It's been 15 years since the end of ER ended, and cast member Noah Wyle is now returning to the medical drama genre via The Pitt, which is now streaming with a Max subscription. The series, which also comes from ER producers John Wells and R. Scott Gemmill, has been a huge success amid the 2025 TV schedule. Interestingly, Wyle initially had no intention of doing another medical drama after finishing up the NBC show. Now, he's discussing what drew him to this new show.
Wyle appeared in 13 of ER’s 15 seasons as Dr. John Carter and, for most of that time, he served as a series regular. The actor remained busy after the once-longest-running primetime medical drama came to an end, taking on gigs outside the genre. While appearing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Wyle talked about stepping back into the scrubs alongside Wells and Gemmill, who were also opposed to another hospital-centric series. Apparently, they all changed their minds after an epiphany:
The three of us came back together only because, during COVID, we recognized that there was another story to tell. And that it was important to us to tell it. That this is a community that we care a lot about. And we believe firmly that the strength of our healthcare system is proportional to the mental health of our practitioners, and the degree to which we support them. And the time is right.
The Pitt has been praised for its accurate depictions of emergency room scenarios as well as the mental toll they can take on doctors, nurses and other staffers. Considering just how sharp this show is, I'd say that Noah Wyle and his collaborators' decision to join forces again wasn't born out of a desire for money. It seems they were truly passionate about telling some intimate and intense stories. Said passion is palpable, and I'd say it's a big reason why this is one of the best shows streaming on Max. With that, I'm not surprised at all that a second season is on the way.
What I find just as intriguing as the content of this show is the history behind it. The project began as an ER reboot of sorts but as Wyle, Wells, and Gemmill got further into talks, it was reworked into the show that's airing now. That ultimately led to a lawsuit from the estate of Michael Critchton, the late creator of the Must See TV show.
The legal implications of this aside, I'm glad the Max show ultimately saw the light of day. I'm also curious as to what lies ahead, considering just how much territory the producers can explore.
It's important to note that even though Noah Wyle is once again playing a medical profession, Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch is definitely not Dr. John Carter. Wyle previously discussed the differences between the two characters, noting that Robinavitch is a lot more "blue collar" than Carter.
All in all, I can't say that I ever expected Noah Wyle to return to a medical drama but, given what I've seen of his new show, I'm so happy he did. The season finale is just around the corner, and I'm eager to see how everything pans out. All in all, I'm optimistic that Wyle and co. will continue to deliver a compelling show that'll hopefully run for years. You can watch The Pitt on Max now ahead of the Season 1 finale, which drops on Thursday, April 10, at 9 p.m. ET.
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