Farewell, Dr. Gannon
Chad Everett and my youth
Farewell, Dr. Gannon
I’ve always had a crush on doctors. Not the real ones that adjust my innards and demand hefty co-pays (because the nice insurance people tell them that they can.) No, my admiration has always been reserved for television folk, who both look and sound better than the average flesh-and-blood M.D. And before I get the AMA after me, I will also state that the people who play lawyers on TV are a lot better looking than the legal eagles you see traipsing through City Hall and at the Criminal Justice Center. Believe me, there is no one that looks like Harry Hamlin from old L.A. Law hanging out at immigration court.
But I digress. As I was saying, I’ve always thought TV docs are dreamy. I’m too young to have seen Ben Casey and Dr. Kildaire during their original broadcasts, but they looked pretty darn snazzy in re-runs (although Vince Leonard was a little hairy for my tastes.) I had a poster of Dr. Steve Kiley on his motorcycle on my bedroom wall in the 4th grade, because James Brolin was my 8 year old idea of hot (he and Roman Gabriel.)
I also loved Marcus Welby, but the feelings he aroused in me did not warrant poster-on-the-wall status. Then, there was Marc Harmon on St. Elsewhere, who had the biggest puppy dog eyes and hair that just begged to be brushed out of them.
But my biggest crush, my longest love, my greatest desire was Chad Everett. Joe Gannon was the epitome of cool, the doctor that every early-70s starlet wanted to either date, mate with or die in the arms of. I was too young to do any of those things, but, as Pascal said, the “heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of.” My childhood heart knew that Dr. Gannon was the yin to my yang, the “exis” to my “tential,” the man who would take me, with my excess avoir du poids and my coke bottle glasses and my un-stylish haircut and heal my soul.
Chad Everett died yesterday, at the age of 76. I hope I’ll see him again in that big Medical Center in the sky.
Stomach not in knots (but thanks for caring, G). We just get enough stupidity every day in real life without also having to see it cluttering up the newspaper.— sophistry- sophy, why don't you take scoobysnacks advice and "lighten up"?
Sheeesh how awful it must be to have your stomach in knots all day long.— Gendres - Sincerely hope that you were not paid for this, Flowers. I will be using it to clean my windows. (HTML deleted)— sophistry
- PJ, I am glad you got the Thing. I didn't notice it until after I sent it. Some puns are accidental.
8-)— Gendres 
Gendres, I got it. I got it the first time. I was waiting to hear about Festus and his mule. Remember, this was a family show. Only one dead body at a time, and only when necessary.— PlumberJoe- I am just full of puns. Thing! Get it???— Gendres
- PJ, I always liked "Doc" from Gunsmoke. He was one of my favorite characters.
This show was presented during family viewing time and there was never a hint of anything other than simple friendship between the characters. But since neither Kitty nor Matt ever seemed to have any other love interests, that indicated that they had their own thing going.
Quint was too young for her.
8-)— Gendres - Gendres, speaking of doctors, what finer doctor than Doc.
He was not one to swoon over, but he did make house calls, even late at night. And never seemed to charge for them.
I wonder if Miss Kitty made house calls. We will have to ask Quint.— PlumberJoe - PJ, thanks for reminding us of the immortal "Gunsmoke"! Remember a young Burt Reynolds playing Quint?
I was always more fascinated with the great westerns than hospitals. Talk about real eye candy - Joe Lando on "Dr.Quinn Medicine Woman".
Yeah, and let's lay off the politics for ONCE and just enjoy the nostalgia of those old legends of the small screen.— Gendres 
I too had a crush on Chad Everett in my youth. Was sad to discover that he was a conservative Republican with a misanthropic attitude toward women. (He called his wife his "property"). And in retrospect, not a very good actor, either. But I will save those photos of him - he aged so handsomely!— Devine_Di- Always the politics. Lighten up, Di. — PlumberJoe
- What could be better than belting down a few drinks with Miss Kitty while the marshal was out of town.— PlumberJoe
- I was always a little sweet on Hawkeye on M*A*S*H. I was too young to understand the politics of the show, but I understood his wit and found him charming.— sadim
- I remember enjoying Medical Center when in the early 1970s. Sorry to learn of CE's passing.— Thoughtful&concernedvoter
- How poignant that Chad Everett died on your feast day.
I WAS old enough to see Ben Casey in its original run and thought he was a hunk - hair and all. Vince Edwards passed away in 1996.
One by one our childhood heroes and heartthrobs pass from the scene.
RIP Chad.— Gendres - Ben Casey was portrayed by Vince EDWARDS. Vince Leonard was a Philly TV news anchor for many years.— naesman
Email Christine M. at cflowers1961@yahoo.com Reach Christine M. at cflowers1961@yahoo.com.
