Best Medicine, Fox’s upcoming medical comedy poised to rival NBC’s breakout hitSt. Denis Medical, has added a key component to its cast.Deadlinereports that Abigail Spencer has joined the cast as co-lead alongside the previously cast Josh Charles. Spencer will play Louisa, a caring and charming teacher who initially gets off on the wrong foot with Charles' Martin Best.
The one-hour comedy is an American remake ofthe 10-season British showDoc Martin. It follows Martin Best, a genius and well-respected surgeon who suddenly decides to quit his job in Boston and practice medicine in the small, seaside East Coast town where he grew up. However, Best’s abrasive and antisocial personality rubs everyone in the town the wrong way.
As the Deadline synopsis describes:
“Although Martin can expertly address any medical ailment or mystery in this idiosyncratic town, he’s really just desperate to be left the hell alone. Instead, he keeps getting dragged right smack into the middle of their personal chaos, feuds and fantasies. What the locals don’t know is that Martin’s terse demeanor masks a debilitating new phobia and deep-seated psychological issues that prevent him from experiencing true intimacy with anyone. But tenacity is the creed of everyone in their small village, and the people who live there may be exactly what the doctor ordered.”
What Spencer’s Casting Means For Best Medicine
Fox Is Clearly Aiming To Put This On The Fall Schedule
With medical dramas - and comedies - being a hot commodity right now, Fox is clearly aiming to getBest Medicinein shape and the cast assembled in time for it to hit the airwaves this fall. Medical dramas are still going strong, but shows likeSt. Denis Medicaland theupcomingScrubsrevival/reboot, and the UK’sGreen Winghave shown there’s also an appetite for medical and hospital series with a more comedic bent.
If Fox’s upcoming series proves a hit, it will rival NBC’sSt. Denis Medicalseason 2as another hot new medical comedy. Filming forBest Medicineis slated to begin this summer in upstate New York. With July already underway and the summer months ticking away, we can expect another update soon as the first wave of supporting actors forBest Medicineis announced.
The show will revolve around Martin Best, but it will only be as strong as its surrounding cast, so the news that the show is putting the pieces into place is promising. With Charles and Spencer now cast in the lead roles, and the description that Louisa is initially irritated by Martin’s off-putting attitude, it’s fair to wonder if their characters are being set up for an enemies-to-lovers romantic arc.
Our Take On The Best Medicine Casting News
Abigail Spencer Will Bring A Lot To The Role
Spencer is no stranger to network shows, having an extensive career in television with major roles on both network and cable TV shows. While she also boasts an impressive movie lineup on her resume, it’s on the small screen where she has truly excelled, and her career has shown it.
1998-2000
2006
2009
2010
2012-13
2015
2013-16
2016-18
2011-19
2019
2021
2017-22
Julia Mariano
2023-24
Abigail Spencer has shown a broad range in her career as an actor, running the gamut from her first big role on the soap operaAll My Childrento winning critical acclaim for her work in the Sundance Channel series Rectify as Amantha Holden. In her appearances, she’s shown the ability to portray warmth and charisma, but also a no-nonsense persona that demands respect. If Spencer brings that facet of herself toBest Medicine, it will be a lot of fun to watch Louisa spar with Martin when the show premieres.
