# St. Denis Medical
**St. Denis Medical** is an American mockumentary workplace sitcom that premiered on NBC on November 12, 2024. Created by Eric Ledgin and Justin Spitzer, it follows the doctors, nurses, and administrators of a fictional, underfunded, understaffed hospital in Oregon as they cope with patient overflow, budget shortfalls, and each other.[1](https://www.creativescreenwriting.com/cswcms/showrunner-eric-ledgin-works-his-stethoscope-in-nbcs-workplace-comedy-st-denis-medical/) • [2](https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/400890/dunder-mifflin-meet-st-denis-medical.html?edition=136315) The show uses the single-camera mockumentary format familiar from NBC's *The Office* and *Parks and Recreation*, with characters speaking to a documentary crew between patient encounters.[3](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2024-11-11/st-denis-medical-review-allison-tolman-david-alan-grier-nbc)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Format | Single-camera mockumentary workplace comedy, rated TV-PG, produced by Universal Television[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/st_denis_medical) |
| Creators | Eric Ledgin (also showrunner) and Justin Spitzer (*Superstore*, *American Auto*); executive producers include Spitzer, Ledgin, Simon Heuer, Ruben Fleischer, Bridget Kyle, and Vicky Luu[5](https://www.tvline.com/news/st-denis-medical-season-2-renewed-nbc-1235398979/) |
| Premiere | November 12, 2024, two back-to-back episodes on NBC[2](https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/400890/dunder-mifflin-meet-st-denis-medical.html?edition=136315) |
| Setting | St. Denis Medical Center, a small, underfunded regional hospital in Oregon; stories center on the emergency department[1](https://www.creativescreenwriting.com/cswcms/showrunner-eric-ledgin-works-his-stethoscope-in-nbcs-workplace-comedy-st-denis-medical/) |
| Main cast | Wendi McLendon-Covey, David Alan Grier, Allison Tolman, Josh Lawson, Kahyun Kim, Mekki Leeper, and Kaliko Kauahi[5](https://www.tvline.com/news/st-denis-medical-season-2-renewed-nbc-1235398979/) |
| Seasons | Season 1: 18 episodes (2024-25); Season 2: 18 episodes (November 2, 2025 to April 6, 2026); Season 3 renewed for 2026-27[6](https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/st-denis-medical-season-three-2026-27-renewal-announced-for-nbcs-medical-comedy-series/amp/) |
| Ratings | Season-to-date average of 3.9 million viewers and a 0.5 demo rating with delayed playback; 21.4 million total viewers across all platforms per NBC[5](https://www.tvline.com/news/st-denis-medical-season-2-renewed-nbc-1235398979/) |
## Premise and characters
The series is set at St. Denis Medical Center, a small regional hospital in Oregon that operates as an underfunded "safety net" institution where everyone is treated and no one is asked for insurance.[3](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2024-11-11/st-denis-medical-review-allison-tolman-david-alan-grier-nbc) Showrunner Eric Ledgin, making his showrunning debut, describes the show as grounded realism, a fly-on-the-wall view of people working in the emergency department of a rural hospital with high ambitions and without the resources to match them; he does not consider it a medical show.[1](https://www.creativescreenwriting.com/cswcms/showrunner-eric-ledgin-works-his-stethoscope-in-nbcs-workplace-comedy-st-denis-medical/)
The seven series regulars and their roles are:
- **Joyce** ([Wendi McLendon-Covey](https://www.edgepedia.org/wendi-mclendon-covey)), the ambitious executive director and a former oncology surgeon, who wants to turn the hospital into an international medical destination[6](https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/st-denis-medical-season-three-2026-27-renewal-announced-for-nbcs-medical-comedy-series/amp/)
- **Alex** ([Allison Tolman](https://www.edgepedia.org/allison-tolman)), a workaholic, empathetic supervising nurse newly promoted to the role[6](https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/st-denis-medical-season-three-2026-27-renewal-announced-for-nbcs-medical-comedy-series/amp/)
- **Bruce** ([Josh Lawson](https://www.edgepedia.org/josh-lawson)), a cocky trauma surgeon[6](https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/st-denis-medical-season-three-2026-27-renewal-announced-for-nbcs-medical-comedy-series/amp/)
- **Ron** (David Alan Grier), a curmudgeonly, veteran emergency physician[6](https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/st-denis-medical-season-three-2026-27-renewal-announced-for-nbcs-medical-comedy-series/amp/)
- **Serena** (Kahyun Kim), a travel nurse with a wild side[6](https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/st-denis-medical-season-three-2026-27-renewal-announced-for-nbcs-medical-comedy-series/amp/)
