"Doogie Howser, M.D." (1989)TV series 1989-1993

Creators:

Steven Bochco
David E. Kelley
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

19 September 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Family

Plot:

A teenaged genius deals with the usual problems of growing up: having a girlfriend, going to parties...

Plot Keywords:

California | Child Prodigy | Dramedy | Operating Room | Computer

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 8 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Max Casella	...	Vinnie Delpino (83 episodes, 1989-1993)
Neil Patrick Harris	...	Douglas 'Doogie' Howser / ... (82 episodes, 1989-1993)
Belinda Montgomery	...	Katherine O'Brien Howser / ... (80 episodes, 1989-1993)
James Sikking	...	Dr. David Howser (80 episodes, 1989-1993)
Kathryn Layng	...	Nurse Curly Spaulding / ... (78 episodes, 1989-1993)
Lawrence Pressman	...	Dr. Benjamin Canfield / ... (77 episodes, 1989-1993)
Lucy Boryer	...	Janine Stewart (50 episodes, 1989-1992)
Markus Redmond	...	Raymond Alexander / ... (46 episodes, 1990-1993)
Mitchell Anderson	...	Dr. Jack McGuire (43 episodes, 1989-1991)
Lisa Dean Ryan	...	Wanda Plenn (39 episodes, 1989-1992)

(more)

Series Directed by
Stephen Cragg		(9 episodes, 1989-1992)
Rob Thompson		(6 episodes, 1989-1991)
Win Phelps		(5 episodes, 1990-1992)
Scott Goldstein		(4 episodes, 1990-1992)
Charles Haid		(4 episodes, 1990-1992)
Eric Laneuville		(4 episodes, 1990-1992)
Joan Tewkesbury		(3 episodes, 1990-1992)
Bill D'Elia		(3 episodes, 1991-1993)
Gabrielle Beaumont		(2 episodes, 1989-1991)
Sandy Smolan		(2 episodes, 1989-1991)
Johanna Demetrakas		(2 episodes, 1989-1990)
Sheldon Larry		(2 episodes, 1989)
Betty Thomas		(2 episodes, 1989)
Rick Wallace		(2 episodes, 1989)
Brad Silberling		(2 episodes, 1990-1991)
David Carson		(2 episodes, 1990)
Joan Darling		(2 episodes, 1990)
Joe Ann Fogle		(2 episodes, 1992-1993)
Mark Horowitz		(2 episodes, 1992-1993)
Matia Karrell		(1 episode, 1990)

Series Writing credits
Steven Bochco		(36 episodes, 1989-1990)
David E. Kelley		(35 episodes, 1989-1990)
Nat Bernstein		(18 episodes, 1989-1993)
Mitchel Katlin		(18 episodes, 1989-1993)
Phil Kellard		(11 episodes, 1989-1991)
Tom Moore		(11 episodes, 1989-1991)
Nick Harding		(11 episodes, 1990-1993)
Linda Morris		(9 episodes, 1989-1992)
Vic Rauseo		(9 episodes, 1989-1992)
Todd Fischer		(9 episodes, 1992-1993)
Hollis Rich		(5 episodes, 1991-1992)
Elaine Aronson		(5 episodes, 1992-1993)
Jill Gordon		(4 episodes, 1989-1990)
Michael Swerdlick		(4 episodes, 1990)
P.K. Simonds		(4 episodes, 1992-1993)
Ellen Herman		(2 episodes, 1992)
Neil Landau		(1 episode, 1990)
Eileen Heisler		(unknown episodes)
DeAnn Heline		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Linda Morris	....	producer / supervising producer / ... (51 episodes, 1989-1993)
Vic Rauseo	....	producer / supervising producer / ... (51 episodes, 1989-1993)
Joe Ann Fogle	....	co-producer / producer / ... (51 episodes, 1989-1992)
Scott Goldstein	....	producer / senior producer / ... (51 episodes, 1989-1992)
Stephen Cragg	....	supervising producer / co-executive producer (50 episodes, 1989-1992)
Steven Bochco	....	executive producer (50 episodes, 1989-1991)
Phil Kellard	....	producer / senior producer (49 episodes, 1989-1991)
Tom Moore	....	producer / senior producer (49 episodes, 1989-1991)
Jeffrey A. Henry	....	associate producer / supervising associate producer / ... (48 episodes, 1989-1992)
Mark Horowitz	....	supervising associate producer / co-producer / ... (48 episodes, 1989-1992)
Nat Bernstein	....	co-producer / producer / ... (25 episodes, 1990-1992)
Mitchel Katlin	....	co-producer / supervising producer / ... (25 episodes, 1990-1992)
Jill Gordon	....	producer (20 episodes, 1989-1991)
Nick Harding	....	co-producer / producer (2 episodes, 1992)
Arturs Rusis	....	associate producer (2 episodes, 1992)
Rick Wallace	....	producer (1 episode, 1989)
Elaine Aronson	....	co-producer (1 episode, 1992)

