Royal Pains follows Hank Lawson, a New York doctor who takes off for a Hamptons vacation with his brother after being fired for letting a hospital big wig die. Tired of hospital politics and bummed after not only getting fired but his fiancé dumping him as well, Hank was not prepared to jump back into work or love, but discovers both are ready to find him in the Hamptons.
Hank's spirited but reserved character is perfectly balanced out with his off-the-wall brother Evan who's usual enthusiasm for parties and women (which doesn't entirely stop) is redirected into starting and running a conseriage doctor business for Hank. With new medical cases every week plus friendships and love interests picked up along the way, Royal Pains is full of colorful and fun characters and storylines as well.
“Royal Pains” was advertised to be an instant summer favorite.“Burn Notice,” however, continues to be USA’s summer star. The show’s 12 episode run focused on Dr. Hank Lawson, played by Mark Feuerstein, who becomes a private doctor for the rich residents of the Hamptons after losing his job due to a malpractice suit. Even a medical degree could not help Feuerstein’s dry, dreary voice and equally dull acting.
The summer used to be a big disappointment for couch potatoes or even just the occasional viewer. Aside from reality television, there generally isn't a whole lot on, certainly not to warrant your regular viewing. Thanks to networks like USA, the summer is no longer the snooze-fest it once was. Royal Pains is a unique mixture of medicine, intrigue, and comedy and it works wonderfully.
After last night's season one finale, USA's new hit series ROYAL PAINS is now the network's most-watched first season of an original series ever, beating prior record-holder THE 4400, with the season averaging 3.3 million P25-54, 2.9 million P18-49 and 7 million total viewers.
Beautiful people. Pristine beaches. Palatial mansions. Throw in a few outrageous medical situations. Mix well, and out comes "Royal Pains."
If the combination sounds like a refreshing break from reality, that's because it's supposed to be, said Andrew Lenchewski, a creator and co-executive producer of the freshman USA series.
USA Today reports that USA Network's medical drama, Royal Pains, the story of a doctor who makes house calls in the Hamptons, isn't far from the truth. "Meet Ronald Primas, a middle-aged concierge doctor in Manhattan, where the rich and famous dwell and where parking is usually impossible unless you happen to be a 'doctor on call' with the official dashboard sign and license plates to prove it.
The premise of the latest hit medical drama sounds improbable even for television: A doctor who makes house calls. In the Hamptons. Dashing among the hedgerows, dropping in on the rich and sick at one eye-popping estate after another.
But come on. Who makes house calls these days, even on TV? The last such doc who did was Marcus Welby, M.D., and he has been off the air for more than 30 years. So Hank Lawson, the young "concierge doctor" on USA Network's Royal Pains, is just another Hollywood fantasy, right?
Beautiful people. Pristine beaches. Palatial mansions. Throw in a few outrageous medical situations. Mix well, and out comes "Royal Pains."
If the combination sounds like a refreshing break from reality, that's because it's supposed to be, says Andrew Lenchewski, a creator and co-executive producer of the freshman USA series.
"I think there's a lot of things to be distressed by outside of your living room," Lenchewski says. "And then when you step into your living room, and you can sit down and plug into these fun, vibrantly realized characters in this really beautiful, heightened world, I think there's an escapism in that that is just inherently appealing."
Beautiful people. Pristine beaches. Palatial mansions. Throw in a few outrageous medical situations. Mix well, and out comes Royal Pains.
If the combination sounds like a refreshing break from reality, that's because it's supposed to be, said Andrew Lenchewski, a creator and co-executive producer of the freshman USA series.
"I think there's a lot of things to be distressed by outside of your living room," Lenchewski said. "And then when you step into your living room, and you can sit down and plug into these fun, vibrantly realized characters in this really beautiful, heightened world, I think there's an escapism in that that is just inherently appealing."
USA Network has picked up new seasons for its Thursday original drama duo.
The characters channel has ordered a sophomore campaign of Hamptons concierge doctor series Royal Pains, and a fourth campaign of spy show Burn Notice.
With Burn Notice serving as a 9 p.m. lead-in, Royal Pains became a ratings success out of the gate, currently ranking as the top new cable show of 2009 and the leading scripted performer among the advertiser-coveted adults18-to-49 set on cable this year.Overall, Royal Pains has averaged 5.95 million watchers, according to Nielsen Media Research data, including 2.4 million persons 18 to 49 and 2.7 million adults 25 to 54., USA officials note that Royal Pains, starring Mark Feuerstein as doctor Hank Lawson, was the only new show in all of television to generate growth from week two to week three over the last five years. Royal Pains is the first original series from Universal Cable Productions for USA.
This week on Royal Pains' 'The Honeymoon's Over,' we got the fun guest stars of House's Peter Jacobson and swimsuit supermodel Brooklyn Decker as a newlywed couple with Jacobson's character as a new HankMed patient.
Also, we had Hank spending most of his case-work time on a separate case of a children's book illustrator with a heart problem who Hank accidentally poached from Jill's hospital.
