A diverse family gathered in a living room, sharing an emotional moment together while a doctor is subtly present in the background.
Doctor-Approved Family Dramas Suddenly Dominate Prime Time
Written by Alex Turner on 4/8/2025

Looking Ahead: The Future of Family-Centered Medical Dramas

So I’m digging through my notes, and apparently, networks are now listening to real doctors when they write scripts? Seven board-certified physicians on set, says Joe Sachs, M.D. from The Pitt. He once cut a whole surgery scene because it was, like, physically impossible. Honestly, respect.

But here’s what’s weird—streamers are obsessed with “relatable family tension.” Are we headed for a world where every hospital drama is just siblings fighting over leftover pizza in the staff room? My niece watched an episode where the biggest crisis was a missing science project. Not even kidding.

Everyone talks about “authenticity,” but it’s mostly just chaos behind the scenes. A screenwriter DMed me once, asking how to make a hospital staff meeting sound less like a corporate training video. “Help, nobody uses Robert’s Rules in real life,” she said. If only stethoscopes worked as earplugs.

I saw a script draft where a supply chain spreadsheet got more lines than the chief of surgery. Like, is Excel drama a thing now? Maybe I’m just old.

Studio memos now demand “one real protocol per episode.” If you can’t pronounce the drug, cut the scene or call your pharmacist cousin. That’s the new rule.

Frequently Asked Questions

My phone’s a mess—everyone wants to know if hospital shows or family dramas are winning prime time, and where the heck season three of that time-travel show went. There’s just too much to keep straight. Hollywood Reporter claims hospital settings never left TV, which, honestly, feels true.

What are the top doctor-approved family dramas on TV right now?

Summer’s a disaster: new seasons, reruns, streaming queues. My cousin swears the best stuff is still on live TV, but when I checked, “The Pitt” on Max was topping the best medical TV shows lists.

Why is “Grey’s Anatomy” still everywhere after, what, two decades? My aunt says “The Good Doctor” is better than “Chicago Med,” and she’s an RN, but she also yells at the screen every time someone messes up an IV.

Can you recommend some family-friendly series similar to ‘La Brea’?

People ask about shows with dinosaurs in LA, and honestly, I just shrug. According to family drama rankings, streaming is flooded with adventure-family mashups.

My neighbor’s obsessed with “Manifest”—planes, conspiracies, whatever. My nephew’s all about “Stranger Things.” No time travel, but it still fits somehow. Why isn’t any of this set in Fresno or Bakersfield? No clue.

When is the final episode of ‘La Brea’ scheduled to air?

I have no idea. I checked six fandom wikis, scrolled NBC’s site, nothing. TVGuide lists reruns, but honestly, I trust my cat’s sense of time more than their schedule. Maybe NBC’s hiding it? Or maybe everyone just stopped caring.

Someone posted a countdown, but it turned out to be for their cousin’s birthday. So, yeah.

Are there any medical professionals commenting on the accuracy of shows like ‘Designated Survivor’?

Weird question—“Designated Survivor” isn’t even a medical show. But sure, doctors love to nitpick. There are studies on TV medical drama accuracy, but none of them talk about Kiefer Sutherland’s political chaos.

I read once that TV doctors never use hand sanitizer. Not a single episode. But no, you won’t find real doctors live-tweeting “Designated Survivor.” They’re busy fixing actual emergencies.

Where can I watch previous seasons of ‘La Brea’, especially season 3?

I wasted twenty minutes bouncing between Peacock, Hulu, Netflix—nothing clear, nothing reliable. “La Brea” shows up, disappears, season three is always locked or just… gone. Sometimes there’s a Reddit link, but it’s dead by the weekend.

Funniest part? My friend’s cousin in Canada streams it free from his public library. Why isn’t that legal here? No idea.

Which Prime Time dramas have recently gained popularity among families?

So, apparently “This Is Us” drops a new episode and suddenly my family group chat erupts like it’s the Super Bowl. Not even kidding—someone’s always yelling about “The Rookie” or whatever crime-medical mashup ABC’s pushing this week, and honestly, I can’t keep up. Here’s this random ranking of family TV dramas that makes the rounds, but who actually trusts those lists anymore? Not me. Not anyone I know.

People (okay, mostly parents) keep forcing “Blue Bloods” on their kids like it’s a bonding ritual. I guess those awkward dinner scenes must hit some nostalgia nerve? I mean, do families really talk out their drama over salad? Doubt it. And “The Good Doctor”—don’t get me started. My aunt can’t stand it, but she only rants after she’s caffeinated, so maybe it’s just the coffee talking. Or maybe she’s right. No idea.