As a long-time fan of ER who’s witnessed its groundbreaking influence on television and the medical drama genre, I must say this lawsuit involving Noah Wyle’s new series The Pitt is quite intriguing. It seems that the legacy of ER lives on, not only through its potential revival but also in legal battles surrounding its spiritual successor.
One of television’s longest-running prime-time successes, the once highly anticipated show “ER,” also ranks as one of television’s most impactful series in modern times. Fifteen years after its final episode aired, this influence persists. For instance, efforts were made to reintroduce “ER” for the 2024 TV lineup, but instead of the revival of Cook County General Hospital, we now have a legal dispute involving former star Noah Wyle and his new streaming series titled “The Pitt.”
The Alleged Original ER Revival Plans
As reported by Deadline in the lawsuit filed by Sherri Crichton (widow of the author of Jurassic Park and Sphere), conversations about reviving ER on television started in November 2022. This was communicated to her during a phone call from original producer John Wells, who shared that a public announcement regarding plans for a sequel series was imminent, with Noah Wyle set to join the project at a later stage.
At this juncture, Crichton claims that the talks reached an impasse when the estate demanded that the scriptwriter, who had reworked his 1974 film script titled “Emergency Ward” for the original series, be given a “Created By” credit for the fresh TV show. However, WBTV reportedly turned down this demand, making further negotiations increasingly challenging.
The court case suggests that the executives at WBTV grew increasingly firm in their view, and their communications, including emails, suggested John Wells was equally or even more accountable than Michael Crichton himself for the success of ER. However, the estate countered this argument by reminding them of how Crichton aided Wells in recovering from a plagiarism lawsuit involving David Simon and Barry Levinson’s Homicide.
Additionally, Sherri Crichton’s lawsuit highlights concerns about WBTV, as it is alleged they removed the Westworld director’s name from the HBO series. This omission was partially due to his 1973 film, but instead of giving him the “Created By” credit he sought, they only provided a single “Based On” credit.
Why The Lawsuit Over The Pitt Happened
After months of discussions and failed negotiations about the ER sequel series, it was apparent that an understanding wasn’t on the horizon. Noah Wyle himself confirmed in public statements that a deal with the Crichton estate didn’t materialize, and not long after the talks ended, WBTV announced The Pitt as an exclusive for Max in March 2024, commissioning a 15-episode first season. As a gamer, I was left waiting to see what would unfold next.
The new show features Wyle in a different role, portraying Dr. Michael Robinavitch instead of Dr. John Carter. This series is set within a bustling Pittsburgh emergency room and offers a gritty depiction of contemporary healthcare professionals. Wyle takes on additional roles as an executive producer and writer for at least two episodes. Additionally, veteran creators from the original “ER,” including David Zabel and R. Scott Gemmill, are also involved in the production.
Weeks following the initial unveiling of Noah Wyle in Scrubs, the Crichton estate took legal action against WBTV, John Wells, Wyle, Gemmill, and others. The allegations include violations of contract terms, breach of an implied duty of good faith and fair dealing, and deliberate disruption of contractual relationships. As per the lawsuit:
The Pitt shares all the key elements with ER. To clarify, it’s not similar to ER in a vague or metaphorical sense; it’s the exact same show as the upcoming ER reboot. It has the same executive producer, writer, star, production companies, studio, and network.
As a gamer, I’d rephrase it like this: In my gaming world, there are three significant changes between the original ideas for the ER sequel, destined to become The Pitt, and the pilot script. Instead of being set in Chicago, the action is now in Pittsburgh. Additionally, Noah Wyle’s character has a new name, and surprisingly, Michael Crichton isn’t associated with it at all.
Currently, I’m eagerly awaiting the premiere of “The Pitt” which is scheduled for fans with Max subscriptions from 2025. It’ll be intriguing to observe how this ongoing lawsuit might shape the destiny of this upcoming drama.
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2024-08-28 18:38