FOX's first scripted drama order for the 2025-2026 television season marks a major milestone for one of the Emmy-nominated stars of the CBS legal drama The Good Wife. After almost 10 years away from broadcast television, Josh Charles makes his way back to the small screen in a leading role in a network series. For the first time since 2016! Consider this an immediate must-watch.
Josh Charles will star in FOX's Best Medicine, an adaptation of the popular British series Doc Martin. The network describes the medical procedural as a one-hour comedy. Charles plays Dr. Martin Best, who leaves his career as a surgeon in Boston to return to coastal fishing town he spent summers in as a kid to become its general practitioner.
Per the synopsis shared by Variety, Dr. Best doesn't seem to have the best bedside manner, as his cranky and blunt personality doesn't connect with the small town citizens. The description reminds me of Ted Danson's character in the '90s medical sitcom Becker. Hopefully, just like Dr. Becker, Dr. Best is a big 'ol softy on the inside once you get to know him.
Josh Charles starring in FOX medical drama Best Medicine
Best Medicine also finds Dr. Best struggling to experience "true intimacy with anyone," which makes me want to know more about him, like why did he leave Boston for this small town? Is he running away from something or someone? Thanks to the intriguing premise, the promise of comedy, and the casting of Josh Charles, FOX's new medical series just became the new fall show I'm looking forward to most! There's a lot more casting news to come for the show, too.
Since The Good Wife wrapped its run on CBS in 2016, Charles has continued to appear on television. He appeared in a recurring role in the 2017 NBC series Law & Order True Crime and has since made appearances in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, The Loudest Voice, Away, We Own This City, The Power, The Veil, and The Handmaid's Tale's current final season. It's safe to say that we have been missing seeing him on our screens on a weekly basis, and it hasn't been the same since The Good Wife.
The series order for Best Medicine on FOX comes after the breakout success of the network's hit medical drama series Doc starring Molly Parker. The new hit premiered in January 2025 and earned a fast renewal for season 2 the following month. We'll find out if the two medical shows are paired together on FOX's fall 2025 schedule during the upcoming Upfronts presentation. It would be smart to pair the series, at least to help launch the newbie and get it off the ground.
Aside from animated comedy series American Dad! returning to FOX after spending over 10 years on TBS, Best Medicine remains the only new show the network has ordered so far, and it's also a show that the network owns outright. As far as cancellations, earlier this week, FOX announced that action drama series Rescue: HI-Surf had been canceled after only one season. A number of the network's dramas are awaiting word on their future, though this hourlong order spells trouble for some shows.