"Becker" (1998) TV series 1998-2004

Creator:

Dave Hackel
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Release Date:

2 November 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

His bedside manner is no manners at all!

Plot:

Dr. John Becker goes through his daily routine of being a doctor, stopping at his favorite diner, and other various situations, all the while hating life and everything around him.

Plot Keywords:

Doctor | New York City | Medical | Blind Man | Sitcom

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 4 wins & 6 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Mon. Jan. 4	6:00 PM	WGNAMER	Larry Spoke	#1.14
Mon. Jan. 4	6:30 PM	WGNAMER	Limits and Boundaries	#1.16

Cast

Ted Danson	...	Dr. John Becker (129 episodes, 1998-2004)
Hattie Winston	...	Margaret Wyborn / ... (129 episodes, 1998-2004)
Shawnee Smith	...	Linda (129 episodes, 1998-2004)
Alex Désert	...	Jake Malinak (127 episodes, 1998-2004)
Saverio Guerra	...	Bob (108 episodes, 1998-2003)
Terry Farrell	...	Regina "Reggie" Kostas / ... (94 episodes, 1998-2002)
Nancy Travis	...	Chris Connor (39 episodes, 2002-2004)

Series Directed by
Andy Ackerman		(54 episodes, 1998-2003)
Ken Levine		(14 episodes, 1999-2003)
Darryl Bates		(13 episodes, 2000-2003)
Chris Brougham		(11 episodes, 2001-2004)
Gail Mancuso		(9 episodes, 2001-2003)
Wil Shriner		(7 episodes, 2001-2003)
Lee Shallat Chemel		(4 episodes, 1998-2000)
Gregg Heschong		(4 episodes, 1999-2002)
Michael Uppendahl		(4 episodes, 2003-2004)
Leonard R. Garner Jr.		(2 episodes, 1999-2002)
Joyce Gittlin		(2 episodes, 1999-2001)

Series Writing credits
Ian Gurvitz		(16 episodes, 1998-2004)
Russ Woody		(14 episodes, 1998-2003)
Marsha Myers		(13 episodes, 1998-2002)
David Isaacs		(10 episodes, 1998-2003)
Michael Markowitz		(10 episodes, 1999-2002)
Matthew Weiner		(9 episodes, 1999-2002)
Kate Angelo		(8 episodes, 2000-2003)
Ken Levine		(7 episodes, 1999-2003)
Liz Astrof		(6 episodes, 2001-2003)
Dave Hackel		(5 episodes, 1998-2004)
Dana Klein		(5 episodes, 1999-2001)
Anne Flett-Giordano		(3 episodes, 1999-2002)
Chuck Ranberg		(3 episodes, 1999-2002)
Earl Pomerantz		(3 episodes, 1999-2001)
Gary Dontzig		(3 episodes, 2001-2004)
Steven Peterman		(3 episodes, 2001-2004)
Gigi McCreery		(3 episodes, 2002-2003)
Perry M. Rein		(3 episodes, 2002-2003)
Michael Rowe		(3 episodes, 2002-2003)
Mark Egan		(2 episodes, 2000)
Maisha Closson		(2 episodes, 2003-2004)
Bobby Gaylor		(2 episodes, 2003-2004)

Series Produced by
Dave Hackel	....	executive producer (128 episodes, 1998-2004)
Tim Berry	....	producer / executive producer (96 episodes, 1999-2004)
Matthew Weiner	....	co-producer / producer (48 episodes, 2000-2002)
Ian Gurvitz	....	executive producer (8 episodes, 2003)
Michael Markowitz	....	co-producer (7 episodes, 1999)
Liz Astrof	....	co-producer (unknown episodes, 2003)
Maisha Closson	....	co-producer (unknown episodes, 2003)
Gary Dontzig	....	co-executive producer (unknown episodes, 2003)
Gigi McCreery	....	supervising producer (unknown episodes, 2003)
Steven Peterman	....	co-executive producer (unknown episodes, 2003)
Perry M. Rein	....	supervising producer (unknown episodes, 2003)
Michael Rowe	....	producer (unknown episodes, 2003)
Russ Woody	....	co-executive producer (unknown episodes, 2003)
Andy Ackerman	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Matt Ember	....	consulting producer (unknown episodes)
Marsha Myers	....	co-producer / producer (unknown episodes)
Ross Woody	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Bruce Miller		(1 episode, 1999)