- **Matt** (Mekki Leeper), a newly hired registered nurse from a religious community in Montana[6](https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/st-denis-medical-season-three-2026-27-renewal-announced-for-nbcs-medical-comedy-series/amp/)
- **Val** (Kaliko Kauahi), a no-nonsense nurse administrator and longtime hospital employee[6](https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/st-denis-medical-season-three-2026-27-renewal-announced-for-nbcs-medical-comedy-series/amp/)
Early in development, the co-creators decided to focus more on the nursing staff than on the doctors, who usually receive the glory in television portrayals of medicine.[7](https://wendimcfansite.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Best_Practices_EmmyMag_may2025.pdf)
## Production and comedic approach
Justin Spitzer created *Superstore* and *American Auto* for NBC and wrote for *The Office* and *Scrubs*, so the hospital mockumentary combines his workplace-comedy experience with the medical setting.[3](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2024-11-11/st-denis-medical-review-allison-tolman-david-alan-grier-nbc) The writers consulted medical experts and drew on their own hospital experiences, balancing broad comic storylines with what one cast member called "hardcore truth from this world."[8](https://www.thewrap.com/st-denis-medical-cast-creator-interview-nbc-comedy/) Episodes mix wacky plots, such as a patient who contracts bubonic plague after a cat scratch, with running gags like star trauma surgeon Bruce's fear of needles.[1](https://www.creativescreenwriting.com/cswcms/showrunner-eric-ledgin-works-his-stethoscope-in-nbcs-workplace-comedy-st-denis-medical/) • [9](https://www.avclub.com/st-denis-medical-review-nbc-tv)
Reviewers noted that the show launches on a milder, nicer note than *The Office* and *Parks and Recreation* did, which critics saw as fitting for a workplace with literal life-or-death stakes.[9](https://www.avclub.com/st-denis-medical-review-nbc-tv) *Time* called it the most promising network sitcom since *Abbott Elementary*, crediting it with the sly political insight of Spitzer's *Superstore*.[10](https://time.com/7172266/st-denis-medical-review/) Other critics were cooler: the *Irish Independent* called it *The Office* in scrubs and found the imitation rigid.[11](https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/tv-reviews/st-denis-medical-review-you-might-find-it-fresh-and-funny-if-youve-spent-25-years-without-watching-any-television/a131117580.html) Season 1 holds an 81% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes.[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/st_denis_medical)
## Reception and ratings
The series premiere became NBC's highest-rated scripted broadcast series premiere in the 18-49 demographic without an NFL lead-in in nearly two years, according to Deadline.[12](https://www.dish.com/dig/tv-shows/workplace-comedies) NBC renewed it for a second season in January 2025, before the first season had finished airing; at that point it was the top-rated freshman show of the 2024-25 season, tying *Doctor Odyssey* and *High Potential*, and had reached 21.4 million total viewers across all platforms.[5](https://www.tvline.com/news/st-denis-medical-season-2-renewed-nbc-1235398979/)
[David Alan Grier](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-alan-grier) received Critics' Choice Award nominations for his performance as Ron in both 2025 and 2026.[13](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2025-great-medical-tv-shows-best-not-even-a-drama) In the 2025-26 season, the show was the only broadcast network primetime comedy to grow linearly in the 18-49 demographic season-over-season up to the point of its third-season renewal, and its January 5, 2026 episode delivered the show's highest demo ratings since the series premiere.[14](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/when-st-denis-medical-return-season-3-after-season-2-finale) NBC renewed it for a third season in early 2026, alongside [Reba McEntire](https://www.edgepedia.org/reba-mcentire)'s *[Happy's Place](https://www.edgepedia.org/happys-place)*, with NBC and Peacock's president of scripted content Lisa Katz calling both shows hugely important to the primetime lineup.[6](https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/st-denis-medical-season-three-2026-27-renewal-announced-for-nbcs-medical-comedy-series/amp/)
