Dr. Sanjay Gupta has been branching out lately. The practicing neurosurgeon's made a name for himself for his work, which includes being CNN's chief medical correspondent. Last month his novel Monday Mornings was published and today TNT announced that they're moving forward with the TV series based on the book.
Gupta isn't the only big name behind this new series. David E. Kelley (The Practice, Boston Legal, Ally McBeal) wrote the pilot for the series and, along with Gupta, will serve as an executive producer.
Set at the fictional Chelsea General Hospital in Portland, Ore., Monday Mornings follows the lives of doctors as they push the limits of their abilities and confront their personal and professional failings. The title refers to the hospital’s weekly morbidity and mortality conference, when doctors gather with their peers for a confidential review of complications and errors in patient care.
Approaching a medical drama by focusing on possible mistakes made is an interesting twist on what might otherwise be just another medical drama. Factor in Gupta's medical expertise and Kelley's extensive experience with successful ensemble-focused drama series and we could be in for something great with this one. And then there's the cast, which includes Ving Rhames, Alfred Molina, Jennifer Finnigan, Bill Irwin and Battlestar Galactica's Jamie Bamber. Just a few more reasons to look forward to this series.
TNT's giving the drama a 10-episode first season and they're looking to get Monday Mornings on the air at some point during Summer 2013, so we have a while to wait. But even with my limited interest in medical dramas, I'd say this is definitely something to look forward to.
