After St. Denis Medical premiered on NBC, the sitcom didn't take very long to be renewed for a second season since it was so entertaining that it became a hit. During an interview, one of the show's stars, David Alan Grier, explained what makes the show brilliant. Of all the things that make the show so compelling, it can easily be argued that St. Denis Medical's stellar cast and compelling writing have been two of the best parts of the sitcom.
While all of St. Denis Medical's stars are perfectly cast in their roles, it can easily be argued that Wendi McLendon-Covey may be the actor who best fits her character. Incredibly skilled at portraying over-the-top people, McLendon-Covey does a wonderful job committing to the ridiculous situations the show's entertaining scripts put her character in. However, it turns out that even McLendon-Covey was surprised during every take when she filmed a ridiculous St. Denis Medical scene.
Wendi McLendon-Covey was 'always still surprised' every time she filmed the proposal
Near the end of the St Denis Medical fall finale, "A Waste of Time and Marble," Wendi McLendon-Covey's character, Joyce Henderson was proposed to by her ridiculous boyfriend, Sanderson.
During that episode, Joyce was ticked into thinking that Sanderson needed medical treatment in the hospital she ran, but things went horribly awry. As she walked through one of the hospital's hallways, she saw a body bag, checked a tag, and learned it contained her boyfriend. As she was obviously shocked and upset, a voice from inside the bag asked to be let out, music began playing, and Sanderson proposed to Joyce, who reluctantly agreed to marry him.
On December 15, 2026, UPI published an article after speaking to McLendon-Covey about that truly remarkable scene. While talking to the outlet, McLendon-Covey explained that she was surprised every single time they filmed the proposal scene.
"Every take we did, I was always still surprised. I can't believe this is happening and someone wrote this, but I think there's no other way for it to have happened with Sanderson."
Since she knew how that scene was written, it may seem confusing that McLendon-Covey was surprised the first time they filmed it, let alone every other time. However, given the unique dynamics of that moment, it is easy to understand why she was taken aback each time, if you reflect on it more. After all, having to act with an actor who was inside a body bag would have made it difficult for McLendon-Covey to anticipate if her co-star did anything different during takes. On top of that, there is something instinctively surprising about someone in a body bag talking to you and sitting up.