Series Cinematography by
Gregg Heschong		(1 episode, 1999)
Tony Askins		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Darryl Bates		(64 episodes, 1999-2003)
Debra F. Simone		(3 episodes, 1999-2000)
Skip Collector		(unknown episodes)
Susan Federman		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Suzanne Goddard-Smythe		(42 episodes, 2000-2004)
Sheila Guthrie		(12 episodes, 1999-2002)
Emily Deshotel		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Design by
Roy Christopher		(60 episodes, 1999-2003)

Series Art Direction by
Amy Skjonsby-Winslow		(35 episodes, 2002-2004)

Series Set Decoration by
Linda Cooper		(129 episodes, 1998-2004)

Series Costume Design by
Sharon Sampson		(107 episodes, 1999-2004)

Series Makeup Department
Paula Sutor	....	makeup department head / makeup artist (32 episodes, 1999-2004)
Leslie Lightfoot	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Neil Rapp	....	production manager (1 episode, 1998)
Cheryl Downey	....	unit production manager (1 episode, 1999)
Pamela Thur	....	production manager: New York (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Randy Carter	....	first assistant director (1 episode, 1999)
Brian Fong	....	second assistant director (1 episode, 1999)
Marisol 'Ari' Oyola	....	second second assistant director (unknown episodes)
Tom Phillips	....	second second assistant director (unknown episodes)
Cynthia Riddle	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Amy Skjonsby-Winslow	....	set designer (94 episodes, 1998-2002)
Lorne Grant	....	assistant property master (83 episodes, 2000-2004)
Matt Furginson	....	lead man (unknown episodes)
Kevin Morrissey	....	set designer (unknown episodes)
Charlotte Raybourn	....	art department coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Nick Els	....	sound mixer (126 episodes, 1998-2004)
Laurence Abrams	....	boom operator (13 episodes, 2003-2004)
Judi Frenkel	....	sound (7 episodes, 2003-2004)
Charles Bruce	....	sound effects editor (2 episodes, 1999)
Robert Adams	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)
John DiSante	....	sound utility (unknown episodes)
Rich Jacob	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)
Scott C. Kolden	....	supervising sound editor (unknown episodes)
John Lazear	....	utility sound (unknown episodes)
Richard Luckey Jr.	....	sound (unknown episodes)
Timothy Pearson	....	foley artist (unknown episodes)
Mark Server	....	supervising sound editor (unknown episodes)
Noel Vought	....	foley artist (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Greg Anthony	....	stunt double (1 episode, 2002)
Hugh Aodh O'Brien	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Charles R. Young	....	camera operator (129 episodes, 1998-2004)
Troy Kohrs	....	grip (24 episodes, 2000-2001)
Mark L. Johnson	....	second assistant camera (22 episodes, 1998-1999)
Craig T. Mathew	....	still photographer (22 episodes, 1998-1999)
Rick Lamb	....	assistant camera (2 episodes, 1999)
Joey Alvarado	....	gaffer (unknown episodes)
Lance Dickinson	....	electrician (unknown episodes)
Paul Ferrara	....	key grip (unknown episodes)
David French	....	grip (unknown episodes)
John Graham	....	first assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Chava Monjaraz	....	best boy grip / grip (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Helen Mossler	....	casting executive (1 episode, 1999)
Liz Dean	....	casting intern (unknown episodes)
Linda DeArmond	....	casting assistant (unknown episodes)
Kevin Goldson	....	extras casting (unknown episodes)
Thom Klohn	....	casting associate (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Laura Rice	....	costume supervisor (13 episodes, 2003-2004)
Beth Beasley	....	costumer (unknown episodes)
Debra Millison	....	key set costumer (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Debra F. Simone	....	assistant editor (83 episodes, 1998-2004)

