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Diagnosis Murder
Diagnosis Murder
1993 - 2001
"Women will never be as successful as men because they have no wives to advise them."
Dick Van Dyke
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Forensic toxicology is the study of the effect of drugs and poisons on the human body.
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Diagnosis: Murder is a mystery/medical/crime drama television series starring Dick Van Dyke as Dr. Mark Sloan, a medical doctor who solves crimes with the help of his son, a homicide detective played by his real-life son Barry Van Dyke. The series began as a spin-off of Jake and the Fatman (Dr. Mark Sloan made his first appearance in episode 4.19 "It Never Entered My Mind"), became a series of three TV movies, and then a weekly television series that debuted on CBS on October 29, 1993. The series struggled at first and was almost canceled at the end of the second season, it returned as a midseason replacement in the third season, and was regularly renewed thereafter. 178 episodes were made and aired in the show's eight seasons on the CBS network in the United States and two more TV movies aired after the series' cancellation on May 11, 2001. Since 1997, the popular show used to air in reruns on ABC Family (formerly The Family Channel) and on the Hallmark Channel. in America, weekdays on the Hallmark Channel (UK), Alibi and BBC Two in the United Kingdom and weekdays on Foxtel's TV1 channel in Australia. The show was produced by The Fred Silverman Company and Dean Hargrove Productions in association with Viacom Productions and is currently distributed by CBS Television Distribution, the syndication arm of CBS Paramount Television.
In the Jake and the Fatman episode, Dr. Mark Sloan was a widower with no sons and Ally Walker played Dr. Amanda Bentley, a role that went to Cynthia Gibb in the TV movies and, finally, Victoria Rowell in the TV series. That wasn't the only casting change. Stephen Caffrey played Dr. Jack Stewart in the movies, a role that went to Scott Baio in the weekly series.
The first three TV movies were shot in Vancouver, B.C. The first two seasons of the series were shot in Denver, CO and all the subsequent seasons in Los Angeles.
The plot centered around Dr. Mark Sloan (played by The Dick Van Dyke Show alumnus Dick Van Dyke), a renowned physician who occasionally worked for the local police department as a consultant, and who could not resist a good mystery or a friend in need. Those cases often involved his son, Detective Steve Sloan (played by Van Dyke's real-life son Barry Van Dyke). Helping him were his best friend Norman Briggs (played by It's Garry Shandling's Show alumnus Michael Tucci), a hospital administrator who double-crosses the entire hospital, always wanting to talk Mark into something, when things don't go his way. Also assisting Dr. Sloan, were his colleagues, medical examiner/pathologist Dr. Amanda Bentley (played by then-The Young And The Restless actress Victoria Rowell) and Dr. Jack Stewart (played by Happy Days/Joanie Loves Chachi alumnus Scott Baio), who later left and was replaced by a new resident, Dr. Jesse Travis (played by the unfamiliar, struggling actor Charlie Schlatter).
Coincidentally, a program similar in name and theme aired on CBS from July to September 1960. Diagnosis: Unknown starred Patrick O'Neal as pathologist Daniel Coffee, who worked with the police detective, played by Chester Morris, to solve unusual cases. Former child actor Martin Huston played the handyman, Link, and Phyllis Newman portrayed Doris Hudson. The program was a summer replacement for The Garry Moore Show.
When Victoria Rowell became pregnant during hiatus, her pregnancy was explained by having her get married to a serviceman who was never seen on the show.
The character of Doctor Mark Sloan was first seen in an episode of "Jake and the Fatman" (1987).
When Scott Baio left the show, his absence was explained by having his character, Jack Stewart, quit his job at Community General to start his own practice in Colorado.
In the 1999 episode "Gangland", it is revealed that Amanda was a foster child. Victoria Rowell, who played the character, was a foster child in real life.
Norman Briggs, the character played by Michael Tucci, was scheduled to be murdered by a man seeking revenge against Dr. Sloan in the 4th season finale "The Murder of Mark Sloan". Tucci begged producers not to kill him off and they agreed. The following season he was no longer on the show and no explanation was given as to where his character went.
Dick Van Dyke was already 67 when the series began.