Series Original Music by
Mike Post		(38 episodes, 1989-1992)

Series Cinematography by
Frederick Moore		(25 episodes, 1989-1990)
Michael D. O'Shea		(12 episodes, 1990-1992)

Series Film Editing by
Richard Freeman		(16 episodes, 1989-1991)
Joe Ann Fogle		(9 episodes, 1989-1990)
Maureen O'Connell		(9 episodes, 1989-1990)
Lance Luckey		(9 episodes, 1990-1992)
Casey O. Rohrs		(8 episodes, 1990-1992)
George R. Rohrs		(4 episodes, 1989-1990)
Merry Tigar		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Robert Harbin		(31 episodes, 1989-1990)
Beth Hymson		(30 episodes, 1989-1990)
Alice Cassidy		(11 episodes, 1990-1992)

Series Production Design by
Jeffrey L. Goldstein		(19 episodes, 1989-1990)
Peter Clemens		(12 episodes, 1990-1992)

Series Art Direction by
Peter Clemens		(7 episodes, 1990)

Series Set Decoration by
Brenda Meyers-Ballard		(37 episodes, 1989-1992)

Series Makeup Department
Romy Fleming	....	hair stylist (37 episodes, 1989-1992)
Norman Page	....	makeup artist (37 episodes, 1989-1992)
Timothy A. Miguel	....	makeup artist (25 episodes, 1990-1992)
Elaina P. Schulman	....	hair stylist (20 episodes, 1989-1990)
Dorothy D. Fox	....	hair stylist / makeup artist (17 episodes, 1990-1992)
Tom Hoerber	....	makeup artist (12 episodes, 1989)

