missrhea
New Member
@missrhea
Posts: 8
Likes: 1
 
|
Post by missrhea on May 22, 2017 1:35:08 GMT
Any other Marcus Welby, M.D. fans out there?
How did you like the character development from year to year? Who do you think changed (or didn't) the most?
|
|
|
|
Post by Jayman on May 26, 2017 23:50:22 GMT
Oh why would anybody ever want to watch that series.  Good to see ya here Rhea! To Answer your question I believe Steve really changed from the first season. He seemed like he had a chip on his shoulder in the first season but then developed into a true humanitarian more and more. Did Welby change? Maybe a little bit. He had sort of an edge to him at times and toned it down |
|
missrhea
New Member
@missrhea
Posts: 8
Likes: 1
|
Post by missrhea on May 30, 2017 4:24:36 GMT
Good to see you, too!  Thanks for the pointer. In regards to your answer, from things I've read* "the chip on [Kiley's] shoulder" and the semi-antagonism between Kiley & Welby was what attracted James Brolin to the part. He was unhappy that it basically disappeared in later seasons. Whereas the audience liked the character developing Brolin thought they made him too much closer to Welby and he was bored. He doesn't have very positive things to say about the whole experience which seems kind of graceless to me since it did win him two (out of three nom's) Golden Globes and an Emmy (and four other nom's). [*See Playing Doctor: Television, Storytelling, and Medical Power by Joseph Turlow; 472 pp Univ. of Mich Press, Aug. 2010] I do agree that Welby's edge toned down a bit. Sometimes he came across as very angry. I liked his softer, fatherly side that showed up later on. I wish they had done more with Sharon Gless's character but apparently there wasn't any "spark" between her and Brolin. It's a shame because I don't think there was any charisma between him and Pamela Hensley. Someone must have seen it somewhere because she had at least two other guest roles before being cast as Janet. I liked the glimpses we were given of Consuelo's life but they didn't develop her personal life as much as her professional one (giving her the teaching position with the midwifes). They never seemed to let her find a significant other to call her own. In the last season she was still dealing with being single and not having a child and that wasn't much different than in the first or second season. |
|
|
|
Post by naterdawg on May 31, 2017 2:23:17 GMT
I loved this show and actually watched it during its original run. They covered a lot of ground every season--I remember one episode about a man who was developing Alzheimer's Disease. This was long before it became part of the national vocabulary. And Dr. Welby said there was no cure.
There were memorable episodes with David Cassidy, as a young diabetic, and Jan-Michael Vincent as a gymnast with an alcohol problem (not too far from the truth, apparently). Great stuff. Robert Young won an Emmy as did Jim Brolin. Consuelo was nominated several times but never took home the gold. Too bad, because she was great.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jayman on May 31, 2017 20:16:22 GMT
Good to see you, too! Thanks for the pointer. In regards to your answer, from things I've read* "the chip on [Kiley's] shoulder" and the semi-antagonism between Kiley & Welby was what attracted James Brolin to the part. He was unhappy that it basically disappeared in later seasons. Whereas the audience liked the character developing Brolin thought they made him too much closer to Welby and he was bored. He doesn't have very positive things to say about the whole experience which seems kind of graceless to me since it did win him two (out of three nom's) Golden Globes and an Emmy (and four other nom's). [*See Playing Doctor: Television, Storytelling, and Medical Power by Joseph Turlow; 472 pp Univ. of Mich Press, Aug. 2010] I do agree that Welby's edge toned down a bit. Sometimes he came across as very angry. I liked his softer, fatherly side that showed up later on. I wish they had done more with Sharon Gless's character but apparently there wasn't any "spark" between her and Brolin. It's a shame because I don't think there was any charisma between him and Pamela Hensley. Someone must have seen it somewhere because she had at least two other guest roles before being cast as Janet. I liked the glimpses we were given of Consuelo's life but they didn't