# Who are your favorite fictional medical examiners/pathologists? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 12, 2019, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-fictional-medical-examiners-pathologists/831023 "2019-03-12T20:20:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2019, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-fictional-medical-examiners-pathologists/831023/21 "2019-03-13T20:03:05Z")
Wait a minute–how did I forget [Liv Moore](https://izombie.fandom.com/wiki/Olivia_Moore)? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2019, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-fictional-medical-examiners-pathologists/831023/22 "2019-03-13T21:22:57Z")
Quincy without a doubt. Although I have to give some love to Rodgers (with a “d” - she once used it as evidence in a case where someone had forged her signature). ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2019, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-fictional-medical-examiners-pathologists/831023/23 "2019-03-13T21:47:54Z")
Since I already mentioned Dr. Julia Ogden in the other thread and some sort of comment feels apt, I’ll got with my number 2 favorite: Dr. Joanne Webster played by Jane Curtin on _Unforgettable_. A remarkably normal and sane person. Good wisdom dispensed to others. A far cry from Prymatt Conehead. ---
**Author:** ![pmwgreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@pmwgreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pmwgreen)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2019, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-fictional-medical-examiners-pathologists/831023/24 "2019-03-13T22:07:47Z")
The quirky medical examiner seems a bit of a trope. Paul Ritter does a nice job in the series he is in. No Offence and something else. I always feel cheated when the ME plays it straight. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2019, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-fictional-medical-examiners-pathologists/831023/25 "2019-03-13T22:54:04Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > Quincy without a doubt. > > Although I have to give some love to Rodgers (with a “d” - she once used it as evidence in a case where someone had forged her signature). That was Cutter trying to convince a defendant to plead. A “preliminary” ME’s report was “leaked” to the defense which suggested guilt could be proved. Rodgers was all upset with Cutter (I have a D in my name!) but he never intended to put it in evidence. Anyway, it was an issue for Dr. Rogers (whoever he was). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2019, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-fictional-medical-examiners-pathologists/831023/26 "2019-03-13T23:32:41Z")
Pauley Perrette from NCIS. Carla Gallo from Bones. Liz Vassey from CSI (mostly due to the Tick connection) ETA: Not strictly a ME, but I’ll give a honorable mention to Ashley Johnson on Blindspot (we better find out Patterson’s first name) Brian ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2019, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-fictional-medical-examiners-pathologists/831023/27 "2019-03-13T23:54:26Z")
Ella Lopez from Lucifer. Crime scene banter over dead bodies plus an interesting dark side that includes being banned from Vegas casinos for card counting and experience with car theft in her youth. Car theft, “it’s not fun if you don’t drive 'em really, really fast.” ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2019, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-fictional-medical-examiners-pathologists/831023/28 "2019-03-14T03:19:21Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Rogers was the best. Over the years, she got a lot of personality for a minor character. Like her going to the opera with Lennie, or obviously having some bad dates with Ross (CI) that we never heard about. And of course, “free javelins”.\* It just seems wrong sometimes when I watch an early episode and they have some other ME. In a perfect world there would be a fan site for Dr. Rodgers called “Free Javelins”. The _L&O_ franchise ran for so long (and still is) that there are some fascinating Easter eggs like you mentioned. I saw an episode recently where Lt. Van Buren gets a call and we only hear her side of the conversation; but it’s apparent that she’s talking to an old friend. She says she’ll try to make it, but she’s awfully busy. It turns out to be Rey Curtis, in town for his wife’s funeral. I read somewhere that Lennie’s death was mentioned three times within the franchise, once by each of his three former partners. And I know there’s a reference somewhere to him going to the opera with Rodgers, but I don’t think I’ve seen it. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2019, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-fictional-medical-examiners-pathologists/831023/29 "2019-03-14T03:29:54Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I love Ducky, too. And I think Jimmy Palmer is a worthy successor. > > This is for those who never saw David McCallum as [Ilya Kuryakin](https://goo.gl/images/TTJsqs). God, he was gorgeous. In one episode, Kate asks Gibbs what Ducky looked like when he was younger, and Gibbs responded with a grin, “Ilya Kuryakin.” ---
