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CTV Television Network

Police Surgeon

Network: CTV Television Network

Broadcast Run: 1972 to 1974

Broadcast Medium: Television

Not to be confused with a British series of the same title, which was the predecessor of The Avengers, Police Surgeon started life under the title Dr. Simon Locke, the name of the lead character. It was produced in Canada for U.S. syndication, and after one year the title was changed, and CTV picked it up for a two-year run. The star was Sam Groom, who also starred for years in the U.S. soap Another World. His sidekick and mentor was Dr. Andrew Sellers, played by noted character actor Jack Albertson.  In the second season, when the title changed to Police Surgeon, Albertson left,  and Canadian actors Len Berman, Larry D. Mann and Nuala Fitzgerald were featured. Among those guest starring were William Shatner, Donald Pleasance and Leslie Nielsen.

The half-hour series was clearly identified as being in a Canadian setting, and followed the adventures of a former country doctor as he joined a big city police force as its ‘staff surgeon’. The producer, Chester Krumholtz, had major credits for his work on U.S. network series Kojak and Mannix, but not even this combination of performing and producing talents could keep the show on the air beyond two seasons.

Police Surgeon was filmed in Toronto, and played on CTV on Saturdays at 7:30pm from September 1972 through September 1974.

Written by Pip Wedge – July, 2002