MEDICAL DRAMA

Laura Johnson, Ben Masters, Kate Mulgrew

Photos copyright ABC-TV

TELECAST:  March 23, 1988 to April 21, 1988 ; January 3, 1989 to April 6, 1989

Broadcast History:
    March 1988-April 1988, ABC Wed 10:00-11:00
    April 1988, ABC Thu 10:00-11:00
    January 1989-April 1989, ABC Thu 10:00-11:00

     Feminism met the TV doctor show met soap opera in this 1988 series. Women's Medical Arts was a new clinic founded by Doctors Joanne (Kate Mulgrew) and Eve, who believed that women should chart their own direction in the traditionally male-dominated world of medicine (though there were men on their staff), and an unintimidating relationship between patient and doctor. At WMA, patients were encouraged to call physicians by their first names ("Don't I call her 'doctor'?" "Not around here...it's too much of a barrier between patient and doctor").

     Dr. Springsteen was a gynecologist and the driving force behind WMA; Eve, a surgeon; Leo, a handsome pediatrician and Joanne's love interest; Stan, a worried psychiatrist; Cory, a young black doctor and mother of two; and Paul, the group's fertility specialist. Their battles were fought in the clinic, at male-dominated Bay General Hospital, with which they were affiliated, and sometimes the bedroom.

     Heartbeat returned in early 1989 with a few more episodes, and a few cast and name changes, but it was no more successful. For reasons that were not explained, Eve's last name was now Calvert, and Joanne's was Halloran.

     Heartbeat was awarded the People's Choice Award for Best New Drama.

     TRIVIA: Joanne's dog is named Noah, and Eve's pet mouse is named Maevette.  Bill Conti composed the theme.

source - The Complete Directory to Primetime Network and Cable TV Shows 1946 - Present  by Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh and The Ultimate TV Trivia Book by Vincent Terrace