(SAN DIEGO) HBO Max’s enormously popular television series “The Pitt” is receiving plaudits for its realistic depiction of the trials and tribulations of health care in an urban emergency room.
Now in its second season, which premiered on Jan. 8, 2026, the show follows Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch (played by Noah Wyle) and his colleagues through a single 15-hour clinical shift, divided into one-hour episodes. The team treats patients against a backdrop of all-too-common American societal plagues, from substance use disorder to medical bankruptcies and mass shootings.
kAm$A@:=6C 2=6CEi p3@FE 92=7H2J E9C@F89 E96 D62D@?[ sC] #@33J 2?5 E96 DE277 2E E96 7:4E:@?2= !:EED3FC89 %C2F>2 |65:42= r6?E6C 8C2AA=6 H:E9 492@D 6?DF:?8 7C@> 2 =6DD 4@>>@?=J 56A:4E65 5:D2DE6C – 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]:3>]4@>^E9:?<^:?D:89ED^H96?\C2?D@>H2C6\<:==D\2EE24<D\@?\962=E942C6\724:=:E:6DQm9@DA:E2= 4J36C2EE24<k^2m] %96 9@DA:E2=’D ?6EH@C< 2?5 4@>AFE6CD H6C6 :?42A24:E2E65[ C6DF=E:?8 :? D46?6D @7 >:==6??:2= C6D:56?ED DECF88=:?8 H:E9 72I >249:?6D[ =23@C2E@CJ @C56CD 5:D2AA62C:?8 :? 2 D9F77=6 @7 A2A6CD[ 2?5 4@?DE2?E 4@>>F?:42E:@? 3C62<5@H?D 4F=>:?2E:?8 :? 2 >:DD65 =:76\E9C62E6?:?8 5:28?@D:D]k^Am
kAmp== E9:D >:89E AC@>AE G:6H6CD E@ H@?56Ci s@6D E9:D 24EF2==J 92AA6? :? C62= =:76nk^Am
kAmpD A9JD:4:2?D H9@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^AC@7:=6D]F4D5]65F^;677C6J]EF==JQmDEF5J 4J36C2EE24<Dk^2m 2?5 E96:C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^AC@7:=6D]F4D5]65F^49C:DE:2?]52>677Qm:>A24E @? A2E:6?E 42C6k^2m[ H6 92G6 D66? >2?J @7 E96 D2>6 6G6?ED 56A:4E65 :? “%96 !:EE” A=2J @FE :? E96 C62= H@C=5]k^Am
kAm%96D6 2EE24<D 92G6 D6G6C6 4=:?:42= 4@?D6BF6?46D] x? 2? F?7@CEF?2E6 42D6 @7 2CE :>:E2E:?8 =:76[ E96 D9@H’D 4J36C2EE24< DE@CJ 2C4 3682? @? E96 D2>6 52J E92E E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?AC]@C8^a_ae^_a^a`^?I\D`\dfa`fce^>:DD:DD:AA:\962=E9\DJDE6>\C2?D@>H2C6\2EE24<Qm&?:G6CD:EJ @7 |:DD:DD:AA: |65:42= r6?E6C DF776C65 E96 D2>6 72E6k^2m[ C6DF=E:?8 :? E96 DF556? 4=@DFC6 @7 >@C6 E92? b_ 277:=:2E65 4=:?:4D 24C@DD E96 DE2E6 H9:=6 2=D@ 5:DCFAE:?8 |:DD:DD:AA:’D @?=J {6G6= x EC2F>2 46?E6C]k^Am
kAm|@56C? 962=E9 42C6 :D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]bbh_^962=E942C6`b_f_g_aQm4C:E:42==J 56A6?56?E @? 5:8:E2= E649?@=@8:6Dk^2m[ DF49 2D 6=64EC@?:4 962=E9 C64@C5D[ =23@C2E@CJ >249:?6D 2?5 C25:@=@8J A=2E7@C>D[ E92E D9FE 5@H? H96? 9@DA:E2= ?6EH@C<D 2C6 E2<6? @77=:?6] {@D:?8 2446DD E@ E96D6 E@@=D 7@C AC@=@?865 A6C:@5D @7 E:>6 AFED A2E:6?ED’ =:G6D 2E 8C2G6 C:D<]k^Am
