Thoughts about "The Doctors" - October 1976

Another month's worth of episodes of "The Doctors" has aired on RetroTV. Below are my thoughts on what has aired for the month of October 1976.

Jerry still hasn't gotten another job, so he is only working at the hospital. Jerry and Penny talked about going out of town together to have some alone time. Sara got a job babysitting Michael Paul, as Martha had to go back to work and couldn't watch him, and Matt had to deal with the grand jury. Much of the month was about the grand jury hearing, which was off-screen.

Jason arrived in Madison and met everyone again. As part of defending Matt, he asked his client, if he was guilty. This upset Matt, a lot. Earlier in the month, the film that everyone was looking for was located, but Matt destroyed it accidentally, as he opened the darkroom door, and it became over-exposed. Matt was worried about Greta and Billy doing something together that they would regret. I think they regret Matt opening that door, but I doubt that is what he meant. Stacy and Paul were still involved, but she seems to be understanding that Paul may be using her. She worried about telling the truth to Jason.

The hospital though about re-instating Matt to his job as chief of staff, but the grand jury trial, was coming so they couldn't do that. They wrote a letter instead. The board was considering Paul (Hank's idea), and Althea (MJ's idea, but Steve suggested it to her and Maggie at lunch.) Steve went out with MJ, and they shared a meal.

Carolee actually spoke this month, but it was all recreated flashbacks. We saw an early date, with Steve and Carolee, where they didn't wear clothing that was accurate to the late 60s. Steve also had a memory of them on the couch, and her offering to make some coffee as MJ did that after dinner. Feeling guilty about the roll of film, Billy spent the night with Steve and the kids. Erich was still working on his model, and Steffy didn't know what to name her doll from Ann, naming it after MJ was shot down, and naming her after Carolee made her sad, and none of Grandma's suggestions worked for her. Ann went to see Carolee, and told her that she would never be seeing her again, and that her treatment would be based on what the doctors would do. She would no longer be paying for Carolee's care. The doctors looking after Carolee who they thought was Mary Ellen Smithfield, didn't understand why Mrs. Lomax (Ann) left no forwarding address.

Those were the highlights of October 1976, and there were no missing episodes. I'm glad we finally saw Glenn Corbett's Jason, and that Jada Rowland's Carolee had some lucid fantasy scenes. I miss the old hospital set, even though it was very green. Doug Marland replaced Maggie DePriest in the last few weeks in the writer's room also.