Gallows humor has long had a reputation among conflict communities, from firefighters to veterans to medical professionals: Multiple studies have found that grim humor can be seen as an indicator of strength, morale and even higher IQ.
Maybe that’s why workplace comedies set in uninteresting locations are so popular. They allow storytellers to depict the often painful or challenging realities of life while injecting comic levity.
And, in this case Saint Denis Medical, They’re probably also filled with heartfelt moments and absolutely lovable characters.
The 2024 Winter Writers Summit will be held December 6-9, 2024.
The power of great people Saint Denis Medical
Co-created by Justin Spitzer (Scrub, office) and Eric Lakin (supermarket, american cars), Saint Denis Medical is a new comedy documentary that follows a group of underfunded but dedicated doctors, nurses, and medical staff at an Oregon hospital who do their best while trying not to lose their minds.
After watching the first three episodes, I can say that this series finds the sweet spot between sincerity and funny content without being too overwhelming – just the comfort I need during this time. Their secret? Great characters.
New head nurse Alex (played by Allison Tolman) is torn between saving lives in the hospital and caring for her family at home. Ron (David Alan Grier) serves as a father figure to the team while grappling with his own aging; Serena (Keshin King) is a no-nonsense nurse; Te (Mekki Leeper) is a nurse fresh out of a religious community who is more of a danger than a helper. Bruce (Josh Lawson) is a reclusive trauma surgeon; Joyce (Wendy McLendon-Covey) is the ambitious executive director of St. Denis Hospital, who wants nothing more than to make the hospital a… Elite hospitals ignore the urgent needs of hospitals.
Read more: 5 Lessons on Creating Great Characters from Writers Summit
‘Yingshi. Dennis Medical” (2024)
A leader in workplace comedy
Eakin told Parade it was a conscious decision to figure out where they could actually be funny while still essentially fulfilling the Hippocratic Oath (i.e., do no harm). Neglect for patients and their families can quickly turn into comic beatings. However, the reality is that the learning curve for first-year nurse practitioners is steep.
Enter lovable, biblical Matt. He tried his best but made a lot of mistakes – luckily the rest of the team were there to make sure patients got the care they needed.
a great trick saint denis Pulling is about humbling a character and then elevating their abilities. That’s the essence of a feel-good comedy. Somehow, even when a patient dies, there’s more heart than pain, and of course there’s relatable comedy as the characters stumble along the way.
Read More: 3 Must-Know Screenwriting Lessons from the ‘Penguin’ Pilot
Uplifting and dark comedy
Edgin and the creative team decided early on that they wanted to do something exciting.
“We’re not going to make you feel bad after watching this. You’re not going to feel like you got away with something dirty. You’re going to feel clean by the end, but hopefully you’ve been laughing for half an hour, maybe, ideally Next, there are some episodes where you feel or think a little bit differently than you do. Those are secondary goals, but the main priority is to entertain and make people laugh,” he told Script Mag.
While black comedy (think Bear, succession, this white lotus) are still popular and their appeal to audiences is much greater than when they were released. Compared to shows like tedso, good place, or ster creek, You start to wonder if the first category should really be considered a “comedy”.
‘Yingshi. Dennis Medical” (2024)
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Uplifting comedies make audiences feel light, good, and happy—and they tend to be among the hottest comedy shows of any year. People watch and rewatch over and over again when they want to be comforted and soothed.
There’s definitely an audience for both, but it’s nice to have another uplifting comedy added to the mix that helps me feel better.
You can learn more about how Lakin creates comedy in sitcoms with leading lady Tolman at the ScreenCraft Writers Summit, December 6-9, 2024.
Read more: How ‘Only Murders in the Building’ is reviving the murder mystery TV genre
Shannon Corbeil is a writer, actor, and U.S. Air Force veteran based in Los Angeles who has appeared in SEALs and rookie. She is also a 2023 DGE Television Writing Program finalist and her scripts have entered various competitions. You can learn more about her on her website or come hang out on Instagram, twitter!
