By A few months back, there were some rumblings of a potential female-led reboot for the popular ’90s series Doogie Howser, M.D. While I didn’t disbelief what we were told, I wasn’t so sure Disney would pursuit the series beyond the initial pitch. As it turns out, I’m completely wrong, because the company has announced that Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. will be starting production soon.
Set in modern-day Hawaii, the series has been given a 10-episode run that will star the mixed-race Lahela “Doogie” Kameāloha, a 16-year-old girl that finds herself in a position similar to the original Doogie character. She’ll attempt to juggle her duties at the hospital (with the added wrinkle of her mother being her supervisor) and her teenage life alongside trying to prove herself to her parents.
Kourtney Kang, of Fresh Off the Boat fame, is set to write and executive produce the show under Disney’s 20th Television brand. She’ll be joined by Jake Kasdan and Melvin Mar on EP duties, with Dayna and Jesse Bocho (wife and son of original series creator Steven Bocho) acting as producers.
Disney+ executive Ricky Strauss said, “Thirty years ago, a young medical prodigy took the world by storm and left a lasting impact on pop culture. Kourtney and the team at 20th Television have created a very modern take on this beloved property, which will resonate with our global Disney+ audience. We can’t wait to introduce the world to the new Doogie!”
Carolyn Cassidy, president at 20th Television, added, “Doogie Howser M.D. is beloved by everyone at our studio, so we knew that if we were going to reinvent it for a new generation, we had to have both the blessing and participation of the Bochcos and a creator with a fresh, new take that made us lean in.”
While I’m not sure a reboot for Doogie Howser is necessary, I will be 100% honest and say that I really enjoy the first two seasons of the original series. At the time, it was a refreshingly honest bit of television that utilized its unique hook well. I fear that putting this new character at the same age will inevitably lead to the same issues I had the first go around -where the series was more about being a regular adult-, but there is a ton of potential here.
Source: Collider
