After 10 seasons of starring as the strong-willed mother in ABC’s family comedy “The Goldbergs,” Wendi McLendon-Covey sought a different challenge for her next role. She now portrays Joyce, a tense hospital administrator in NBC’s mockumentary-style sitcom “St. Denis Medical,” which debuts this Tuesday at 8 PM EST/PST.

According to McLendon-Covey, Joyce “has an appreciation for cute things, but no time for pets.” This lack of family and her choice to keep artificial plants underscore her anxious personality: “That’s why she never had kids. That’s why all her plants are fake. She’s always on edge,” the 55-year-old actress tells YSL News.

Joyce is consistently trying to get the fictional Merrick, Oregon-based St. Denis hospital to thrive despite its limited funding. While McLendon-Covey acknowledges Joyce’s drive to raise funds, she humorously points out that she can also be “very annoying.”

While McLendon-Covey believes that Joyce is “the complete opposite” of her previous character, Beverly Goldberg, she is familiar with workplace humor. She had a brief role as Concierge Marie on NBC’s “The Office” in a 2008 episode, where her character had a romantic encounter with Michael Scott.

McLendon-Covey acknowledges the intense following of “The Office”: “Fans of ‘The Office’ are truly dedicated, they know every detail about the show better than even the actors or writers,” she remarks. Due to that popularity, she’s often surprised by how much feedback she receives regarding her guest role. “They watch it so often that they’ll point out any inaccuracies. I love that fans are sharp enough not to be misled.”

In “St. Denis,” she shares the screen with co-stars David Alan Grier, who plays a doctor, and Allison Tolman, who plays the head nurse. McLendon-Covey humorously recalls how the hospital set was so realistic that she hesitated to interact with the props. The show even enlisted medical experts to assist with specific scenes, and some former doctors appear as extras.

Justin Spitzer and Eric Ledgin, the producers behind “St. Denis Medical,” are notable for their previous successes with NBC’s “Superstore” and “American Auto.”

McLendon-Covey has greatly enjoyed working on the show, stating, “When your executive producers prioritize their families, it allows you to go home at a reasonable hour,” she jokes. “The production hours are manageable, making it possible for everyone to spend time with their loved ones.”

She adds, “Sure, everyone comes in saying, ‘We get paid to have fun!’ But honestly, you can see that we are genuinely enjoying ourselves, and it shows in the final product.”