So I was drawn to it, like a moth to the flame, realizing all the while that I could be burned…and indeed, wings singed, here I am to report my journey through the new show, Animal Practice, on NBC. We could at least give them an A for effort, if there wasn’t so much WRONG with it! Seriously, I’m an all-time fan of ER, watched every episode, and cried when it ended. Maybe I should have known that I couldn’t expect the measure of reality that ER brought to the screen, with its medical advisors and such, but I had such high hopes that Animal Practice would have at least sought SOME advice in putting a show on prime time about medical animal practice. But alas, here’s a list of just some of the things that were just so, well, wrong: OK, so first of all, where in the world do they work? Yes, we have some large, expansive “hospitals” in our profession, but alas they are typically few and far between… And the large hospitals we have are typically emergency/specialty referral practices, and guess what, they do NOT have grooming services! When I saw the line-up, I SO hoped they would represent a really good veterinary technician…but alas, she is a groomer it appears. Really, and I nearly choke just writing this, why did the surgeon NOT have a MASK on in the surgical suite? Come on, that one had me yelling at the television, much to the chagrin of my family. And where, even in the large hospitals, do you have a surgical suite with a viewing room? Come on, I know ER made that concept famous, but I’ve yet to see a veterinary hospital with that extra precious space being used for, well, overhead viewing. So you knew I would get to it, I had to pinch myself when I realized that that girl was, I guess, the practice manager? Uh, I’m OK with her being pretty, and young, and obviously naïve about boss-employee relationships, but what about her wardrobe? Honestly. Yes, I mentioned it already, but with as much as I lecture about practice management and the fine line that has to exist between the team and the manager, it was a bit of a slap in the face to have her trying SO hard to be “one of the gang.” And as far as coming home after a drunken night with a pig? OK, that would not have earned her an “in” with the team, in most worlds at least. Plus it made us all seem like drinking fools…well, those who are, don’t take offense to that, but I don’t even think there is such a thing as Smurf drinks? I am happy to report that although it struck me as odd when he first dressed in shirt and tie, I did remember that more men are wearing those to work, which is nice. So is there anything good to report? Was it a complete and utter waste of 26 minutes of my life? Well, the monkey WAS cute. I’m not sure he’ll hold the show together, but seeing HIM in a coat and tie was almost worth it…almost!
