Northern Exposure (1990–1995)

A newly graduated doctor is required to set up his practice in an eccentric Alaskan town.

Creators:

Joshua Brand, John Falsey

Stars:

Barry Corbin, Janine Turner, John Cullum

Won 2 Golden Globes. Another 25 wins & 57 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Barry Corbin	...	Maurice J. Minnifield (110 episodes, 1990-1995)
Janine Turner	...	Maggie O'Connell (110 episodes, 1990-1995)
John Cullum	...	Holling Vincoeur (110 episodes, 1990-1995)
Darren E. Burrows	...	Ed Chigliak (110 episodes, 1990-1995)
John Corbett	...	Chris Stevens (110 episodes, 1990-1995)
Cynthia Geary	...	Shelly Marie Tambo (110 episodes, 1990-1995)
Elaine Miles	...	Marilyn Whirlwind (110 episodes, 1990-1995)
Peg Phillips	...	Ruth-Anne Miller (107 episodes, 1990-1995)
Rob Morrow	...	Dr. Joel Fleischman (102 episodes, 1990-1995)
William J. White	...	Dave the Cook (48 episodes, 1991-1994)

Storyline

Joel Fleishman is fresh out of medical college, and fresh out of luck. Failing to read the fine print in his scholarship conditions, he finds he has no choice but to move to the remote and somewhat eccentric town of Cicely, in the wilds of Alaska. Once there, he is welcomed by the peculiar locals who are not keen to see him go, most especially Maurice Minnifield, the ex-NASA astronaut. Despite Joel's adamant denials, one gets the impression that he enjoys life in Cicely more than he admits.

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Plot Keywords:

alaska | medical | eccentric | doctor | bush pilot | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Russian Yiddish Tlingit Hebrew

Release Date:

12 July 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ausgerechnet Alaska

Filming Locations:

Easton, Washington, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cine-Nevada Productions, Universal TV, Falahey/Austin Street Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min 60 min (110 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

A calendar for "Clicquot Club" ginger ale can be seen hanging in Dr. Fleischman's office in some of the episodes. The calendar features a caricature of a woman with a bundled baby on a bicycle, and the slogan "Refreshment Coming Your Way" appears next to it. The page of the calendar is stuck on January 1942. The ginger ale was sold from the 1920s until the 1960s when it went out of business.

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Quotes

[Shelly and her ex are slow dancing - he has a cheeseburger in one hand]
Maurice Minnifield: Holling? Who's the kid? Why is he smearing ketchup all over Shelly's ass?

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Connections

Referenced in The Simpsons: New Kid on the Block (1992)

User Reviews

Great show -- hopefully someday a great DVD set

For me, this series tied with the X-Files as 'Best of the Decade: 90's' and I miss it terribly (but I'm not willing to buy the DVD package that is out now -- I'm waiting for the owners to give this program the kind of presentation it deserves.)

I don't mind paying for quality and this show had that in premise, setting, plotting, characterization, acting, and don't forget music -- the works. Humor, drama, introspection, surrealism, dream-scapes. Characters young and old, native and transplant, cynical and naive, material, mystical, and misanthrope -- and all (eventually) lovable.

It made me care about real people I had already written off as too something -- too neurotic, too caustic, too silly. I helped me see the flaws in people I had been too easily persuaded by -- intellectuals, philosophers, and mystics, with clay feet in mud that I had never noticed.

It made me want to fling pianos, and dance on my own grave. I can't wait to get it into my permanent collection.

UPDATE: I did buy the DVDs, used, and I haven't been sorry. There are scenes where the generic music is SO WRONG -- in particular the Flying Man dancing with the scarf -- but even so, the quality of the material outweighs the problems with the package.