A Gifted Man

A Gifted Man is an American fantasy medical drama television series that premiered on CBS on September 23, 2011.[1] The series is about a talented but self-absorbed surgeon (Patrick Wilson) who starts questioning his purpose in life when he is visited by the spirit of his deceased ex-wife (Jennifer Ehle). The pilot episode was directed by Jonathan Demme, who also served as an executive producer on the show along with writer Susannah Grant. The first thirteen episodes were aired in the Friday 8:00 p.m. timeslot (September 23, 2011 – February 10, 2012), while the final three episodes of the 16 episode season order were aired in the Friday 9:00 p.m. timeslot (February 17, 2012 – March 2, 2012).

A Gifted Man
Genre
Created bySusannah Grant
Starring
Theme music composerW. G. Snuffy Walden
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes16
Production
Executive producers
CinematographyTom Weston
Camera setupArri Alexa; Single-camera
Running time44 minutes
Production companies
DistributorCBS Television Distribution
Release
Original networkCBS
Picture format1080i (HDTV)
Original releaseSeptember 23, 2011 (2011-09-23) –
March 2, 2012 (2012-03-02)

On May 10, 2012, CBS canceled the series after one season.[2]

Synopsis

Michael Holt (Patrick Wilson) is a talented but self-absorbed surgeon at an upscale New York City clinic. He lives a comfortable and materialistic life due to the wealthy clients he treats, but is nevertheless discontented with his life and acts coldly to those around him. His life is thrown into disarray, however, when he is visited by the ghost of his ex-wife Anna Paul (Jennifer Ehle), who was recently killed in a car accident. Anna asks Michael to help keep running the free clinic she previously directed, which leads Michael to be exposed to poorer patients in need who are far different from his usual clientele. Michael's sister Christina (Julie Benz), a single mother struggling to care for her troubled teenaged son Milo (Liam Aiken), believes in the supernatural and is thrilled with the idea that Anna is back in Michael's life, as she insists he was a better person when she was around.[3][4]

Cast and characters

Main cast
  • Patrick Wilson as Dr. Michael Holt, a brilliant neurosurgeon and owner of Holt Neuro. Following Anna's death, he starts volunteering at Clinica Sanando.[3]
  • Jennifer Ehle as Anna Paul, Michael's ex-wife, who has come back as a spirit attached to him. She only appears to Michael.[4]
  • Margo Martindale as Rita Perkins-Hall, Michael's loyal, headstrong assistant. Rita is a former nurse.[4]
  • Pablo Schreiber as Anton Little Creek, a shaman and spiritual healer who helps Michael understand his otherworldly experiences. He is a longtime friend and former lover of Michael's sister Christina. Anton also works as a handyman at Clinica Sanando.[5]
  • Rachelle Lefevre as Dr. Kate Sykora, a doctor who takes over as director at Clinica Sanando after Anna's death.[6]

Recurring cast
  • Rhys Coiro as Dr. Zeke Barnes, a physician working at Clinica Sanando.
  • Afton Williamson as Autumn, a social worker volunteering at Clinica Sanando.[4]
  • Julie Benz as Christina Holt, Michael's sister.[4]
  • Liam Aiken as Christina's son Milo Holt, Michael's nephew[4]
  • Eriq La Salle as Evan "E-Mo" Morris, a psychiatrist-neurologist at Holt Neuro and Michael's personal friend.
  • Mike Doyle as Victor Lantz, the anesthesiologist at Holt Neuro.
  • Adrian Martinez as Hector, the desk clerk at Clinica Sanando.
  • Peter Hermann as Harrison Curtis, Kate's husband.
  • Katie Ross as Maria, a nurse at Holt Neuro.
  • Sue Jean Kim as Colette

Production

A Gifted Man is produced by CBS Television Studios and Timberman-Beverly Productions. Jonathan Demme, Susannah Grant, Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly and Neal Baer are executive producers. Demme directed and Loucas George produced the pilot episode.[4]

On November 14, 2011, CBS ordered three additional episodes of the series, bringing the total to 16 for the season.[7]

Episodes

With the exception of the pilot episode, every episode title has the words "In Case Of..." at the beginning.

