TV series
It couldn't happen anywhere else.
St. Elsewhere is an American medical drama television series that originally ran on NBC from October 26, 1982 to May 25, 1988. The series starred Ed Flanders, Norman Lloyd and William Daniels as teaching doctors at a lightly-regarded Boston hospital who gave interns a promising future in making critical medical and life decisions.
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Checked Jul 22, 2026
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St. Elsewhere is an American medical drama television series that originally ran on NBC from October 26, 1982 to May 25, 1988. The series starred Ed Flanders, Norman Lloyd and William Daniels as teaching doctors at a lightly-regarded Boston hospital who gave interns a promising future in making critical medical and life decisions.
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Episode 1
One month after St. Eligius was shut down, it is reopened by The Ecumena Corporation and its head of medicine Dr. John Gideon. Meanwhile, Dr. Craig is offered the opportunity to design an artificial heart, which the younger doctors jokingly call the ""Craig 5000.""
Directed by Bruce PaltrowWritten by John TinkerGuest stars Ed Flanders, Gregg Berger, Tom Henschel, Karl Lukas, Betty McGuire, Harry Danner, John C. Moskoff, Carlos Lacámara
Episode 2
Gideon and Westphall argue over an AIDS clinic, Ehrlich looks for a mysterious woman on his wedding day, Kiem experiments with hypnosis, and Joanne blames Boomer for letting her kids go back to Seattle with her ex-husband.
Directed by Mark TinkerWritten by John Tinker, John MasiusGuest stars Ed Flanders, Kavi Raz, Brandon Call, Gregg Berger, Patricia Wettig, Fredric Cook, Jack Dodson, Paula Hoffman
Episode 3
The AIDS clinic becomes a showdown between Dr. Westphall and Dr. Gideon; Griffin tries to avoid his AIDS patient's homosexual lover; Fiscus' mother drops by for a visit; and Luther tries to help a man who insists he's pregnant and about to deliver.
Directed by Mark TinkerGuest stars Ed Flanders, Gregg Berger, Deborah Harmon, Kyle Secor, Richard Kline, Lainie Kazan, Dennis Patrick, Bill Zuckert
Episode 4
The orderlies ask Auschlander to talk with Gideon about their grievances, Wade puts up with temporary lodgers, Rosenthal confronts an epileptic nursing student, and Craig gives Ehrlich marriage tips while they start work on a sheep's heart.
Directed by Eric LaneuvilleWritten by John TinkerGuest stars Gregg Berger, Byron Stewart, Kyle Secor, Penelope Ann Miller, Henry Beckman, Frances Bay, Leo Gordon, Bob Harks
Episode 5
It's Halloween at the new and improved St. Eligius, and the craft-matic bed where Mrs. Hufnagel was crushed to death is apparently haunted. Meanwhile, Wade, Craig, and Ehrlich look for a heart transplant recipient and Chandler sucks up to Gideon in order to get promoted.
Directed by Michael FrescoWritten by John Tinker, John PiRomanGuest stars Hector Elias, Kyle Secor, Paul Verdier, Jason Zahler, Chris Johnston, Kevin Duffis
Episode 6
Dr. Craig and Ehrlich attend a meeting of the Cushing Society, an all male medical society; Wade gets herself into more surgery than she bargained for; Novino takes a special interest in two lonely children; Dr. Gideon offers Ellen a new career; and Chandler is made new chief resident.
Directed by Eric LaneuvilleGuest stars Dana Short, Frank Dent, Barry Jenner, Virginya Keehne, D. Franki Horner, Nancy Hinman
Episode 7
Dr. Craig and Ehrlich attend a meeting of the Cushing Society, an all male medical society; Wade gets herself into more surgery than she bargained for; Novino takes a special interest in two lonely children; Dr. Gideon offers Ellen a new career; and Chandler is made new chief resident.
Directed by David MorseWritten by John TinkerGuest stars Kim Johnston Ulrich, Christina Kokubo, William Schallert, John Kellogg, Neva Patterson, Georgann Johnson, Philip Abbott, Diane Salinger
Episode 8
Craig proceeds with his artificial heart implant despite some questions about his choice of candidates; Morrison tries to deal with the departure of Joanne for Seattle and Dr. Craig becomes suspicious about the relationship between Ellen and Dr. Gideon. AIDS patient, Brett Johnston, and his lover are victims of gay bashing and as a result of his injuries, Brett is readmitted into the hospital.
