Good Sam is an American medical drama television series created by Katie Wech for CBS, starring Jason Isaacs and Sophia Bush which premiered on January 5, 2022.[1] In May 2022, after receiving low ratings over the course of their 13 episode season, the series was canceled.[2]
Premise
Heart surgeon Dr. Samantha Griffith (Sophia Bush) becomes the top surgeon at Lakeshore Sentinel Hospital after her boss and father, Dr. Rob Griffith (Jason Isaacs), falls into a coma. Her life becomes complicated when he awakens and wants to resume surgery, which means Samantha would be supervising him.[3]
Cast
Jason Isaacs as Dr. Rob "Griff" Griffith, one of the country's best cardiothoracic surgeons, the hospital's current Chief Medical Officer and Sam's father
Sophia Bush as Dr. Sam Griffith, Cardiac Fellow and Interim Chief at Lakeshore Sentinel Hospital
Skye P. Marshall as Dr. Lex Trulie, Sam's best friend who is having an affair with Griff
Dr. Rob “Griff” Griffith, the Chief of Surgery at Lakeshore Sentinel Hospital, is shot at his hospital and he falls into coma. Six months later Dr. Sam Griffith, his daughter, takes over as the new chief of surgery. Griff wakes from his coma on the night of Sam’s reception as the new chief. Sam meets Malcolm A. Kingsley, the hospital's new Director of Finance. Griff rejoins the hospital as a proctor but starts interfering with Sam’s work undermining her authority. Sam finds out that Dr. Lex Trulie, her best friend and fellow doctor, is having an affair with Griff. Sam performs a complicated heart transplant successfully with Griff’s help.
Dr. Griffith fights to keep her new leadership role as chief of surgery when her father takes his case for reinstatement to the hospital board. Dr. Caleb Tucker forms an unexpected connection to a patient battling a mystery condition.
When Dr. Sam Griffith (Sophia Bush) refuses to concede her role as chief, her father Griff orchestrates a costly surprise. Also, Sam's mother, hospital administrator Vivian, turns to her new spouse, therapist Asher Pyne, for help navigating the battle between her daughter and ex-husband.
When Dr. Sam Griffith tracks down a deep-pocketed anonymous hospital donor, she's shocked to discover why the donor is so loyal to her father, Griff. Also, Griff offers to mentor his daughter and assure her succession.
Secrets revealed at a major fundraising gala for the hospital threaten to end a tenuous truce between Dr. Sam Griffith and her father. Cardiothoracic resident Dr. Lex Trulie makes a decision that could alter her career trajectory.
On September 19, 2019, CBS put Good Sam into development.[22] Writer Katie Wech produced the series with Jennie Snyder Urman through her Sutton St. Productions and CBS Television Studios. In February 2020, the series was given a pilot order, with further development paused during the COVID-19 pandemic.[23] On May 14, 2021, the show was given a series order.[24] On May 12, 2022, CBS canceled the series after one season.[2]
Principal photography for the series began on October 18, 2021 and concluded on March 24, 2022, in Oakville, Ontario.[30]
Reception
Critical response
The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 63% approval rating with an average rating of 7.5/10, based on 8 critic reviews.[31]Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 56 out of 100 based on 5 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[32]