THE SHOW "Coma," A&amp;E, Monday and Tuesday nights at 9 
 WHAT IT'S ABOUT Something is not right at Memorial Hospital, and it doesn't take med student Susan Wheeler (<a href="/topics//Lauren_Ambrose">Lauren Ambrose</a>) long to figure out what: Patients are going into comas while the poor souls are then shipped off to the mysterious Jefferson Institute. She wants to know why, and gets an assist from surgical resident Dr. Mark Bellows (Steven Pasquale) but not from the hospital's ambitious head shrink, Dr. Agnetta Lindquist (<a href="/topics//Geena_Davis">Geena Davis</a>). Meanwhile, what's the deal with funky old-timer, Professor Hillside (<a href="/topics//Richard_Dreyfuss">Richard Dreyfuss</a>) -- onetime friend and colleague of Susan's father? Speaking of the funk, how about creepy Mrs. Emerson (<a href="/topics//Ellen_Burstyn">Ellen Burstyn</a>) who takes care of the comatose at Jefferson? Says she of her stricken flock, "They're not really alive. But they're not dead, either." Based on <a href="/topics//Robin_Cook">Robin Cook</a>'s 1977 bestseller and <a href="/topics//Michael_Crichton">Michael Crichton</a>'s '78 film, this is one of the last production collaborations of brothers Ridley and <a href="/topics//Tony_Scott">Tony Scott</a>; the latter died last month. 
 MY SAY The appeal of a <a href="/topics//Michael_Crichton">Crichton</a>-directed adaptation of <a href="/topics//Robin_Cook">Cook</a>'s thriller in 1978 was obvious. Bursting with ideas about medical ethics on the frontier of new medicine, <a href="/topics//Michael_Crichton">Crichton</a> -- himself a doctor -- found the perfect material to match his own interests and growing rep behind the camera. But the appeal of a <a href="/topics//Tony_Scott">Scott</a> adaptation in 2012 is not even remotely obvious. "Medical malpractice" had barely entered the language back then, much less the public consciousness. A hospital that harvested patients? Crazy . . . but, hey, maybe not so crazy! This, however, is 2012, folks, and the idea is just plain crazy, and so is the plot. The hospital screws up, and not a single lawyer is heard from? Grieving families don't visit their loved ones? Not in this miniseries, anyway. "Coma" demands of the viewer -- you -- a superhuman suspension of disbelief over four hours. If you can muster that, you're left with a largely entertaining movie, featuring some legendary actors happy to ham it up in the presence of two famous producers. 
 BOTTOM LINE Sure, the plot's ridiculous, but the film's mostly fun, while the pleasure of watching <a href="/topics//Ellen_Burstyn">Burstyn</a> play a homicidal wacko is not to be denied anyone. 
 GRADE B

THE SHOW "Coma," A&E, Monday and Tuesday nights at 9 WHAT IT'S ABOUT Something is not right at Memorial Hospital, and it doesn't take med student Susan Wheeler (Lauren Ambrose) long to figure out what: Patients are going into comas while the poor souls are then shipped off to the mysterious Jefferson Institute. She wants to know why, and gets an assist from surgical resident Dr. Mark Bellows (Steven Pasquale) but not from the hospital's ambitious head shrink, Dr. Agnetta Lindquist (Geena Davis). Meanwhile, what's the deal with funky old-timer, Professor Hillside (Richard Dreyfuss) -- onetime friend and colleague of Susan's father? Speaking of the funk, how about creepy Mrs. Emerson (Ellen Burstyn) who takes care of the comatose at Jefferson? Says she of her stricken flock, "They're not really alive. But they're not dead, either." Based on Robin Cook's 1977 bestseller and Michael Crichton's '78 film, this is one of the last production collaborations of brothers Ridley and Tony Scott; the latter died last month. MY SAY The appeal of a Crichton-directed adaptation of Cook's thriller in 1978 was obvious. Bursting with ideas about medical ethics on the frontier of new medicine, Crichton -- himself a doctor -- found the perfect material to match his own interests and growing rep behind the camera. But the appeal of a Scott adaptation in 2012 is not even remotely obvious. "Medical malpractice" had barely entered the language back then, much less the public consciousness. A hospital that harvested patients? Crazy . . . but, hey, maybe not so crazy! This, however, is 2012, folks, and the idea is just plain crazy, and so is the plot. The hospital screws up, and not a single lawyer is heard from? Grieving families don't visit their loved ones? Not in this miniseries, anyway. "Coma" demands of the viewer -- you -- a superhuman suspension of disbelief over four hours. If you can muster that, you're left with a largely entertaining movie, featuring some legendary actors happy to ham it up in the presence of two famous producers. BOTTOM LINE Sure, the plot's ridiculous, but the film's mostly fun, while the pleasure of watching Burstyn play a homicidal wacko is not to be denied anyone. GRADE B

Entertainment

ETTEL03,WEB

'Coma' review: A&E adaptation is a hoot

Newsday

ENTER TV-TINSEL 2 MCT

Entertainment trending

Take our quizzes

34 must-see fall concerts

Fall theater preview

Too much 'Jeopardy'?

Most Popular

Entertainment Rail Module

Tis the season for a sleigh full of yuletide offerings.

17 Hallmark movies, specials, more must-see holiday TV treats

Alec Baldwin is set to be a guest speaker.

Billy Joel, Tony Bennett to be honored in NYC next week

The Nov. 21 event will take place at Bellmore Movies and Showplace.