Directed by Michael FrescoWritten by John TinkerGuest stars Gregg Berger, Kyle Secor, S. Pearl Sharp, Dominic Hoffman, John Scott Clough, John Kellogg, Neva Patterson
Episode 9
Fiscus pulls one last prank on Gideon before turning thirty; Morrison and Novino compete to deliver the 100,000th baby at St. Eligius; Dr. Craig puts on the boxing gloves again; and Lucy walks the Freedom Trail with a dying man.
Directed by Mark TinkerWritten by Tom Fontana, John TinkerGuest stars Charles Lane, Michael Pataki, Christina Kokubo, Byron Stewart, Robert Picardo, Debbie Pollack, Amzie Strickland, Thomas Bellin
Episode 10
Axelrod's cousin Pee-Wee checks in and checks out Novino; Fiscus tries to help his father deal with his stroke; Mr. Spooner takes his first post surgery steps with the media in full attendance; and Dr. Auschlander considers his future medical treatment.
Directed by Eric LaneuvilleGuest stars Bill Dana, Arthur Taxier, Lainie Kazan, Tom Henschel, Karl Lukas, John Kellogg, Neva Patterson, Matt Frewer
Episode 11
A man claiming to be the true inventor of the Craig 9000 kidnaps Ehrlich; AIDS patient Brett Johnston's rib injuries have led to pneumonia and he is now determined to break with his lover; Dr. Kiem helps Amy Jeffries, a lonely St. Eligius neighbor; Griffin treats a driven young broker determined to make a million before he dies; Lucy worries that she might be pregnant; Helen returns to work; the company that owns the hospital finds itself sued for infringement and Mrs. Spooner ends her husband's suffering.
Directed by David MorseGuest stars Alan Young, Kyle Secor, Rosemary DeCamp, John Scott Clough, John Kellogg, Neva Patterson, Joseph Kell, Shelli Place
Episode 12
Mr. Bevine returns for foreskin reconstruction; Dr. Auschlander seeks an alternative for a fellow cancer patient; Novino frets over Pee-Wee and tests Lucy, who has trouble telling Victor the news; Fiscus returns to work. but has trouble putting his father's death behind him; Morrison's false confidence as `Dr. Adam Logan' evaporates when Pete is rejected by an exclusive private school.
Directed by Bethany RooneyGuest stars Reid Shelton, Christina Kokubo, Todd Susman, Arthur Taxier, Concetta Tomei, Ivan Bonar, Patrika Darbo, Bob Harks
Episode 13
Judge Farnham checks into the hospital with an inoperable cancer (and asking for Floyd the Barber); Rosenthal takes Bobby Caldwell's death very hard; Dr. Craig searches for a date for a skating rink opening; Dr. Kiem is in the middle when she saves the life of a young black man shot by a Vietnamese gang member; Griffin befriends the new chaplain, who's a descendant of the hospital founder, Father McCabe; Novino and Luther compete on the ER simulator and Ehrlich tries to find his elusive parents.
Directed by Mark TinkerGuest stars Jack Dodson, Shelly Gibson, Darin Taylor, John Miranda, Mindy Seeger, Shane Ralston, Jack Yee, Tai Babilonia
Episode 14
Morrison counsels a family about genetic testing and Huntington's disease; Rosenthal's drug problem causes a death; artist Alex Corey does a shocking piece of performance art; the Craigs proceed with their divorce and the hospital undergoes a name change.
Guest stars Jeff Allin, Jack Dodson, Lynn Whitfield, Ketty Lester, Stephen Burks, Tony Mockus Jr., Henry Sutton, Francesca Poston
Episode 15
Phil returns from a training course at the Weigert home office; someone takes a shot at Dr. Gideon; Dr. Craig loses Flash during a rescue attempt by animal activists; the new security cameras upset Rosenthal, who continues to lose control; Novino tries to correct a misdiagnosis made 60 years ago, and a show is performed in the children's ward.
Directed by Michael FrescoWritten by Lydia Woodward, Grace McKeaneyGuest stars Carel Struycken, Robert Costanzo, Nancy Hinman, Mindy Seeger, Arthur Malet, Marie Denn, Reggie Luck
Episode 16
Fiscus can't understand his nihilistic cystic fibrosis patient or her punk friends; Dr. Gideon suspends Dr. Craig because of the Spooner malpractice suit; Ehrlich and Lucy are unable to console each other when she miscarries; and Rosenthal admits herself to the chemical dependency unit.
