"St. Elsewhere" (1982) TV series 1982-1988

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Creators:

Joshua Brand
John Falsey
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Release Date:

26 October 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The lives and work of the staff of St. Eligius Hospital, a old and disrespected Boston teaching hospital.

Plot Keywords:

Hospital | Hiv AIDS | Cancer | Operating Room | Death Of Wife

Awards:

Nominated for 5 Golden Globes. Another 23 wins & 64 nominations

Cast

Ed Begley Jr.	...	Dr. Victor Ehrlich (137 episodes, 1982-1988)
William Daniels	...	Dr. Mark Craig (137 episodes, 1982-1988)
Howie Mandel	...	Dr. Wayne Fiscus (137 episodes, 1982-1988)
David Morse	...	Dr. Jack Morrison / ... (137 episodes, 1982-1988)
Christina Pickles	...	Nurse Helen Rosenthal (137 episodes, 1982-1988)
Denzel Washington	...	Dr. Philip Chandler / ... (137 episodes, 1982-1988)
Norman Lloyd	...	Dr. Daniel Auschlander (132 episodes, 1982-1988)
Eric Laneuville	...	Luther Hawkins / ... (128 episodes, 1982-1988)
Ed Flanders	...	Dr. Donald Westphall (120 episodes, 1982-1988)
Stephen Furst	...	Dr. Elliot Axelrod (97 episodes, 1983-1988)
Sagan Lewis	...	Dr. Jacqueline Wade (83 episodes, 1982-1988)
Bonnie Bartlett	...	Ellen Craig (78 episodes, 1982-1988)
Mark Harmon	...	Dr. Robert Caldwell (70 episodes, 1983-1986)
Cynthia Sikes	...	Dr. Annie Cavanero (68 episodes, 1982-1985)
Jennifer Savidge	...	Nurse Lucy Papandrao / ... (62 episodes, 1982-1988)

(more)

Series Directed by
Mark Tinker		(38 episodes, 1982-1988)
Bruce Paltrow		(5 episodes, 1983-1984)
Thomas Carter		(4 episodes, 1982)
Kevin Hooks		(4 episodes, 1983-1984)
Victor Lobl		(4 episodes, 1983)
Eric Laneuville		(4 episodes, 1984-1988)
Allan Arkush		(3 episodes, 1986-1987)
Victor Hsu		(2 episodes, 1983)
David Anspaugh		(2 episodes, 1984)
Helaine Head		(2 episodes, 1986-1987)
David Morse		(2 episodes, 1987)
Robert Becker		(unknown episodes)
Charles Braverman		(unknown episodes)
William Daniels		(unknown episodes)
Michael Fresco		(unknown episodes)
Tim Matheson		(unknown episodes)
Nicholas Mele		(unknown episodes)
Bethany Rooney		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Joshua Brand		(137 episodes, 1982-1988)
John Falsey		(137 episodes, 1982-1988)
John Masius		(137 episodes, 1982-1988)
Mark Tinker		(137 episodes, 1982-1988)
Tom Fontana		(43 episodes, 1982-1988)
John Tinker		(12 episodes, 1983-1988)
Channing Gibson		(8 episodes, 1984-1988)
Charles H. Eglee		(3 episodes, 1984-1985)
Joel Surnow		(2 episodes, 1982-1984)
John Ford Noonan		(2 episodes, 1983-1984)
David Assael		(2 episodes, 1983)
Steve Bello		(2 episodes, 1984-1985)
D. Keith Mano		(2 episodes, 1987)
Grace McKeaney		(2 episodes, 1988)
Frank Dandridge		(unknown episodes)
Johnny Dawkins		(unknown episodes)
Michael Duggan		(unknown episodes)
James Kahn		(unknown episodes)
Jim Kramer		(unknown episodes)
Glen Merzer		(unknown episodes)
Eric Overmyer		(unknown episodes)
Emily Potter		(unknown episodes)
Norma Safford Vela		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Mark Tinker	....	executive producer / producer / ... (122 episodes, 1982-1988)
Tom Fontana	....	producer (115 episodes, 1983-1988)
Bruce Paltrow	....	executive producer (35 episodes, 1982-1988)
John Masius	....	producer (33 episodes, 1982-1986)
Bethany Rooney	....	associate producer (24 episodes, 1982-1986)
Joshua Brand	....	producer (22 episodes, 1982-1983)
John Falsey	....	producer (22 episodes, 1982-1983)
Carole Coates	....	development executive (17 episodes, 1982-1983)
Abby Singer	....	coordinating producer (10 episodes, 1984-1986)
Channing Gibson	....	producer (unknown episodes)
John Tinker	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
J.A.C. Redford		(4 episodes, 1982-1988)

