Eoin Macken
Freddy Rodriguez
Jill Flint
Ken Leung
Robert Bailey Jr.
Brendan Fehr
Jeananne Goossen
JR Lemon

Created by:
Gabe Sachs, Jeff Judah

2014-
Action, Comedy, Drama
NBC
TV-14

“The Night Shift” is a generic hospital drama that never needed to be made. It’s a shadow of much better examples of this genre; nothing distinguishes this show from every other hospital show. A team of hacks must’ve pieced this together from those better examples (especially from “ER” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” which has its share of problems, too).

Things seem to be off here. The pilot doesn’t feel right; the hospital rhythm is mysteriously absent. They’re trying to be a hospital drama instead of just being one. I don’t care about any of the characters. And every type is on display: the war vet with PTSD, the closeted gay guy, the cute-young-female doctor, the exes, the woman who’s dating her friend’s ex, and so on. (What a shock!)

It’s not the actors’ fault; it’s the writers’ fault. (There are a few clunky acting moments here or there, though, especially during the scene involving the irate patient who decides to launch into a fight. That’s the worst scene in the pilot; it’s clunky and poorly supported. My eyes are still rolling, right now.)

Here’s the bottom line: Where’s the material? The use of time markers throughout each night is feckless, and the “hospital costs” theme is tired (“Nurse Jackie,” anyone?). Overall, “The Night Shift” feels small. I’m not interested in this amateurish ghost of better shows past.

Verdict: Bad

About: (Source: nightshift)

Life in the emergency room at San Antonio Memorial is never routine, and the men and women that make up the night shift team are a special breed.