Northern Exposure: Pilot (1990)

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Upon graduation from medical school, 27-year-old doctor Joel Fleischman (Rob Morrow) must work off 125,000 dollars worth of student loans by accepting a practice in Anchorage, AK. Having seldom ventured any farther than the boundaries of his native Manhattan, Joel balks at this assignment, only to be told that if he refuses, he faces a 10,000-dollar fine and 18 years in jail. Resigning himself to Anchorage, Joel shows up in the Alaskan metropolis only to be told that his services are not required and that he has been transferred to the remote village of Cicely -- population 815, mostly eccentrics and oddballs. The fish-out-of-water Joel swiftly makes the acquaintance of his new neighbors including his attractive landlady, mail pilot Maggie O'Connell (Janine Turner); Maurice Minnifield (Barry Corbin), the worldly ex-astronaut who owns Cicely; Maurice's ultra-macho best friend, 62-year-old tavern owner Holling Vicoeur (John Cullum); Maurice's 18-year-old beauty-queen fiancée, Shelly (Cynthia Geary); Maurice's assistant, Ed Chigliak (Darren E. Burrows), a laid-back Native American (and aspiring filmmaker) who seems to know everything there is to know; and Chris Danforth (John Corbett), the enigmatic, poetic morning DJ at local radio station KBHR. After several harrowing and mind-numbing experiences both personal and professional, poor Joel throws a tantrum and declares, "I will under no condition, NO condition, spend the best years of my life in the worst place on Earth!" Wanna bet? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Complete Cast:

Director(s):

Joshua Brand

Writer(s):

John Falsey, Joshua Brand

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