Wendi McLendon-Covey talks NBC sitcom 'St. Denis Medical' and hospital humor
Wendi McLendon-Covey knew that for her first role after 10 seasons of ABC's family sitcom "The Goldbergs," she didn't want to play another overbearing mother. Instead, she takes on Joyce, the high-strung hospital administrator of NBC's mockumentary-style sitcom "St. Denis Medical" (premiering Tuesday, 8 EST/PST).
Joyce "likes cute things, but she doesn't have time for pets," McLendon-Covey, 55, explains to USA TODAY. "That's why she never had kids. That's why all her plants are fake. She's always on edge."
Joyce is constantly trying to push St. Denis, an underfunded hospital set in fictional Merrick, Oregon, "uphill." McLendon-Covey believes Joyce is ambitious in her fundraising efforts for the hospital but "so annoying," too.
While Joyce may be "completely opposite" from Beverly Goldberg in McLendon-Covey's view, the actress is no stranger to workplace comedy. She played Concierge Marie, a character who hooked up with Michael Scott, in a 2008 episode of NBC's "The Office."
"Fans of 'The Office' are rabid fans, and they know that show better than the actors or the creators do," she says. For a single guest-starring role, she hears more about the character than she would've expected. "They've watched it so many times that they will correct you if you're wrong, you know? I love that you can't pull the wool over a fan's eyes anymore."
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McLendon-Covey "St. Denis" castmates include David Alan Grier (who plays a doctor) and Allison Tolman (the hospital's head nurse). She jokes that the hospital set looked so real that she was afraid to touch any of the props. Medical consultants were brought in to help with certain scenes. Former physicians also appear as background actors.
Critic's take:NBC's hospital sitcom 'St. Denis Medical' might heal you with laughter: Review
Producers Justin Spitzer and Eric Ledgin have two cult workplace comedies under their belts in NBC's "Superstore" and "American Auto."
McLendon-Covery raves about the experience. "When your (executive) producers love their families, you get to go home at night," she deadpans. "The hours are better. Everybody gets to see their families.
"I know everybody comes here and says,'Oh my God we get paid to have fun.' But I think it comes out in the final product that we really are kind of having the time of our lives."