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code		US viewers
(millions)
1"Pilot"Jonathan DemmeSusannah GrantSeptember 23, 2011 (2011-09-23)1019.45[8]
After the ghost of his ex-wife visits him from the afterlife and asks him to help run her low income clinic, Michael Holt finds himself running back and forth between his patients at his neurological facility, Holt Neuro, and his less fortunate patients at the clinic.
2"In Case of All Hell Breaking Loose"Jonathan KaplanNeal Baer & Daniel TrulySeptember 30, 2011 (2011-09-30)1028.18[9]
Michael works double duty trying to save a pregnant friend he recently diagnosed with a brain tumor and a little boy with sickle cell disease.
3"In Case of Discomfort"Peter WernerJonathan GreeneOctober 7, 2011 (2011-10-07)1037.52[10]
While interviewing doctors to run the clinic and angering prospect Kate Sikora in the process, Michael helps a man who passed out, but who refuses care due to lack of insurance. Meanwhile, as Michael evaluates a woman, he notices lesions on her brain that require immediate surgery, even as he does not know the exact diagnosis.
4"In Case of Separation Anxiety"Jonathan KaplanAlison TatlockOctober 14, 2011 (2011-10-14)1047.71[11]
When Michael treats a patient who is hearing voices, he turns to Anton for help. Meanwhile, Kate’s first day at the clinic does not go well.
5"In Case of Loss of Control"David PlattDaniel TrulyOctober 21, 2011 (2011-10-21)1078.67[12]
Michael enlists the help of a psychiatric consultant in diagnosing a problem involving a girl who is depressed over the death of her mother but claims to be abstinent and not taking birth control. Meanwhile, a grant Kate has received for the clinic winds up needing to go to pay for an operation for an uninsured—and undocumented—boy.
6"In Case of Memory Loss"David PlattLisa MelamedNovember 4, 2011 (2011-11-04)1058.55[13]

Michael brings a friend with a former drug habit and an unknown current problem to the clinic. While he is there, the friend runs away, but Michael encounters a former football player on whom he performed a surgery years earlier but who has since become homeless and lost much of his memory. Meanwhile, a teenage girl is brought to Holt Neuro due to problems coping with the recent murder of her best friend, and it is suggested that she take the beta-blocker propranolol to treat the condition.

Notes: Nine months before this episode aired, former Bear and Giant Dave Duerson, 50, shot himself in the chest and willed his brain to science to study the effects of brain injuries on football players, as did the character in this episode. Six months after this episode aired, Junior Seau, 43, also shot himself in the chest, and his brain was donated to science.
7"In Case of Exposure"Peter WernerAdam S. SimonNovember 11, 2011 (2011-11-11)1088.25[14]
After his son comes to the clinic claiming to have received bruises on his back and front from a single fall skateboarding, a man is called in, but he shows violent behavior. He is determined to have a serious brain tumor causing emotional issues and impending death if not treated. After Michael convinces him to let him perform surgery, he confesses that he was involved in a hit and run with a red-haired woman around the same time and place where Anna was killed, causing mixed emotions for Michael. Meanwhile, a FDNY firefighter is having emotional issues of her own following her failure to save teachers from a fire, and her anti-depressants are causing neurological issues.
8"In Case of Missed Communications"Donna DeitchJonathan GreeneNovember 18, 2011 (2011-11-18)1098.24[15]
Zeke and Kate treat an elderly man who is brought into the clinic not breathing. After intubating him, they find a DNR bracelet. Meanwhile, Rita's son returns home from Afghanistan but soon is in a motorcycle accident causing spinal damage. Michael eventually learns that he too had a living will indicating that he not be kept alive by a machine.
9"In Case of Abnormal Rhythm"Constantine MakrisBecky ModeDecember 2, 2011 (2011-12-02)1068.01[16]
An old patient brings her soon-to-be-wed daughter to Holt Neuro to be checked out due to passing out from stress. Though it turns out she is fine, her mother is having stroke symptoms requiring complicated surgery. Meanwhile at the clinic, a disoriented school teacher is found to have contracted rabies on a camping trip, and it is up to Michael and Kate to save her in time.
10"In Case of a Bolt from the Blue"John ColesDawn DeNoonJanuary 6, 2012 (2012-01-06)1108.38[17]
While working at the clinic during a blizzard, Michael starts exhibiting signs of a strangulated hernia that requires immediate surgery. In the beginning, Michael refuses care until he has symptoms of a severe case and calls Rita who calls a private ambulance for him. Instead, Michael lets the woman get taken to the hospital with a pregnant woman and her spouse and the ambulance leaves with Michael standing in the snow. After standing there for several minutes, he collapses with pain. When Kate comes out to look at the stars a few minutes later, she finds him and brings him inside and she and Zeke perform the surgery on him. Meanwhile, Michael has to help a woman who has memory confusion and a hypochondriac boy who is having hearing problems and later determined to have been struck by lightning.
11"In Case of (Re)Birth"Adam BernsteinLisa Melamed & Alison TatlockJanuary 13, 2012 (2012-01-13)1118.76[18]
A 16-year-old runaway girl arrives at La Clinica and gives birth. Before delivering the placenta, she leaves only to come back once she experiences problems. Zeke finds out the father was killed and tries to convince the grandmother to take the baby so that he avoids foster care. Meanwhile at Holt Neuro, an artist has a brain tumor that has recently given him creativity but headaches as well. Mike wishes to remove it via surgery, while Emo feels that there are other options to control its growth while keeping the tumor intact so it can continue to provide inspiration.
12"In Case of Blind Spots"Peter LetoZachary LutskyFebruary 3, 2012 (2012-02-03)1128.41[19]
Emo becomes more forgetful, and Michael puts his foot down and decides to force him to get tested for Huntington's. Meanwhile, Kate's "Little Sister" is having unexplained impingement in her back which is preventing her from playing in a game which will be watched by college scouts, and a man that Michael rescues from the East River is experiencing dissociative and violent withdrawal symptoms and eventually blindness.
13"In Case of Complications"Ed OrnelasDaniel Truly & Jonathan GreeneFebruary 10, 2012 (2012-02-10)1138.78[20]
Michael testifies in a court case regarding a man who set a deadly fire to a complex before having a tumor removed. This has implications later at La Clinica when someone related to a victim visits and impedes the transport of a man who needs an ambulance to the hospital and more serious consequences for Anton. Michael is reminded by Rita and Anna that Kate is a married woman.
14"In Case of Co-Dependants"Eriq LaSalleDawn DeNoonFebruary 17, 2012 (2012-02-17)1149.54[21]
A 23-year-old pop star comes to Holt Neuro experiencing headaches and other symptoms that prevented her from performing well at her first come-back concert. A little girl, who can see the ghost of her grandmother, and her mother develop similar symptoms, and it turns out that there is a connection. Rita reveals how she came to leave nursing and work for Michael. Meanwhile, Anton is having post-traumatic-stress-disorder-like symptoms following his shoulder injury and is developing strange symptoms in the opposite arm, requiring a strange remedy. Kate's husband is angry that she continues to work at La Clinica after being offered a safer and more stable job, leading him to go to somewhat extreme measures.
15"In Case of Letting Go"Constantine MakrisAlison Tatlock & Lisa MelamedFebruary 24, 2012 (2012-02-24)1159.05[22]
Michael's ex-girlfriend appears in his practice with a severe brain injury. He operates and she suddenly loses memory to when she was dating Michael. Meanwhile, a member of Zeke's band gets an unidentified infection that needs immediate attention.
16"In Case of Heart Failure"David PlattNeal Bear & Daniel TrulyMarch 2, 2012 (2012-03-02)1169.70[23]
In the series finale, Michael learns that a patient at the clinic has a special connection to Anna. Meanwhile, Michael reunites with an old friend who is suffering from a rare illness.

