Before ER, before Grey’s Anatomy or House M.D., there was St. Elsewhere: the Emmy Award-winning medical drama that changed the face of prime time television. With Denzel Washington, Mark Harmon and Howie Mandel.

Set at Boston’s fictitious St. Eligius, a run-down teaching hospital in a tough part of town, St. Elsewhere won critical acclaim for complex characterizations, dark humour, risk-taking storylines that dealt with taboo subjects like assisted suicide and AIDS, and a stellar ensemble cast featuring the likes of Denzel Washington, Ed Begley Jr., David Morse, Mark Harmon, Helen Hunt and Bruce Greenwood.

Week of May 14

“Bye, George”
Thursday May 17, 10 pm ET
Dr. Wyler (guest star David Wayne) prepares to return to Africa when he learns that his clinic has been destroyed by hostile government soldiers – even though it could mean his death. Meanwhile, Dr. Auschlander (Norman Lloyd) embraces his friend Wyler’s native cure for liver disease. Also: Halloran (Nancy Stafford) gathers evidence for the state medical board that could end the medical career of Morrison (David Morse). A put-upon Axelrod (Stephen Furst) grieves for the loss of a rare friendly patient. Ehrlich (Ed Begley Jr.) finds that his TV news health spots have turned him into a celebrity, much to the displeasure of a jealous Dr. Craig (William Daniels). Fiscus is skeptical when a special patient checks into the emergency room. Special guest appearance by Governor Michael Dukakis.

“Saving Face”
Sunday May 20, 10 pm ET
As Dr. Craig (William Daniels) and wife Ellen (Bonnie Bartlett) celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary, the return of his vagabond brother William (guest star Lou Richards) re-opens old sibling wounds. Dr. Caldwell (Mark Harmon) is eager to begin ambitious corrective surgery on a young woman’s disfiguring neurofibromatosis. A new female doctor (Karen Austin) is named to head the emergency department, and encounters a callous teenage father-to-be (guest star Timothy Van Patten) who uses his fourteen-year-old girlfriend to turn tricks. The state board rules on Morrison’s (David Morse) qualifications to continue as a doctor. And the well-intentioned Axelrod (Stephen Furst) fears he has killed Mrs. Hufnagel (guest star Florence Halop).

“Girls Just Want To Have Fun”
Thursday May 17 & Sunday May 20, 1 am ET
Dr. Cavanero (Cynthia Sikes) lets slip that the female doctor (guest star Caroline McWilliams) who’s staying at her apartment is a lesbian, and the St. Eligius rumour mill goes into overdrive. Andy Wegener (guest star John Schuck) agrees to undergo a high-risk, procedure in the hope of saving his daughter’s life. A defiant Dr. Craig (William Daniels) is asked not to address a committee on capping doctors’ fees, in the interest of public relations. A dumbstruck Rosenthal (Christina Pickles) meets the wife of her lover. And Chandler (Denzel Washington) is intent on putting a local faith healer out of business.

Week of May 21

“Give The Boy A Hand”
Thursday May 24, 10 pm ET
Dr. Westphall (Ed Flanders) faces a painful decision when his daughter Lizzie (guest star Dana Short) returns home from college with a case of the freshman blues, and asks to stay. A young street tough (guest star Timothy Van Patten) risks a drug transaction to support his pregnant teenage girlfriend, with tragic results. Ehrlich (Ed Begley Jr.) crosses the line with his latest television “Healthspot.” A new female emergency doctor (guest star Karen Austin) takes a chance by providing an alibi to a social worker on behalf of a pregnant fourteen-year-old prostitute. Dr. Auschlander (Norman Lloyd) reluctantly poses for his official portrait, while Dr. Craig (William Daniels) rants about the hospital’s disrepair. Seinfeld’s Michael Richards guest stars.

“Playing God, Part One”
Thursday May 24, 1 am ET
Sister Domenica (guest star Michael Learned), a strong-willed Mother Superior, insists that Dr. Westphall (Ed Flanders) pull the plug on a fellow nun whose injuries will leave her in a coma for life. Meanwhile, the battle lines are drawn in the pending nurses’ strike, forcing Rosenthal (Christina Pickles) and Dr. Auschlander (Norman Lloyd) to become unwilling adversaries. Three firefighters struggle to cope with severe burn injuries. Fiscus Howie Mandel) merrily leads the new first-year residents on an eye-opening tour of St. Eligius. A disgraced White (Terence Knox), having been turned out of the hospital’s medical program, works in a seedy health clinic while plotting his comeback. And Morrison (David Morse) asks a college student Clancy Williams (guest star Helen Hunt) to marry him when he learns that she is pregnant with his child.

