TV on DVD Buzz

This week’s TV on DVD Season I am going through and doing wrap ups of is the four disc Doogie Howser, M.D. Season 1 set. Today’s wrap up is of the episodes and extras on the final disc, Disc 4.

“Vinnie’s Blind Date” - In this episode Vinnie falls in love with a girl blinded in a car accident. The go on a date while she is still blind and then she ends up having cornea transplant surgery to regain her eyesight. Vinnie’s feelings get hurt when Bernadette no longer likes Vinnie when she sees him after the surgery. I am glad that this disc starts with some good hospital aspect stuff, as the third disc was pretty dull with only one episode having this aspect of the show.

“And the Winner is…” - McQuire and Doogie’s friendship gets tested when they learn they are both in the top choices for the Resident of the Year Award. Doogie ends up embarrassing himself by trying to get on one of the judges good side by pretending he is good at golf. In the end neither of the get the award, but before that they regain their friendship by realizing it was silly of them to be so competitive.

“Relationship is Hard to Doogie” - In this episode Wanda and Doogie’s relationship turns stagnant while a closer relationship between Curly and McQuire gets a start. Doogie and Wanda are having trouble because the relationship is becoming too ordinary. They end up breaking up near the end of the episode. Yet another episode that lacks much in the terms of the hospital drama, especially since the only hospital stuff is actually kind of out of place with it being the side plot of Curly and McQuire getting together.

“The Grass Ain’t Always Greener” - Doogie’s dad is sick and Doogie takes his place doing the Laker girls physicals. He ends up going out on a date with one of them that is taking a year off from UCLA where she is studying philosophy. Doogie soon finds that this relationship is too grown up for him and that he preferred having his time off of work to hang with peers and be a kid. There is a little of Doogie being a doctor in the beginning of the episode, but it is pretty minimal. Wanda and Doogie end up back together at the end of this episode.

“Frankly, My Dear, I Don’t Give a Gland” - Vinnie is nervous over doing it for the first time with his girlfriend. While getting ready to do it he passes out and calls Doogie over. It is discovered that he needs to have his tonsils out. At the same time Wanda and Doogie have trouble again when she tells him she is spending the summer in France with a French family that includes a boy. Doogie’s worries are put to rest, though, when he finds out the boy is a nerd.

Steven Bochco Interview - In the interview he talks about the making of the show, especially about how the idea came about. The violin guy at end of the episode is actually his father. His dad was a violin prodigy, which had him interested in the prodigy phenomenon. His favorite element was the ending with Doogie trying the journal entry on the computer. His one regret is that the show was unexpectedly canceled after 4 seasons and he did not get the chance to end the series, which he always meant to end it with Doogie quitting medicine to become a writer.

Neil Patrick Harris Interview - The concept of the show was a young kid in an adult world with him having the smarts of an adult, but the emotions of a young kid. He talks about getting the job and about Steven Bochco. He was almost the exact age as Doogie, so he just had to play his age. He talks about his own experience being able to always relate well with adults as a kid.