Original title
Doogie Howser, M.D.
Released
9/19/1989
Origin country
US
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Production companies
20th Century Fox Television, Steven Bochco Productions
Status
Ended
Number of seasons
4
Number of episodes
97
Doogie Howser is a doctor. He is also a 16-year-old genius who graduated college at age 10 and finished medical school at age 14. But he is still a teenager, with normal teenage friends and problems. But unlike a normal teenager, he is just learning to drive while also consulting on serious medical cases like heart transplants.
Steven Bocho, one of the writers for the series as well as one of the co-creators (along with David E. Kelly), gives his take on things as well and has a few interesting anecdotes about the series. (17:26)
Harris covers not only his career within the context of the show but also how it lead to some problems with type casting and with people thinking of him only in terms of Doogie Howser and not as a serious actor.(16:16)
The now-grown-up Doogie looks back and says very nice things about all of his old castmates (9:17).
A 12-minute interview with the now-adult Neil Patrick Harris, who talks about the problems of being a child actor. He was the same age as Doogie -- 16 in Season 1, 19 in Season 4 -- and had to adhere to child-labor laws, not to mention the horrors of going through puberty in front of America. (He confirms what was obvious to viewers: He didn't reach even the beginnings of adolescence until he was 15, and he grew about four inches in height between Season 2 and 3.) It's an enlightening and amusing segment, particularly when Harris talks about the finer points of following (and evading) the child-labor laws, and the accommodations that had to be made for his minor status.
James Sikking spends nine minutes reflecting on his role as Doogie Howser's dad. He talks a lot about his relationship with Neil Patrick Harris, and he covers some of the same territory as Harris (i.e., the challenge of filming with stand-ins for Doogie while Harris was with his law-mandated tutor). He speaks fondly of his time on the show, and seems to be sincere about it. (9:33).
Doogie passes one test to get his driver's license, but he must pass another when he treats a critically ill boy.
Doogie freezes in disbelief when he's asked out to dinner by Victoria Burke, the new radiology chief, known in some circles as "the Ice Queen."
When Wanda's appendix ruptures with her parents out of town, Doogie ignores hospital policy to operate on her. This creates tension with Dr. Canfield as well as Wanda.
His parents' trip signals party time for Doogie and friends, whose plans include drinking beer while Doogie is on call.
Moving out of his parents' house proves to be an eye-opening experience for Doogie. Meanwhile, a rock star is admitted to the hospital for vocal-cord surgery.
After a grueling 48-hour shift amid hothouse conditions, Doogie is tempted to switch loyalties to an upscale pediatrics group eager to woo him away from Eastman.
Vinnie is no fly on the wall as he observes Doogie's personal and professional life while shooting a documentary on a day in the life of a teenage doctor.
Doogie's hectic schedule prevents him from spending time with Wanda, a situation that renders him more sympathetic to a patient.
Vinnie is stuck on a blind date with Wanda's "big-boned" cousin, a girl with a self-image problem not unlike a plastic-surgery patient at the hospital, who's willing to pay through the nose for a perfect body.
Doogie is invited to spend the weekend in Palm Springs with Wanda and her family, but it's the same weekend that his father picked for their annual fishing trip.
Doogie and Wanda are pressured by peers to get intimate; and Doogie has trouble leaving work problems at work as he deals with an unwed teenage mother.
At the hospital, the homeless are being turned away to make room for paying patients; and Doogie bucks the system by arranging surgery for a youngster's pet dog.
Doogie feigns illness to get out of working the night shift on Christmas Eve so he can go to a party.
Greedy friends and family have a hand out as Doogie makes the finals of a quiz show offering cash and prizes galore.
Jealousy comes between Doogie and Wanda, and it also brings a silence between Dr. and Mrs. Howser.
A scare involving the results of her mammogram has Katherine intent on reviving her '60s singing career at a nightclub's open-mike night.
Teaching a safe-sex class in high school isn't intimidating for Dr. Doogie, but one of the students is a beefy bruiser who wants to fight Doogie after class.
