This Is Why Workplace Comedies in Unlikely Places are Comedy Gold

There is a lot of magic in the seemingly mundane workplace.

by Shannon Corbeil on December 2, 2024

Gallows humor has long been renowned in communities of strife, from firefighters to military veterans to medical professionals: multiple studies have found that grim humor can be seen as an index of strength, morale, and even higher IQ.

Perhaps that is why workplace comedies in un-funny locations are as popular as they are. They allow storytellers to depict the oftentimes painful or challenging realities of life while infusing them with comedic relief.

And, in the case of St. Denis Medical, they just might also brim with heartfelt moments and absolutely loveable characters.

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The Power of Great Characters in St. Denis Medical

Co-created by Justin Spitzer (Scrubs, The Office) and Eric Ledgin (Superstore, American Auto), St. Denis Medical is a new comedic mockumentary about a team of underfunded yet dedicated doctors, nurses, and medical staff doing their best in an Oregon hospital while trying not to lose their sanity.

Having watched the first three episodes, I can say that this series hits the sweet spot between heartfelt and amusing content that isn’t too stressful—precisely the balm I need during this time. Their secret? Great characters.

There’s the new head nurse, Alex (played to perfection by Allison Tolman), who is torn between saving lives at the hospital and finding time for her family at home; Ron (David Alan Grier), who serves as something of a father figure for the team while also grappling with his own aging; Serena (Kahyn Kim), a no-nonsense nurse; Matt (Mekki Leeper), the fresh-out-of-the-religious-community nurse who is more of a hazard than a helper; Bruce (Josh Lawson), an out-of-touch trauma surgeon; and Joyce (Wendi McLendon-Covey), the ambitious executive director of St. Denis, who is so preoccupied with making the hospital among the elite that she overlooks its immediate needs.

A doctor checking a patient's mouth in "St. Denis Medical.'

'St. Denis Medical' (2024)

Walking the Line in Workplace Comedies

Edgin told Parade that it was a conscious decision to determine where they could actually be funny while, essentially, still fulfilling the Hippocratic Oath (i.e., do no harm). Negligence toward patients and their families would quickly become the comedic equivalent of punching down. However, the truth is that there is a steep learning curve for first-year nurses.

Enter sweet, biblical Matt. He’s trying his best yet making a lot of mistakes—luckily, the rest of the team is there to make sure the patients get the care they need.

One great trick that St. Denis pulls is the ability to humble the characters and then lift them up. It’s precisely what makes a great feel-good comedy. Somehow even when patients die, there’s more heart than pain, and of course, relatable comedy as the characters stumble along the way.

Uplifting Comedy vs. Dark Comedy

Edgin and the creative team decided early on that they wanted to make something uplifting.

“We are not going to make you feel bad about yourself after you watch this. You're not going to feel like you're getting away with something that's a little dirty. You're going to feel clean at the end of this, but you will hopefully have had a half hour where you've been laughing and maybe, ideally, in some episodes, you'll feel something or think about something a little bit differently than you did. Those are secondary goals, but the first job is just to be entertaining and make people laugh,” he told Script Mag.

While dark comedies (think The Bear, Succession, The White Lotus) are still proving to be very popular, they grip audiences with a lot more tension than with release. When compared to shows like Ted Lasso, The Good Place, or Schitt’s Creek, you start to wonder if the first category should really be considered "comedy" at all.

Nurses and doctors dancing in the hallway of a hospital.

'St. Denis Medical' (2024)

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Uplifting comedies leave audiences feeling lighter, better, and happier—they also tend to land among the top streamed comedy shows in any given year. They are the ones people watch and rewatch when they want to be comforted and soothed.

There are definitely audiences for both, but it’s nice to have another uplifting comedy to add to the help-me-feel-better mix.

You can dig deeper into how to write a workplace comedy from Ledgin and St. Denis Medical star Allison Tolman at the upcoming ScreenCraft Writers' Summit between December 6 and 9, 2024.

Check out our Preparation Notes so you start your story off on the right track!

Shannon Corbeil is a writer, actor, and U.S. Air Force veteran in Los Angeles with appearances on SEAL Team and The Rookie. She was also a 2023 DGE TV Writing Program Finalist and her screenplays have placed in various contests. You can read more about her on her website or come play on Instagram and Twitter!