He’s got the prognosis.
HBO Max’s awards-sweeping hit drama “The Pitt” is back for Season 2, showing Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch (Noah Wyle) and his team dealing with more medical emergencies.
The show has already been renewed for a Season 3, ahead of Season 2’s premiere, which debuted Thursday on HBO Max.
“My whole thing is trying to keep a show on the air as long as possible, in order to keep people employed,” “The Pitt” creator R. Scott Gemmill told The Post when asked how long he sees the show continuing for. “I think that’s a really important part of my job. And so, I will stay as long as people want to do it, and keep watching it. I think Noah [Wyle] feels similar.”
The gritty medical procedural follows staff at the fictional Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center – and each season is just one shift, with each episode being just one hour.
In addition to Robby, among others, the story also follows Dr. Frank Langdon (Patrick Ball), charge nurse Dana Evans (Katherine LaNasa), Dr. Samira Mohan (Surpriya Ganesh), Dr. Melissa “Mel” King (Taylor Dearden), and medical student Victoria Javadi (Shabana Azeez).
Gemmill, an “ER” alum along with Wyle, said he did make an adjustment to Season 2, based on medical professionals’ comments about Season 1.
“I got feedback from respiratory therapists who didn’t feel that they were being serviced in the first season. So, we tried to rectify that. But in actuality, the medical professionals have been some of our biggest supporters. That’s been really fulfilling.”
Season 1 was a runway hit, averaging 10 million viewers per episode, sweeping the Emmys and Critics Choice Awards. It’s also up for several Golden Globes.
When asked why it was such a hit, Gemmill said, “I have no idea. If I did, I’d do it every year, and over and over again! I think timing was important. And I think it just resonates with people because it talks about the human condition. I think it’s really about people connecting with each other in some way or shape or form. I think that’s what people need, right now.”
He said he did feel “a little bit” of pressure going into Season 2.
“The success of Season 1 surprised all of us….you don’t want to hit the sophomore slump sort of thing. And we tried not to, but we didn’t do anything differently. We just tried to do the same thing in a sense, and just tell really good stories that connect with people.”
He explained that some of the medical emergencies come from stories he hears from doctors, and others are from his own observations. For instance, in Season 2, which takes place on a Fourth of July, there are plenty of holiday-themed injuries. But there’s also a woman who accidentally glued her eye shut – which he once saw.
“We throw a wide net for our stories.”
Fans of the show were abuzz when Season 1’s Dr. Heather Collins (Tracy Ifeachor) didn’t return for Season 2.
“That was just – I felt like that storyline had run its course,” Gemmill told The Post. “The reality is unfortunately, these departments turn over personnel really frequently. That’s one of the most difficult parts for me, trying to decide who who comes back and who doesn’t.”
To maintain the level of “authenticity,” he explained, “we have to turn over our cast on a semi-regular basis.”
“The Pitt” has also been embroiled in a lawsuit with “ER” creator Michael Crichton’s estate, alleging that the show is an “unauthorized” reboot of “ER.” The studio has denied the allegation.
“I don’t worry about that,” Gemmill said of the legal battle. “It’s so superfluous, to me.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
