Dr. Ron faces off with "Google University" in exclusive St. Denis Medical clip

In the St. Denis Medical exclusive, Dr. Ron (David Alan Grier) is unimpressed by a patient who comes in with a “medical [degree] from Google University.” Even when a WebMD scholar isn’t involved, Ron typically thinks he knows better than everyone else when it comes to a diagnosis or treatment. But his curmudgeonliness goes past the walls of the hospital: “I can’t think of one thing that the Internet has improved in our society,” he declares in the exclusive clip. “Except Elf Yourself. I do like to Elf myself every Christmas.”

Tony winner David Alan Grier is obviously a comedy legend—which may not have happened if Keenan Ivory Wayans hadn’t convinced him to try out more comedic roles, as Grier told The A.V. Club in 2018. But on the St. Denis Medical set, he’s the old pro, much like Ron is at the hospital. “At the heart of it, Ron knows the most, he has the most experience. He’s a little Lou Grant-y, but at the bottom of it he’s a good-hearted and great doctor and only wants the best for the patients,” Grier explained to NBC Insider. “My back page, as we say in actor language, is Ron was young, big afro, full of dreams, you know? ‘We’re gonna revamp the whole healthcare system!’ He was a revolutionary, man. I’m sure he came in there crusading. He was much like Allison [Tolman’s] character, Alex, and I think that’s what their real bond is. I think she represents a part of himself that he lost. He lost because he got burnt out by the system, he lost his family, he’s disconnected from his kids because he never stayed home.” The next episode of St. Denis Medical airs Tuesday on NBC.