Product Details

• Actors: Rosa Blasi, Jenifer Lewis, Joshua Cox, Philip Casnoff, Brennan Elliott
• Directors: Fran Drescher
• Writers: Ayanna Floyd, Carla Kettner, Rob Fresco, Sara B. Cooper, Tammy Ader
• Producers: Allison Robbins
• Format: Box set, Color, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled
• Language: Portuguese (Dolby Digital 2.0), English (Dolby Digital 2.0)
• Subtitles: Spanish, Portuguese
• Dubbed: Portuguese
• Subtitles for the Hearing Impaired: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 5
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: January 10, 2006
• Run Time: 982 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000BX0VU0
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #27,747 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Strong Medicine - The Complete First Season" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Two strong-willed, capable female doctors with differing approaches to medicine must forge a working relationship when their practices are merged in this premier season (2000) of Lifetime television's longest running original series. All 22 episodes are included in this five-disc DVD box set beginning with the "Pilot," which introduces the characters and frenzied setting of the visceral drama. In an award-winning role, Rosa Blasi plays Dr. Luisa "Lu" Delgado who runs the inner city South Philly Women's Clinic serving a full caseload of indigent, drug addicts, and abuse victims. A straight-talking maverick, Dr. Delgado is sympathetic to the plight of her patients as she fights to keep her free clinic afloat despite financial hardships. Janine Turner (Northern Exposure, Cliffhanger) plays Dr. Dana Stowe, a polished-if-not-sterile surgeon at the prestigious Rittenhouse Hospital treating patients on the opposite side of the city and socio-economic spectrum. Practicing textbook medicine, Dr. Stowe chafes at Delgado's unconventional methods. (Turner will remain in the series until the early part of season three). A stroke of fate pairs the women to run a brand new women's heath center and, although sparks fly professionally, the doctors haltingly approach a level of understanding. The season explores a variety of women's health issues: infertility, abortion, rape, genetic testing, co-dependency, breast cancer, and right-to-die. Complex medical questions are explored from several perspectives without succumbing to quick resolutions. Undoubtedly, the series has grown in popularity because of the underpinnings established this first season. Blasi and Turner develop a compelling rapport—alternatively appreciating and opposing each other—while a supporting cast adds depth in standout performances by Josh Coxx (as nurse/midwife Peter Riggs) and Jenifer Lewis (as receptionist Lana Hawkins). Intense drama is tempered with comic relief, usually by way of Hawkin's banter and, in one case, her correct diagnosis of a patient's phobia of bald men. Season one introduces a budding romance and ends with a cliffhanger. Lending their vision are executive producers Tammy Ader and Whoopi Goldberg, who also plays a prominent role in the Pilot episode as Dr. Lydia Emerson, a women's health pioneer who returns in three additional stories. The only deficiency is the absence of bonus material: interviews, audio commentaries, or outtakes would strengthen the package. (Caution: violence, language, and adult themes). --Lynn Gibson

Product Description

Dr. Dana Stowe (Janine Turner, Northern Exposure, Cliffhanger) is the head of women’s medicine at Rittenhouse Hospital and doesn't let her emotions get in the way of her work. Dr. Luisa "Lu" Delgado (Rosa Blasi, Noriega) runs an inner city clinic and does whatever it takes to get her poverty-stricken clients the care they need. When the two women are paired up to run the Rittenhouse Women's Health Center, they must learn to work together even with their respective approaches clearly on opposite sides of the operating table. But can they get past it? From Executive Producers Whoopi Goldberg and Tammy Ader, this long-running Lifetime series contains all 22 first season episodes on a 5 disc DVD set.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 44 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A `Strong' TV Show! November 11, 2005

By Raj

Format:DVD

I have seen a lot of the episodes of `Strong Medicine' on Lifetime, and I feel that it is one of the most underrated TV shows being show today. It is a great show that portrays hope, life, relationships, and emotions in each episode. I am glad that this show is finally releasing on DVD, as we can get to watch the series from the beginning.

The story mainly revolves around Dr. Lu Delgado and Dr. Dana Stowe, two women who have nothing in common with each other, except for their passions in the field of work. They work in the Rittenhouse Women's Health Clinic, where they face new challenges, and solve new problems from performing plastic surgery to treating HIV positive patients. This DVD set contains the first 22 episodes of Season 1, which are:

01. Pilot

02. Preexisting Conditions

03. Misconceptions

04. Second Look

05. Performance Anxiety

06. Drug Interactions

07. Do No Harm

08. Miracle Cure

09. Dependency

10. BRCA1

11. BRCA2

12. Brainchild

13. Second Opinion

14. Side Effects

15. Blessed Events

16. Fix

17. Maternity

18. Complications

19. Childcare

20. Drugstore Cowgirl

21. Wednesday Night Fever

22. Mortality

Not only is this show moving, but you also learn something in each episode. Developed by Whoopi Goldberg and created by Tammy Ader, `Strong Medicine' has won numerous awards. Rosa Blasi (who plays Dr. Lu Delgado) won an Imagen Award for Best Actress in a Drama series. I doubt this DVD set will contain any special features, except for the standard ones like languages, and subtitles, but nevertheless, it is worth buying this DVD just to see the episodes.

Being sweet and sour at times, `Strong Medicine' is a wonderful drama that will definitely make you feel better.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An inspiring series April 4, 2007

By Michelle Raposa

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is one of the most inspiring series that I've ever seen. I have seen in the online message boards how many young girls have written to the actresses, talking about how this show has inspired them to become doctors. Many women are out there without good medical care or the means to provide for themselves. This show inspires us women who have nothing to become something. It is also a really cool drama that will open your eyes to diseases and other health related issues in a way that ER will not. ER is more focused on the relationships between the actors, where this show is focused on the health issues and their impacts on the people's lives. A very, very good show. I've gone as far as calling Sony directly, asking them to publish the rest of the seasons!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars It's about time, a show of this quality was placed on DVD February 27, 2006

By T. L. Moss

Format:DVD

It's no surprise that Stong Medicine, has lasted so long on Lifetime, from episode one it was evident that this show was not just another medical show. Strong Medicine has strength and courage of the female kind. It's not very often we see a show so full of passion, conviction, and focus to educate women as well as men of the importance of womens health, physically and emotionally. Rosa Blasi character of "Dr Luisa Delgado", is so moving. It's performances like Rosa Blasi, Jenifer Lewis, and Joshua Cox that keep me on the edge of my seat. I love the show and I can't wait for the rest of the seasons to be available on DVD.....It's great and I can't wait.