The Familiar but Fantastic 'St. Denis Medical' Borrows from the Best

St. Denis Medical isn’t just one of the best network comedies in recent years; it’s also the most familiar. Created by Justin Spitzer, who cut his teeth on The Office before bringing us Superstore and American Auto, St. Denis Medical feels like those shows met a few seasons of Scrubs and had a baby. And that’s a good thing. While fresh and inventive comedies have their place, there’s something to be said for variations on our favorites.

St. Denis Medical employs the mockumentary style popularized by The Office and used in Abbott Elementary, setting it in a hospital with characters who feel like old friends. Allison Tolman’s Alex, a supervising nurse and our entry point into the series, resembles Harriet Dyer’s character in American Auto or America Ferrara’s in Superstore: ambitious and relatable, but also weary. She’s overworked, stressed, yet still loves her job.

Wendi McLendon-Covey plays Joyce, the hospital administrator—a mix of Ana Gasteyer in American Auto and Steve Carell in The Office: tone-deaf, full of herself, but ultimately likable. She’s joined by two doctors: Josh Lawson’s Bruce, who embodies every Barinholtz Bro sitcom character, and David Alan Grier’s Ron, the jaded senior doctor who’s “over it” who also acts as the one-man peanut gallery (think Colton Dunn’s character in Superstore).

Rounding out the cast is junior nurse Serena (Kahyun Kim) — the “Mateo” of the hospital — and Matt (Mekki Leeper), a dim-witted newbie who’s the “Cheyenne” of the team. Kaliko Kauahi, who played Sandra on Superstore, returns as a slightly more composed version of Sandra, working the front desk.

The mix of characters and the familiar setting gives St. Denis Medical an instant lived-in vibe, like we’re catching random episodes from the third season rather than a pilot. And that’s not a criticism — it’s funny, familiar, and warm. It’s quintessential network comedy in the best possible way.