View source for Doogie Howser, M.D.

{{Short description|American television series (1989–1993)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = Doogie Howser, M.D. intertitle.jpg
| genre                = [[Medical drama|Medical]] [[sitcom]] [[Teen drama]]
| creator              = {{Plain list|
* [[Steven Bochco]]
* [[David E. Kelley]]
}}
| starring             = {{Plain list|
* [[Neil Patrick Harris]]
* [[Max Casella]]
* [[Belinda Montgomery]]
* [[Lawrence Pressman]]
* [[Mitchell Anderson]]
* [[Kathryn Layng]]
* [[Lisa Dean Ryan]]
* [[Lucy Boryer]]
* [[Markus Redmond]]
* [[James B. Sikking]]
}}
| theme_music_composer = [[Mike Post]]
| opentheme            =
| endtheme             = 
| composer             = Mike Post
| country              = United States
| language             = English
| num_seasons          = 4
| num_episodes         = 97
| list_episodes        = List of Doogie Howser, M.D. episodes
| executive_producer   = {{Plain list|
* Steven Bochco
* [[Linda Morris]] {{small|(seasons 3–4)}}
* [[Vic Rauseo]] {{small|(seasons 3–4)}}
}}
| producer             = {{Plain list|
* Nat Bernstein
* Joe Ann Fogle
* [[Scott Goldstein]]
* Jill Gordon
* Nick Harding
* Mark Horowitz
* Mitchel Lee Katlin
* Phil Kellard
* Tom Moore
* Linda Morris
* Vic Rauseo
}}
| location             = 
| camera               = [[Single-camera setup|Single-camera]]
| runtime              = 21–23 minutes
| company              = {{Plain list|
* [[Steven Bochco|Steven Bochco Productions]]
* [[20th Century Fox Television]]
}}
| network              = [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
| first_aired          = {{Start date|1989|9|19}}
| last_aired           = {{End date|1993|3|24}}
| related              = ''[[Doogie Kameāloha, M.D.]]'' 
}}

'''''Doogie Howser, M.D.''''' is an American [[medical drama|medical]] [[sitcom]] that ran for four seasons on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] from September 19, 1989, to March 24, 1993, totaling [[List of Doogie Howser, M.D. episodes|97 episodes]]. Created by [[Steven Bochco]] and [[David E. Kelley]], the show stars [[Neil Patrick Harris]] in the title role as a teenage physician who balances the challenge of practicing medicine with the everyday problems of teenage life.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/d/doogiehowsermd_1299000964.shtml | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041205054829/http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/d/doogiehowsermd_1299000964.shtml | archive-date=December 5, 2004 | title=BBC - Comedy Guide - Doogie Howser, MD }}</ref>

==Plot==
Dr. Douglas "Doogie" Howser ([[Neil Patrick Harris|Harris]]) is the son of David ([[James B. Sikking]]) and Katherine Howser ([[Belinda Montgomery]]). As a child, he twice survived early-stage pediatric [[leukemia]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Pilot (at 15:00 mark)|url=http://www.hulu.com/watch/105/doogie-howser-md-pilot|publisher=[[Hulu]]}}</ref> after his father—a [[family physician]]—discovered suspicious bruising. The experience contributed to the younger Howser's desire to enter medicine.

Possessing a [[genius]] intellect and a [[eidetic memory|photographic memory]],<ref>{{cite web |title=The Grass Ain't Always Greener – Season 1, episode 25 (April 25, 1990) |url=http://www.hulu.com/watch/90/doogie-howser-md-the-grass-aint-always-greener|work=Steven Bochco Productions/[[20th Century Fox Television]]|publisher=Hulu|quote=I can't help it. I remember everything I read.}}</ref> Doogie participates in a [[longitudinal study]] of child prodigies until his 18th birthday.<ref name="summer">{{cite web|title=The Summer of '91 – Season 3, episode 1 (September 25, 1991)|url=http://www.hulu.com/watch/30193/doogie-howser-md-the-summer-of-91|department=Steven Bochco Productions/20th Century Fox Television|publisher=Hulu}}</ref> He earned a perfect score on the [[Scholastic Aptitude Test|SAT]] at the age of six, completed high school in nine weeks,<ref>{{cite web|title=Doogstruck – Season 3, episode 8 (November 20, 1991)|url=http://www.hulu.com/watch/30198/doogie-howser-md-doogstruck|department=Steven Bochco Productions/20th Century Fox Television|publisher=Hulu}}</ref> graduated from [[Princeton University]] in 1983<ref name="couric">Courie, Katie. {{cite web|title='Give something back – you're graduating from Princeton!' (Princeton University Class Day address on June 1, 2009)|url=http://paw.princeton.edu/issues/2009/07/15/pages/7894/index.xml|work=Princeton Alumni Weekly|date=July 15, 2009}}</ref> at age 10, and finished medical school four years later. At age 14, Howser was the youngest licensed physician in the country. As a newspaper article (one of several noting some of Doogie's aforementioned accomplishments that are shown in the series' opening [[title sequence]]) stated, he "can't buy beer... [but] can prescribe drugs".

