Growing up as a kid in the 80's and 90's I have fond memories of watching the original Doogie Howser, M.D. I remember wishing I had a best friend like Vinny and a girlfriend like Wanda. Oh, and of course to be a genius doctor like Doogie. Now, a whole new generation can have that same experience.
But this time, Dr. Doogie is a girl. A bi-racial girl, who lives in Hawaii. Yes, Dr. Doogie just got a much more inclusive reboot for 2021. Her name is: Doogie Kamealoha. Her best friend is Steph and her crush is Walter (instead of Wanda). Her friends are Asian and LGBTQ. Yes, everyone is welcome in this new version of show, which debuts September 8th on Disney+.
Advocate Channel got to talk with the entire cast, including Peyton Elizabeth Lee, who plays Doogie. She told us the new series:
"takes the foundation that Doogie Howser built and sort of brings it into the world we live in today"
As for whether OG star, Neil Patrick Harris will make a cameo? Peyton told us:
"I mean I would love that. I think it would be so cool to sort of bring him into our world"
But, even without Neil, Peyton has plenty of company on the new show. Here is more about the series:
Set in modern-day Hawai'i, "Doogie Kamealoha, M.D." – a coming-of-age dramedy inspired by the hit medical series "Doogie Howser, M.D." – follows Lahela "Doogie" Kamealoha (Peyton Elizabeth Lee), a 16-year-old prodigy juggling a budding medical career and life as a teenager.With the support of her caring — and comical — 'ohana (family) and friends, Lahela is determined to make the most of her teenage years and forge her own path.
Guiding Lahela is her career-driven mother Dr. Clara Hannon (Kathleen Rose Perkins) who's also her supervisor at the hospital, her doting father Benny (Jason Scott Lee) who helps keep her connected to what matters most, her free-spirited older brother Kai (Matthew Sato), her gregarious younger brother Brian Patrick (Wes Tian), her best friend Steph (Emma Meisel), her surfer crush Walter (Alex Aiono) and her fellow hospital colleagues, Dr. Lee (Ronny Chieng), Charles (Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman) and Noelani (Mapuana Makia).
"Doogie Kamealoha, M.D." is a Disney+ original series produced by 20th Television. Kourtney Kang is creator and executive producer on the series. Melvin Mar, Jake Kasdan, Dayna Bochco, Jesse Bochco, Erin O'Malley, Matt Kuhn, and Justin McEwen also serve as executive producers on the series.
Doogie Kameāloha, M.D. starts streaming Wednesday, September 8th on Disney+, with new episodes on Wednesdays.
