Northern Exposure is an American comedy-drama television series about the eccentric residents in the fictitious town of Cicely, Alaska, that originally aired on CBS from July 12, 1990, to July 26, 1995, with a total of 110 episodes. It received 57 award nominations during its six-season run and won 27, including the 1992 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series, two additional Primetime Emmy Awards, four Creative Arts Emmy Awards, and two Golden Globes.

Rob Morrow starred as New York City native Dr. Joel Fleischman, whose med school tuition was underwritten by the government of Alaska in exchange for him practicing medicine for four years in the state. In the first episode, the newly graduated doctor is shocked to learn that instead of being assigned to a modern hospital in Anchorage as he'd expected, he is being sent to the remote town of Cicely to serve as the area's only general practitioner. The first season was centered around Fleischman's fish-out-of-water experiences in rural Alaska and his attempts to get out of his contract. As the series progressed, it developed into more of an ensemble show, with episodes focused on other residents of the town.