“Playing Doctor” offers a captivating and deeply insightful exploration into the history of medical television series, tracing their evolution from the very beginning to today’s popular shows. Joseph Turow provides readers with an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the creation of some of the most iconic doctor shows on television. This book delivers not only a detailed history of these programs but also a compelling analysis of how public perceptions of doctors and medicine have shifted over time, and how medical dramas have both mirrored and influenced these perceptions.
Originally published in 1989 and grounded in extensive interviews with the creators, directors, and producers who shaped these shows, “Playing Doctor” quickly became a definitive work in the field of media and communication studies. This expanded edition enriches the original text with a new introduction that situates the book within the contemporary context of the ongoing healthcare debate. Furthermore, it includes new chapters that cover two decades of television programming, examining the continued cultural impact of medical shows.
Turow draws upon recent research and interviews with key figures involved in contemporary television doctor shows such as ER, Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, and Scrubs. His analysis illuminates the extraordinary and ongoing cultural influence of these narratives. “Playing Doctor” critically positions the often idealized television portrayal of medicine as an inexhaustible, high-tech resource against the real-world complexities of the healthcare landscape, both in the past and present. This examination is particularly relevant for understanding the broader genre of “Doctor Who Television Show” and its place within popular culture.
Joseph Turow is the Robert Lewis Shayon Professor at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania. Recognized for his scholarly contributions, he was named a Distinguished Scholar by the National Communication Association and a Fellow of the International Communication Association in 2010. A prolific author, Turow has written eight books, edited five, and published over 100 articles on mass media industries. He has also produced Prime Time Doctors: Why Should You Care?, a DVD distributed to first-year medical students with support from the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation, further demonstrating his expertise in the area of medical representations in media.