Series Cinematography by
John McPherson		(1 episode, 1982)
Marvin L. Gunter		(1 episode, 1986)
Rick F. Gunter		(1 episode, 1988)
Sol Negrin		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
John Heath		(5 episodes, 1982-1988)
Robert P. Seppey		(2 episodes, 1986-1988)
Stephen Butler		(unknown episodes)
Tony de Zarraga		(unknown episodes)
Howard Heard		(unknown episodes)
Michael N. Knue		(unknown episodes)
Richard E. Rabjohn		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Molly Lopata		(2 episodes, 1982)
Eugene Blythe		(2 episodes, 1986-1988)

Series Art Direction by
Jacqueline Webber		(3 episodes, 1984-1986)
James Hulsey		(unknown episodes)

Series Set Decoration by
Norman Rockett		(3 episodes, 1986-1988)
Ernie Bishop		(unknown episodes)
Michele Guiol		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Carol Hybi		(1 episode, 1982)
Robert M. Moore		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Evelyn Trimmer	....	hair stylist (2 episodes, 1982)
Lona Jeffers	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 1986-1988)

Series Production Management
Ted Rich	....	post-production supervisor / executive in charge of post-production (6 episodes, 1983-1988)
Abby Singer	....	executive in charge of production / unit production manager (6 episodes, 1983-1988)
Bernard Oseransky	....	executive in charge of production (2 episodes, 1986-1988)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sara Fischer	....	first assistant director (58 episodes, 1986-1988)
Merv Hawkins	....	first and second assistant director / second assistant director (23 episodes, 1982-1986)
Howie Horowitz	....	second assistant director / first assistant director (23 episodes, 1982-1984)
Pamela Grant	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Richard T. Schor	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Scott L. London	....	assistant property master (95 episodes, 1982-1988)
Robert Visciglia Jr.	....	property master (2 episodes, 1986-1988)
Glenn Forbes	....	assistant property master (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Kevin Spears	....	supervising sound editor / sound editor (129 episodes, 1983-1988)
David John West	....	sound effects editor (70 episodes, 1983-1986)
Dennis Kirkpatrick	....	boom operator (45 episodes, 1986-1988)
Paul J. Diller	....	sound effects editor (41 episodes, 1982-1988)
Sam Horta	....	sound editor (6 episodes, 1982-1983)
Vanessa Theme Ament	....	foley artist (2 episodes, 1984)
Blake Wilcox	....	sound mixer (2 episodes, 1986)
John Asman	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Donald W. Ernst	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Tom Gerard	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Avram D. Gold	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Michael Gollom	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Jerelyn J. Harding	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Eileen Horta	....	supervising sound editor (unknown episodes)
Scott D. Jackson	....	supervising foley editor (unknown episodes)
Constance A. Kazmer	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Gary Krivacek	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Mark L. Mangino	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Ken S. Polk	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Peter Reale	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Dean Vernon	....	production sound mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Ted Allen	....	special effects coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Charlie Picerni	....	stunts (3 episodes, 1983-1987)
Gardner Doolittle	....	stunt performer (3 episodes, 1985)
Richard Epper	....	stunts (2 episodes, 1983-1985)
Charlie Brewer	....	stunt double (unknown episodes)
Lane Leavitt	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Ray Lykins	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Conrad E. Palmisano	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Pat Romano	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Gary J. Wayton	....	utility stunts (unknown episodes)
Harry Wowchuk	....	stunt driver (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
John C. Moulds	....	first assistant camera (12 episodes, 1982-1983)
Peter McEvoy	....	first assistant camera (6 episodes, 1987)
Steve Randolph	....	camera operator (5 episodes, 1988)
Philip Caplan	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Vincent Contarino	....	electrician (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gregory B. Peña	....	costumer (19 episodes, 1982-1983)
Robert M. Moore	....	costumes (2 episodes, 1986-1988)
Susan Smith	....	costume supervisor (2 episodes, 1986-1988)

