Medical dramas have remained a staple part of TV since as early as the 1950s, and by the 1970s there were many series that were so good they probably should be first in line for a reboot. Because the 1970s were such a massively important time for both cultural upheaval and innovation in TV, these years make for the perfect decade to mine for material. Moreover, if you consider the ways that the 1970s parallel the current decade, there is perhaps a unique opportunity to use medical TV dramas from the ’70s as vehicles for renewed social commentary on various aspects of society, including new forms of technology and new approaches to the concept of community healthcare.
Below we have a list of four different medical TV shows from the 1970s that we think would make good candidates for a reboot, including a show that focused on medical examiners, and one of the best TV shows of the 1970s (of any genre) that could potentially reflect changing attitudes about war and politics if it were rebooted today.
Quincy, M.E.
Many of the best medical dramas of all time focus on patients who are alive and in the process of recovery. There are plenty of episodes about medical mysteries, but when it comes to following actual medical examiners investigating suspicious or sudden deaths, there is not a lot of material out there. The closest we’ve gotten over the years is probably “Bones” and “CSI.” A modern reboot of “Quincy, M.E.” would give audiences the chance to truly dive into the world of medical examiners.
The format possibilities for a “Quincy, M.E.” reboot are endless. Because medical examiners are a big part of crime investigations, the series could easily be a type of spinoff of an already existing universe such as “Law & Order: SVU” or “Chicago PD.” The reboot could also be more direct and lean on a charismatic lead actor or actress to bolster an audience, just like actor Jack Klugman did in the original “Quincy, M.E.”
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors
Much has been said about the PSA nature of “The Pitt” when it comes to modern issues in medicine. What if there were a show that took it a step further and focused on the cutting-edge medical treatments that are being developed as we speak? A reboot of “The Bold Ones: The New Doctors” would give audiences the opportunity to learn about how new treatments and breakthroughs are developed.
A reboot would also create the chance to explore the complexities behind developing new techniques and treatments in medicine, including the bureaucracy around getting approval from government organizations, and issues around ethics. These types of issues have been portrayed several times in “Grey’s Anatomy,” so it clearly is something audiences are interested in.
For example, the show could easily start with a pilot about COVID-19 and the race against the clock to develop treatments and the eventual vaccines that were released. The format for the reboot is also flexible in that they could focus on a different branch of medical research every episode or every season. Or, the reboot could easily focus on oncologists and cancer research as the condition remains one of the most common illnesses people face.
Matt Lincoln
There are many TV shows that have focused on psychology and therapy, but emergency psychiatric care is a rare niche for medical dramas. Enter “Matt Lincoln,” a show and potential reboot that would take audiences inside the daily life of a community psychiatrist. While the original premise may have had too much going on (Dr. Lincoln was running a hotline, a private practice, and walk-in clinic), a reboot could focus on the walk-in clinic only. Moreover, a reboot might become even more interesting if the clinic was focused on adolescent patients as interest in the mental health of the younger generations continues to grow.
Even if the clinic wasn’t mainly focused on adolescents, a TV series focused on community-driven mental health is still ripe with opportunity for educational and entertaining storylines. Given that access to adequate care is still a major issue in American politics, a “Matt Lincoln” reboot has the opportunity to dive deep into that issue when it comes to mental health specifically.
M*A*S*H
It’s no secret that “M*A*S*H” is one of the most beloved and highly rated television shows of the modern era, even if it was nearly canceled after one season before a TV exec’s spouse saved it. Rebooting it could easily be a mistake. But at the same time, if done well, it could be an opportunity to do what the original series did and serve as a commentary for war in the context of a new set of generations. Specifically, in the atmosphere of a post-9/11 world, consider what a “M*A*S*H” reboot could offer in terms of cultural landscape, tone, and structure.
One of the more interesting things about “M*A*S*H” is that the show created a unique blend of war commentary because of the contrast between the war that was being portrayed (The Korean War) and the war that was taking place in real time (The Vietnam War). A reboot could do a similar blend by reflecting back on 2000s Middle Eastern war activities while the current conflict plays out once again in the region. In the right hands, perhaps a “M*A*S*H” reboot could recapture some of that social commentary and repackage it with newer sensibilities. Moreover, warfare has obviously changed drastically since “M*A*S*H” first aired, especially due to changes in technology, so that would also create a new opportunity for a reboot to focus on.
