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Not only were the topics that were discussed out near the edge, the weekly cast of guest stars were top notch. Many of those are on todays lists of entertainments "Who's Who". But one episode sticks out in my memory plainly as being way out beyond the edge for 1970's TV. The episode was " Ghetto Clinic", guest starring William Devane. In a scene where Chad Everette was scolding William Devane for not treating a street criminal mortally wounded in an altercation, allowing him to die, Devane explains simply "He was a scumbag"....I literally sat on my couch in shock. "Did I really hear that?" I thought. Friends at work the next day confirmed that I did'nt imagine it. To this day, I have yet to hear that term used on network TV. Medical Center raised the bar for TV drama. The stage was set for the next best, "St. Elsewhere"

I was rather young when this show ran and really do not remember a lot about it other than the tinted opening sequences featuring the actors in doctor's masks accompanied by the Wulitzer organ score. For some reason I found this to be unsettling and it made me quite afraid of hospitals. I eventual grew out of that but until then I used to leave the room when my mom had it on. Maybe not being able to completely see the actors was scary to me. Little kids get scared of some dubious things, right? I do remember the episode where Robert Reed wanted a sex change operation. I saw it years later rerun on TNT and I thought it was even funnier than I remembered. I am sure it was not supposed to be but the idea of Mike Brady wanting to be a women and the sight of him dressed like one was humorous.

I loved "Medical Center" as much as anyone else here. BUT... unless I missed an episode, it seems to me that everyone, every patient... survived and ended up walking out on their own two feet, more or less. I don't recall "Dr. Gannon" ever losing a patient. Unlike, say, on "ER", where they actually lose quite a few.

Also, "Dr. Gannon" is listed as "Professor of Surgery" at the fictional university medical center. And he did EVERYTHING. In one episode, he'd be doing General Surgery. In another, Neurosurgery. In another, Orthopedic... he was a Cardiovascular Surgeon, he was a Thoracic Surgeon! He even did Psychiatry (there was one episode involving a girl with what turned out to be "Hysterical Blindness"). This guy did EVERYTHING!!!!

Along side other doctor shows,Medical Center was one of the best. Chad Everett's character as Dr. Gannon was the George Clooney of his day. The show touch new ground on certain topics the were never discuss(or taboo)for TV back then,but its a rare opportunity to catch this seldom seen series being a milestone for others medical shows to follow.

So I Could Collect Them On Tape, It Was A Great Show, But Most Of All Just Like Looking at Chad, The story lines Were Good And Especially Want the 4 or 5 episodes with Shelby Grant on them (His Wife of Now 39 Years) !!!!!!!!

I just read a comment regarding when Lily Tomlin walked off the Dick Cavett show, because Chad said Shelby was his Property,

But . . . I Also Have Tapes OF Chad & Shelby on Tattletales in 1975 when they had been married 9 years, had the two kids & Chad Was Loving And Respectful & Sweet & Affectionate To Her.

on the Dick Cavett Show, Chad Must have added

"But then, I'm her property also, It's Commitment at its Height"

OKAY TvLAND Channel, Get Medical Center ReRuns On Very Soon !!!

P L E A S E,