The Newest Breakout Medical Drama - The Pitt

On January 9th, 2025, the first episode of the newest HBO Max medical drama, The Pitt, titled “7:00 am,” was released. Based around the daily lives of healthcare professionals in a Pittsburgh hospital as they juggle personal crises, workplace politics, and the emotional toll of treating critically ill patients, revealing the resilience required in their noble calling, The Pitt was a fresh face in the genre. The Pitt is a beautifully emotional and surprisingly realistic show which is executive produced by Noah Wyle, one of the stars and producers of ER–another extremely well-loved tv show released over the course of 15 seasons from 1994 to 2009. 

Wyle not only works as one of the writers and producers, but he also plays the star of the show, Dr. “Robby” Robinavitch, the attending doctor of the ER department in the hospital. Multiple other big names (or the children of big names) also star as main or supporting characters throughout the 15 episode series, such as Taylor Dearden, daughter of well known actor Bryan Cranston, Fiona Douriff, daughter of Brad Douriff, or Isa Briones, who recently made a Broadway debut as Eurydice in Hadestown. 

The cast of characters is large and expansive, ranging from longtime nurses to new residents on their first day on the job. Dana Evans, the head charge nurse and no-nonsense ringleader of the circus, played by Katherine LaNasa, has been working as a nurse for decades. She keeps the whole place running smoothly, and without her, the ER could descend into chaos. Dr. Frank Langdon and Dr. Heather Collins, played by Patrick Ball and Tracy Ifeachor, respectively, are the two senior residents and the people directly under Dr. Robby. They each have their own hidden struggles, though, and just one event could send them both tipping over the edge. Dr. Samira Mohan, played by Supriya Ganesh, a third year resident with the nickname Slow-Mo, is struggling to keep up with the fast paced movement of the ER, and Dr. Cassie McKay, played by Fiona Duriff, is doing her best to operate normally while working to gain back custody of her son and block out the chaos of her daily life. Dr. Mel King, played by Taylor Dearden, is a sweet new hire trying her best to support herself and her younger sister, all the while dealing with the stress of being her only caretaker. Dr. Jack Abbott, a fan favorite played by Shawn Hatosy, who typically works only for the night shift, has to step in with the rest of the night crew to help out past his regular hours after an emergency at the hospital. And finally, who could forget the newest additions to the team? On their very first day on the job at 7:00 am sharp, we meet Trinity Santos, Dennis Whitaker, and Victoria Javadi, portrayed by Isa Briones, Gerran Howell, and Shabana Azeez. And there are plenty more characters to enjoy, don’t worry.

Each character has their own individual and defined personality that stays firm and well-developed throughout the course of the show. Each episode represents one hour in what is supposed to be an eight-hour shift at a local hospital in Pittsburgh, the day progressing in real time to highlight the struggle that healthcare professionals face every day.

It’s a great place to start if you aren’t particularly a fan of medical dramas, and it’s extremely realistic. In fact, it’s regarded by many real-life healthcare professionals as the most accurate medical drama of the decade. If you’re looking for a new and easy show to settle into, this is the one.