Vinnie doesn't understand his father's urgency to involve him in the family shower-head business.
Doogie is just about as cool as a guy can get, thanks to fashion advice from the super-cool Griffin, who also thinks it's cool when Doogie "borrows" his father's BMW.
An embittered gang member holds Vinnie and Doogie hostage during a botched convenience-store holdup in which Doogie is left to ponder prejudice.
When Doogie's dad decides to retire, discouraged that his research failed to make a splash in medical journals, Doogie prescribes an attitude adjustment.
Vinnie's date with Doogie's young patient takes a romantic turn, but Vinnie fears it won't last if a cornea transplant restores her vision.
Doogie and McGuire put their friendship on the line while competing for the Resident of the Year award.
After sitting in on a marriage-counseling session, Doogie and Wanda wonder if their relationship will improve with age; McGuire defends Spaulding's honor to a boastful rival.
Now free to date other women, Doogie enjoys a few evenings with a trendy philosophy student before realizing that something's missing: Wanda.
Vinnie is nervous about his "first time" with Janine; Doogie feels unexpected emotions over Wanda's announcement.
Doogie's heavy third-year residency duties make him fear he's missing out on his youth.
Former gang member Raymond Alexander begins working at the hospital but his past may come back to haunt him.
Doogie becomes famous after doing some public service announcements.
Vinnie and his pregnant French teacher get stuck in an elevator.
Doogie wants to buy a classic car. A mentally ill patient turns down treatment.
Doogie treats a once popular singer who is trying to make a comeback.
Vinnie asks to "borrow" one of Doogie's old school papers. Meanwhile, Doogie treats a wealthy hypochondriac.
Vinnie makes a zombie horror movie.
Doogie and a hospitalized model realize they have something in common -- being judged by how beautiful or young they look.
After Janine breaks up with him, Vinnie is not very thankful on Thanksgiving.
Doogie rethinks his position on May-December relationships when he finds himself the victim of age discrimination.
Vinnie tries to get help getting into film school from a TV network executive who's been admitted to the hospital.
Doogie weighs his relationship with Wanda against an attractive nursing student.
Doogie wrecks his father's car and tries to cover it up.
Wanda wants time alone after a family member dies.
Doogie joins the hospital basketball team in order to fit in.
An AIDS-infected artist brings out everyone's true feelings about the disease.
Vinnie joins Doogie and David on a camping trip.
Grandpa Howser causes problems as Doogie's parents try to renovate the kitchen.
Doogie and Wanda face more strains when he goes to a party with another woman.
Doogie's mom gets a job. Unfortunately for Doogie, it's at his hospital.
Two weeks of volunteer work in Mexico makes Jack reevaluate his life.
Vinnie awaits word of whether he's accepted to film school.
Problems are bound to occur when Doogie kisses Janine.
Doogie takes a still-grieving Wanda to the prom then introduces her to a young heart patient to rekindle her spirit for living.
Doogie is obsessed with his virginity while a patient believes that he is her late husband.
Doogie ponders a decision affecting the life of a young patient. (Part 1 of 2)
Life at Doogie and Vinnie's pad resembles one big beer commercial, but what Doogie really needs is a listening ear. (Part 2 of 2)
Vinnie's girlfriend wants to run to Las Vegas to get married. Doogie takes on a curse to save a boy's life.
A seductive classmate proves more temptation than Vinnie can handle, especially when Janine grows distant.
Doogie is a portrait of anxiety when Wanda comes home from art school and strikes up several new friendships.
Doogie plays a Civil War doctor as he and Vinnie collaborate on a screenplay.
While driving to visit Wanda, Doogie's car breaks down in the desert where he meets a soul mate.
Doogie's parents want him to pay room and board; Spaulding's father doesn't want a pacemaker.
Doogie and Wanda's efforts to be friends are put on hold after Wanda calls long-distance for advice on a new guy.
Doogie takes a liking to a homely librarian only after he learns she's scheduled for plastic surgery; a youth counselor's lies trap him in a kind of prison.