The series begins on Doogie's 16th birthday; the [[cold open]] of the [[pilot episode]] shows him stopping his field test for his [[driver's license]] to help an injured person at the scene of a traffic accident. Doogie is a second-year resident surgeon<ref>He began his residency in September 1988, a year before the pilot. {{cite web|title= Every Dog Has His Doogie – Season 1, episode 12 (November 29, 1989)|url=http://www.hulu.com/watch/54/doogie-howser-md-every-dog-has-his-doogie|department=Steven Bochco Productions/20th Century Fox Television|publisher=Hulu}}</ref> at Eastman Medical Center in [[Los Angeles]], and still lives [[Pacific Palisades, California|at home]]<ref>1782 Amalfi Drive, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272. {{cite web|title=Lonesome Doog – Season 3, episode 6 (October 30, 1991)|url=http://www.hulu.com/watch/30173/doogie-howser-md-lonesome-doog |department=Steven Bochco Productions/20th Century Fox Television|publisher=Hulu}}</ref> with his parents. Doogie's best friend and neighbor, Vinnie Delpino ([[Max Casella]]), is a more typical teenager who often climbs through Doogie's bedroom window to visit and connects him to life outside of medicine. Doogie has kept a [[diary]] on his computer since 1979;<ref>{{cite web|title=Thanks for the Memories – Season 3, episode 23 (May 6, 1992)|url=http://www.hulu.com/watch/30211|department=Steven Bochco Productions/20th Century Fox Television|publisher=Hulu}}</ref> episodes typically end with him making an entry in it, writing observations about the situations or lessons he had experienced or learned in the episode.

Doogie seeks acceptance both from children his age and from his professional colleagues. Many episodes also deal with wider social problems: [[AIDS]] awareness, [[racism]], [[antisemitism]], [[homophobia]], [[sexism]], [[Gang#Gang violence|gang violence]], access to quality medical care, and losing one's [[virginity]] are topics, along with aging, body issues, and friendship.

Doogie initially has a girlfriend, Wanda Plenn ([[Lisa Dean Ryan]]), but they break up after she leaves for college; he also begins a [[trauma surgery]] [[fellowship (medicine)|fellowship]] and moves into his own apartment. Bochco intended to end the show with a "season-long story arc for Doogie where he becomes disaffected with the practice of medicine and quits medicine to become a writer".<ref>''Doogie Howser M.D.'', Season 1 DVD</ref> ABC abruptly canceled the show due to low ratings, preventing Bochco and the show's writers from implementing that storyline, other than Howser's resignation from Eastman and departure for Europe in the [[List of Doogie Howser, M.D. episodes#Season 4 (1992–1993)|final episode]].

==Production==
The weekly, half-hour dramedy was created by [[Steven Bochco]]. He originated the concept and asked [[David E. Kelley]] to help write the pilot, earning Kelley a "created by" credit. Harris was the first actor the show's staff had found that could convincingly play a teenage doctor, but ABC executives opposed his casting. Bochco's contract required that the network pay an [[Television pilot#Put pilot|"enormous" penalty]] if it canceled the project, so ABC was forced to let him film the pilot. The network still opposed Harris's casting and disliked the pilot, but after positive reception during [[test screening]]s, ABC [[greenlit]] the show.<ref name="adalian20110321">{{cite web|url=http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/03/david_e_kelley_interview_wonde.html|title=The Vulture Transcript: Prolific TV Creator David E. Kelley on His Career Hits and Misses|access-date=March 21, 2011|author=Adalian, Josef|date=March 21, 2011|work=Vulture|publisher=New York}}</ref>