Holiday tribute concert will feature the music of Dolly Parton, Olivia Newton-John

You won't want to miss "The Good Daughter," "12 12 12" and six more shows.

8 TV shows not to miss this week

Learning about the making of the Eagles' classic album and the hit title song.

5 things you may not know about 'Hotel California'

Gabrielle Sterbenz is ready to shine with an album and a Huntington concert.

Disterbenz goes from backing Wheatus to taking center stage

Sign up for Newsday's Entertainment newsletter

Entertainment newsletter widget

More Entertainment

Entertainment Article Bottom Module

The Dix Hills-raised actor is Sylvester Stallone's adversary on the hit drama series.

Versatile 'Tulsa King' villian is LI's Robert Davi

Dix Hills-raised actor Robert Davi spoke about his role on Paramount+'s "Tulsa King," acting alongside his longtime friend Sylvester Stallone. Newsday entertainment writer Rafer Guzmán reports.

'Sly called me up'

From NBC News to MS NOW, there was more content than ever from the networks and cable.

4 takeaways: What was special about Election Day coverage?

The weather and traffic channel will go off the air Dec. 27. Optimum faces more than $26 billion in debt.

News 12+ to shut down amid Optimum's financial troubles

NEWSDAY TV SHORTS

Vertical videos

Newsday travel reporter Carissa Kellman visits the Harvest Inn, a bed-and-breakfast in Peconic.

Staycation at a North Fork b&b

NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano, Newsday deputy lifestyle editor Meghan Giannotta and Newsday family writer Beth Whitehouse take a sneak peek at some of the hottest toys on Newsday's 2026 holiday gift guide.

Newsday's 2026 holiday gift guide: Hottest toys parents should look out for

High-priced, North Shore communities experienced some of the fastest appreciation in home values. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.

Where LI home prices rose fastest this year

Shoe repair shops keep solid footing on Long Island while store numbers decline elsewhere. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

Shoe repair is a fading trade. On LI, it still has sole.

NewsdayTV's Doug Geed meets with the chef at The Halyard and shows us how local produce makes its way onto the menu.

Out East: What's on the menu at Soundview Inn's restaurant, The Halyard

NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano has your look at what's new at Belmont Park Village ahead of the 2026 holiday shopping season.

Shopping our way through Belmont Park Village's new stores

Ingrid Dodd, producer and host of the Rebranding Menopause podcast, talks to Newsday reporter Rachel Weiss about experiencing anxiety symptoms during menopause.

Coping with mental health struggles during menopause

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame inducted Ray Romano as its first nonmusical honoree in the museum's 22-year history Thursday.

'I feel like a Long Islander'

NewsdayTV's Andi Berlin visits Tacos Malamadre in Mineola to try their 'slap' taco.

Trying a trending taco in Mineola

The show must go on! NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa heads to Costume America in Farmingdale where they have made more than 50,000 costumes.

LI Works: There's no business like the costume business

Sitewide Video Playlist

One private contractor working on the Loop Parkway bridge Wednesday afternoon is dead and another is still unaccounted for in the waters of Reynolds Channel, while others sustained injuries when their scaffolding collapsed. NewsdayTV's Doug Geed reports.

A second worker remains missing

'I think once I'm done, it's done'

Which New York colleges deliver some of the state's strongest and weakest returns on investment? Newsday data reporter Arielle Martinez explains.

'Depends on what you're going to school for'

A settlement two years ago called for the documents to be sent to a college or university archive. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

'These files can be the blueprint to prove what happened'

The decree called for Suffolk to implement procedures to give women and Black and Hispanic people an equal opportunity for employment in the police department as white people. Newsday investigative reporter Payton Guion reports.

Deal would let feds end monitoring of Suffolk police hiring practices

Authorities across Long Island have cracked down on the booming illegal sex trade at foot spas, Islip Town officials have raided only three foot spas – two of them shortly after reporters began asking questions. Newsday investigative reporter Sandra Peddie and NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn have more.

Islip Town Supervisor takes little action on spas after allegations of illicit sex

The Jennifer Schaefer Child Support Room was unveiled at the R.J. Zuckerberg Cancer Center in Lake Success. It's a dedicated space named for Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer's mother, who died in February 2024 following a two-year fight with breast cancer.

Child support room named for mom of Isles' Schaefer opens

Nassau and Suffolk counties have implemented a combined $57 million in technology upgrades to streamline the voting process.

'It has really great features'

A college's sticker price doesn't tell the full story of what the average student pays after financial aid and scholarships. See how more than 150 NY colleges compare. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports.

'Tuition is a lot'

The Town of Oyster Bay and Northrop Grumman are locked in a dispute over the extent of the plan to clean up Bethpage Community Park. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

'No reason for us to believe any area is safe unless tested'

A tipster says he told the state about buried drums at Bethpage Community Park nearly a decade ago. Newsday's Ken Buffa reports.

Uncovering the truth about the chemical drums

The attorney general's investigation affirms the stories told by multiple women during an emotional, hourslong school board meeting in November 2021 — a turning point that sparked a public reckoning and spawned the state probe. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.

'At times I felt like I had my hopes up and nothing would come of it'

App Nativo Ad Unit Slot

TV - megaslot

Newsday TV critic Verne Gay reviews new TV shows and series from Netflix, Max, Hulu and more. Plus, what Long Island actors are working on and Long Island filming locations.

'Coma' review: A&E adaptation is a hoot

Most Popular

Top Stories

Stay logged in.