k7:8FC6mk:7C2>6 H:5E9lQcc_Q 96:89ElQae_Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^HHH]J@FEF36]4@>^6>365^h"x=aK*{7~gnH>@56lEC2?DA2C6?EU2>AjDE2CEl_Q 7C2>63@C56ClQ_Q 2==@H7F==D4C66?lQQmk^:7C2>6mk7:842AE:@?mp C2?D@>H2C6 2EE24< D6?E E96 7:4E:@?2= !:EED3FC89 %C2F>2 |65:42= r6?E6C 6>6C86?4J C@@> 324< E@ E96 52C< 286D]k^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
k9am(92E’D 2E DE2<6k^9am
kAm%96 >@DE 5:C6 C62=\=:76 4J36C2EE24<D @? 9@DA:E2=D :?G@=G6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]73:]8@G^9@H\H6\42?\96=A\J@F^D42>D\2?5\D276EJ^4@>>@?\7C2F5D\2?5\D42>D^C2?D@>H2C6QmC2?D@>H2C6[ 2 4=2DD @7 >2=:4:@FD D@7EH2C6k^2m E92E 6?4CJAED 52E2 2?5 =@4<D 5@H? 4@>AFE6CD 2?5 ?6EH@C<D[ 56>2?5:?8 D:8?:7:42?E 2>@F?ED @7 42D9 7@C E96 AC@>:D6 @7 C6=:67] &?7@CEF?2E6=J[ E96D6 6G6?ED 2C6 ?@E C2C6] r@>A2C:E649[ 2 4J36CD64FC:EJ C6D62C49 7:C>[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4@>A2C:E649]4@>^?6HD^962=E942C6\C2?D@>H2C6\C@F?5FA\a_ad\DE2ED\@?\2EE24<D\C2?D@>D\2?5\52E2\3C62496D^QmC64@C565 ccd C2?D@>H2C6 2EE24<Dk^2m @? 9@DA:E2=D 2?5 4=:?:4D :? a_ad – 2 ?6H A62< 7@==@H:?8 D6G6C2= J62CD @7 2??F2= :?4C62D6D]k^Am
kAm$F49 2EE24<D 2C6 6DA64:2==J 52?86C@FD 7@C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``cd^beghhca]behcfcaQmA2E:6?ED H:E9 E:>6\D6?D:E:G6 6>6C86?4:6Dk^2m =:<6 DEC@<6D[ 962CE 2EE24<D @C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^D6AD:D\DE:==\<:==D\`\:?\d\A6@A=6\H@C=5H:56\EH@\:4F\A9JD:4:2?D\@776C\2\?6H\2AAC@249\E@\DE@AA:?8\:E\`fded_QmD6AD:Dk^2m[ 3FE E96J 27764E 9@DA:E2= @FE4@>6D 3C@25=J] u@C 6I2>A=6[ 2 a_ae 2?2=JD:D @7 |65:42C6 52E2 7@F?5 E92E 9@DA:E2=:K65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`adf^A@=]a_ac_dhcQmA2E:6?ED 925 2 bgT 9:896C C:D< @7 562E9k^2m 5FC:?8 2 C2?D@>H2C6 2EE24<]k^Am
kAm|@C6@G6C[ E96 962=E9 :>A24ED @7 C2?D@>H2C6 2C6 ?@E 4@?7:?65 E@ E96 9@DA:E2=D F?56C 2EE24<] “%96 !:EE” 56>@?DEC2E6D E9:D A96?@>6?@? H6== :? 62C=:6C 6A:D@56D] (96? (6DE3C:586[ 2?@E96C 9@DA:E2= :? E96 4@>>F?:EJ[ :D DECF4< 7:CDE[ 2 H2G6 @7 A2E:6?ED 2CC:G:?8 3J 2>3F=2?46 DEC2:?D !:EED3FC89 %C2F>2 |65:42= r6?E6C’D 2=C625J A24<65 6>6C86?4J C@@>[ =625:?8 E@ 56=2JD :? 42C6 2?5 @G6CH96=>:?8 2=C625J\DEC2:?65 4=:?:4:2?D] ~FC E62> 7@F?5 E92E 2 9@DA:E2= 4J36C2EE24< 4FE E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_hf^rrt]____________`_fhQm@55D @7 DFCG:G:?8 2 42C5:24 2CC6DEk^2m H:E9@FE 56G2DE2E:?8 3C2:? 52>286 3J ?62C=J h_T 2E ?62C3J 9@DA:E2=D[ ?@E ;FDE E96 @?6 E92E H2D 2EE24<65]k^Am
