Bookending my post with People's story about "The Last One", here's a very early review of the series which ran in the New York Times between the third ("Down's Syndrome") and fourth ("Cora and Arnie") episodes of the series, "NBC's Stylish St. Elsewhere".
His observations give a good insight into what was fresh and strong about the series when it debuted:
The camera keeps moving, the stories keep changing, the tone and mood keep shifting. But the series, created and produced by Joshua Brand and John Falsey, is holding together remarkably well. The younger actors, especially those mentioned above, have already established their characters solidly. The scripts do manage to explore generally unusual areas in the hospital-story genre, including, in next week's episode, the sensitive issue of astronomical bills.
And he wishes that the better-known actors in the series won't be lost in the shuffle at this early point of the series:
Their talents are in brief but impressive evidence at the close of tonight's show, when Mr. Lloyd recalls for Mr. Flanders how he used to go to the opera as a child with his father. It is the kind of passing moment that makes ''St. Elsewhere'' something very special and rewarding.
Dr. Auschlander (Norman Lloyd) reminisces about going to the opera as a child. |
I mentioned recently how St. Elsewhere is often remembered for its audacity and quirkiness, but like John O'Connor observed here, the show is rich with little moments like this one, ones that where the characters are fleshed out into people with depth. Touches like these make me like and care about characters on television shows.
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