Satellite TV is Where the Doctor Shows Are

For whatever reasons, we like to watch doctor shows. From Doogie Howser to Grey's Anatomy, shows featuring medicals have been airing to popular demand for decades. What is it about watching surgeries in HD and internal romantic hospital drama that keeps us coming back for more? Maybe because we routinely interact with our doctors, but do not know them personally; their internal lives thus become the subject of fantasy and wonder. Who are these people who take care of our bodies and mental well-being? Do they like sports? Do they have girlfriends or boyfriends? Are they doctors too? Welcome the phenomenon of programs featuring doctors as their stars.

Airing on various satellite tv channels, spanning time and geographic locale, a look into the lives of hospital staffs nationwide continue to fascinate us.

Doogie Howser, M.D: In 1989 there aired a show that became beloved in households around the country. The show followed a licensed physician during his stint in a difficult residency program. The novelty? The doctor was 14. On top of normal responsibilities of a young resident, Doogie was also going through puberty. For some viewers the novelty wore off, but for many, during the 5 years of its run, Doogie was part of their weekly routine. Seasons 1 through 4 are now available on DVD. A sidenote, star Neil Patrick Harris now has a new show "How I Met Your Mother," which runs on CBS and is available in HD.

ER: ER is NBC's second longest running show. With 15 seasons under its belt, there is no question about its popularity. Produced originally by Steven Sp and authored by Michael Crichton, based on his own experience in a busy hospital, ER is primarily set in a fictional hospital called County General Hospital in Chicago, Illinois.

Innovative for its steamy dialogue and bloody shots, the show was actually filmed in widescreen from the start, but didn't air in high definition until the seventh season when NBC began to broadcast digitally. The show has won several Emmy's and even a Golden Globe. It has retained the important Thursday evening timeslot for its lifetime. It is airs regularly on satellite TV on NBC.

Grey's Anatomy: Available in high definition and set in rainy Seattle, this is the latest primetime medical television show to lure in the crowds. Named for the classic medical textbook Gray's Anatomy, the series takes place in the fictional Seattle Grace Hospital in the state of Washington. The show, which airs regularly on satellite TV, revolves around Dr. Meredith Grey, played by Ellen Pompeo, who began the series as a surgical intern. In its fifth season, the show highlights the personal relationships within the hospital and between the staff. There is now a spin-off show called Private Practice, which also runs weekly on ABC and is shot in high definition.

The fascination with medical dramas have prompted the releases of seasonal DVD's, even for Doogie Howser, M.D which first aired 20 years ago. Grey's Anatomy, birthed in an age of HD and playstations, also spawned a video game of the same name. Players test their luck with the drama of the ER, as well as skill-based surgery mini-games. From small screen to video screen, doctor dramas keep us entertained, in sickness and health.