Josh Lawson Talks ‘St. Denis Medical’ Season 1 and His ‘Superstore’ Connection [Interview]

Medical shows are the backbone of modern television, regardless of genre. From Grey’s Anatomy, Scrubs, and The Good Doctor, to New Amsterdam and Chicago Med, the world of medicine naturally attracts fans in any category.

NBC’s St. Denis Medical is one of the newest series taking over the medical genre. Created by Eric Ledgin and Justin Spitzer, it is a mockumentary sitcom following nurses and doctors who work to keep their sanity while maintaining an underfunded hospital.

I recently had the opportunity to speak with Josh Lawson (Superstore and Mortal Kombat). Lawson portrays Bruce on St. Denis Medical: a zany, cocky, and hilarious trauma surgeon that will do anything to keep the spotlight on himself.

The character of Bruce is a typical man’s man. He loves to keep his name in all the conversations, boast about his virility, and have playful banter with his co-workers. The limits to his shenanigans are endless.

“There is nothing he won’t think he’s great at and subsequently nothing that will prove that he is not great at it,” Lawson said. “You’ve seen how Bruce will tackle the problem of having someone’s genitalia stuck in a wedding ring. He thinks outside the box.”

“I’m always excited to see what insanity they come up with because I really feel like they throw everything in the kitchen sink at a character like Bruce, which I love,” Lawson continued.

Despite his big personality and vast attempts to always be the top dog, Bruce is multi-faceted and provides emotional depth as he often ponders his morals.

“When it comes to health care and hospitals, I think you can go on forever and ever, like Grey’s Anatomy has proven. There’s just sort of no end to real-life stuff that we can explore, examine, and pull apart,” Lawson said.

“I think it’d be interesting to see what happens if one of the surgeons requires surgery. What happens when the tables get turned on them? I’d be curious to see how that plays out.” 

On St. Denis Medical Season 1 Episode 2, “A Very Robust Personal Life,” Bruce is asked the question: Would you take less care of someone if they were an organ donor and on their deathbed?

It’s a question that slowly unravels him throughout the episode, bringing forth an honest conversation about right from wrong.

People have endless fears about hospitals, and St. Denis Medical has no qualms about putting its spin on them. Lawson, though, grew up as a son of doctors, so his view of the medical world differs from the majority.

“I always had an inherent trust, for better or worse, with medical professionals. I’ve never had a fear of doctors or needles or anything like that. I’m pretty trusting when it comes to science and medicine.”

“Maybe I should be a little more skeptical,” Lawson laughed. “Particularly if those places are being run by people like Bruce, I should be scared. Very scared.”

One aspect we’ve yet to see the series tackle is Bruce with a significant other, whether it be a one- or two-episode arc. However, with a Season 2 renewal already confirmed, Lawson would be interested in bringing it to life in the future.

“I would love to see who Bruce is drawn to,” he said. “I haven’t explored that too much with the writers. I’m sure they’ve got some ideas, but I would be curious to explore something like that. I think you’d see a very different side of Bruce with someone he is attracted to.”

St. Denis Medical isn’t the first comedy series Lawson has been a part of either.

Lawson said that making multiple appearances on Superstore, which Eric Ledgin and Justin Spitzer also created, was instrumental in booking the role of Bruce.

“I think just having that relationship and then being familiar with not only my work but the way I work, my ability to collaborate, and all that stuff. I think that made it probably easier for them to cast me.”

Lawson also explained having connections in the industry is essential.

“Sometimes [when] you’re just going from one self-tape audition or whatever, it’s a bit of a gamble. So, it helps that there was a pre-existing relationship there,” he noted. “For me personally, I just trusted [Ledgin and Spritzer] so much because I’d worked on Superstore, knew their style, and knew how talented they were.”

“I was sort of like, ‘Well, the writing is not going to be the reason why I don’t say yes to this job. I know that’s going to be good,'” Lawson added. “It was an easy yes.”

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St. Denis Medical airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on NBC.

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