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--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Welcome to Today Explained. I'm Sean Rameswaram. Today, we're talking about TV again.
--:-- Noel King: [laughs] Yes, it's been a while.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: The Pitt, The White Lotus, and Severance have people talking about TV again. Joining me is Joe Sachs, an executive producer and writer on The Pitt. Welcome to the show.
--:-- Joe Sachs: Thanks for having me on.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: So, let's start with The Pitt. You've been in the TV business for a long time, but this show is a bit of a departure from your usual work. Can you tell us what inspired you to create it?
--:-- Joe Sachs: Well, after ER, I didn't have a strong desire to work on a medical show. But then John Wells, Noah Wiley, and Scott Gemmel came to me with an idea for a show that would take place in the ER, but with a twist. They wanted to make it real, to show the crisis in emergency medicine and the post-traumatic stress that emergency workers are dealing with.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That sounds like a really compelling premise. And one of the things that sets The Pitt apart is its unique format. You're releasing 12 hours of content over the course of a season, which is a lot different from the usual 7 or 8 episodes. Can you tell us more about that decision?
--:-- Joe Sachs: Yeah, we wanted to do something different. We wanted to make a show that felt like old-school network television, but with the flexibility of streaming. And by releasing 12 hours of content, we can tell a more complex story and really explore the characters and their experiences.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's really interesting. And I have to ask, were you nervous about how the audience would respond to the level of stress and intensity in the show? I mean, it's not exactly light viewing.
--:-- Joe Sachs: Honestly, I had no idea how people would respond. But what's been really surprising is how well the show has been received. People in medicine are saying that it's the first medical show they've been able to watch that feels real. And emergency workers are saying that it's helped them process their own experiences and emotions.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's really powerful. And I have to ask, what's the most challenging thing you've had to depict on the show?
--:-- Joe Sachs: [pauses] Well, there was one episode where we had to show a degloved, fractured, dislocated foot. It was a real challenge to make it look realistic and not gratuitous. But ultimately, it was worth it because it helped to convey the intensity and complexity of the medical procedures.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, I think I can handle that. [laughs]
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--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Joining me now is Catherine VanArendonk, a critic at Vulture in New York Magazine. Catherine, thanks for being on the show.
--:-- Catherine VanArendonk: Thanks for having me.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: So, I have to ask, what's your take on the current state of medical dramas on TV? We've got The Pitt, Watson, Doc, and Dr. Odyssey, to name a few. What's going on?
--:-- Catherine VanArendonk: Well, I think there are a few reasons why we're seeing so many medical dramas right now. One is that TV tends to go through trends, and medical dramas have always been a staple of television. But I also think that there's a moment in Hollywood where people are reevaluating the cop drama genre, and medical dramas are seen as a safer, more apolitical alternative.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's really interesting. And I have to ask, what's your take on The Pitt's politics? I mean, it's a show that's unapologetically tackling some really tough issues, like racism and gun violence.
--:-- Catherine VanArendonk: Yeah, I think The Pitt is a really radical show in that it's taking a very deliberate approach to storytelling. It's focusing on the patients and their experiences, rather than the personal lives of the doctors. And that's really powerful because it allows the show to tackle some really tough issues in a way that feels authentic and nuanced.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, I think I'm starting to see what you mean. And I have to ask, what's your take on the current state of TV in general? We've got shows like The Pitt, The White Lotus, and Severance that are all getting a lot of attention. What's going on?
--:-- Catherine VanArendonk: Well, I think one thing that's happening is that TV is getting back to its roots. We're seeing a return to the weekly release model, where shows are coming out one episode at a time. And that's really changing the way we consume TV and interact with each other.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's really interesting. And I have to ask, what are you excited about in the coming weeks and months on TV?
--:-- Catherine VanArendonk: Well, I'm really excited about Andor, the new Star Wars show. It's a really great example of a show that's using the weekly release model to create a sense of anticipation and excitement. And I'm also looking forward to the Sex and the City spinoff, which is finally coming out.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, I think I'm starting to get excited too. [laughs]
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--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Thanks to Catherine VanArendonk for joining me on the show today.
--:-- Catherine VanArendonk: Thanks for having me.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And thanks to our listeners for tuning in. If you want to support Today Explained, you can become a Vox Member today. [music fades out]
