'Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman' Commenced its Television Run on this Very Day in 1993: A Retro Television Recollection
Celebrating its 32nd anniversary, CBS kicked off 1993 with the debut of the western-themed family drama Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. While the genre wasn't novel, CBS and NBC had previously scored successes with The Waltons (1972-81) and Little House on the Prairie (1974-83), respectively. However, the genre was in a downturn until Jane Seymour arrived on the scene with Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.
Set in 1867, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman starred Seymour as Michaela Quinn, a strong-willed female physician from Boston establishing her own practice in the frontier town of Colorado Springs. Michaela navigates her new life with the help of rustic outdoorsman and friend Byron Sully (Joe Lando) and a midwife named Charlotte Cooper (Diane Ladd). Following Charlotte's untimely demise, Michaela becomes the guardian of her three kids: Matthew (Chad Allen), Colleen (initially Erika Flores, later Jessica Bowman) and Brian (Shawn Toovey).
Romance eventually blooms between Michaela and Sully, leading to their marriage and the birth of their child.
Initially replacing comedies such as Franny’s Turn and the critically-acclaimed Brooklyn Bridge (later joined by Major Dad), Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman was an instant hit, anchoring the 8 p.m. ET Saturday slot. It concluded its first season at the 23rd spot overall. Over six seasons, it generated 150 episodes, making it one of the last original scripted dramas to air on Saturday nights on a major network.
Two TV movies were released post-cancellation: Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman: The Movie in 1999 and Dr. Quinn: The Heart Within in 2001.
In 2022, Jane Seymour and Joe Lando reunited for the Lifetime film A Christmas Spark, telling the tale of recently widowed Molly (Seymour) who travels to her daughter for Christmas. She takes on directing the town's Christmas pageant and eventually finds love with Hank Marshall (Lando), the town's most eligible bachelor.
When asked during a virtual panel for A Christmas Spark about the possibility of another Dr. Quinn reunion movie (or series), Seymour hinted that she'd consider it if it could match or surpass the original's quality. "It has to be something extraordinary," she said.
Lando concurred, stating, "I would be thrilled to do it again. But we won't compromise and tarnish the Dr. Quinn reputation. It was a phenomenal show, and I won't settle for anything less than what we've achieved before - excellent writing, producing, and acting."
Happy 32nd Birthday, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman! Today, the family-focused series can be found on Hallmark Drama from 3 to 5 a.m. ET. And the idea of a possible reboot could provide a welcome contrast to today's frequently turbulent world.
Joe Lando, who portrayed Byron Sully in the hit series, expressed his interest in a potential Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman reunion, stating that he wouldn't settle for anything less than the show's original quality. Jane Seymour, starring as Dr. Michaela Quinn, also hinted at considering another reunion if it could match or surpass the original's success. During their careers, both Seymour and Lando were part of successful television shows, with Seymour appearing in Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman and Lando in the original broadcast of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman on CBS, as well as being part of the cast of the popular show The Waltons.