develop her personal life as much as her professional one (giving her the teaching position with the midwifes). They never seemed to let her find a significant other to call her own. In the last season she was still dealing with being single and not having a child and that wasn't much different than in the first or second season. That's interesting Rhea I didn't knot that about Brolin. I read a little something that he really wanted to move on to other things but it was a good salary for him so he stayed. I liked his character as it was though. I"m not sure I needed him to be the opposite of Welby. I think I warmed up to Pamela Helmsley slightly more than you did. I believe we discussed this years ago on the other board. I felt it happened really really quick. After one date the guy was talking about marriage. Sometimes I didn't mind her but other times she got on my nerves. What was the name of that other department with Sharon Gless' character in it? It was another building or another wing of the building or something like that? I remember thinking that I wished that would make that more of a focus and introduce a few other people to freshen things up but it never went anywhere. The only thing I remember about them doing anything with the Consuelo character was the whole issue when she was with that guy that had those physical issues and the issue was that it would be a major burden of her being responsible for taking care of him and all that. Personally I thought it made the character come off as a tad bit desperate but that was just my take on it at the time. |
|
missrhea
New Member
@missrhea
Posts: 8
Likes: 1
|
Post by missrhea on Jun 15, 2017 4:36:00 GMT
Well, Jason. at least Brolin was honest enough to admit he didn't like the change. The book also quotes him as saying he'd never do another series which is a laugh since he wound up in Hotel for several years and was just in one this past TV season. Hard to make comments like that and not have them bite you later on, I guess. The other department with Sharon Gless' character was the Family Practice training at the fictional Lang Memorial. The book (referenced above) says that the producers were being leaned on to move the action away from the house/office in order to freshen it up. It was deemed a failure and they dropped it the following season. The same pressure was applied when the ratings started dropping and Pamela Hensley was brought in. The ratings improved steadily until the wedding episode and then dropped off again leading to the cancellation. And, yes, I think you warmed up to her more than I did.  Re: Consuelo - Well, they did try to make her a foster mother once and sort of a social worker (with the Spanish-speaking runaway who had been abused). They seemed to involve her with a lot of "neighbors" whose children had medical issues. They probably could have done more with her but in the book the producers imply that she was added to be the comic relief and any serious story lines came about through Elena Verdugo campaigning for a bigger part. It's a pretty interesting book if you can get your hands on it but go for the updated edition which includes House. It basically groups the TV doctors into eras by influence, one being Dr. Kildare, Marcus Welby, M.D., and everything after that. |
|
missrhea
New Member
@missrhea
Posts: 8
Likes: 1
|
Post by missrhea on Jun 15, 2017 4:51:39 GMT
One thing that sort of surprised me as I re-watched these episodes all these years later was how relevant they seemed. I really liked how they shed light on sickle-cell anemia; thallassemia (blood disorders among Mediterraneans); Tay-Sachs disease; and the like. The one on dystonia was amazing. They really were medical detectives for a lot of things and could be the forerunner to House.
Now, as a severe asthmatic, I find some of the things laughable but I can tell you that asthma treatment has come an amazing distances since I was diagnosed 40+ years ago. Things they used to have to check by blood gasses (taken from arteries not veins, and VERY painful) can now be done with a little monitor that goes on your finger. Every doctor had a different approach but they all started ER treatment with shots of epinephrine and most segued to IV aminophylline. Things I used to have to go to the ER for (standard breathing treatment with a nebulizer) can be done at home and saves LOTS of money.
