When asked about taking on a character that is completely opposite from the hovering, helicopter mom she played for 10 years in her previous show to this new character of Joyce, she stated, “All I wanted was to not play another mom right away, because I did that for a long time. … I think it’s well-documented that I can play moms, and respect to all moms everywhere.”

“What I loved about this character is that she is not nurturing at all. Don’t come near her wanting a hug. She does not want your germs and she cannot keep a plant alive, but she is devoted to this hospital,” McLendon-Covey explained. Her character is the executive director of the hospital.

Unlike her previous sitcom, this series has a “two-camera” aspect and is like a documentary, so there was a slight learning curve for the actors. “It still feels weird to do that,” she said about looking into the camera.

Another name with which viewers may be familiar is David Alan Grier, who plays a divorced emergency room doctor with plenty of personal problems. He has a long filmography under his belt and is excited to be in this new series honing his comedy.

Early in life, his family wanted him to go to business school. “They thought it was an act of suicide to even be an actor. But with success, I won my parents’ approval,” he said. “But all of my contemporaries were doctors, lawyers, dentists and such.” He was proud to admit he proved his parents’ fears were unjustified.

Grier has been on the big and small screens since his professional career took off in the early 1980s. Some parts were small and some were co-starring roles. He starred in “DAG,” which ran for 17 episodes, and in the series “Life with Bonnie” from 2002-2004 alongside Bonnie Hunt, who, incidentally, co-starred with him in the 2000 feature film “Return to Me” with David Duchovny and Minnie Driver as the leads.

This mockumentary series is a little different for viewers — and actors — because of the genre. The characters are devoted to their jobs yet have to deal with all the problems that come from the disharmonious situation the hospital is currently under. With less staff than desired and far too little money, they do their jobs the best they can under the circumstances, and with plenty of laughs along the way.

“St. Denis Medical” is from the team behind “Superstore” and “American Auto.” It premiered last week on NBC and the episodes, which air Tuesdays, will be available to stream the following day on Peacock.