9 TV Doctors and The Quotes You Love
August 19, 2014
TV doctors are some of the most beloved characters in pop culture. From laughably touching sitcoms to edge-of-your-seat dramatic thrillers, it's easy to love medical television. Below are nine of the most memorable TV doctors and the quotes that embody their onscreen presence.
1. Dr. Gregory House
_House _is one of the most well-loved misanthropes on television today. With a sharp tongue and his cane he keeps his team of investigative doctors in order, and brings hope to patients with extremely puzzling cases. He has a lot of quotables in his arsenal.
"It is the nature of medicine that you are going to screw up." "People like talking about people. Makes us feel superior. Makes us feel in control. And sometimes, for some people, knowing some things makes them care."
Dr. House: you either love or hate him, but there's no doubt that he does good work.
2. Dr. Hawkeye Pierce
Comedic genius Alan Alda played Dr. Hawkeye Pierce in the long-running TV series MASH. Hawkeye, a war surgeon, was very outspoken in the way he felt about the Korean War; even as the presence of the enemy haunted the medical outpost, he stayed committed to treating everyone equally on his operating table.
"I will not carry a gun. I'll carry your books, I'll carry a torch, I'll carry a tune, I'll carry on, carry over, carry forward. Cary Grant, cash and carry, carry me back to Old Virginia, I'll even hari-kari if you show me how, but I will not carry a gun!"
3. Dr. Michaela Quinn
Dr. Michaela "Mike" Quinn, played by Jane Seymour, is one of the nation's first female doctors in the hit series _Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman. _In Colorado Springs, Colorado, she takes a position as the town's doctor. Her gender, class, and romantic life all inform her interaction with the small frontier town, in a time on the cusp of industrial and social reform.
"A town should be a place where we look out for one another. And that means all of us, whether we've been here for ten years, one year, or one month; whether we're from Ireland, Sweden, or Boston."
4. Dr. Cliff Huxtable
_The Cosby Show _follows the story of an upper-middle class African-American family with a home in Brooklyn, NYC. Dr. Huxtable is an OB/GYN and is well-respected in his community. To his family and friends, he's known for his comedic capers, quips, and humor relying on playfully making fun of the people around him.
"A long, long time ago, three to four generations ago, parents didn't talk much to their children. At four A.M, the father would come home, look at his son sleeping, wake him up and say "Boy, go out and plow the field now". And the boy would rub his eye and say "Yes, pa"". And occasionally, the son would ask the father how much he'd get paid. And the father grabbed the plow, and ran over his son. Those days are over, because we have become more civilized, more sophisticated, but it's still inside of me no matter how sophisticated I get. And it grows over time. Boy, when I say to one of my children to do something and they say "How much does it pay?", I think I'm going to buy a plow. "
5. Dr. Doogie Howser
Doogie Howser, played by Neil Patrick Harris, is a child prodigy: at the age of 6 he scored a perfect on the SATs, graduated high school at 10, and became a doctor at 14. The series follows the adolescent mishaps he experiences as he grows into himself not only as a physician, but as an adult.
"Mr. Kinnevy: Wait a minute. You're a kid. Douglas 'Doogie' Howser: True, but I'm also a genius. If you have a problem with that, I can get you an older doctor who's not as smart as me. "
6. Dr. Derek Shepherd
Dr. Shepherd, played by Patrick Dempsey, begins the series _Grey's Anatomy _as head of neurosurgery. He is first married to Dr. Addison Montgomery, and later to Dr. Meredith Grey, the series' protagonist. In season 7, he is shot by the wife of a former patient, and is saved by another doctor on the show. His marriages and children factor strongly into his role on the show, and one of his strengths is his willingness to admit imperfection.
"I'm a human being. I make mistakes, I'm flawed, we all are."
Dr. Shepherd tells it like it is.
grey's anatomy / hercampus / CC BY
7. Dr. John "J.D." Dorian
J.D. is the lovable protagonist of the sitcom Scrubs. With his partner in crime Chris Turk, _Scrubs _catalogs their transition into the field of medicine. While they're a quirky and witty lot, the show also has its fair share of serious moments and themes. With its balance between humor and seriousness, some critics and casual audiences have gone as far as to say that it was one of the best medical series on television.
"I don't think people are meant to be by themselves. That's why if you actually find someone you care about, it's important to let go of the little things, even if you can't let go all the way, because noting sucks more than feeling all alone, no matter how many people are around."
8. Dr. Elizabeth Corday
Dr. Elizabeth Corday is a British surgeon who relocates to Chicago to gain experience in trauma surgery in the highly acclaimed drama ER. Her biggest moments in the show come with her romantic entanglements as well some messy legal troubles. Through her time at County General, she remained one of the most well-loved members of the team.
"To be given the gift of life is extraordinary and the best thing we can do is live it as fabulously as we can."
9. Dr. Addison Montgomery
_Private Practice, _a spin off from the hit show Grey's Anatomy, stars Kate Walsh as Dr. Allison Montgomery. Montgomery is a specialist in neonatal medicine and is a world-class physician.
"We do not get unlimited chances to have the things we want. And this, I know: nothing is worse than missing an opportunity that could have changed your life."