==Cast==
[[File:Doogie Howser Cast Photo.gif|thumb|180px|right|From left to right, Lawrence Pressman as Dr. Canfield, Neil Patrick Harris as Doogie Howser, Mitchell Anderson as Dr. McGuire and Kathryn Layng as Nurse Spaulding]]
===Main cast===
* [[Neil Patrick Harris]] as Dr. Douglas "Doogie" Howser, the show's protagonist.
* [[Max Casella]] as Vincent "Vinnie" Salvatore Delpino, Doogie's best friend since they were five years old.<ref name="video">{{cite web|title=Vinnie Video Vici (October 25, 1989)|url=http://www.hulu.com/watch/95/doogie-howser-md-vinnie-video-vici#s-p4-n1-so-i0|work=Steven Bochco Productions/20th Century Fox Television|publisher=Hulu}}</ref> A typical girl-crazy teenager, Vinnie resists his father's demands to join the family business and instead attends film school to pursue a career as a [[film director]].
* [[Belinda Montgomery]] as Katherine Howser, Doogie Howser's mother. Originally a housewife, she later returns to work as a [[patient advocate]] at her son's hospital.<ref name="herson">{{cite web|title=The Doctor, the Wife, her Son and the Job – Season 2, episode 21 (March 13, 1991)|url=http://www.hulu.com/watch/14507/doogie-howser-md-the-doctor-the-wife-her-son-and-the-job#s-p1-n2-so-i0|work=Steven Bochco Productions/20th Century Fox Television|publisher=Hulu}}</ref>
* [[Lawrence Pressman]] as Dr. Benjamin Canfield, head of Eastman Medical. Canfield is an old friend and classmate of David Howser, and persuades him to join the hospital to run its family practice.<ref name="tough">{{cite web|title=It's a Tough Job...But Why Does My Father Have to Do It? – Season 4, episode 13 (January 13, 1993)|url=http://www.hulu.com/watch/30225/doogie-howser-md-its-a-tough-jobbut-why-does-my-father-have-to-do-it|work=Steven Bochco Productions/20th Century Fox Television|publisher=Hulu}}</ref>
* [[Mitchell Anderson]] (seasons 1–2) as Dr. Jack McGuire, a resident at Eastman and Doogie's friendly rival. A visit to rural Mexico inspires him to leave the hospital to serve the poor overseas.<ref name="dateless">{{cite web|title=Planet of the Dateless – Season 2, episode 22 (March 20, 1991)|url=http://www.hulu.com/watch/14519/doogie-howser-md-planet-of-the-dateless|work=Steven Bochco Productions/20th Century Fox Television|publisher=Hulu}}</ref>
* [[Kathryn Layng]] as Mary Margaret "Curly" Spaulding, a nurse at Eastman. Spaulding occasionally dates McGuire and, briefly, both Canfield<ref name="young">{{cite web|title=Oh Very Young – Season 2, 11 (November 28, 1990)|url=http://www.hulu.com/watch/14520/doogie-howser-md-oh-very-young|work=Steven Bochco Productions/20th Century Fox Television|publisher=Hulu}}</ref> and Howser.<ref name="whatyousee">{{cite web|title=What You See Ain't Necessarily What You Get – Season 3, episode 18 (March 11, 1992)|url=http://www.hulu.com/watch/30158/doogie-howser-md-what-you-see-aint-necessarily-what-you-get#x-0,vepisode,1,0|work=Steven Bochco Productions/20th Century Fox Television|publisher=Hulu}}</ref>
* [[James B. Sikking]] as Dr. David Howser, Doogie Howser's father. He's a [[Vietnam War]] [[Mobile Army Surgical Hospital|MASH]] veteran with a [[family practice]].
* [[Lisa Dean Ryan]] (seasons 1–2, recurring in season 3) as Wanda Plenn, Vinnie's high-school classmate and Doogie's girlfriend. After her mother dies in an automobile accident, Wanda's relationship with Doogie suffers. After she leaves for the [[School of the Art Institute of Chicago]] they end their relationship.
* [[Lucy Boryer]] (seasons 1–3, two episodes in season 4) as Janine Stewart, Vinnie's girlfriend and Wanda's best friend. She drops out of college<ref name="educating">{{cite web|title=Educating Janine – Season 3, episode 13 (April 1, 1992)|url=http://www.hulu.com/watch/30217/doogie-howser-md-educating-janine#x-0,vepisode,1,0|work=Steven Bochco Productions/20th Century Fox Television|publisher=Hulu}}</ref> and becomes a buyer for a [[department store]].
* [[Markus Redmond]] (seasons 2–4, guest star in season 1) as Raymond Alexander, an orderly (and later an EMT) at Eastman. While he was a gang member, Alexander meets Doogie after taking him hostage during a convenience-store robbery;<ref name="slurpy">{{cite web|title=Use a Slurpy, Go to Jail – Season 1, episode 20 (February 28, 1990)|url=http://www.hulu.com/watch/67/doogie-howser-md-use-a-slurpy-go-to-jail|work=Steven Bochco Productions/20th Century Fox Television|publisher=Hulu}}</ref> after finishing his sentence, Doogie helps him get a job at the hospital as an [[orderly]].<ref name="guess">{{cite web|title=Guess Who's Coming to Doogie's – Season 2, episode 2 (September 19, 1990)|url=http://www.hulu.com/watch/14522/doogie-howser-md-guess-whos-coming-to-doogies|work=Steven Bochco Productions/20th Century Fox Television|publisher=Hulu}}</ref>

===Recurring cast===
* [[Rif Hutton]] as Dr. Ron Welch, a fellow doctor who is also friends with Howser.
* [[Robyn Lively]] as Michele Faber (seasons 2 and 4), a nursing student. She becomes Howser's girlfriend shortly before he decides to leave Eastman and go to Europe.
* [[Barry Livingston]] as Dr. Bob Rickett (seasons 2–4), a fellow doctor working at Eastman.

