Legal Scandal Behind Max’s The Pitt: Is It Really an ER Revival?
Fans of Grey's Anatomy and ER can't afford to miss this one.
A new medical drama, The Pitt, has been released on Max – viewers can already watch the first three episodes. Each episode covers an hour of Dr. Michael "Robby" Rabinavitch's hellish shift in the emergency room of a fictional hospital in Pittsburgh.
The new project is an ambitious reunion of the creators of the iconic ER – producers John Wells, R. Scott Gemmill, Michael Hissrich, and actor Noah Wyle. But the project’s connection to ER has reached the level of a real-life legal drama.
Prior to the Release, The Pitt Was Involved in a Scandal With ER
The release of The Pitt was preceded by a scandal: the widow of ER creator Michael Crichton sued Warner Bros. Television for what she alleged was an unauthorized reboot of the classic TV hit.
"The Pitt’ is ‘ER. 'It’s not like ‘ER.’ It’s not kind of ‘ER.’ It’s not sort of ‘ER.’ It is ‘ER’ with the exact same executive producer, writer, star, production companies, studio and network as the planned ‘ER’ reboot,” her complaint says, cited by Variety.
Warner Bros. Representatives Claim The Pitt Is a Completely Different Show
Warner Bros., on the other hand, claims that Crichton's heirs do not own the idea of creating a series set in a hospital.
Studio representatives also note that The Pitt and ER have completely different plots, characters, and even approaches to filming and lighting.
The Pitt Was, In Fact, Planned as ER Revival
What's more interesting is that initially, in 2020, Noah Wyle and the EP producers actually planned to create a remake of the 90s hit, but this time focusing on the Covid period and the doctors who fought the pandemic.
Later, according to the actor, that idea was scrapped in favor of creating an independent and original show. As Wyle noted in his interview with TVLine, this freed the team from certain storytelling constraints.
ER Was a Revolutionary Medical Drama for Its Time
ER, the medical drama about the daily life of the employees of Chicago Hospital, was released 30 years ago and became a favorite of millions of viewers at the turn of the millennium.
Pediatrician Doug Ross was played by George Clooney, who was just beginning his acting career, and young surgeon John Carter was played by Noah Wyle.
More than 120 Emmy nominations, 23 wins and 15 seasons – ER was broadcast until 2009, the medical community confirmed that the crazy daily life of doctors with an endless stream of patients was as close to reality as possible.
Until 2019, it was considered the longest-running medical drama until Shonda Rhimes' Grey's Anatomy took over.
The Pitt Is as Realistic as Medical Procedural Drama Can Be
In early January 2025, The Pitt took the spotlight, where viewers follow the daily routines of a bustling Pittsburgh emergency room full of doctors and patients.
One episode is a 15-hour shift for Dr. Rabinavitch, who runs the department with Dr. Heather Collins. The series is shot with handheld cameras, there is no background soundtrack, lots of screaming, fussing, and the sounds of medical equipment.
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This is a hyper-realistic drama in a relevant setting – the post-Covid era, when the virus tested the strength of healthcare systems around the world.
It is immediately apparent that the new project is not a copy or remake of the cult predecessor. In terms of structure and dynamics, The Pitt is closer to the equally successful 24. Many fans note that it is more realistic than ER, and in terms of dramatic storytelling and character development, there is rarely a scene that does not make the viewer's heart flutter.
The Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital looks like any other hospital. With gray walls, medical gowns and the tired faces of those who wear them – and this is the main advantage of the project. Making the viewer believe is no easy task.
Fans of procedural dramas have already found The Pitt to be a pleasant binge. You can stream the show on Max. The next episode will air on Thursday, January 23.