Reception

During an early review of the pilot episode, HitFix writer Daniel Fienberg praised the cast as well as Demme's direction, although he questioned whether the show would be as good without Demme and feared the premise could become predictable.[3]

The show was given a 65 out of 100 on Metacritic, indicating generally favorable reviews.[24] David Hinckley of the New York Daily News gave the show three stars out of five, saying "The cast here nails their roles, from Wilson down to support players like Emmy winner Margo Martindale as his loyal assistant, Rita. Ehle has a much trickier role and handles it well. It’s a show that wants to say something. Now it needs viewers who want to listen."[25] Mary McNamara of the Los Angeles Times said "with just a few tiny modifications, A Gifted Man could be a smart satiric comedy, but I don’t think that is what Grant is shooting for," poking fun at Julie Benz's character's cosmic beliefs and dysfunctional family.[26] Matthew Gilbert of The Boston Globe compared the show to Grey's Anatomy, saying "[the show] needs to transcend that limited and overused construct, and set the characters free from endless debate over whether Anna is real or not. Let the actors find drama in more earthly concerns. I think they’re up to it."[27] Robert Bianco of USA Today says "Wilson has the magnetism and acting chops to lead a network series. [Gifted Man] could not have been given better actors. It needs to give them better in return."[28] Phil Dyess-Nugent and Emily VanDerWerff of The A.V. Club gave the pilot a B rating.[29]

Ratings
Season Timeslot Season premiere Season finale TV Season Ranking Viewers
(in millions)
1 Friday 8 p.m. (September 23, 2011 – February 10, 2012)
Friday 9 p.m. (February 17, 2012 – March 2, 2012)		 September 23, 2011 March 2, 2012 2011–2012 #60 8.63