==Episodes==
{{Main|List of Doogie Howser, M.D. episodes|label1=List of ''Doogie Howser, M.D.'' episodes}}
{{:List of Doogie Howser, M.D. episodes}}

==Syndication==
In the United States, reruns of ''Doogie Howser, M.D.'' ran in syndication between September 1994 and September 1996. Repeats of the show aired on cable on the [[Odyssey Network]] (now Hallmark Channel) from 1999 to 2001.<ref>{{cite news | title = Odyssey, Other Networks Set Fall Slates | url = https://www.nexttv.com/news/odyssey-other-networks-set-fall-slates-157707| date = September 5, 1999 | website = Next Tv | access-date = November 1, 2022}}</ref> [[Discovery Family|The Hub]] began airing reruns of the show on October 11, 2010<ref>{{cite news | title = Doogie Howser M.D.', 'Wonder Years' et. al to Join New Lineup for The Hub Network | url = https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Doogie-Howser-MD-Wonder-Years-et-al-to-Join-New-Lineup-for-The-Hub-Network-20100806| date = August 6, 2010 | website = Broadway World | access-date = November 4, 2022}}</ref> lasting until May 26, 2013. [[Antenna TV]] aired reruns from January 5, 2015 to January 1, 2018.<ref>[http://antennatv.tv/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Antenna-TV-1Q-2015-Program-Grid-East-West.pdf Antenna program Starting January 5, 2015] antennatv.tv</ref>

==Home media==
[[Anchor Bay Entertainment]] released all four seasons of ''Doogie Howser, M.D.'' on DVD in Region 1 (United States and Canada) between 2005 and 2006.<ref>{{cite web|title=Doogie Howser, M.D. - We've Got Dr. Doogie's DVD Cover Art!|url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Doogie-Howser-MD/2864#ixzz1XUVS1Ujl|author=David Lambert|date=February 4, 2005|work=TVShowsOnDVD.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020140852/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Doogie-Howser-MD/2864#ixzz1XUVS1Ujl|archive-date=October 20, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Doogie Howser, M.D. - Take a look at the front cover for Season 2!|url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Doogie-Howser-MD/3811#ixzz1XUVvNTQP|author=David Lambert|date=August 2, 2005|work=TVShowsOnDVD.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020140907/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Doogie-Howser-MD/3811#ixzz1XUVvNTQP|archive-date=October 20, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Doogie Howser, M.D. - Doogie's Getting Kissed On The 3rd Season Set's Cover|url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Doogie-Howser-MD/4424#ixzz1XUWCoPgU|author=David Lambert|date=November 2, 2005|work=TVShowsOnDVD.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020140951/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Doogie-Howser-MD/4424#ixzz1XUWCoPgU|archive-date=October 20, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Doogie Howser, M.D. - Package Art For Doogie's Final Season|url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Doogie-Howser-MD/5138#ixzz1XUWMVwEQ|author=David Lambert|date=February 16, 2006|work=TVShowsOnDVD.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020141032/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Doogie-Howser-MD/5138#ixzz1XUWMVwEQ|archive-date=October 20, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref> A ''Complete Collection'' release was announced on August 28, 2008, but was eventually canceled.<ref>{{cite web|title=Doogie Howser, M.D. - Anchor Bay Preps for Surgery: New Complete Collection Cuts Out in May|url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Doogie-Howser-MD-Complete-Collection/9269#ixzz1XVcEtaYf|author=David Lambert|date=March 28, 2008|work=TVShowsOnDVD.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111118015847/http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Doogie-Howser-MD-Complete-Collection/9269#ixzz1XVcEtaYf|archive-date=November 18, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref> All 4 seasons had been available to stream on [[Hulu]], but expired on that service on June 27, 2023. The series was made available internationally on [[Star (Disney+)|Star]] on [[Disney+]] beginning March 15, 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/abbott-elementary-janelle-james-host-wga-awards-1235525423/|title='Abbott Elementary' Star Janelle James to Host Writers Guild Awards (TV News Roundup)|publisher=Variety|first1=Julia|first2=Katie|first3=Charna|last1=MacCary|last2=Reul|last3=Flam|date=February 16, 2023}}</ref>

