Remember the time way back in the prehistoric ages when people thought that firefighters were sexy? Well, their fire is out. Make way for the scalpel-wielding, scrubs-wearing doctors of primetime television shows.

Maybe the hype around sexy doctors comes hand-in-hand with the fact that they’re capable of saving lives. In a way, they are like firefighters; they just go about saving people in different ways. They put out the internal ailments, not the external hazards.

Whatever the reason may be, the screenwriters for these shows based in and around the OR (which stands for operating room,   for those of you less-interested viewers) are making a killing (no pun intended).

“General Hospital,” which sparked the beginning of this somewhat ingenious phenomenon has had such positive feedback that it has run 11,798 episodes and counting. It has been on the air since 1963.

“ER,” winner of 22 Emmy Awards, is another example of a medical drama plagued with sexy doctors. It features intrigue and scandal with George Clooney (“Ocean’s 11,” “Syriana,” “Michael Clayton”) who plays Dr. Doug Ross, the ringleader and man-candy extraordinaire.

Then come the more Millennial-oriented shows of today. “Grey’s Anatomy” is infamous for the nicknames “McDreamy” and “McSteamy,” names appropriately referring to Patrick Dempsey (“Made of Honor,” “Sweet Home Alabama”) who plays Dr. Derek Shepherd, and Eric Dane (“Marley & Me”) who plays Dr. Mark Sloane.

They both have the medical license, the dreamy and steamy looks, oh and Dr. Shepherd has the thick, wavy black hair. And did I mention that one of them is the best neurosurgeon in the country and the other is the best plastic surgeon in the country? I may be pulling theories out of the air here, but it appears to me that Hollywood is trying to idolize doctors.

But don’t worry, boys. There is a lot of female eye-candy in this genre of television. Kate Walsh (“Bewitched”) is a stunning redhead who plays Addison Montgomery on “Private Practice,” a spin-off of “Grey’s Anatomy.” Not surprisingly, she is one of the best neonatal surgeons in the country. Who would’ve guessed it? Her best friend and confidante is played by Audra McDonald (TV shows “The Bedford Diaries,” “Kidnapped”), another pretty lady who, again, is the best at what she does. However, “Private Practice” isn’t the only show that’s harboring attractive females.

“House,” a Fox TV series in its fifth season has both Dr. “Thirteen” Hadley played by a foxy Olivia Wilde (“Turistas”) and charming Dr. Cameron played by Jennifer Morrison (“Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” “Mall Cop”).

“Grey’s Anatomy,” “Private Practice” and “House” are three of the most popular shows on television and the fact that they are all based on medical drama means that the creators are doing something right. The shows also add in their own dose of surrealism.

When in the world are there going to be patients who are brought into the ER, mid-coital, because they are literally stuck together due to the man’s piercing down there? When are there going to be cases in which a deranged, grief-stricken woman claims that another woman is carrying her baby even though her own infant died during pregnancy? Probably never.

But hey, as long as Dr. Shepherd continues to dramatically cut brains open like a pro and as long as Taye Diggs (Rent, Chicago) who plays Dr. Sam Bennett on Private Practice keeps on shining that 1,000-watt smile, I am completely entertained.