|
|
|
|
Post by naterdawg on Jun 16, 2017 0:44:54 GMT
Good to see you, too! Thanks for the pointer. In regards to your answer, from things I've read* "the chip on [Kiley's] shoulder" and the semi-antagonism between Kiley & Welby was what attracted James Brolin to the part. He was unhappy that it basically disappeared in later seasons. Whereas the audience liked the character developing Brolin thought they made him too much closer to Welby and he was bored. He doesn't have very positive things to say about the whole experience which seems kind of graceless to me since it did win him two (out of three nom's) Golden Globes and an Emmy (and four other nom's). [*See Playing Doctor: Television, Storytelling, and Medical Power by Joseph Turlow; 472 pp Univ. of Mich Press, Aug. 2010] I do agree that Welby's edge toned down a bit. Sometimes he came across as very angry. I liked his softer, fatherly side that showed up later on. I wish they had done more with Sharon Gless's character but apparently there wasn't any "spark" between her and Brolin. It's a shame because I don't think there was any charisma between him and Pamela Hensley. Someone must have seen it somewhere because she had at least two other guest roles before being cast as Janet. I liked the glimpses we were given of Consuelo's life but they didn't develop her personal life as much as her professional one (giving her the teaching position with the midwifes). They never seemed to let her find a significant other to call her own. In the last season she was still dealing with being single and not having a child and that wasn't much different than in the first or second season. That's interesting Rhea I didn't knot that about Brolin. I read a little something that he really wanted to move on to other things but it was a good salary for him so he stayed. I liked his character as it was though. I"m not sure I needed him to be the opposite of Welby. I think I warmed up to Pamela Helmsley slightly more than you did. I believe we discussed this years ago on the other board. I felt it happened really really quick. After one date the guy was talking about marriage. Sometimes I didn't mind her but other times she got on my nerves. What was the name of that other department with Sharon Gless' character in it? It was another building or another wing of the building or something like that? I remember thinking that I wished that would make that more of a focus and introduce a few other people to freshen things up but it never went anywhere. The only thing I remember about them doing anything with the Consuelo character was the whole issue when she was with that guy that had those physical issues and the issue was that it would be a major burden of her being responsible for taking care of him and all that. Personally I thought it made the character come off as a tad bit desperate but that was just my take on it at the time. I seriously doubt Brolin was attracted to the role of Kiley for anything but a series commitment and a steady paycheck. Up until then, he was pretty much a nobody. He even appeared in a Batman episode as a cop in a bit part. The Welby show "made him," and he really hasn't done anything of note since then--outside of the Hotel series about 30 years ago. His son's a much better actor and definitely "A" list, a real life movie star. |
|
|
|
Post by snsurone on Jun 18, 2017 19:19:26 GMT
Sorry, but I was never a fan of this show.
It seemed to me that Dr. Welby was far too involved in his patients' personal lives, and a few "wise" words from him solved all their problems.
IRL, he probably would have been sued.
|
|
|
|
Post by them1ghtyhumph on Jun 19, 2017 5:30:16 GMT
I was born in 1950, and I have never watched one episode of Marcus Welby, M.D.
|
|
missrhea
New Member
@missrhea
Posts: 8
Likes: 1
|
Post by missrhea on Jun 19, 2017 22:43:29 GMT
Sorry, but I was never a fan of this show. It seemed to me that Dr. Welby was far too involved in his patients' personal lives, and a few "wise" words from him solved all their problems. IRL, he probably would have been sued. Probably true on all counts. One of the things the book I've been mentioning points out it that many doctors of the time felt there was no possible way they could spend the same amounts of time with their own patients as Welby and Kiley did. As far as not being a fan - not everyone likes every show and that certainly includes the plethora of medical shows through the years. Welby was just one of four or five at the time in the same way Chicago Hope and ER were on at the same time, not to mention all of the recent ones.  |
|
|
|
Post by outrider127 on Jun 23, 2017 18:18:56 GMT
Any other Marcus Welby, M.D. fans out there? How did you like the character development from year to year? Who do you think changed (or didn't) the most? I used watch it every night at 2 AM when it was in syndication back in 1980, I think this show and House were the two best medical TV dramas ever |
|
|
|
Post by geode on Jul 31, 2018 12:22:09 GMT
I was born in 1950, and I have never watched one episode of Marcus Welby, M.D. I was born in early '51 and watched this show when it was first aired, but never since. I remember some about it, but not like others posting. I remember an episode with Tarzan acting strange when running for elective office. Dr. Sickby makes a diagnosis of "premature senility".... |
|
|
|
Post by taylorfirst1 on Jul 31, 2018 20:57:59 GMT
I did not watch this show very much but that is because I'm not a fan of Doctor shows in general.
For the record, the show ran from 1969-1976.
|
|
Thanks for the pointer.