==Reception==

===Critical reception===
According to [[Metacritic]], [[Marvin Kitman]] of ''[[Newsday]]'' gave season 1 of ''Doogie Howser, M.D.'' a 40/100 score and commented: "What a wasted childhood my kids have had, I got to thinking while watching this otherwise normal Doogie Howser. It makes you look at your kids differently. What lazy bums they must be, still in high school at 16."<ref name="Metacritic; Season 1">{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/tv/doogie-howser-md|title=Doogie Howser, M.D. - Season 1 Reviews|website=[[Metacritic]]|access-date=30 December 2014}}</ref> Scott Weinberg of [[DVD Talk]] recommended season two: "It's not high art, but it's a heckuva lot better than what generally passes for your average weeknight sitcom."<ref name="DVD Talk 2005-09-25">{{cite web|title=Doogie Howser, M.D. -- Season Two : DVD Talk Review of the DVD Video|url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/17880/doogie-howser-md-season-two/|author=Scott Weinberg|date=September 25, 2005|publisher=[[DVD Talk]]|access-date=December 30, 2014}}</ref> Christopher Smith of the ''[[Bangor Daily News]]'' gave season three a "C" grade and commented: "No classic, this series. [...T]he show has become gratingly cute, particularly in the episodes “Doogiesomething,” “Double Doogie with Cheese,” and “Lonesome Doog.” Doog, I'm Dooged out."<ref name="BDN 2006-01-28">{{cite news|title=DVD corner|url=http://archive.bangordailynews.com/2006/01/28/dvd-corner-27/|author=Christopher Smith|newspaper=[[Bangor Daily News]]|date=28 January 2006|access-date=December 30, 2014}}</ref>

===Awards and nominations===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"
|-
! Year
! Award
! Result
! Category
! Recipient
|-style="background-color: #EAEAEA;"
| rowspan=6|1990 || [[People's Choice Award]] || '''Won''' || Favorite New TV Comedy Series || 
|-
| rowspan=2|[[Viewers for Quality Television|Viewers for Quality Television Award]] || rowspan=2|'''Nominated''' || Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series || Neil Patrick Harris
|- 
| Best Supporting Actor in a Quality Comedy Series || Max Casella
|-style="background-color: #EAEAEA;"
| rowspan=3|[[Young Artist Award]] || '''Won''' || Best Young Actor Starring in a Television Series || Neil Patrick Harris
|-
| rowspan=2|'''Nominated''' || Best New Television Series || 
|-
| Best Young Actor Guest Starring in a Television Series || [[Michael Bacall]]
|-style="background-color: #EAEAEA;"
| rowspan=4|1991 || [[Primetime Emmy Award]] || '''Won''' || [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation|Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy Series or a Special]] || Joe Kenworthy {{small|(production sound mixer)}}<br />Bill Thiederman {{small|(re-recording mixer)}}<br />Dean Okrand {{small|(re-recording mixer)}}<br />Mike Getlin {{small|(re-recording mixer)}}<br />{{small|(for the episode "Doogenstein")}}
|-
| [[Humanitas Prize]] || '''Nominated''' || 30 Minute Network or Syndicated Television || Nat Bernstein<br />Mitchel Katlin<br />{{small|(for the episode "To Live and Die in Brentwood")}}
|-style="background-color: #EAEAEA;"
| rowspan=2|Young Artist Awards || rowspan=2|'''Won''' || Best Young Actor Guest Starring in a Television Series || [[Christopher Pettiet]]
|-
| Best Young Actor Starring in a Television Series || Neil Patrick Harris
|-
| rowspan=5|1992 || rowspan=2|Primetime Emmy Award || '''Won''' || [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation|Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy Series or a Special]] || Joe Kenworthy {{small|(production sound mixer)}}<br />Bill Thiederman {{small|(re-recording mixer)}}<br />Dean Okrand {{small|(re-recording mixer)}}<br />Mike Getlin {{small|(re-recording mixer)}}<br />{{small|(for the episode "Lonesome Doog")}}
|- 
| '''Nominated''' || [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Series (One Hour)|Outstanding Cinematography for a Series]] || Michael D. O'Shea<br />{{small|(for the episode "Summer Of '91")}}
|-
| Golden Globe Award || '''Nominated''' || Best Performance by an Actor in a TV-Series – Comedy/Musical || rowspan=2|Neil Patrick Harris
|-style="background-color: #EAEAEA;"
| rowspan=2|Young Artist Award || '''Won''' || Best Young Actor Starring in a Television Series
|-
| '''Nominated''' || Best Young Actress Co-starring in a Television Series || Lisa Dean Ryan
|-style="background-color: #EAEAEA;"
| 1993 || Primetime Emmy Award || '''Won''' || [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation|Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy Series or a Special]] || Joe Kenworthy {{small|(production sound mixer)}}<br />Mike Getlin {{small|(re-recording mixer)}}<br />Dean Okrand {{small|(re-recording mixer)}}<br />Bill Thiederman {{small|(re-recording mixer)}}<br />{{small|(for the episode "Doogie Got a Gun")}}
|}

