Best Medicine

If Doc Martin is a sharp British comedy about a grumpy doctor with heart, Best Medicine is the flat American remake that forgot both ingredients. It tries to bottle the Cornish charm and bone-dry humor of the original - but ends up with the emotional depth of a hospital waiting room.

Martin Clunes can deliver a diagnosis with a raised eyebrow; this version feels like it's waiting for a cue card. The Cornish cliffs are gone, the wit is gone, and somehow the soul wandered off too.

Think of it as Doc Martin after an overzealous focus group. Same premise, no pulse.

Doc Martin is arguably one of the best television shows ever made with some of the best writing, the best acting and the best character development and plots ever developed on either side of the Atlantic. When all of those things come together it is true television magic, so perhaps it is unfair to compare this adaptation to the original. However, since it uses the same characters, situations and plots as the original - that very high standard is, unfortunately, where the bar is set, and it simply falls in every area. The actors are miscast, the writing has chopped up original scripts and dragged them down with nonsense. It's not funny like the original, and the pacing is all wrong. I knew the plot of the pilot episode, having seen it in the original, but found myself bored and uninterested. Josh Charles does work as Doc "Martin", and even the fabulous Annie Potts seems a bit lost as the aunt (that tiny frail looking woman is a lobsterman? Really?). I'm so disappointed because I really hoped someone, somewhere at some point in time would do a great American adaptation, but alas, I am still waiting.

Based on the popular British comedy 'Doc Martin', this pathetic unfunny copy follows the original's first show's plot almost word for word without anything funny to show for it. The lead actor, Josh Charles, appears to have no comedic comedy talent whatsoever. This show reminds me more of 'Northern Exposure'- without the charm. Not a very promising beginning. The ditzy receptionist - check and no funny lines. The promiscuous wife and her young lover- check. The cranky aunt - check and still no laughs. I give this show maybe 8 weeks and it will be cancelled.

I've always liked Josh Charles and Abigail Spencer in everything I've seen either in and I love the original British show, Doc Martin, which this is an Americanized version of, but this was a waste of time, talent and money. It just fell flat with us and the characters and their dialogues were cringe worthy.

I would hope to see it improve however I won't be along for the ride except to perhaps see the occasional appearance by Martin Clunes, the original and quintessential Doc Martin.

So this is basically the American version of the very successful British series - Doc Martin ??

I wonder who had the idea to make this ... as the series already existed ... maybe America didn't "get" the original series, possible being too British.

Well let's see if this makes anywhere near the 10 seasons that the original had.

Good Luck.