Medical Shows Consistently Win Over TV Viewers

"Grey's Anatomy," now looking at its 9^th season, sports a strong cast with characters like Drs. McDreamy and McSteamy. While the cast of a medical drama enhances its popularity, the show always has one thing going for it before the first show ever airs: the medical-based TV format works.

TV viewers have been treated to stellar medical-based television shows over the years, many providing breakout roles for its actors. Below is a list of five medical series that have set the bar for greatness during their runs. Reality-TV shows, "Grey's Anatomy," war-oriented medical dramas and medical examiner-based shows have been excluded from this list.

"ER", (1994-2009). "Jurassic Park" author Michael Crichton created this medical drama set in a large Emergency Room in a Chicago teaching hospital. The series launched many careers. George Clooney oozed impishness as pediatrician Doug Ross. Clooney's love interest on the show, Nurse Carol Hathaway/Julianna Margulies currently stars in "The Good Wife," opposite Christopher Noth.

Anthony Edwards as Dr. Mark Greene was the sympathetic glue of the show. In 2008, Edwards character died from a brain tumor, but his role was so much of what made the show a hit that his character was revived for a later episode, "Heal Thyself," during "ER's" final season.

Actors who wandered into the ER included: Sally Field, Ray Liotta, Jim Belushi, Kirsten Dunst, Armand Asante, Peter Fonda, John Stamos, Rebecca DeMornay, Susan Sarandon and Steve Buscemi. In one episode, comedian Bobcat Goldthwait starred as a character listed officially as "man under a sheet who thinks he's dead."

"St. Elsewhere," (1982-1988). The irreverent cast of "St. Elsewhere" took the concept of a hospital-based show to new highs---and lows. Set in Boston's St. Eligius Hospital, employees referred to their hallowed halls as St. Elsewhere. Viewers met Denzel Washington, Ed Begley, Jr., Terence Knox, Howie Mandel, Mark Harmon, Alfre Woodard, and David Morse. "St. Elsewhere's" finale was as quirky and mind boggling as its beginning and middle. A young autistic boy, Tommy Westfall, puts the previous six seasons into perspective for viewers in the episode, "The Last One," adding a twist no one saw coming. A few episodes of "St. Elsewhere," including the pilot, can be viewed on Hulu.

"Nurse Jackie," (2009-present). Edie Falco walked away from her coiffed, prim persona as Carmela Soprano into Nurse Jackie Payton, an errant, pill-popping head nurse who keeps a lot of secrets from her family, friends and coworkers in the Emergency Room of New York's St. All Saints Hospital. Falco has earned Golden Globe, SAG, and Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for the Showtime comedy.

"Doogie Howser, M.D.," (1989-1993). This is what started it all for Neil Patrick Harris, current star of "How I Met Your Mother." Harris played a boy genius who graduated medical school at age 14. The young Howser fought to gain the respect of his peers, while dealing with all of the angst typical of the teenage years.

"Nip/Tuck," (2003-2010). This groundbreaking FX series featuring the lives of two doctors behind a successful plastic surgery practice pushed TV boundaries with the delicacy of a bulldozer. Dr. Christian Troy, a self-absorbed pretty boy provided the foil for his long-suffering partner, Dr. Sean McNamara. No topic was off limits for "Nip/Tuck" writers.

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