==Cultural influence==
<!--Please don't put every random mention of Doogie Howser here. If Harris satirizes his own character, or an entire episode of some TV show ever satirizes ''Doogie Howser'', that's all right. But no one cares if Willow in season five of ''Buffy'' called Xander "Doogie." And don't bother to enter ''Robot Chicken'' or ''Family Guy'' skits, please; those shows satirize so many things that they'd end up appearing in the article for half the TV shows and movies ever created!-->
* Neil Patrick Harris has satirized his years playing a teenage medical doctor several times:
** In an episode of ''[[Roseanne]]'', Roseanne Conner ([[Roseanne Barr]]) has a dream after having undergone [[breast reduction]] surgery. She goes to the mirror and realizes that her breasts are comically larger than before. Doogie Howser (Harris) comes in and asks an upset Roseanne if they were supposed to be bigger.
** [[Barney Stinson]] (also played by Harris) writes in his [[blog|computerized diary]] at the end of the ''[[How I Met Your Mother]]'' episode "[[The Bracket]]," while the ''Doogie Howser'' theme music plays.<ref>{{cite web|title=HIMYM, "The Bracket": No bets, just slaps|url=http://blog.nj.com/alltv/2008/03/himym_the_bracket_no_bets_just.html|author=Alan Sepinwall|publisher=blog.nj.com|newspaper=[[The Star-Ledger]]|date=March 31, 2008}}</ref> In the later episode "[[The Stinsons]]," he also comments, "Call me crazy but child actors were way better in the '80s".
** In the 2004 comedy ''[[Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle]]'', Harris – playing a fictionalized version of himself – claims to have "humped every piece of ass ever on that show" (except the hot nurse, over whom he expresses regret). Harris is referred to as "Doogie Howser" while stealing Harold ([[John Cho]])'s car from the convenience store. In ''[[Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay]]'', Harris remarks, after taking psychotropic mushrooms, "Dude, I was able to perform an [[appendectomy]] at 14, I think I can handle a few 'shrooms".
** In 2008, Harris appeared in commercials for [[Old Spice]] deodorant, claiming to be an expert because he "used to be a doctor for pretends".<!--not "pretend"-->
** During the opening of the 2009 ''[[TV Land Awards]]'', Harris, who hosted the show, travels through "The TV Land Zone" (a spoof of ''[[The Twilight Zone]]''), where he finds himself the star of TV classics. At one point, Harris walks into a doctor's office, dressed as Doogie, while the ''Doogie Howser, M.D.'' theme plays. After realizing where he is, he storms out, saying, "No no no, not gonna happen! Check my contract!"
** On the January 10, 2009 episode of ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', an "[[SNL Digital Short]]" featured Harris, the episode's guest host, leading a full orchestra version of the ''Doogie Howser'' theme. When the song concludes, he turns toward the camera and sheds a tear.<ref>{{cite web|title=Digital Short: 'Doogie Howser' Theme|url=http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/digital-short-doogie-howser-theme/1037181/|work=Saturday Night Live ([[SNL Studios]]/[[Broadway Video]])|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090705001253/http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/digital-short-doogie-howser-theme/1037181/|archive-date=July 5, 2009|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
** On the March 14, 2011 episode of ''[[Jimmy Kimmel Live!]]'', a "real doctor" played by Harris endorses Kimmel's Jim-Miracle Diet, as the ''Doogie Howser'' theme plays.<ref name="kimmel">{{cite video|title=The Hottie Body Jim-Miracle Diet|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoKoKI_2NlQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/YoKoKI_2NlQ |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|people=Jimmy Kimmel, Neil Patrick Harris|publisher=YouTube|date=March 14, 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
** Harris in 2017 joined other actors from medical television shows in [[Cigna]]'s "TV Doctors of America" advertising campaign for annual [[checkup]]s.<ref name="holub20170915">{{Cite magazine |last=Holub |first=Christian |date=2017-09-15 |title=Neil Patrick Harris, Kate Walsh Join TV Doctors of America For New Video |url=http://ew.com/tv/2017/09/15/neil-patrick-harris-kate-walsh-tv-doctors-of-america-ad/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Neil Patrick Harris played Doogie Howser in ''[[The Earth Day Special]]'' in 1990. In the special, Doogie, along with two other doctors (played by [[Dana Delany]] and [[James Brolin]]), are informed by the ''[[Back to the Future (franchise)|Back to the Future trilogy]]'' scientist [[Emmett L. Brown]] (played by [[Christopher Lloyd]]) on how to save [[Mother Nature]] (played by [[Bette Midler]]).<ref>''A Matter of Time: The Unauthorized Back to the Future Lexicon'' Page 125</ref>
* In [[Anthony Bourdain]]'s book ''[[Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly]]'', any blond, good-looking waiter working in his restaurant is immediately nicknamed "Doogie Howser".<ref>{{cite web|title=Anthony Bourdain 'Kitchen Confidential'|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/2277375/Anthony-Bourdain-Kitchen-Confidential|author=Anthony Bourdain|work=Kitchen Confidential|year=2000|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925133625/http://www.scribd.com/doc/2277375/Anthony-Bourdain-Kitchen-Confidential|archive-date=September 25, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
* Smart mice obtained by genetic engineering have been named "[[Doogie mice]]" in honor of Harris's character.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Next Fifty Years" (Ed. J. Brockman)|chapter=Swappable Minds|author=Marc D. Hauser|publisher=Vintage Books|year=2001}}</ref><ref name="pmid10485705">{{cite journal|title=Genetic enhancement of learning and memory in mice|doi=10.1038/43432|vauthors=Tang YP, Shimizu E, Dube GR, Rampon C, Kerchner GA, Zhuo M, Liu G, Tsien JZ |journal=Nature|volume=401|pages=63–69|year=1999|pmid=10485705|issue=6748|bibcode=1999Natur.401...63T|s2cid=481884}}</ref>
* In 2025 after it was announced that Harris was portraying [[Deadpool]] in Deadpool VR, [[Ryan Reynolds]] posted an advertisement for the game where he pretended to portray Doogie Howser and write in his computer diary joking about Neil taking his role. Robyn Lively, Ryan's sister-in-law, also makes an appearance.<ref>{{cite web | title=Ryan Over-Reacts to Marvel's Deadpool VR | website=[[YouTube]] | date=June 7, 2025 | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WIhc9hjlTQ }}</ref>