## Broadcast and streaming
Season 1 ran 18 episodes from November 12, 2024 to April 29, 2025; the original 13-episode order was increased by five, and the early renewal for season 2 followed.[14](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/when-st-denis-medical-return-season-3-after-season-2-finale) Season 2 aired Mondays on NBC from November 2, 2025, with its finale on April 6, 2026, and episodes stream on Peacock the day after broadcast.[6](https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/st-denis-medical-season-three-2026-27-renewal-announced-for-nbcs-medical-comedy-series/amp/) • [15](https://www.actionnews5.com/2026/03/05/st-denis-medical-renewed-third-season/) Under a licensing deal between NBC and Netflix, all 18 season 1 episodes arrived on Netflix US on April 1, 2026, and season 2 follows on November 3, 2026.[16](https://www.mensjournal.com/news/netflix-sets-november-release-date-for-hit-nbc-medical-comedy) Season 3 is scheduled to premiere on NBC on November 2, 2026.[17](https://www.tvshowtracker.eu/en/show/st-denis-medical-251941/next-season) Internationally, new seasons debut on Australia's 7plus[18](https://sevenwestmedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Seven-in-2026.pdf) and the series airs on STAR Comedy in Portugal.[19](https://disneynewsroom.lift.com.pt/458093-st-denis-medical-traz-doses-extra-de-humor-ao-star-comedy)
## References
1. [Showrunner Eric Ledgin Works His Stethoscope In NBC's Workplace Comedy "St. Denis Medical", Creative Screenwriting](https://www.creativescreenwriting.com/cswcms/showrunner-eric-ledgin-works-his-stethoscope-in-nbcs-workplace-comedy-st-denis-medical/)
2. [Dunder-Mifflin, Meet 'St. Denis Medical', MediaPost](https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/400890/dunder-mifflin-meet-st-denis-medical.html?edition=136315)
3. [Hospital mockumentary 'St. Denis Medical' isn't 'The Office,' at least not yet, Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2024-11-11/st-denis-medical-review-allison-tolman-david-alan-grier-nbc)
4. [St. Denis Medical, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/st_denis_medical)
5. ['St. Denis Medical' Season 2 Renewed With More Episodes On NBC, TVLine](https://www.tvline.com/news/st-denis-medical-season-2-renewed-nbc-1235398979/)
6. [St. Denis Medical: Season Three; 2026-27 Renewal Announced for NBC's Medical Comedy Series, TV Series Finale](https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/st-denis-medical-season-three-2026-27-renewal-announced-for-nbcs-medical-comedy-series/amp/)
7. [St. Denis Medical Emmy magazine cast feature](https://wendimcfansite.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Best_Practices_EmmyMag_may2025.pdf)
8. [St. Denis Medical: Inside NBC's Comedy About Hospital Absurdity, TheWrap](https://www.thewrap.com/st-denis-medical-cast-creator-interview-nbc-comedy/)
9. [St. Denis Medical TV review: A winning workplace comedy, The A.V. Club](https://www.avclub.com/st-denis-medical-review-nbc-tv)
10. [St. Denis Medical Is the Most Promising Network Sitcom Since Abbott Elementary, Time](https://time.com/7172266/st-denis-medical-review/)
11. [St. Denis Medical review, Irish Independent](https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/tv-reviews/st-denis-medical-review-you-might-find-it-fresh-and-funny-if-youve-spent-25-years-without-watching-any-television/a131117580.html)
12. [NBC Workplace Comedies 'St. Denis Medical' and 'Night Court' Return, DISH](https://www.dish.com/dig/tv-shows/workplace-comedies)
13. [2025 Had A Lot Of Great Medical TV Shows, And One Of The Best Wasn't Even A Drama, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2025-great-medical-tv-shows-best-not-even-a-drama)
14. [When Will St. Denis Medical Return For Season 3 After The Season 2 Finale?, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/when-st-denis-medical-return-season-3-after-season-2-finale)
15. [St. Denis Medical renewed for a third season, Action News 5](https://www.actionnews5.com/2026/03/05/st-denis-medical-renewed-third-season/)
16. [Netflix Sets November Release Date for Hit NBC Medical Comedy, Men's Journal](https://www.mensjournal.com/news/netflix-sets-november-release-date-for-hit-nbc-medical-comedy)
17. [When is Season 3 of St. Denis Medical?, TV Show Tracker](https://www.tvshowtracker.eu/en/show/st-denis-medical-251941/next-season)
18. [Seven in 2026, Seven West Media](https://sevenwestmedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Seven-in-2026.pdf)
19. [St. Denis Medical traz doses extra de humor ao STAR Comedy, Disney Newsroom Portugal](https://disneynewsroom.lift.com.pt/458093-st-denis-medical-traz-doses-extra-de-humor-ao-star-comedy)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Scripted television and comedy series › Sitcom and comedy series › Mockumentary comedy series*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license