NBC’s ER was already a legacy, a successful attempt at bringing to the screen the intense and strenuous lives of medical professionals. Noah Wyle was an alum of the show, portraying medical student John Carter, who appeared on 254 episodes out of 331.
The medical drama was lauded by fans and critics, so it’s understandable why the new project, The Pitt, initially received skeptical remarks. Why did they come up with this show when they have already done it before? Are they trying to milk the popularity of ER? According to Wyle, it was more than about money.
Noah Wyle reveals the inspiration for The Pitt
The pandemic hit us all, and it’s difficult to imagine what the world would have looked like had COVID-19 never happened. This haunting part of our history played a very crucial role in the creation of The Pitt.
While speaking with the Television Academy, Emmy-nominated star Noah Wyle shared how they came up with a new story to tell. The idea happened during the peak of the pandemic when everyone was stuck at home, including Wyle. He recalled getting mails from first responders thanking him for inspiring them to venture into the field of medicine.
During the height of COVID-19, people who worked at hospitals faced a lot of stress and fear, and they all tried to find ways to cope with the dangerous situation they were in. Watching ER helped them get through long nights and endless shifts. Wyle was so overwhelmed by the letters he received that he forwarded them to John Wells, the showrunner.
I sent them to John and said, “Hey, John, outside the birth of my kids, that show may be the best thing I ever did with my life, because we may be indirectly responsible for saving lives right now.”
He noted how they both did not want to revisit the project, but if Wells wanted someone to talk to, especially with what’s happening in the world, Wyle was all ears. From this conversation, they ultimately came up with the idea of The Pitt out of the need to shine a light back to the community that needed it the most: the people working in the medical field.
The next thing he knew, Wyle was game and ready to return, along with the same people who created ER.
Why The Pitt remains relevant today
Another reason why they decided to come back together for a new series is that there are significant new problems in the healthcare system despite the advancement of technology. The creators of the show wanted to tackle this pressing issue since it affects us all.
The writers who have kept in touch with the professionals said they continue to share their struggles and stories with them, so it was only fitting to make another show that mirrors the current problems of the people working in the field of medicine.
The Pitt is currently available to watch on HBO Max (USA).
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
