Dr. G: Medical Examiner, Season One

Yes, there is more to reality TV than bickering Jon and Kate or the seemingly endless parade of self-adoring divas. One of the more compelling individuals to emerge from this genre is Dr. Jan Garavaglia, a medical examiner with the District Nine Medical Examiner's office in Orlando, FL. Dr. G wears two reality TV hats: she is both a forensic scientist whose work helps to solve crime mysteries (which makes her an icon for the whodunit crowd) and a working mother (for those who prefer real-life domestic stories). This DVD, which consists of 12 episodes originally broadcast on the Discovery Health Channel, provides an intelligent and non-sensationalist overview of Dr. G's work. For obvious reasons, the full autopsy procedure is rarely captured on camera (re-enactments and blurred imagery appear throughout), but what is shown may still be upsetting for sensitive viewers and young children. Nonetheless, the program provides a detailed understanding of the complicated work of forensic scientists in unraveling the questions surrounding violent fatalities. And Dr. G is an intelligent and likeable presence, which helps alleviate much of the “ick” factor that many people may associate with her work. Recommended. (P. Hall)