Premiering at Showtime on 2009, "Nurse Jackie" has truly evolved throughout the years. Three-time Emmy winner Edie Falco sure had to be happy playing the character of an ER nurse with a constant back pain alongside her life's emergencies. Often quoted as a medical, dark satirical, addiction-based comedy-drama, the story continues to inject interesting twists with its latest installment in the franchise: Season 7.
Fans can expect more, as new characters are up to appear in the 7th season. One of them is the ever-popular "Monk", Tony Shalhoub. Showtime has announced his casting, as told by USA Today. The Emmy winner is bound to play the role of Bernard Prince, an ER doctor. Wellsville Daily Reporter describes the character as "well-liked by his boss Gloria Akalitus (Anna Deavere Smith), have excellent bedside manner, and acts as a friend to Jackie".
Shalbouf is well-known for his portrayal in "Monk" (2002). He also appeared in "Wings" (1990)," Men In Black" (1997), and "Cars" (2006). One of his personal quotes as listed in IMDB said, "I still think of myself as a stage actor. When I do film and television I try to implement what I was taught to do in theatre, to try to stretch into characters that are far from myself".
USA Today also tells that Shalhoub's role makes sense, since it was then announced that the role of Dr. Cooper (played by Peter Facinelli) will not be back. Facinelli will be moving to fall drama "Odyssey" by NBC. E! also reports the same, without Dr. Fitch "Coop" Cooper as a regular cast. Showrunner Clyde Phillips said the star "asked to be released from his contract to pursue new creative challenges". "Nurse Jackie" is also known to house many recurring characters anyway, and the cyclical appearances add up to the story's lines of excitement.
Actors Edie Falco, Merritt Wever, Dominic Fumusa, Paul Schulze, Betty Gilpin, Ruby Jerins, Stephen Wallem, Mackenzie Aladjem and Peter Facinelli have all been part of the success of the first six seasons. Clyde Phillips is showrunner and executive producer; Tom Straw, Richie Jackson, Liz Flahive and Caryn Mandabach are also executive producers behind the series. The medical series is a co-production between Showtime and Lionsgate, as noted by Variety.
Now that it is up for a new season, "Nurse Jackie" has a great potential of becoming Showtime's resident senior. Fans are expected to stir up as a new season comes to bring about the extraordinary "Nurse Jackie"!