Series Music Department
Chips Swanson	....	music editor (1 episode, 1999)

Series Transportation Department
Chris Haynes	....	driver (1 episode, 1998)
Gary Edelman	....	transportation captain (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Zuzana Cernik	....	assistant to executive producer (128 episodes, 1998-2004)
Kim McLaren	....	production accountant (107 episodes, 1999-2004)
David Isaacs	....	creative consultant (75 episodes, 1999-2004)
Bob Ellison	....	creative consultant (58 episodes, 1999-2003)
Mark Maitlen	....	production secretary / production coordinator (54 episodes, 2001-2004)
Matthew Weiner	....	executive story editor (24 episodes, 1999-2000)
Naisa Wong	....	assistant coordinator (24 episodes, 2001-2002)
Mark Reisman	....	creative consultant (22 episodes, 1998-1999)
Howie Edelson	....	production assistant (17 episodes, 1999-2000)
Brian Reeder	....	production assistant (17 episodes, 1999-2000)
Michael Markowitz	....	executive story editor (14 episodes, 1998-1999)
Richard T. Arami	....	assistant accountant (13 episodes, 2003-2004)
Trip Gould	....	production secretary (13 episodes, 2003-2004)
Georgyne LaLone	....	assistant: Bob Ellison (unknown episodes, 1998-2002)
Shelley Andagan	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Ken Blankstein	....	script coordinator (unknown episodes)
Gaye Ann Bruno	....	photo publicity (unknown episodes)
Anne Flett-Giordano	....	creative consultant (unknown episodes)
Rob Greenberg	....	creative consultant (unknown episodes)
Ken Halsband	....	location manager (unknown episodes)
Kristin Jones	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Dana Klein	....	story editor (unknown episodes)
Conner McKinley	....	assistant to producer (unknown episodes)
Kimberley Nessler	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Christopher Porterfield	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Chuck Ranberg	....	creative consultant (unknown episodes)
Tennille Vega	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Dave Hackel Productions
• Industry Entertainment
• Paramount Network Television Productions

Distributors

• Viacom (1998-) (worldwide) (all media)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1998-2004) (USA) (TV)
• CanWest Global Communications
• Comedy Central (2009) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Sat.1 (2001-2004) (Germany) (TV)

Other Companies

• Bryant & Johnsen  main title sequence
• Central Casting  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes
• Larson Sound Center  sound
• Laser Pacific Media  electronic laboratory
• Studio City Productions  marketing and promotion: syndication

Runtime:

30 min (including commercials - 129 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:12 (some episodes) | UK:PG (some episodes) | UK:U (some episodes) | Australia:PG | USA:TV-PG

Filming Locations:

Astoria, Long Island City, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Dave Hackel Productions

Trivia:

Bob disappeared at the start of the 6th season, the character was said to "be on vacation" and was then never referred to again. This was because Saverio Guerra had left the show between the 5th and 6th seasons.

Quotes:

[to a patient about his attire]
Dr. John Becker: SpeeDO? Well, SpeeDON'T.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: David Spade/Eagle-Eye Cherry (#24.5)" (1998)

A unique and funny show (A)

Well I just found out that the show has ended, which prompts me to write this review for the show. Something that I rarely do, and I am doing so now because I thought the show possessed something special.

The run down is simple, Ted Danson plays Dr John Becker a dedicated and talented doctor who has a very gruff exterior. The episodes revolve around his work in his practise and his interactions with his friends at his local diner. The show was interesting purely due to the talented and diverse cast, although they change throughout the seasons the show manages to keep its comedic style. I encourage anyone who hasn't seen the show to watch it, and all those who have…

Over the years I've become attached to the show and the characters in it. It will be sorely missed.