Diagnosis Murder

If you want to watch something nice and simple without too much blood, gore, and explosions, you have to go back to shows of the past. This may get you laughed at. Or at least have someone shake their head at you, but who cares! As long as you enjoy the show, that is what matters. Laughter and headshaking are the reactions I get when talking about Murder, She Wrote, and I’m sure I’ll get them with Diagnosis Murder. But scoff all you want, because I’m enjoying this show.

Diagnosis Murder
Dick Van Dyke

We all need a doctor like Mark Sloan

Dr. Mark Sloan (Dick Van Dyke) is a well-respected doctor at L.A.’s Community General Hospital. He’s the one everyone turns to when there is a medical concern or mystery. His patients love him, and they know he always has their best interests at heart.

It is Mark’s participation in solving murders that gets him into trouble. His son, Steve (Barry Van Dyke), an LAPD detective, wants his father to stay out of the cases Mark insists on looking into. Hospital administrator Norman Briggs (Michael Tucci) isn’t fond of Mark’s investigating either. It takes him away from the hospital far too much. But Mark cannot resist. If there is a murder to solve, he wants to be part of the case.

To be fair, it’s not always Mark’s fault that he gets involved. Some murders happen at the hospital, while others involve friends of his. These cases put him on the direct path of getting involved.

Better with friends

Mark never investigates alone. Dr. Jack Stewart (Scott Baio) and Dr. Amanda Bentley (Victoria Rowell) are always up for helping Mark. They often investigate together, squabbling all the way. Because if there’s one thing Jack and Amanda do well together, it is squabble.

Jack and Amanda come from two very different worlds. This is partially what causes conflict between them.

Jack had a rough upbringing. Growing up with family members connected to the mob, Jack has a lot of street smarts, which he uses frequently.

Amanda grew up very privileged. Money is never a concern for her until her money manager runs off with it. This upbringing makes Jack underestimate Amanda all the time. He feels he must always take the lead, never recognizing Amanda is far wilier than he realizes.

Another problem between them is Jack’s constant women-chasing. He even goes after patients. This upsets Amanda, which makes me wonder what her true feelings are for Jack. I fully believe men and women can be simply friends, but Amanda reacts to Jack’s behavior in a way that makes me think she feels far more than friendship.

The thing is, the odd reaction swings the other way too. In the episode where Amanda is involved with someone, Jack gets all worked up. He is not at all happy Amanda has someone romantic in her life. Yes, there is something far more than friendship going on.

Jack’s women-chasing also creates conflict between Jack and Steve. They both go after the same women, creating a constant competition between them. The funny thing is, quite often, the woman decides she wants Mark. Not that I blame them. An older, even much older, mature and kind man is far preferable to the competitiveness and games of the other two.

Attempting to keep Mark and the others in order is Mark’s secretary, Delores Mitchell (Delores Hall). Not one to put up with nonsense, Delores says exactly what she thinks, often setting people straight. This doesn’t mean she doesn’t have her fun. Any time Delores gets the chance to sing, she does. Sometimes with Mark.

Musical Notes
Kate Dorsey

A little bit of kindness

Mark’s kindness is probably why everyone confides in him so much. These confidences are often a big help in solving the cases. As is his tendency to just go places. He acts goofy, which makes people overlook what he is really doing: collecting clues.

Despite all the seriousness, Mark is not an overly serious person. He loves to laugh. To get around the hospital, he roller skates. And he’s always doing something to lighten the mood or put someone at ease. Some of this behavior makes him butt heads with Norman, but he and Norman butt heads over serious things too.

Being from two different sections of the hospital, Mark and Norman have very different priorities. Mark’s is the patients, and Norman’s is money. It is up to Norman to make cuts and make sure the hospital is running smoothly. Some of the decisions he makes do not go over well with Mark and the others. They want to do whatever they can for the patients, no matter the cost.

Unanswered questions

As much as I enjoy this show, there is something that always puzzles me. How in the world are Mark, Jack, and Amanda able to leave the hospital so easily and regularly? What happens to their patients? It’s as though at times their patients don’t exist. No wonder Norman gets so upset with them!

With Amanda I have an additional puzzlement. She is a pathologist, yet she spends a lot of her day walking around with Mark and Jack. I would think pathologists would have their work stations in an entirely different part of the building than those with live patients. Unless there is more to being a pathologist than I know.    

So far, I have only watched the first two seasons of Diagnosis Murder on DVD. I’ve watched the show off and on through the years, but this is the first time I’m watching the episodes in order. Not that it really matters. There’s not a continuing storyline, which makes it easy to jump in whenever. But it is nice to see the episodes chronologically. I get more of a feeling of how the show was intended to be seen.