As a lifelong fan of Michael Crichton and his groundbreaking work, I find myself deeply concerned about the new medical drama, “The Pitt.” The striking similarities to “ER,” a show that was based on Crichton’s own experiences, are not lost on me. It’s like they took ER, gave it a Pittsburgh makeover, and called it something else – but a change of scenery doesn’t erase the fact that this feels an awful lot like an unauthorized reboot.
For the widow of the deceased author Michael Crichton and his estate, the upcoming medical drama on the Max streaming service, titled “The Pitt,” seems suspiciously like an unauthorized sequel or remake of ER, a show that was partially based on Crichton’s own experiences. The striking resemblances, such as the inclusion of former ER star Noah Wyle, have led to concerns and even legal action by Crichton’s estate against those involved in the production of the new series.
As a passionate fan, I’m compelled to share some intriguing insights. According to Variety, a lawsuit has been filed in Los Angeles Superior Court against Warner Bros. Television, executive producers John Wells and R. Scott Gemmill, and Wyle. The suit claims that “The Pitt,” in essence, is a reimagined reboot of the legendary series, ER. This iconic show aired for an impressive 15 seasons and 331 episodes on NBC, becoming a colossal success. In this lawsuit, it’s asserted that “The Pitt” seems to be heavily inspired by ER.
“Warner Bros. failed in negotiations with Crichton’s estate regarding the remake of ER for about a year. Instead of waiting further, they shifted the location from Chicago to Pittsburgh, renamed it The Pitt, and proceeded with production without giving credit or paying any royalties to Crichton and his family.”
1. The lawsuit alleges violations of contractual obligations, implied promises of fairness, and good faith, as well as intentional disruption of business relationships. Regarding the resemblance between the two shows, the lawsuit doesn’t shy away from acknowledging that “The Pitt” is essentially a renamed version of “ER.” In the complaint, it is stated:
The reboot isn’t like ER, it doesn’t share the same characteristics or qualities. In fact, it is identical to ER in terms of its executive producer, writer, lead actor, production companies, studio, and network as the planned revival.
The Pitt Does Sound Undeniably Similar to ER…
In the TV show titled “ER,” we delve into the daily operations of a fictionalized Cook County General Hospital ER in Chicago, which is based on the real Cook County Hospital. The storyline revolves around the professional and personal lives of its employees, with Noah Wyle portraying John Carter, initially a third-year medical student, then a resident, and eventually an attending physician. This series played a significant role in propelling George Clooney’s career as both an actor and director.
In a different phrasing, “The Pitt” focuses on the experiences of healthcare specialists at a Pittsburgh hospital, where they juggle both their personal and professional lives as doctors, nurses, and patients. Wyle, who is also an executive producer, will portray Dr. Michael Robinavitch in this series. While the show’s premise might seem familiar to other medical dramas, some similarities with “ER” raise eyebrows. Notably, key personnel from “ER” have been linked to this project as well. It has been reported that they attempted to revive “ER” for almost a year without success; if true, the creators may indeed face issues regarding intellectual property rights.
Interestingly, during his interview on the Still Here Hollywood podcast in June, Wyle discussed a possible connection between the two series when he reached out to Wells about the project and suggested involving “a few of the original ER writers”. However, he added, “There were complications with the Crichton estate. The negotiations fell through.”
“I understand that you’re hesitant about restarting the show. I feel the same way. I believe we achieved something special by not franchising and diluting our work…but if you ever had an idea for a project that is more compact, self-contained, and less expansive, I would wholeheartedly support it.”
The court case delves further into claims about events following Crichton’s death in 2008, specifically regarding promises made concerning the original ER series. According to the lawsuit, Crichton demanded certain contractual obligations be fulfilled before Warner Bros. Television proceeded with the popular NBC show. One of these conditions was a “frozen rights” clause that prohibited the production studio from creating remakes or offshoots of the show without approval from the estate.
After Crichton’s passing, it is claimed that the promises made to him were not upheld by Warner Bros. Television. A lawsuit alleges that they engaged in a questionable behavior to minimize and eventually eliminate Crichton from his own works. This conduct was evident in conversations about an ER reboot in 2020, which didn’t involve Sherri Chricton, Crichton’s widow, beforehand.
In response, WBTV has deemed the assertions as baseless, further clarifying that “The Pitt” is an entirely unique and original production. Any insinuations to the contrary are unfounded, and Warner Bros. Television plans to strongly contest these groundless claims.
The show known as “The Pitt” has been given a commission for 15 episodes on the Max streaming platform and is anticipated to debut in 2025.
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2024-08-29 15:02