**Author:** ![WildBlueYonder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ce7236/32.png) [@WildBlueYonder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildBlueYonder)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2019, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-fictional-medical-examiners-pathologists/831023/30 "2019-03-14T11:18:53Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Quincy. 'nuff said ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2019, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-fictional-medical-examiners-pathologists/831023/31 "2019-03-14T14:02:56Z")
\*\*Dr. Jordan Cavanaugh \*\*(Jill Hennessy) in [_Crossing Jordan_](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0284718/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_21). Who knew she was inside reserved, controlled **Claire Kincaid**? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2019, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-fictional-medical-examiners-pathologists/831023/32 "2019-03-14T14:17:22Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > In a perfect world there would be a fan site for Dr. Rodgers called “Free Javelins”. > > The _L&O_ franchise ran for so long (and still is) that there are some fascinating Easter eggs like you mentioned. I saw an episode recently where Lt. Van Buren gets a call and we only hear her side of the conversation; but it’s apparent that she’s talking to an old friend. She says she’ll try to make it, but she’s awfully busy. It turns out to be Rey Curtis, in town for his wife’s funeral. I read somewhere that Lennie’s death was mentioned three times within the franchise, once by each of his three former partners. And I know there’s a reference somewhere to him going to the opera with Rodgers, but I don’t think I’ve seen it. Related to post but not to thread topic: In an episode of [Endeavour](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2999190/?ref_=ttep_ep1)(set in the 1960s), Morse and Thursday are talking to a potential suspect, and the man’s wife comes into the room and says, “It’s Lane from SCDP on the phone.” The man goes off to take the call. That’s a reference to Englishman Lane Pryce, a partner in Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, the American ad agency that _Mad Men_ is all about. [/digression] ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2019, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-fictional-medical-examiners-pathologists/831023/33 "2019-03-14T14:19:20Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Let’s not forget Melissa Warner from _L&O_, played by the stunning [Tamara Tunie](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0876645/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t38). She also did some time as Erin Reagan’s boss on _Blue Bloods_. She’s my absolute favorite, with “Ducky” Mallard coming in a close second. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2019, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-fictional-medical-examiners-pathologists/831023/34 "2019-03-14T14:44:26Z")
**Jackmannii** is my favorite fictional pathologist. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2019, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-fictional-medical-examiners-pathologists/831023/35 "2019-03-14T14:53:37Z")
Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy Dr. John Watson Neither should need further explanation. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2019, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-fictional-medical-examiners-pathologists/831023/36 "2019-03-14T15:12:02Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > And I know there’s a reference somewhere to him going to the opera with Rodgers, but I don’t think I’ve seen it. It’s Criminal Intent, _Dramma Giocoso_, Season 5, with Logan and Barek. Logan arches his eyebrows in surprise when Rodgers says that. The “free javelins” episode also has this exchange: ``` Ed Green: What's that on your phone? Brains? Dr. Elizabeth Rodgers: It's egg salad, maybe. Ed Green: You got another phone? ``` ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2019, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-fictional-medical-examiners-pathologists/831023/37 "2019-03-14T15:13:56Z")
Another _Quincy_ fan here. Also, sorry if I missed it but I thought I’d see some love for BD Wong’s Dr. Huang on L&O SVU. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2019, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-fictional-medical-examiners-pathologists/831023/38 "2019-03-14T16:57:24Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Another _Quincy_ fan here. Also, sorry if I missed it but I thought I’d see some love for BD Wong’s Dr. Huang on L&O SVU. I thought he was a shrink, not an ME. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2019, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-fictional-medical-examiners-pathologists/831023/39 "2019-03-14T17:23:37Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I thought he was a shrink, not an ME. D’oh!:smack: You are absolutely right, **TLou**. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2019, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-fictional-medical-examiners-pathologists/831023/40 "2019-03-14T17:24:38Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > D’oh!:smack: You are absolutely right, **TLou**. He was a great character. I really liked him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-fictional-medical-examiners-pathologists/831023.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-your-favorite-fictional-medical-examiners-pathologists/831023.md?page=3)