If any drama series besides The Pitt was hoping to win an Emmy for any of the following categories, I have some bad news for them. They are all just playing for second place.
Outstanding Drama Series
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series
Outstanding Cinematography for a Series (One Hour)
If the Emmys are not rigged (which in today's world is quite possible) The Pitt should run away with every Drama category. I have honestly never seen a higher quality show. It is as close to perfection as anything I have ever seen. Does this mean it is my favorite show of all time? No. I have been more entertained by shows, but that doesn't mean those shows were near perfection. The Pitt is.
If you have not seen The Pitt, stop reading this and go watch it.
Still here. Well then I guess you need some more information. The Pitt is set in a trauma center emergency room in Pittsburgh. Like all good inner city Emergency rooms it has a clever nickname. This one is of course called The Pitt. It is overcrowded and understaffed (but don't worry the hospital's profits are up). People fill the emergency room with overthinking from a stomach ache to a shot in the head. The doctors, nurses, social worker (singular... who needs more of those when you are surrounded by death all the time?) custodial and other staff work tirelessly and often thanklessly to meet the various needs of every patient they see. And they see MANY. Many emergency room staff have lauded the show as the most realistic hospital dram they have ever seen. And this made me really sad because I could feel how overwhelming this job must be. Although the staff have many personal problems (like all humans) they need to set all of that aside in order to care for patients. Even though there were some very serious problems in the present day of the show, the flashbacks to the Emergency room during the height of the Covid pandemic tore at my heart the most. I still cannot believe how many hours medical staff put in during that time. Each day risking their lives for others. They were applauded as heroes at the time... but that all seems to be forgotten now. They saved so many lives. but even worse, they looked into the eyes of so many they could not save. And the Pitt brings that type of emotion to every episode.
My wife and I could only handle one episode of The Pitt each night. It was simply too heavy for any more (with the exception of the need to plow through the last four episodes in two days because we could not wait to see the end). So much is happening in each episode that it is more like a 50 minute movie than a television show. And when I say happening, I mean many life or death decisions being made in an instant. It's based in an emergency room so some sad and gross things are going to happen. It was tough to watch too much of that back to back.
The writing, acting, directing and camera work in each episode was perfect. And that is no small feet considering each episode involved ten main characters, dozens of smaller characters, and all of the patients. Each episode takes place during one hour of a 12 hour shift (well 15). Think of the show 24 but fewer people playing tennis wile a nuclear bomb just went off. During each hour, basically every main character plays a major part in the story. that is because the ER is a team. So many of the staff had to work with different people during each shift. It is a miracle the writers could keep everyone straight. But they did. Even though the show keeps a frantic pace and there is lots of medical drama, you still get to know each of the main characters. Some you love. Some you hate (well maybe just one). But no matter what, you feel for them. How they pulled that off over a relatively short amount of time is beyond me. the show has the look and feel of controlled chaos... you know like an emergency room.
Its not just drama, emotion and character arcs they pack into these 15 episodes. They also make time for some humor. Just like real life, laughing breaks tension. Theses characters find ways to do that just often enough to make sure they can make it through their shift without losing their minds.
The only negative that I can possibly think of is that perhaps too much happened during this 12 hour shift. Several characters have major life altering situations happen to them. Some very crazy medical cases come in. They bring up the fight between science and fiction. And one very major thing happens at the end. It was like watching 10 seasons of ER packed into about 11 hours of TV. It was a bit much. I wonder if they were not sure if the show would be picked up for a second season so they figured they should fit in everything they wanted to tackle just in case this was all they got. Either way, I am so happy they did. It was one of the most amazing television experiences I have ever had.
I could not end this without thanking every single person who shows up to an emergency room to be there to care for me or someone I love every day. You never know when you or someone you love will need these people. But they are there. They are there regardless of their own situation. They show up and they care. We are all very lucky there are people who will be there when we need it.
Thank you
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Paramedic
Emergency Physician (ER Doctor)
Emergency Department (Triage) Nurse / Registered Nurse (ER Nurse)
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) / Patient Care Technician (PCT) / Emergency Department Tech / ED Tech
Medical Scribe (ER Scribe) Security officers
Respiratory Therapist (RT)
Radiology Technician (X‑ray, CT, MRI, Ultrasound)
Unit Secretary / Registrar / Patient Access Representative
Social Worker (in ER setting)
Emergency Medical Dispatcher (works with EMS dispatch, connected but supports the ER)
Nocturnist (overnight hospitalist admitting from ER)
Crisis Worker / Psychiatric Liaison (for behavioral health cases)
Emergency Room Scheduler / Staff Scheduler
Pharmacy Technician (supporting ER medication needs)
Transporter / ED Support Services Team Leader
Environmental Services / ER Cleaner (keeping the ER sanitized and safe)
Trauma Coordinator / Emergency Management Safety Coordinator (administrative/quality roles linked to ED operations)
