Hollywood has seen many twin films, but WB Television’s The Pitt seems to tread on familiar ground with its resemblance to ER. This new emergency room-based medical drama involves many key creatives from George Clooney‘s iconic series, yet the team emphasizes that their shows have nothing in common. Developed from the vision of Michael Crichton, ER garnered immense popularity and introduced stars like Don Cheadle, Leslie Bibb, Glenn Howerton, and Mariska Hargitay to audiences. However, despite the legal challenges posed by Crichton’s estate, the creators of The Pitt are adamant that they are forging their own unique path.
As the medical drama genre experiences a resurgence with programs such as Chicago Med and the enduring Grey’s Anatomy, Netflix is reportedly readying its own entry, Pulse. Yet, Max appears to have secured an early advantage. The Pitt debuted in January and received an encouraging reception. Set in Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital, the show’s unique selling proposition lies in its real-time narrative and commitment to authentic medical depictions.
The creative team behind The Pitt, with their prior history on George Clooney’s ER, made concerted efforts to pivot away from any semblance of similarity. Showrunner Scott Gemmill shared insights with The Wrap, noting the painstaking work involved in crafting a realisitc portrayal of medical practice. “I don’t ever want to do the same thing twice, nor do John [Wells, producer] or Noah [Wyle],” he asserted. “There’s no incentive there. As far as medical shows go, The Pitt is as different as we could have made it, everything from characters to the location to our set design.” This ambitious endeavor aims to redefine the genre while ensuring a fresh experience for viewers.
With the production team designing the set to mirror modern emergency rooms and hiring actual doctors and nurses as background extras, they strived to enhance realism. In a landscape saturated with procedural dramas, it’s easy to observe a pattern where shows differ only in specific cases and character quirks. The stark difference lies in the fine balance between genre conventions and potential copyright issues.
However, The Pitt finds itself embroiled in legal strife, as Michael Crichton’s estate has filed a lawsuit against the production team. The late creator of ER is known not only for his contributions to medical dramas but also for his landmark work on Jurassic Park. Reports suggest that the lawsuit alleges The Pitt producers transformed what could have been a spinoff into an original work without proper involvement from Crichton’s estate.
This lawsuit implicates creator Scott Gemmill along with actor and executive producer Noah Wyle, producer John Wells, and Warner Bros. Television, all of whom had significant input on ER. Nevertheless, the studio has firmly rejected the estate’s claims, declaring, “The Pitt is a completely different show from ER. The plaintiff cannot use Mr. Crichton’s ER contract as a speech-stifling weapon to prevent defendants from ever making a show about emergency medicine,” as reported via Deadline.
According to the Crichton estate, discussions around a possible spin-off of ER were underway before it ultimately evolved into The Pitt, with the only notable alterations including the change in setting to Pittsburgh. As it stands, audiences can catch The Pitt streaming on Max, but the shadow of ER looms in the backdrop, driving the creators to prove their resolve and distinctiveness in a crowded genre.
