# Becker (1998)

> A brusque, principled Bronx doctor vents his disdain for a absurd world while quietly caring for his patients.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/4258

## Facts

- Seasons: 6
- Episodes: 129
- Episode runtime: 22 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: comedy
- Created by: Dave Hackel
- Network: CBS
- Cast: Ted Danson, Hattie Winston, Shawnee Smith, Alex Désert, Saverio Guerra, Terry Farrell, Jorge Garcia, Nancy Travis
- TMDB rating: 7.3/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0174378/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: simple
- Violence: none
- Tone: wry, cynical, warm, irreverent, sardonic

## What critics say

Audiences rate Becker as a positive, consistently likable sitcom anchored by Ted Danson's gruff, misanthropic doctor.

## Synopsis

Becker (1998-2004) is an American network sitcom created by Dave Hackel for CBS, running six seasons and 129 episodes. Ted Danson plays Dr. John Becker, a dedicated, outspoken physician with a gruff exterior who runs a medical practice in the Bronx, New York. Becker offends nearly everyone who tries to get close to him, yet he goes the extra mile for patients in need. The engine of each episode is his running battle with a society he sees as full of incongruities and plain wrong thinking, playing out across waiting-room exchanges, clinic routines and the lives of his staff. Hattie Winston as Margaret Wyborn, Shawnee Smith as Linda and Alex Desert as Jake Malinak give him a supporting cast that tests his patience while occasionally reaching his softer side. Each season is a set of self-contained episodes built around patients, neighbors and personal quirks, so the show is easy to dip into at any point. Its tone is wry, cynical and warm, with sharp one-liners that deliver misanthropic commentary undercut by genuine affection. Fans of Cheers, Frasier and Scrubs will find the same blend of prickly central character, workplace ensemble and humane comedy.

## Shows like Becker

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- [St. Elsewhere (1982)](https://ember.film/tv/23)
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- [Doctor's Diary (2008)](https://ember.film/tv/37810)

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