==Real life comparisons==
[[Balamurali Ambati]] graduated from the [[Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai|Mount Sinai School of Medicine]] and obtained his medical license when he was only 17 years old, a [[Guinness World Record]], and has been compared to the fictional Doogie Howser, though Ambati himself disliked the association.<ref>{{cite web|title=Teen doctor: 'Just don't call me Doogie'|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=861&dat=19950517&id=hihSAAAAIBAJ&pg=5261,2890857|newspaper=[[The Victoria Advocate]]|date=May 17, 1995|access-date=April 2, 2013}}</ref>

[[Sho Yano]], who became the youngest student to attain an M.D. from the [[University of Chicago]] at 21 years old, has also been called a real-life Doogie Howser.<ref>{{cite news|title=M.D. at 21, Sho Yano Is Real-Life 'Doogie Howser'|url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/06/m-d-at-21-sho-yano-is-real-life-doogie-howser/|author=Enjoli Francis|work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|date=June 4, 2012|access-date=April 2, 2013}}</ref>

Doogie Howser has been used as a moniker for several people involved in politics. In 2009, 13-year-old author and speaker [[Jonathan Krohn]] was nicknamed "Doogie Howser GOP".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/28/fashion/the-growing-pains-of-jonathan-krohn.html|title=The Growing Pains of Jonathan Krohn|first=Susan|last=Chumsky|work=The New York Times |date=April 26, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alabamahomeschooling.com/2010/12/homeschooler-jonathan-krohn.html|title=Homeschooler: Jonathan Krohn|website=www.alabamahomeschooling.com}}</ref> 17-year-old Evan Draim, the youngest delegate at the [[2012 Republican National Convention]], was referred to as a "Doogie Howser of the GOP".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.localkicks.com/politics/local_politics/meet-evan-draim-of-alexandria-the-doogie-howser-of-the-gop|title=Meet Evan Draim of Alexandria, the 'Doogie Howser' of the GOP - Alexandria Virginia News - LocalKicks|website=www.localkicks.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-08-29/news/wgntv-evan-draim-youngest-delegate-at-rnc-20120829_1_youngest-delegate-republican-convention-rnc|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413043744/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-08-29/news/wgntv-evan-draim-youngest-delegate-at-rnc-20120829_1_youngest-delegate-republican-convention-rnc|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 13, 2018|title=Evan Draim: 17-year-old delegate at RNC|website=orlandosentinel.com}}</ref> Republican congressman [[Aaron Schock]] has been referred to as a Doogie Howser for being the [[List of youngest members of the United States Congress|youngest member of Congress]] in 2009 at 27 years old.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/27/aaron-schock-hottest-fres_n_170609.html|title=Aaron Schock, "Hottest Freshman," Talks Doogie Howser And Dating On "Today Show" (VIDEO)|first=Anya|last=Strzemien|date=March 30, 2009|via=Huff Post}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/March-2009/Young-Gun/|title=Young Gun|website=chicagomag.com}}</ref> In 2015, [[Jon Stewart]] called Schock a "Doogie Howser wannabe" for his travel expenses and activities while still in office.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/jon-stewart-rips-fallen-gop-rep-aaron-schock-doogie-howser-wannabe-video/|title=Jon Stewart Rips Fallen GOP Rep. Aaron Schock: 'Doogie Howser Wannabe' (Video)|date=March 19, 2015|website=thewrap.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/jon-stewart-rips-fallen-gop-rep-aaron-schock-152332897.html|title=Jon Stewart Rips Fallen GOP Rep. Aaron Schock: 'Doogie Howser Wannabe' (Video)|website=yahoo.com|date=March 19, 2015 }}</ref>

