'Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.' Makes Great 'Doogie Howser' Reboot

With many ’80s and ’90s reboots hitting TV and streaming services, it was about time “Doogie Howser” got its own.

The reboot, named “Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.,” successfully executes what it means to have a fresh take on an older show.

Starring Disney’s Peyton Elizabeth Lee, the dynamic of the original show is kept alive, with a few modern twists.

The reboot takes place in Hawaii and made sure to keep the dynamic of the 1989 Steven Bochco-David E. Kelley creation alive. The show still centers around a young prodigy juggling a career in medicine and going through typical teen struggles.

The opening scene even pays tribute to the original by being virtually the same: 16-year-old Lahela Kamealoha abruptly stops her driving exam to help a car accident victim, establishing her medical credentials while making it known she’s still a kid.

The family dynamics are a bit different. Lahela’s mother played by Kathleen Rose Perkins, is her boss at the hospital, while her father played by Jason Scott Lee, pursues his passion by selling flowers, and she also has two brothers dealing with their own boyish troubles.

The pilot sets the scene and establishes the nickname “Doogie” by having an older patient insist on calling Lahela that, it also introduces her love interest played by Alex Aino, who is a surfer boy who tends to send her mixed signals.

The show was developed by “Fresh Off the Boat” writer-producer Kourtney Kang and incorporates mixed heritage.

“Doogie Kamealoha, M.D” will premiere on Disney+ on September 8.

Photo Credit: Disney