Directed by Eric LaneuvilleWritten by John TinkerGuest stars Christina Kokubo, Jeannie Elias, Herb Edelman, Dana Short, Karen Petrasek, Ina Fried, Olivia Barash, Pauly Shore
Episode 17
Dr. Craig, Ellen, Lizzie and Novino drive to Peterborough, New Hampshire to visit Dr. Westphall on his birthday; Ellen tries to deal with changes to her hometown; Novino stirs up a lady carpenter; Lizzie finally expresses her resentment; and Dr. Craig almost destroys his friendship with Dr. Westphall.
Directed by Mark TinkerGuest stars Ed Flanders, Chad Allen, Tanya Berezin, Dana Short, Candy Clark, Jack Kehler, Douglas Dirkson, Rebecca Schull
Episode 18
Wade and Kiley liberate their psyches during a study of OR infection vectors; Dr. Auschlander meets the son he never knew; Morrison and Novino grow closer as they work in the ICU; and Rosenthal adjusts to life in the chemical dependency unit.
Directed by Michael FrescoWritten by Grace McKeaneyGuest stars Jeannie Elias, Byron Stewart, Philip Sterling, Kyle Secor, Frank Dent, Lawrence Pressman, David Paymer, Stacey Dash
Episode 19
Ehrlich stands up to Dr. Craig's verbal missiles; Griffin fails in an attempt to pass along spiritual support; Axelrod faces emergency heart surgery as a patient; Rosenthal finds it hard to face her children during family therapy; and Luther uses Penny's video equipment to record Dr. Gideon.
Written by Lydia WoodwardGuest stars Jeannie Elias, Philip Sterling, Kyle Secor, Herb Edelman, Ina Fried, David Paymer, Stacey Dash, Beatrice Straight
Episode 20
Brett Johnston's parents come to visit; even in death Axelrod doesn't get any respect; Rosenthal waits for her release while her roommate runs away; Luther proposes to Penny; and Dr. Craig returns to St. Eligius to do a multiple transplant.
Guest stars Reid Shelton, Jane Wyatt, Philip Sterling, Kyle Secor, Leo Gordon, Frank Dent, Ina Fried, Shelly Gibson
Episode 21
An ebullient Novino pursues Morrison; Fiscus tries to revitalize his mother's life; Rosenthal returns to duty; Wade tries to help a dying child deal with her bitterly divided parents; Griffin tests positive for AIDS; Dr. Turner returns and helps Chandler come to a decision about his future; and the Oseranskys return to take Lucy to the ""Doctor of the Year"" dinner, which ends in a flaming disaster.
Directed by Eric LaneuvilleWritten by Tom FontanaGuest stars Steve Allen, Tom Poston, Jayne Meadows, Bill Dana, Louis Nye, Judith Barsi, Lainie Kazan, Alfre Woodard
Episode 22
The Craigs' reconciliation faces its first test; Drs. Auschlander and Gideon struggle together to save St. Eligius when Weigert decides to get out; Novino pushes Morrison to decide between her and Joanne; Griffin places his future in God's hands; Ehrlich returns from his odyssey; and Fiscus' last E.R. patient is a lady from the opera... But is it really over? The jaw-dropping climax culminates in a blue-collared dad placing his young autistic son Tommy Westphall's miniature St. Eligius snow globe on the living room TV set, having summoned him to dinner. ""St. Elsewhere's"" entire six-year saga had all been a figment of little Tommy's imagination!
Directed by Mark TinkerWritten by Mark Tinker, Bruce PaltrowGuest stars Ed Flanders, Christina Kokubo, Byron Stewart, Chad Allen, Arthur Gerunda, Christopher Michael Dixon, Craig Reed, Nestor Serrano
Episode information updated Jul 24, 2026
William DanielsMark Craig
Norman LloydDaniel Auschlander
G.W. BaileyHugh Beale
Ronny CoxJohn Gideon
Bonnie BartlettEllen Craig
Ellen BryShirley Daniels
Ed Begley Jr.Victor Ehrlich
Mark HarmonRobert Caldwell
NBCUnited States
20th Century Fox TelevisionUnited States
MTM EnterprisesUnited States
