I'm Not a Doctor But I Play One on TV: Difference between revisions

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{{trope}}
{{trope}}
[[File:os_tvdoctorprint_copy_copy_2548.jpg|frame|Trust him, he's a doctor<ref>on TV</ref>.]]
[[File:os tvdoctorprint copy copy 2548.jpg|frame|Trust him, he's a doctor.<ref>on TV</ref>]]


{{quote|You're a credulous git, Mr. Pepperdyne; a stethoscope and a plausible manner do not make a doctor.|''[[A Bit of Fry and Laurie]]''}}
{{quote|You're a credulous git, Mr. Pepperdyne; a stethoscope and a plausible manner do not make a doctor.|''[[A Bit of Fry and Laurie]]''}}


Sometimes it would be really great to get a doctor or other medical authority to say something nice about your product and or service on TV. However, for some reason -- FDA approval, budget, etc. -- it will not be possible to actually get a real doctor to do this.
Sometimes it would be really great to get a doctor or other medical authority to say something nice about your product and or service on TV. However, for some reason—FDA approval, budget, etc. -- it will not be possible to actually get a real doctor to do this.


The solution, dress an actor up in a white lab coat, and give them a stethoscope. Even if he is a dentist. If possible put them in a set that looks like a waiting room, pharmacy, or hospital. As long as you don't say they're really a doctor you aren't going to get in trouble.
The solution, dress an actor up in a white lab coat, and give them a stethoscope. Even if he is a dentist. If possible put them in a set that looks like a waiting room, pharmacy, or hospital. As long as you don't say they're really a doctor you aren't going to get in trouble.
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{{quote|Khordib: He is Jaffa.
{{quote|Khordib: He is Jaffa.
O'Neill: No. But he plays one on TV. }}
O'Neill: No. But he plays one on TV. }}
* Sam [[Quantum Leap|Quantum Leaps]] into a TV-Doctor who gets kidnapped by an insane fan who believes him to be the character he plays on TV. He forces her to admit he is not a real doctor by having her husband fake a heart attack while he acts like he is about to perform [[Open-Heart Dentistry]] on him. (Interestingly, Sam actually ''was'' a doctor himself, and presumably could have performed the procedure if necessary.)
* Sam [[Quantum Leap]]s into a TV-Doctor who gets kidnapped by an insane fan who believes him to be the character he plays on TV. He forces her to admit he is not a real doctor by having her husband fake a heart attack while he acts like he is about to perform [[Open-Heart Dentistry]] on him. (Interestingly, Sam actually ''was'' a doctor himself, and presumably could have performed the procedure if necessary.)
* Johnny's new gimmick, once ''[[WKRP in Cincinnati]]'' changed to a rock and roll music format, is this.
* Johnny's new gimmick, once ''[[WKRP in Cincinnati]]'' changed to a rock and roll music format, is this.
* The third season of ''[[Royal Pains]]'' has lead actor Mark Feuerstein begin a heart disease PSA with "I'm not a doctor, but I--" before co-star Reshma Shetty cuts him off with "You're not really going to say it, are you?". He settles for "Take it from a guy who ''plays'' a guy who knows what he's talking about."
* The third season of ''[[Royal Pains]]'' has lead actor Mark Feuerstein begin a heart disease PSA with "I'm not a doctor, but I--" before co-star Reshma Shetty cuts him off with "You're not really going to say it, are you?". He settles for "Take it from a guy who ''plays'' a guy who knows what he's talking about."
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