Series Music Department
Dave Grusin	....	composer: theme music (137 episodes, 1982-1988)
Daniel Allan Carlin	....	music editor (2 episodes, 1982)
Bradley Carow	....	assistant music editor (unknown episodes)
Brad Dechter	....	orchestrator (unknown episodes)
Celia Weiner	....	music editor (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
Gina August	....	driver (24 episodes, 1983-1984)
Chris Haynes	....	driver (14 episodes, 1982-1987)
Frank Khoury	....	driver (3 episodes, 1982)
William O'Brien	....	transportation coordinator (3 episodes, 1988)

Series Other crew
Tom Fontana	....	story editor / creative consultant (21 episodes, 1982-1988)
Geri Windsor	....	executive in charge of talent (8 episodes, 1982-1988)
Barbara Krause	....	technical advisor (2 episodes, 1986-1988)
Douglas Steinberg	....	story editor (unknown episodes, 1988)
Jim Carberry	....	location manager (unknown episodes)
Jeffrey A. Humphreys	....	studio utility (unknown episodes)
Maria Lease	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• MTM Productions
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (in association with)

Distributors

• 20th Century Fox Television
• MTM Enterprises
• More4 (2006-) (UK) (TV)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC)
• Victory Television Inc.

Other Companies

• Inter Video  24 frame video services
• Pacific Title  titles and optical effects
• Panavision  cameras and lenses by

Runtime:

60 min (137 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:TV-PG

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

MTM Productions

Trivia:

The final scene of the final episode featured one of the most unexpected plot twists in television history. The twist has since been copied at least one other MTM series: "Newhart" (1982).

Quotes:

Dr. Daniel Auschlander: Most people associate hospitals with disease. I think of romance. But that's another story.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Ben Stiller Show: ZooTV at Night (#1.13)" (1993)

Soundtrack:

St. Elsewhere

One of the best

There is much to be said about St Elsewhere and its immense importance in defining the modern Television drama. The series set the formula for how future medical dramas would be produced. Physicians were not perfect individuals, and patients died. Doctors and nurses were "real people", and they, as did the patients, cope with day to day life inside and outside the confines of St Eligious hospital.

St Elswehere would bring the viewer into a drama filled hospital, where both doctors and patients interacted. The writers while giving us a look into the lives of both the Physician and patient, mercifully avoided a soap opera like atmosphere. They were instead disciplined in the intercourse between doctor and patient, and everything in between. They explored issues that TV had previously considered taboo, and handled those subjects in a mature, responsible manner, while never disregarding the intellect of the audience, and their ability to hold attention to dialogue.

Comparatively St Elsewhere moved on a slower pace than it's modern counterpart, "ER". The writers gave you scenes and story-lines that would cause the viewer to slow down and think, and avoided fast paced vacuous imagery and verbiage. Rarely did their ER blow-up, or the hospital fall victim to a helicopter crash. While there were expeditious Emergency Room exhibits in the St Elsewhere series, they did not bounce back and forth the camera like a ping-pong in an attempt to keep us amused. Instead, they focused on dialogue, the characters, and most imortant the plot.

Its drama along with real and diverse characters, will ensure its place in history, as one of televisions best series. St. Elsewhere is a prime example of how big ratings mean very little in defining a shows value or place in Televisions hierarchy.