Famous ‘fake’ TV docs offer video salute to real-life coronavirus first responders

These “fake” TV doctors and nurses are offering up a salute to their real-world counterparts on the front lines of the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

On Tuesday night, actress Olivia Wilde — who played Dr. Remy “Thirteen” Hadley on the 2004-2012 show “House” — released a four-minute Instagram video featuring more than a dozen faux medical professionals from popular television shows, past and present. The goal: to salute the doctors, nurses and other health-care professionals putting their lives on the line to help patients who fall victim to COVID-19.

The viral video’s starry lineup includes heartfelt #FirstRespondersFirst testimonials from former “Scrubs” stars Zach Braff and Donald Faison (who co-host the podcast “Fake Doctors, Real Friends“), “Nurse Jackie” star Edie Falco, “ER” alum Julianna Margulies and Maura Tierney, Peter Jacobson and Omar Epps (“House”), Kal Penn (“The Big Bang Theory”), “Grey’s Anatomy” actor Patrick Dempsey and “Private Practice” spinoff star Kate Walsh. The video was posted in conjunction with World Health Day on Tuesday.

“The closest thing I’ve ever come to being a doctor is putting on a costume. And while it is close, it’s not quite the same,” Wilde, 36, says in introducing the all-star clip, which is equal parts heartwarming and humorous. “But I just want to say thank you to the real health-care heroes out there, and there are some other people who want to say thank you as well.”

Dempsey, 54, who played Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd in “Grey’s Anatomy,” offers, “I want to thank all the doctors and the nurses — the real ones, not the ones that are on television.”

“It was early on in the filming of our show that I recognized that I was not capable of actually doing the kind of work that you do,” adds Falco, 56.

Neil Patrick Harris, who launched to faux-doc fame as kid doc Doogie Howser, MD, from 1989 to 1993, offers levity in several spots. “I’m not a doctor, but I was paid to be one on TV. I’m pretty sure that’s the expression,” says the 46-year-old funnyman. “I wish I was there with you guys to assist in my medical capacity, but probably all I would be doing would be writing prescriptions for myself. Which is kind of all I did when I was 16 and 17.”

But the message is a serious tribute to first responders tending to the COVID-19 crisis, which has topped 1.4 million infections and surpassed 81,800 deaths globally. More than 5,400 New York area residents have lost their lives in the battle.

“Killing Eve” star Sandra Oh, 48, offers her own wishes for “health and safety” to first responders, including “a quick shout-out to my brother-in-law Scott, who is an ER doc up in Vancouver. I love you, man.”

“Let’s see this video go viral,” adds prankster Harris before closing his eyes and shaking his head at his choice of words. “No. Can .?.?. Can I do this again? Can I .?.?. Can I .?.?. Can I please do this again?”

Joking aside, the video ends on a wholly serious note. “Thank you for your courage, your sacrifice and for being the best of us,” reads a closing message, which also includes a request for donations to #FirstRespondersFirst — via Thrive Global — which provides supplies, equipment and other resources for front-line health-care workers and their patients.