Some teenagers who have impersonated physicians are often referred to as Doogie Howser.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/bizarre/doogie-howser-wannabe-busted-786450|title=Doogie Howser Wannabe Busted At Hospital|date=January 16, 2015|website=The Smoking Gun}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/florida-teen-arrested-performing-exam-fake-doctor-own-offices-authorities-n519676|title=Florida Teen Arrested for Posing as a Licensed Doctor: Authorities|website=nbcnews.com|date=February 17, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://newsfeed.time.com/2013/02/03/doogie-howser-gone-wrong-teen-arrested-for-impersonating-a-doctor/|title=Doogie Howser Gone Wrong: Teen Arrested for Impersonating a Doctor|first=Ollie|last=John|magazine=Time|date=February 3, 2013|via=newsfeed.time.com}}</ref> Others who have excelled at a young age have been called Doogie Howser.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wtnh.com/news/ansonia-teen-hailed-a-genius-after-perfect-score-on-ap-chemistry-exam_20180403103741535/1097735461|title=Ansonia teen hailed a "genius" after perfect score on AP chemistry exam|first=Mario|last= Boone|date=March 28, 2018|website=wtnh.com|access-date=April 12, 2018|archive-date=April 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413161032/http://www.wtnh.com/news/ansonia-teen-hailed-a-genius-after-perfect-score-on-ap-chemistry-exam_20180403103741535/1097735461|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogs.findlaw.com/greedy_associates/2015/09/20-year-old-prosecutor-young-cooley-grad-sworn-into-florida-bar.html|title=20-Year-Old Prosecutor: Young Cooley Grad Sworn Into Florida Bar|website=findlaw.com|date=September 28, 2015}}</ref>

==Reboot==
{{main article|Doogie Kameāloha, M.D.}}
In April 2020, it was announced that a reboot titled ''Doogie Kameāloha, M.D.'', was in development for [[Disney+]] with Kourtney Kang writing and co-executive producing with Melvin Mar, [[Jake Kasdan]], and Bochco's wife, Dayna Bochco and son, [[Jesse Bochco]]. The new series focuses on Lahela “Doogie” Kameāloha ([[Peyton Elizabeth Lee]]), a female 16-year-old doctor in Hawaii given her nickname by others who have seen ''Doogie Howser, M.D.''. Disney+ gave the series a 10-episode straight-to-series order in September 2020.<ref>{{cite web|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|title='Doogie Howser' Female-Led Reboot 'Doogie Kameāloha, M.D.' Picked Up To Series By Disney+|url=https://deadline.com/2020/09/doogie-kamealoha-md-doogie-howser-female-led-reboot-picked-up-series-disney-plus-1234574289/|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=September 11, 2020|date=September 10, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Goldberg|first1=Lesley|title=Andi Mack' star Peyton Elizabeth Lee will take on the role that Neil Patrick Harris originally made famous three decades ago.|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/doogie-howser-reboot-at-disney-casts-its-lead|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=January 14, 2021}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
*{{wikiquote-inline|Doogie Howser, M.D.|''Doogie Howser, M.D.''}}
* {{IMDb title|id=0096569}}

{{Steven Bochco}}
{{David E. Kelley}}
{{People's Choice Award for Favorite New TV Comedy}}

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