Diagnosis Murder: Season Three

Most times when you look at the cast of a television series on a major network we see only beautiful young women and handsome young men. While this is great for the part of the demographic that is about that age it kind of leaves the older members of the audience out in the cold. After all many of the people the advertisers are trying to reach are years or even decades over the 18-28 age group. One network, CBS had seemed to have figured this out and started programming shows geared towards us older folks. There were two flagships for this older slanted crime shows. One was ‘Murder, She Wrote’ the other, considered here, was ‘Diagnosis: Murder’. It is refreshing to see an older man on television that still is physically active and in possession of quick and agile wit. This series has a lot more going for it than just the shift in the targeted age group than makes it enjoyable for the whole family. It returns television to the golden days of the murder mystery. In many ways it is a shame that series like this were supplanted by the newer forensic science oriented shows. Instead of relying on ‘new fangled gadgets’ but on something that never goes out of style, the sharp, almost nosy human investigator. As great as the new technology in crime investigation has become it is still reassuring that behind it all a curious human mind is still all that is needed to bring a murderer to justice.

Diagnosis: Murder began its life as a spin-off of another CBS demographic breaking series, ‘Jake and the Fatman’ where the main character, Dr. Mark Sloan (Dick Van Dyke) was introduced. The waters of the American public was tested with several made for television movies. Finally in 1993 CBS put the show on its fall lineup. The series almost didn’t succeed. After less than stellar ratings in the second season it was on the brink of the dreaded cancellation. Since quality series are rare in television CBS did find a place for it once again as a mid season replacement. In order to make the schedule in its third season the series was revamped. Scot Biao, who played Dr. Sloan’s protégé, Dr. Jack Stewart was gone. The character was written out of the series by sending him off to ‘start his own practice in Colorado’, the TV equivalent of banishment to the Phantom Zone. In order to get additional younger viewers involved the network brought in a younger actor as a resident to place Biao. Also gone was the always up beat secretary and nurse for Dr. Sloan, Delores Mitchell (Delores Hall who was always ready to entertain the patients with her piano and singing. Apparently this was done to help streamline the cast and help take the action out of Sloan’s office.

Dr. Mark Sloan has made a great career for himself. He has risen to the exalted position of Chief of Internal Medicine at the well known and respected Community General Hospital in Los Angels. Mark is also the proud father of a police detective Steve (Barry Van Dyke) who works the Robbery/Homicide division like his grandfather once did. This connection with the police department allows the elder Sloan to engage in his other favorite past time, acting as an amateur sleuth. There is some official recognition when the police department utilizes Sloan’s medical talents as a special medical consultant. Dr. Dr. Amanda Bentley (Victoria Rowell) is young and beautiful. She is also a resident pathologist and works as the assistant County Medical Examiner. She is more than happy to tag along with the Sloans on each of their cases. Dr. Jesse Travis (Charlie Schlatter) is another resident at the hospital. After his previous ‘apprentice’ Jack left Mark takes on the job of mentoring Jesse. Jesse is anxious to prove himself to Dr. Sloan and wants to assist in his police cases. Frequently it is Jesse who winds up needed rescuing or correction. Every series like this needs a curmudgeon in the big office. In this series he takes the form of Norman Briggs (Michael Tucci). He is a long time close friend of Sloan and now acts as the Chief Hospital Administrator.

In sports terms this third season would be considered a rebuilding year. Although they made cast changes the basic foundation of the series remains largely the same. A murder happens and Steve gets help from his father and his merry band of doctors. The audience usually gets to watch the murder being committed so the fun is not typically figuring out who did it but what clues they left behind for the stalwart Dr. Sloan. For example in the first episode of this season a young woman, Angela York (A. J. Langer) is tired of living under daddy’s perceived oppressive ways. He is also filthy rich and sick, a very bad combination in television dramas. Angela switches out her fathers medication pouring the capsule’s contents down the drain and replacing them with a sinister looking red pill. One falls on the floor. You have to decide is that a clue that will eventually break the case or just a red herring. Other times while we don’t see the murder the immediate aftermath is shown with a suspect that everyone is certain is guilty. There it is Sloan’s mission to get the right bad guy to free an innocent man.

This is a fun series with a modicum of action added. Sure it is a formula driven show but the formula used is a comforting one that makes for entertaining television. This also extends to the main character. Dr. Sloan is a mixture of Marcus Welby and Sherlock Holmes. He is also played by someone many of us grew up watching, Dick Van Dyke. We began watching his sit-com decades ago so seeing him in this series is a little like visiting with your favorite granddad. He has a combination of gentleness and stubborn determination that helps sells his role. Since his real life son plays the good doctor’s kid here it is only natural that Barry Van Dyke does well in the series. While he looks more like a child of Lee Majors than one of the Van Dyke clan he follows in his father’s shoes by being a weekly television series.

Paramount continues their commitment to releasing season sets of some of America’s most beloved shows. Since this was a mid season replacement there are only 18 hour long episodes contained here. The full frame video and stereo audio get the job done but is not spectacular. There are no extras provided in this set. This series is a great substitution for when you get a little tired of high tech crime fighting.

Posted 11/22/07