Series Production Management
Ron Mitchell	....	unit production manager (37 episodes, 1989-1992)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Concetta Rinaldo-Williams	....	second assistant director / first assistant director / ... (31 episodes, 1989-1992)
Irwin Marcus	....	first assistant director (14 episodes, 1989-1990)
Charlotte Dreiman	....	first assistant director (12 episodes, 1989-1990)
Edward Crocitto	....	second second assistant director (10 episodes, 1989)
Jeffrey M. Ellis	....	second assistant director (10 episodes, 1990)
Kenneth J. Silverstein	....	dga trainee (8 episodes, 1989-1990)
Dinah LeHoven	....	dga trainee (8 episodes, 1990)
Ronald Chong	....	dga trainee (7 episodes, 1990)
Mitchell Bock	....	first assistant director (3 episodes, 1989)
Nancy Jacobs	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1990-1992)
Judith Moore	....	dga trainee (2 episodes, 1990)
Danny Irom	....	second assistant director (2 episodes, 1992)
Ron Dempsey	....	dga trainee (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
David Napoli	....	set dresser (71 episodes, 1990-1993)
Gregg Hayden Bilson II	....	property master (37 episodes, 1989-1992)
William 'W' Gilpin	....	construction supervisor / construction coordinator (37 episodes, 1989-1992)
Carl Reed	....	lead person (21 episodes, 1990-1992)
Kirk B. Jones	....	lead person (15 episodes, 1989-1990)
Mychael Bates	....	set dresser (unknown episodes)
Mindy Roffman	....	assistant to the art director (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Ron Horwitz	....	sound editor (36 episodes, 1989-1992)
Sam Horta	....	sound editor (36 episodes, 1989-1990)
Bill Marky	....	production sound mixer / sound mixer (26 episodes, 1989-1990)
Joe Kenworthy	....	production sound mixer (12 episodes, 1990-1992)
Mike Getlin	....	sound re-recording mixer (2 episodes, 1992)
Dean Okrand	....	sound re-recording mixer (2 episodes, 1992)
Bill Thiederman	....	sound re-recording mixer (2 episodes, 1992)
Norval D. Crutcher III	....	dialogue editor (unknown episodes, 1990-1993)
Paul J. Diller	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Michael Gollom	....	dialogue editor (unknown episodes)
William Griggs	....	adr editor (unknown episodes)
Eileen Horta	....	supervising sound editor (unknown episodes)
John O. Robinson III	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Les Wolf	....	dialogue editor / foley editor (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Ken Speed	....	special effects assistant (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Terry Jackson	....	stunt coordinator (1 episode, 1992)
Luke LaFontaine	....	stunts (1 episode, 1993)
Ray Lykins	....	assistant stunt coordinator / stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
J.B. Richner	....	best boy electric (75 episodes, 1989-1992)
Tim Evans	....	chief lighting technician (37 episodes, 1989-1992)
Harry Rez	....	key grip (37 episodes, 1989-1992)
Michael D. O'Shea	....	camera operator (20 episodes, 1989-1990)
Steven H. Smith	....	camera operator (12 episodes, 1990-1992)
William Waldman	....	camera operator (4 episodes, 1989)
John Armstrong	....	generator operator (unknown episodes)
Debbie Arrowood	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Joseph Cosko Jr.	....	second assistant camera: second camera (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Wendy Matthews	....	casting assistant (25 episodes, 1989-1990)
Leslee J. Burke	....	casting associate (10 episodes, 1990)
Beth Hymson	....	casting / original casting (8 episodes, 1989-1992)
Robert Harbin	....	casting / original casting (7 episodes, 1989-1992)
Heather Horton Addy	....	casting assistant (2 episodes, 1992)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Shelly Levine	....	costume supervisor: men (51 episodes, 1989-1992)
Loree Parral	....	costume supervisor: women (37 episodes, 1989-1992)
Hope Slepak	....	key costumer (35 episodes, 1989-1990)
Karen Bellamy	....	key costumer (22 episodes, 1992-1993)

Series Editorial Department
Joe Ann Fogle	....	supervising editor (37 episodes, 1989-1992)

Series Music Department
Gene L. Gillette	....	music editor (24 episodes, 1989-1990)
Mark Green	....	music editor (11 episodes, 1989)
Libby Pedersen	....	music editor (2 episodes, 1992)

Series Transportation Department
David Price	....	transportation coordinator (25 episodes, 1989-1990)
Norm Benson	....	transportation coordinator (12 episodes, 1990-1992)

