The Pitthas taken the internet by storm over the past few months with its high-stakes drama and intricate character work, reviving the medical genre in a way that hasn’t really been seen sinceGrey’s Anatomy.The Pitttouches on some serious real-life topicspertaining to the medical industry, weaving these important themes into its narrative in a way that effectively catches the audience off guard. Whether it’s the mention of Dr. Robby’s former mentor dying during the pandemic or the shortage of doctors and nurses following a nationwide staffing crisis,The Pittsucceeds thanks to its ongoing cultural relevance.
The Pitthas an excellent castand a team of brilliant writers who always ensure the characters are at the heart of this story, which is why audiences have fallen so deeply in love with it. In this way,it’s very reminiscent of another medical drama from over 30 years agothat also starred Noah Wyle, albeit as a much younger and more inexperienced doctor.
ER Is The Perfect Noah Wyle Medical Drama To Watch After The Pitt Season 1
The Long-Running Show Has A Very Similar Premise
Noah Wyle is the true standout ofThe Pitt’s talented ensemble, so it makes sense that those who’ve just finished the series would be looking to dive deeper into his previous works - and it won’t take long to findER. The long-running NBC show is rightly considered to be among thebest medical dramas ever made, andWyle’s character (once again) was a huge scene-stealer. But importantly, hisERcharacter is very different from his role inThe Pitt.
InER, Wyle plays an ambitious medical student named John Carter, working alongside George Clooney’s senior doctor, Doug Ross. The show adopted a very episodic structure, with each story following plenty of different patients and accidents - butwhat really madeERsuch an engaging show was the intricate character dynamicsthat slowly developed over time. This is something it shares withThe Pitt, and that’s why it’s such a perfect follow-up for those who’ve never seen it before.
Why ER Is One Of The Best Medical Dramas Of All Time
Very Few Shows Have Reached The Same Level Of Success
Although there have been plenty of other medical shows that come close to the greatness ofER(The Pittincluded), NBC’s classic drama deserves extra credit for changing the landscape of television in ways that the medium hadn’t really seen before.ERdidn’t just breathe new life into the medical genre but also played with the structure of episodic storytelling and long-running character arcs.It cultivated the perfect TV environmentso that shows likeHouse, Scrubs, andGrey’s Anatomycould later thrive.
ERwas created by Michael Crichton, author ofJurassic Park, and won the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series in 1996.
Not just that, butERis among the fewconsistentmedical dramas that didn’t suffer from a sudden drop in quality during its later seasons. Theearly seasons ofERwere the best, but there was still plenty of fresh and engaging storytelling happening in the later episodes - which is an area where many medical dramas suffer. This keptER’s reputation strong throughout the years, as proven by its long-standing score of 87% onRotten Tomatoesand its continued streaming success.
The Pitt & ER’s Legal Controversy Explained
The Creators Have Been In A Tough Legal Battle
AlthoughERandThe Pittare brilliant companion shows, the two projects have come into somewhat of a legal clash in recent months; the widow ofERcreator Michael Crichton has sued the crew behindThe Pittfor the show’s similarities to her husband’s original.Her lawsuit claims that Max’s new medical drama is a copycat ofER, and thus, she and Crichton’s heirs are owed money for its success. Interestingly,the legal dispute aroundThe Pittultimately stems from the fact that it was originally conceived as anERspin-off. In her lawsuit, Crichton wrote:
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
As reported inDeadline,Warner Bros. filed a motion to dismiss Crichton’s lawsuit on the grounds that, despiteThe Pittoriginally being conceived in the world ofER, the finished product is objectivelyunrelatedand the two projects are too dissimilar to substantiate any legal action. Noah Wyle has commented: “This taints the legacy, and it shouldn’t have […] At one point this could have been a partnership. And when it wasn’t a partnership, it didn’t need to turn acrimonious.”(viaVariety)
ER
Cast
In Cook County General Hospital’s emergency department, the doctors and nurses tackle every patient’s medical puzzles, all while dealing with the challenges in their personal and professional lives.
The Pitt
The Pitt is a gripping drama set in Pittsburgh’s Trauma Medical Center, where dedicated staff tirelessly work to save lives in a busy and underfunded emergency department. Released in 2025, the series highlights the challenges and relentless efforts of medical professionals in a high-pressure environment.