“Any Portrait In A Storm”
Sunday May 27, 10 pm ET
A pregnant 14-year-old prostitute suffers complications giving birth as her boyfriend (guest star Timothy Van Patten) heads south. Peter White’s widow Myra (guest star Karen Landry) goes into labour with his child, while a traffic helicopter crash leaves the sole survivor wondering why he was spared. Dr. Auschlander (Norman Lloyd) tries to cancel the unveiling of his portrait, which is rumoured to be unflattering. Cathy Martin (Barbara Whinnery) is released from the psych ward, and the irksome Mrs. Hufnagel (guest star Florence Halop) sets out to bilk the hospital for her bill.

“Playing God, Part Two”
Sunday May 27, 1 am ET
Dr. Westphall reveals a painful experience to sister Domenica (guest star Michael Learned) to explain why he resists her attempt to stop the life-support system of a nun with irreversible brain damage.In other events at St. Eligius; Fiscus (Hoie Mandel) wonders if a mysterious bag lady (guest star Tammy Grimes) is really the fairy godmother she claims to be. Three firemen who suffered severe burns undergo painful rehabilitative treatments. A federal mediator is called in to prevent a pending nurses’ strike. A court mandate allows White (Terence Knox) to return to the hospital, but he receives a cool reception. And Morrison (David Morse) argues with his young girlfriend (guest star Helen Hunt) against aborting their child.

Week of May 28

“Red, White, Black And Blue”
Thursday May 31, 10 pm ET
Dr. Westphall renews an old friendship with a White House staff doctor (special guest star Betty White) when St. Eligius is named a receiving hospital for the First Lady’s visit to Boston. However, a crucial decision must be made when the emergency unit of blood set aside for the First Lady’s visit is needed for the dying victim of a knife attack. Ehrlich reports a mother he suspects of child abuse, and Fiscus is shocked when Peter White’s killer Shirley Daniels (Ellen Bry) is wheeled into the emergency room. Rosenthal considers asking Richard Clarendon (Herb Edelman) to move in with her.

“Two Balls And A Strike”
Thursday May 31, 1 am ET
When the nurses make good on their pledge to strike, the walkout leaves the rest of the staff  overburdened. Dr. Craig (William Daniels) elects to sleep alone at the hospital rather than face his sex problem with his wife Ellen (Bonnie Bartlett). Dr. Cavanero (Cynthia Sikes) is attacked by a ski-masked man, making White (Terence Knox) the natural suspect. Meanwhile, Dr. Westphall (Ed Flanders) is understandably saddened as his devoted daughter Lizzie (Dana Short) leaves for college.

“Amazing Face”
Sunday June 3, 10 pm ET
The moment of truth arrives for Dr. Caldwell (Mark Harmon) when he removes the surgical bandages of a young woman disfigured by “Elephant Man’s” disease. Meanwhile, the pesky Mrs. Hufnagel (Florence Halop) goes under the knife for removal of an aneurysm, and Rosenthal (Christina Pickles) tells her lover Richard Clarendon (Herb Edelman) that she’s pregnant. A convalescing Daniels (Ellen Bry) wants to plead guilty for the murder of Peter White, a strange attitude that concerns Morrison (David Morse). Fiscus gets a surprise when he considers asking out Martin (Barbara Whinnery) and Dr. Westphall (Ed Flanders) puts his house up for sale.

“Strike Out”
Sunday June 3, 1 am ET
Dr. Auschlander (Norman Lloyd) has a tough decision to make when the divisive nurses’ strike threatens to shut down St. Eligius. A nervous Ehrlich (Ed Begley Jr.) must solo during a tricky emergency operation. Dr. Craig and his wife (William Daniels and Bonnie Bartlett) return from their Hawaiian vacation and mistakenly hire unemployed orderlies Luther and Warren (Eric Laneuville and Byron Stewart) to plaster a kitchen wall. A resentful fireman being treated for serious burns confronts his drug dependency. Martin (Barbara Whinnery) is sexually assaulted for a second time by a ski-masked man, causing her to lose her tenuous grip on reality.