VPR’s Ariana Madix Plays Bruce’s Ex-Girlfriend on St. Denis Medical

Ariana Madix‘s new scripted role has her playing a doctor — who just can’t seem to shake her ex-boyfriend — on St. Denis Medical.

In Us Weekly‘s exclusive clip from Madix’s debut in the Monday, December 1, episode of the hit NBC sitcom, Dr. Emerson is introduced as Bruce’s (Josh Lawson) ex-girlfriend. The characters first cross paths after Bruce pages his former flame, who isn’t thrilled she was interrupted during a surgery.

Dr. Emerson points out she “left a woman on the table,” to which Bruce replies, “So did I. You. I just don’t think I gave us enough of a shot.” According to Dr. Emerson, she was the one who “broke up” with Bruce.

“Because I was emotionally unavailable — as a tactic. I pushed you away,” he claims. “I don’t want to get into it but your car was shockingly dirty. It gave me the ick. But what do you say we give this crazy thing another shot? We can hire someone to clean your car!”

Dr. Emerson, however, isn’t interested.

“I am going to say this as nicely as possible. No,” she says. “It is over. I am seeing someone else.”

St. Denis Medical follows overworked doctors and nurses trying their best to care for patients at an underfunded Oregon hospital. In addition to Lawson, the mockumentary stars Wendi McLendon-Covey, David Alan Grier, Allison Tolman, Mekki Leeper, Kahyun Kim and Kaliko Kauahi.

“I have been so religiously watching Vanderpump Rules and The Valley the entire time it’s been airing. It’s like a cornerstone. It’s why I live in West Hollywood,” Leeper quipped to Us in November. “It’s part of who I am. So I was super normal to Ariana. I definitely wasn’t an annoying fan who she was hoping to not have to sit with. I was cool.”

St. Denis Medical is one of many opportunities Madix, 40, has explored since her initial rise to fame on Bravo’s Vanderpump Rules. Madix became even more of a household name after her 2023 split from Tom Sandoval due to his affair with costar Rachel “Raquel” Leviss.

Madix was subsequently crowned Us Weekly‘s inaugural Reality Star of the Year, finished season 32 of Dancing With the Stars as the runner-up, joined Broadway’s Chicago as Roxie Hart twice, released a cocktail book titled Single AF Cocktails, opened the Something About Her sandwich shop with Katie Maloney and hosted seasons 6 and 7 of Love Island USA.

The TV personality previously opened up about what lessons she learned from the scandal.

“This situation made me realize that I can do hard things. The worst-case scenario literally did happen, and I was OK. Like, look — you can handle what’s thrown at you,” Madix exclusively told Us in an October 2023 cover story. “I’ve grown up [since joining the show]. I’m somebody who never really wanted to grow up. [But] over time, I’ve been able to love myself more and give myself a lot more grace when it comes to things we go through during filming. And that has allowed me to give others more grace.”

Madix has also continued to take on TV roles with an appearance on ABC’s Will Trent before joining St. Denis Medical in a recurring role.

“Ariana’s just a pro. She is an actor who happens to also be successful as a host,” St. Denis Medical creator Eric Ledgin told The Wrap in November. “She’s fantastic and she’s coming back for a couple more this season past that first one. I might not be allowed to tell you that, but I just did.”

St. Denis Medical airs on NBC Mondays at 8 p.m. ET before streaming the next day on Peacock.