Pilot is the first episode of Season 1 of Doogie Howser, M.D. and the first episode of the series overall. It was written by Steven Bochco & David E. Kelley and directed by Rick Wallace. It originally aired on ABC on September 19, 1989.
On his 16th birthday, child prodigy and doctor Doogie Howser tries to earn his driver's license while also dealing with the care of a patient.
Major Events[]
- Doogie Howser, Vincent Delpino, Katherine Howser, Benjamin Canfield, Jack McGuire, Mary Spaulding, and Dr. David Howser are all introduced for the first time.
- Doogie turns 16 and gets his driving license.
- Doogie's Father refuses to let Doogie drive his car because he's a new driver, making Doogie upset in his birthday dinner.
- Nurse Spaulding pretends to seduce Doogie and made him stand pantless in front of his colleagues wishing him birthday. Doogie gets back at them by making Vinnie scare them at the morgue.
- Doogie kisses a girl for the first time, but leaves immediately after being paged.
- Doogie loses his first patient in his medical career.
Journal Entry[]
Today is my 16th birthday. A major milestone because my driver's license is at long last a reality. Which means tomorrow, Sept. 22, I'll be behind the wheel on the way to the Harvest Dance with Wanda Plenn, the prettiest most beautiful girl in the whole world.
Kissed my first girl. Lost my first patient. Life will never be the same again...
Starring[]
- Neil Patrick Harris as Dr. Doogie Howser
- Max Casella as Vincent Delpino
- Belinda Montgomery as Katherine Howser
- Lawrence Pressman as Dr. Benjamin Canfield
- Mitchell Anderson as Dr. Jack McGuire
- Kathryn Layng as Nurse Curly Spaulding
- James B. Sikking as Dr. David Howser
Guest Starring[]
- Alan Fudge as Dr. Henry Josephson
Co-Strarring[]
- T. J. Evans as William Johnson
- Lisa Dean Ryan as Wanda Plenn
- Niles Brewster as Elgin Bane
- Martin Azarow as William Finklestein
Featuring[]
- Neil Flynn as Policeman #1
- Jeremy Roberts as Policeman #2
- Jeris Lee Poindexter as Driver
Trivia[]
- Doogie turns 16 on September 21, 1989, meaning his D.O.B. is September 21, 1973.
- Janine Stewart is mentioned by Vinnie, but she doesn't appear in this episode.