In 2005, when Doogie Howser, M.D.‘s first season hit DVD, I chatted with Neil Patrick Harris for an item in EW. The transcript wasn’t so much lost as it was found on my desktop this morning when I realized that I was still humming the show’s theme song thanks to that SNL Digital Short (and my coworkers who keep replaying it). If you, too, are feeling nostalgic for Doogie, read our interview from ’05, share your favorite episode, then head over to Hulu (which has all four seasons).
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: So, I watched the entire first season over the weekend.
NEIL PATRICK HARRIS: [Laughs] You did not!
I did! I had a big ol’ marathon, and let me just tell you that I’m still traumatized by the Wanda-gets-appendicitis-and-Doogie-has-to-give-her-a-pelvic-exam episode. That was the episode I remembered most from the original run. Do you hear that a lot from female fans?
[Laughs]A harrowing episode to be sure. Women are very frightened by the content of that one indeed.
Watch a clip of that episode
Is there an episode that fans always mention?
In season 1, there’s a very special episode where I save the life of a dog. In the emergency room. A very profound and deeply moving Doogie.
On the DVD, co-creator Steven Bochco said the appendicitis episode was the one that best encapsulated the series for him. Is that the one you’d choose as well?
I was a big fan of the pilot episode, actually. David E. Kelley wrote that with Steven Bochco, and I thought that separated the man-child elements really well, having to confront death at the same time worry about his prom date.
Bocho says, had the shown been able to wrap up with a fifth season, Doogie would have become disenchanted with medicine and quit to become a writer. Is that what you always thought would happen?
No, I assumed he’d probably overdose on hospital medication due to the inordinate strain on his young mind. [Laughs]
Millions of hearts are breaking — however, that would be a fantastic reunion movie.
That’s true. Live from rehab!
The natural first reaction, once you discover the hidden meaning embedded in the title of Britney Spears’ third single from Circus (if you say it fast, it spells something out) is a big ol’ eye roll. Hardy har har, Brit. You’re oh-so naughty. That was definitely my reaction when the brouhaha first started up after the song appeared on the album’s tracklist. But now "If You Seek Amy" is set for radio play, and it’s actually ruffling feathers as station managers wonder if the title, which in and of itself is not profane, of course, will earn them FCC fines. And suddenly, I’m smirking at how this little gag is pushing 
"Yes. She explained every detail of her decision-making. And then we brushed each others’ hair and gabbed about American Idol." –Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) explaining her bond with boss Miranda Priestly to Nigel (Stanley Tucci) in The Devil Wears Prada
Holy cow! I had no idea people would actually read this blog. The response to last week’s first episode and first-ever blog was overwhelming. It was so overwhelming that your response helped ABC push our show to two hours once again tonight. I was thinking this blog really gives me a chance to personally reach out to the real fans of my show. So I would like to take this time to say thank you! Thank you for watching and supporting a show that I have loved to host and help produce for the last seven years. I also want to thank you for taking the time to comment below. Believe it or not, I read them all and will continue to do so all season. I love my ladies of course but it’s really cool to see the guys who have the guts to comment. And I like hearing couples that hang out and watch the show together. One of you brought up a great point I wanted to address last week but forgot. The houses and proposal sites we use look good for one reason and one reason only, we have an amazing team that never gets mentioned. Production designer Angelic Rutherford and her team come in to the house and turn it into the magical scene you see on TV. They paint (then have to paint it back its original color) and decorate everything. Even the artwork on the wall is usually their original works that they whip out in minutes. Dennis, the lighting looks great as usual. 
