Product Description
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Dr. Dana Stowe (Janine Turner, Northern Exposure, Cliffhanger)
is the head of womens medicine at Rittenhouse Hospital and
doesn't let her emotions get in the way of her work. Dr. Luisa
"Lu" Delgado (Rosa Blasi, Noriega) runs an inner city clinic and
does whatever it takes to get her poverty-stricken clients the
care they need. When the two women are paired up to run the
Rittenhouse Women's Center, they must learn to work
together even with their respective approaches clearly on
site sides of the operating table. But can they get past it?
From Executive Producers Whoopi Goldberg and Tammy Ader, this
long-running Lifetime series contains all 22 first season
episodes on a 5 disc DVD set.
.com
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Two strong-willed, capable female doctors with differing
approaches to medicine must forge a working relationship when
their practices are merged in this premier season (2000) of
Lifetime television's longest running original series. All 22
episodes are included in this five-disc DVD box set beginning
with the "Pilot," which introduces the characters and frenzied
setting of the visceral drama. In an award-winning role, Rosa
Blasi plays Dr. Luisa "Lu" Delgado who runs the inner city South
Philly Women's Clinic serving a full caseload of indigent, drug
addicts, and abuse victims. A straight-talking maverick, Dr.
Delgado is sympathetic to the plight of her patients as she
fights to keep her free clinic afloat despite financial
hardships. Janine Turner (Northern Exposure, Cliffhanger) plays
Dr. Dana Stowe, a polished-if-not-sterile surgeon at the
prestigious Rittenhouse Hospital treating patients on the
site side of the city and socio-economic spectrum. Practicing
textbook medicine, Dr. Stowe chafes at Delgado's unconventional
methods. (Turner will remain in the series until the early part
of season three). A stroke of e pairs the women to run a brand
new women's heath center and, although sparks fly professionally,
the doctors haltingly approach a level of understanding. The
season explores a variety of women's issues: infertility,
, rape, genetic testing, co-dependency, cancer,
and right-to-die. Complex medical questions are explored from
several perspectives without succumbing to quick resolutions.
Undoubtedly, the series has grown in popularity because of the
underpinnings established this first season. Blasi and Turner
develop a compelling rapportalternatively appreciating and
sing each otherwhile a supporting cast adds depth in
standout performances by Josh Coxx (as nurse/midwife Peter Riggs)
and Jenifer Lewis (as receptionist Lana Hawkins). Intense drama
is tempered with comic , usually by way of Hawkin's banter
and, in one case, her correct diagnosis of a patient's phobia of
bald men. Season one introduces a budding romance and ends with a
cliffhanger. Lending their vision are executive producers Tammy
Ader and Whoopi Goldberg, who also plays a prominent role in the
Pilot episode as Dr. Lydia Emerson, a women's pioneer who
returns in three additional stories. The only deficiency is the
absence of bonus material: interviews, audio commentaries, or
outtakes would strengthen the package. (Caution: violence,
language, and adult themes). --Lynn Gibson