Doogie discovers the healing power of laughter after an argument with Vinnie and while treating a troubled kidney patient.
Katherine relives the past with her visiting first love; Raymond starts hanging out with pals from the 'hood.
The examination of a mummy brings rumblings of a curse from the staff and has Doogie contemplating the limits of modern medicine.
Vinnie bets that Doogie can't last in a "mindless" fast-food job.
An egotistical actor observes Doogie's hospital procedures to give his TV series a shot in the arm.
After months of dating Cecilia, Doogie discovers what she's been hiding a 4-year-old son, who stirs Doogie's paternal instincts.
After taking Spaulding out for her 30th birthday, Doogie wonders if there's more fun in store for the two of them.
While Doogie considers a career specialty, he learns that another doctor has been invited to join his father's practice.
Janine's parents split a seam when Janine forsakes college for a job in fashion.
Spring break in Palm Springs is just what the doctor orders for Vinnie, who pursues a jealous vendetta against Janine, and Doogie, who weighs a fellowship in trauma surgery.
Doogie is anything but popular after he encourages Wanda to accept her dad's new gal and Vinnie to accept being short.
Cherished memories get lost in the aging process for a patient who relies on Doogie to help him remember; and Vinnie takes a video journey of self-discovery.
The Drs. Howser spend a father-son trip at a Honduran operating theater, where Doogie gives a thumbs-down to a wisecracking surgeon.
The 1992 L.A. riots find trauma surgeon Doogie overwhelmed.
Katherine can't stop playing mother to Doogie even after he dates her boss, whom he brings to the house for skinny-dipping.
After the family is robbed, Doogie considers buying a gun, but he's haunted by memories of shooting victims he's treated.
Doogie hunts for new digs and finds a Venice Beach loft; and Vinnie must also find a new home when his parents divorce.
A med-school project has Doogie and a fellow doctor posing as patients, being poked, prodded and probed to learn how to empathize with patients.
Doogie faces his first solo surgery fearing he's not perfect; and Vinnie faces his first time voting.
A hearing-impaired patient charms Doogie, who speaks her language by signing but may not be listening. She also offers creative inspiration for Vinnie's Chaplinesque film.
Doogie's ego takes a beating when a winsome nurse chooses Vinnie over him. Raymond also comes up short when comparing himself to other technicians.
Doogie's heart tells him to do one thing, his head another in choosing the best candidate for a heart transplant; and Vinnie's dilemma involves a vulnerable Janine.
Doogie holes up at the hospital on Thanksgiving Eve for some R&R, as does a new mother who feigns illness to get away from her family.
Doogie spots evidence of child abuse when his dad's friend brings in his injured son for care.
Doogie's mom makes a poor substitute as Doogie's fishing partner when Dr. Howser throws his back out and is at home being cared for by Vinnie.
Doogie learns a lesson about trusting the unknown from a free-spirited model sharing his loft, as does a kidney-transplant candidate.
A nurse Doogie's dating retaliates against his braggadocio by spreading rumors about him; Vinnie gets a new film-school dormmate.
Vinnie can't adjust to the masseuse his father is dating; Doogie's dad is asked to replace a doctor who expired while on duty.
Doogie as Sherlock Holmes and Vinnie as Dr. Watson play out Doogie's confusion over Michele.
Laura makes Vinnie feel he's "become a man," but he reacts with adolescent jealousy to men around her. Meanwhile, a traveler's illness puzzles Doogie.
Some things are better left unexplored, like Doogie's crush on his old baby sitter or Vinnie's dream of having a star read his script.
A deposit error dumping $16,000 in Vinnie's account tests his integrity; and Doogie must prove his integrity to a girl with a crush on him.
Doogie bemoans his friendship-only status with Michele but finds inspiration on how to deal with it from an acerbic cartoonist patient.
Jury member Vinnie tries to look beyond the letter of the law, as does Doogie, who uncovers a bogus doctor at Eastman.
Doogie sees his gift of genius as more of a curse than a blessing as he seeks inspiration outside the world of medicine.
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