Series Other crew
Monique S. Salvato	....	assistant to line producers / assistant to producers (46 episodes, 1991-1993)
Nancy E. Wilkerson	....	production coordinator (38 episodes, 1989-1992)
Barbara M. Kadell	....	medical consultant (37 episodes, 1989-1992)
Susan Kinnevy	....	assistant to producers (37 episodes, 1989-1992)
Gareth Wootton	....	medical consultant (37 episodes, 1989-1992)
Jean Crupper	....	assistant to producers (36 episodes, 1989-1992)
David E. Kelley	....	creative consultant (36 episodes, 1989-1992)
Linda Klein	....	technical consultant (36 episodes, 1989-1992)
Helene Davis	....	assistant to producers / assistant to producer (35 episodes, 1989-1990)
Eileen Heisler	....	assistant to producers (35 episodes, 1989-1990)
Barbara Kroells	....	assistant to producers (35 episodes, 1989-1990)
Alvin Greenman	....	script supervisor (26 episodes, 1989-1990)
Nat Bernstein	....	story editor / executive story consultant (25 episodes, 1989-1990)
Mitchel Katlin	....	story editor / executive story consultant (25 episodes, 1989-1990)
Rick Wallace	....	executive consultant (25 episodes, 1989-1990)
Antoinette Levine	....	location manager (21 episodes, 1989-1990)
Caroline James	....	production accountant (19 episodes, 1990-1992)
Candace Montgomery-Lira	....	production accountant (17 episodes, 1989-1990)
Michael Mann	....	location manager (16 episodes, 1990-1992)
Kathy Nakayama	....	assistant to producers (12 episodes, 1990-1992)
Todd Fischer	....	production coordinator / production assistant (12 episodes, 1991)
Joanie Blum	....	script supervisor (10 episodes, 1990)
Kathryn Davison	....	assistant to producers (10 episodes, 1990)
Nick Harding	....	story editor / executive story editor (10 episodes, 1990)
Meredith Underwood	....	assistant to producers (10 episodes, 1990)
Michael Swerdlick	....	story editor (6 episodes, 1990)
Debra J. Kleid	....	assistant to producers (2 episodes, 1992)
Allyson Rubin	....	assistant to producers (2 episodes, 1992)
Cynthia Ruble	....	assistant to producers (2 episodes, 1992)

Production Companies

• 20th Century Fox Television
• Steven Bochco Productions

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Other Companies

• Movie Movers  cast trailers
• Transition Music  music provided by

Runtime:

30 min (97 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

20th Century Fox Television

Trivia:

Star Neil Patrick Harris reportedly drew inspiration from watching Robert Young in "Marcus Welby, M.D." (1969). Learning that Young was ill and pondering death, Harris visited Young with tapes of "Doogie Howser" and helped cheer him up.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: In the opening credits, the article discussing Doogie graduating from high school says that he is 12-years-old in the first line. The next article, however, says that he graduated from Princeton, a college, at age 10.

Quotes:

Patient: You're a kid.
Douglas 'Doogie' Howser: True, but I'm also a genius. If you have a problem with that I can get you someone who's older but not as smart as me.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Veronica Mars: Nobody Puts Baby in a Corner (#2.7)" (2005)

Interesting and unique show that quickly flat-lined

When it first came out, "Doogie Howser M.D." was one of the more unique shows to grace the airwaves. It centered around a 16-year old child prodigy, Douglas "Doogie" Howser, who was a doctor at a Los Angeles area hospital. He lived with his parents and had a girlfriend, Wanda, and an obnoxious best friend who often came into his house via a window. Each episode ended with Doogie typing up an entry in his personal computer diary. The entry was usually a wise proverb from a lesson learned in the episode.

The show was developed by Steven Bochco who created ground-breaking shows like "L.A. Law" and "Hill Street Blues". Although not nearly as acclaimed as those two shows (the only Emmy awards it was nominated for were for Sound Mixing and Cinematography), it had a satisfying blend of comedy and drama that kept the show interesting but not too serious. Since the two main characters were both teenagers, this lead many people to dismiss it as a kid's show. However, it was much deeper than a kid's show as most of the episodes centered on adult themes such as AIDS, death, and racism.

The first and second season were terrific as they focused around Doogie's struggles to be a normal teenager despite the demands of his job. A common theme was discrimination as he was often discriminated based on his age by patients and even other doctors. He was not afraid, though, to express his views, even if it meant clashing with more seasoned and respected doctors. By the third or fourth season, the show had lost some of its novelty as Doogie was no longer a child prodigy but just a very smart adult. This must have really made it hard for the writers to come up with interesting story lines and it showed. The show began to focus more on Doogie's personal life and less on the hospital as Doogie moved out of his parent's house to live with Vinnie. The ratings declined and a show that seemed like it would be on the air for many years was canceled after only four.