NBC is getting back into the mockumentary game with created by Justin Spitzer (of Superstore fame) and Eric Ledgin, follows a group of nurses and doctors (and one ) who work in the ER at St. Denis Regional Medical Center in Oregon. As Wendi McLendon-Covey's Joyce says in the premiere, the ER "has some of the best doctors in the country. I mean, in Oregon... Carving out Portland because that's a big city, so, they probably... Well, you get it."

Given its experienced and talented creators and cast, St. Denis Medical is bound to have a few laughs, and the two-part premiere certainly does. The first two episodes also do a good job of introducing the show's characters and its world to us. However, like with so many TV series, viewers may have to stick around for more episodes of St. Denis Medical to get truly hooked. NBC's mockumentary has a good foundation to build a long-running, successful, and entertaining series, but the two-part premiere certainly won't wow many.

The Talented Cast Makes St. Denis Medical Work

Wendi McLendon-Covey, David Alan Grier, & Allison Tolman Shine In The NBC Sitcom

Lawson and Kaliko Kauahi), and impressive newcomers. Thanks to these talented performers, each character leaves their mark.

Every actor gets their moment to shine in the premiere, and the dynamics between certain highlighted characters are also memorable. Ron's snarky rapport with Alex is fun, but their sincere moments are also exciting to watch. Matt's burgeoning crush on Serena and her disinterest in the new nurse (who she thinks won't last long at the hospital) is another dynamic to watch. Ultimately, the writing is good in St. Denis Medical, but the actors are truly the ones who make the show worth watching as they expertly bring the script to life.

St. Denis Medical Isn't Trying To Be The Office (Which Is A Good Thing)

The NBC Mockumentary Will Undoubtedly Be Compared To The Ones That Came Before It

St. Denis Medical's setting sets it apart from other mockumentaries like The Office and Parks and Rec. However, its characters are also (mostly) unlike iconic figures in those two shows. Sure, Alex's eagerness and perfectionist nature might be compared to Leslie Knope from Parks and Rec, but she certainly doesn't love her job or her coworkers as much as Amy Poehler's character does. Aside from those two, it's difficult to compare any St. Denis Medical character to another one from a different mockumentary, and that's why it has potential.

Joyce is nothing like Michael Scott from The Office. Funnily enough, Ron has a little bit of Ron Swanson from Parks and Rec in him, but he's way more affectionate than Nick Offerman's fan-favorite character. As for everyone else in St. Denis Medical, they all have their own personalities and are unlike any other characters who came before them. St. Denis Medical certainly has to stand out to be a triumph, and distancing itself from The Office and Parks and Rec is a good start.

St. Denis Medical Must Figure Out How To Balance Its Comedy With Its Emotional Moments Better

A Hospital Setting Is Bound To Produce Various Serious Moments

One of the show's biggest issues is its flawed balance of comedic moments with sad ones. Since it's set in a hospital where people die every day, the series is bound to have at least a handful of heartbreaking scenes. However, the jokes sprinkled throughout the more serious moments mostly fall flat.

If viewers stick around, there is a good chance that St. Denis Medical will improve and find its stride.

It's unclear if we should be laughing or not during these emotional sequences (like Bruce's talking head at the end of episode 2), making the watching experience a bit uncomfortable. The good news is that there is time to fix mistakes like these. If we stick around, there is a good chance that St. Denis Medical will improve and find its stride.

St. Denis Medical premieres with two episodes on November 12 at 8:00 PM ET on NBC. The remaining episodes will air weekly each Tuesday.