacock to see the new guest stars in action, or revisit the "Ho-Ho-Hollo" holiday episode to see Joyce’s legendary lip-sync performance.