The mockumentary style of sitcom certainly didn't start with the American version of The Office, but it's hard to deny that it popularized the genre. Its success led to a swath of network offerings that have become cult classics, critical darlings, or popular parts of the cultural zeitgeist. That includes series like Parks and Recreation, Modern Family, and What We Do in the Shadows.
That being said, using the mockumentary sitcom format does not always guarantee success. The venerable Muppets characters took a crack at a mockumentary set behind the scenes of Miss Piggy's fictional late night talk show in 2015. Despite showing a lot of promise, the series bombed and was cancelled after one season.
Fortunately, that doesn't appear to be happening with St. Denis Medical. NBC's medical mockumentary starring Wendi McLendon-Covey has been renewed for a second season. Still, ratings aren't as good as they should be for a funny series stacked with hilarious actors. Hopefully, its sophomore season will provide the breakout the show deserves.
The series was created by Eric Ledgin and Justin Spitzer. If that name seems familiar, it's because Spitzer was the creator of the series Superstore, which ran for six seasons on NBC. Superstore told the story of a group of people working at Cloud 9, which was a fictionalized version of Walmart. It was offbeat and hilarious while still tackling issues like corporate greed, the sad realities of working in a big box store, and the weaponization of the immigration conversation.
Like Superstore, St. Denis Medical still attacks very real societal issues with a hefty dose of comedy. Unlike Superstore, which had a more traditional sitcom format, Ledgin and Spitzer chose to go the mockumentary route with St. Denis Medical. And it works incredibly well.
Set in a fictional hospital in the Pacific Northwest, the series takes a realistic look at hardworking people trying to provide the public with healthcare in a system that often seems like it doesn't want to do that. The mockumentary format really works in this case because it allows episodes to dig deeper into how the system impacts those who work within it. This provides both poignancy and humor.
St. Denis Medical isn't the first series to cross the medical profession with a sitcom, but it's hard to deny how great a job this show does of the concept. This is in no small part due to the cast, which is led by two comedy legends, McLendon-Covey and David Alan Grier. The rest of the on-screen crew is great and includes a pair of Superstore alumni, Josh Lawson and fan favorite Kaliko Kauahi.
This series has all the pieces necessary to be a success, from a great premise and format to a marvelous cast to snappy, insightful writing. But the audience just isn't quite there, yet. Being that St. Denis Medical just got through its first season, that's not a huge surprise. Viewers are only now getting the chance to stream the whole first season and dig into it. Hopefully, that will lead to strong word-of-mouth that builds traction going into a potential season three renewal.
Right now, it doesn't feel like viewers are latching onto St. Denis Medical the way they did Superstore, which is reflected in their respective ratings. At the same time, St. Denis Medical is in a strong place to build from, which is likely why it received a renewal for season two. It has the potential to find its footing and break out in a big way.