Why Is Ben Casey New Jersey’s Favorite Fictional Doctor?
A study by the law firm Weiss & Paarz reveals that Ben Casey is the most-searched fictional doctor in New Jersey. While the 1960s neurosurgeon leads Google search trends, the result is surprising given that nearly 80% of the state’s population is under the age of 60.
Who is Ben Casey and why is he trending in New Jersey?
According to the findings from Weiss & Paarz, Ben Casey is the favorite fictional physician in the Garden State. The character comes from a medical drama that aired from 1961 to 1966, starring Vince Edwards.
Edwards played a brilliant and intense neurosurgeon. In its time, the show was a massive hit and became one of the most influential medical dramas on television.
How does Ben Casey compare to Dr. Gregory House?
The results are unexpected because New Jersey is the setting for “House.” That show features the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital and a lead character who embodies a specific local attitude.
Dr. Gregory House is sarcastic, impatient, and assumes others are idiots until proven otherwise. He prioritizes being right over being liked, traits often associated with the state’s reputation for being opinionated.
What does this search data actually mean for New Jersey?
The study relied on Google search trends to determine favorites. This creates a potential gap in the data, as searching for a name doesn’t always equal liking a character.
Since most New Jerseyans are under 60, they may have looked up Ben Casey simply because they didn’t know who he was. The “dinosaur” of medical dramas may be trending because of a lack of recognition rather than a rally of support.
What may happen next with these trends?
Future data collections could show a shift if more modern characters gain search momentum. It is possible that subsequent studies may distinguish between “curiosity searches” and “affinity searches.”
Analysts may find that the state’s preference aligns more closely with characters from “The Sopranos” or “House” if the methodology changes to measure sentiment instead of just search volume.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which law firm conducted the study on fictional doctors?
The study was conducted by the law firm Weiss & Paarz.
Where is the fictional hospital in the show “House” located?
The show is set at the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in New Jersey.
When did the show “Ben Casey” air?
The medical drama aired from 1961 to 1966.
Do you think search trends accurately reflect a state’s true preferences?