See also

References
  1. Rice, Lynette (June 29, 2011). "CBS announces fall premiere dates". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on July 2, 2011. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  2. Seidman, Robert (May 10, 2012). "'A Gifted Man' Canceled by CBS". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 13, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  3. Fienberg, Daniel (July 2, 2011). "Take Me To The Pilots '11: CBS' 'A Gifted Man'". HitFix. Archived from the original on July 4, 2011. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  4. "Person of Interest, Unforgettable, A Gifted Man, How to Be a Gentleman and Two Broke Girls Trailers from CBS". MovieWeb. May 19, 2011. Archived from the original on June 25, 2011. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  5. Andreeva, Nellie (June 23, 2011). "TV Castings: Actors Join 'A Gifted Man', 'Outlaw Country' & 'Weeds'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 27, 2011. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  6. Hibberd, James (July 7, 2011). "'Twilight' vamp cast in CBS medical drama". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on July 9, 2011. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  7. Andreeva, Nellie (November 14, 2011). "'A Gifted Man' Gets 3-Episode Back Order". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
  8. Gorman, Bill (September 26, 2011). "Friday Final Broadcast TV Ratings: No Adults 18-49 Adjustments, Plus 'Fringe' & 'A Gifted Man' 15 min. Ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved September 27, 2011.
  9. Seidman, Robert (October 3, 2011). "Friday Final Broadcast TV Ratings: 'CSI: NY,' 'Kitchen Nightmares' Adjusted Up; Sorry 'Fringe' Fans, No Adjustment for You". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 5, 2011. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  10. Gorman, Bill (October 10, 2011). "Friday Final Broadcast TV Ratings: 'Kitchen Nightmares' Adjusted Up; No Adjustments To 'Fringe,' 'Nikita,' 'A Gifted Man' Or Any Other Originals". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 11, 2011. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  11. Seidman, Robert (October 17, 2011). "Friday Final Broadcast TV Ratings: 'Blue Bloods,' 'Supernatural' Adjusted Up; 'Nikita,' 'A Gifted Man' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 19, 2011. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
  12. Gorman, Bill (October 24, 2011). "Friday Final TV Ratings: 'Supernatural,' 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' Adjusted Up; '20/20' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 27, 2011. Retrieved October 25, 2011.
  13. Seidman, Robert (November 7, 2011). "Friday Final TV Ratings: 'Chuck,' 'Supernatural' Adjusted Up". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 9, 2011. Retrieved November 8, 2011.
  14. Gorman, Bill (November 14, 2011). "Friday Final TV Ratings: 'Grimm' Adjusted Up; 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 17, 2011. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
  15. Gorman, Bill (November 21, 2011). "Friday Final TV Ratings: 'CSI:NY,' 'Dateline: NBC' Adjusted Up". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 23, 2011. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
  16. Gorman, Bill (December 5, 2011). "Friday Final TV Ratings: 'A Gifted Man' Adjusted Up; Plus Pac-10 Championship Ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 7, 2012. Retrieved December 6, 2011.
  17. Seidman, Robert (January 9, 2012). "Friday Final TV Ratings: 'Chuck' Adjusted Down; No Adjustments for 'Nikita' & 'Supernatural' + Cotton Bowl". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 12, 2012. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  18. Gorman, Bill (January 17, 2012). "Friday Final TV Ratings: 'Supernatural' Adjusted Up". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 19, 2012. Retrieved January 18, 2012.
  19. Seidman, Robert (February 6, 2012). "Friday Final TV Ratings: 'Fringe,' 'Supernatural,' 'A Gifted Man,' 'Who Do You Think You Are?' Adjusted Up". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 20, 2014. Retrieved February 7, 2012.
  20. Gorman, Bill (February 13, 2012). "Friday Final TV Ratings: 'Supernatural,' 'A Gifted Man' Adjusted Up". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 15, 2012. Retrieved February 15, 2012.
  21. Siedman, Robert (February 21, 2012). "Friday Final TV Ratings: 'Nikita' Adjusted Down, 'Supernatural' Adjusted Up". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
  22. Gorman, Bill (February 27, 2012). "Friday Final TV Ratings: No Adjustments To 'Fringe,' 'Grimm' Or Any Other Original Episodes". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 29, 2012. Retrieved February 27, 2012.
  23. Seidman, Robert (March 5, 2012). "Friday Final TV Ratings: 'A Gifted Man' Adjusted Up; Grimm,' 'Shark Tank.' Others Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 7, 2012. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
  24. "A Gifted Man : Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
  25. Hinckley, David (September 23, 2011). "'A Gifted Man' review: Doctor drama stars Patrick Wilson as surgeon who talks to dead wife Anna". Daily News. New York. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
  26. McNamara, Mary (September 23, 2011). "Television review: 'A Gifted Man'". Los Angeles Times.
  27. Gilbert, Matthew (September 23, 2011). "'A Gifted Man' needs to rise above ghost story". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on 2012-05-16. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
  28. Bianco, Robert (September 22, 2011). "'Gifted Man' cast boxed in by script". USA Today. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
  29. Dyess-Nugent, Phil; VanDerWerff, Emily (September 23, 2011). "A Gifted Man". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on October 11, 2011. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
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