kAmp?5 6G6? H96? 2 9@DA:E2=’D 4@>AFE6C DJDE6>D 2C6 C6DE@C65 2?5 ?@C>2= 42C6 C6DF>6D[ 2 4J36C2EE24< =62G6D 6?@C>@FD 7:?2?4:2= 52>286 :? :ED H2<6] r=2DD 24E:@? =2HDF:ED[ 7C28>6?E65 3:==:?8 2?5 DE66A C68F=2E@CJ 7:?6D 5F6 E@ A2E:6?E AC:G24J 3C62496D 2?5 @E96C :DDF6D @7E6? C6DF=E :? E6?D E@ 9F?5C65D @7 >:==:@?D @7 5@==2CD @7 =@DD6D]k^Am
kAmx? E96 H@CDE 42D6D[ 9@DA:E2=D @C 4=:?:4D :? CFC2= 2C62D 92G6 366? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4J=6C2]4@>^3=@8^E96\CFC2=\962=E942C6\4C:D:D\9@H\4J36CD64FC:EJ\E9C62ED\2C6\7F6=:?8\9@DA:E2=\4=@DFC6DQm7@C465 E@ D9FEE6C E96:C 5@@CDk^2m[ =62G:?8 E96:C 4@>>F?:E:6D H:E9 @?6 =6DD A=246 E@ C646:G6 42C6 2?5 6I246C32E:?8 6I:DE:?8 962=E9 42C6 56D6CED]k^Am
k7:8FC6mk:7C2>6 H:5E9lQcc_Q 96:89ElQae_Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^HHH]J@FEF36]4@>^6>365^<wC?&J(&F+_nH>@56lEC2?DA2C6?EU2>AjDE2CEl_Q 7C2>63@C56ClQ_Q 2==@H7F==D4C66?lQQmk^:7C2>6mk7:842AE:@?m|@56C? 962=E9 42C6 56A6?5D @? 5:8:E2= E649?@=@8:6D[ H9:49 =62G6D 9@DA:E2=D GF=?6C23=6 E@ 4C:AA=:?8 4J36C2EE24<D]k^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
k9am!C@E64E:?8 4J36C :?7C2DECF4EFC6k^9am
kAm(6 92G6 ?@ 5@F3E E92E sC] #@33J H:== C2==J 9:D E62> E@ F=E:>2E6=J D2G6 E96 52J 7C@> >2=:4:@FD 4J36C2EE24<D @? “%96 !:EE]” qFE H92E :D E96 AC@8?@D:D 7@C E96 C6DE @7 FD[ :? E96 C62= H@C=5nk^Am
kAm%96 8@@5 ?6HD :D E92E 2 ?F>36C @7 677@CED 2C6 F?56CH2J E@ :>AC@G6 E96 4J36CD64FC:EJ @7 E96 &]$] 962=E9 42C6 DJDE6>]k^Am
kAm%96 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E 92D C64@8?:K65 E96 A2CE:4F=2C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]CFC2=962=E9:?7@]@C8^E@A:4D^4J36CD64FC:EJQmC:D< A@D65 E@ CFC2= 2?5 4C:E:42= 2446DD 9@DA:E2=Dk^2m 2?5 92D :56?E:7:65 :?4C62D65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]99D]8@G^AC6DD\C@@>^4>D\2??@F?46D\d_\3:==:@?\:?\2H2C5D\E@\DEC6?8E96?\CFC2=\962=E9\:?\2==\d_\DE2E6D]9E>=Qm:?G6DE>6?E :? 4J36CD64FC:EJ E649?@=@8:6Dk^2m 2D @?6 @7 E96 8@2=D @7 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4>D]8@G^AC:@C:E:6D^CFC2=\962=E9\EC2?D7@C>2E:@?\C9E\AC@8C2>^@G6CG:6HQm#FC2= w62=E9 %C2?D7@C>2E:@? !C@8C2>k^2m[ 2 &$Sd_ 3:==:@? A24<286 5:DEC:3FE65 24C@DD 2== d_ DE2E6D]k^Am
kAm$6G6C2= DE2E6D[ :?4=F5:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]8@G6C?@C]?J]8@G^?6HD^8@G6C?@C\9@49F=\D:8?D\=2?5>2C<\=68:D=2E:@?\DEC6?8E96?\4J36CD64FC:EJ\24C@DD\?6H\J@C<DQm}6H *@C<k^2m 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]8@GE649]4@>^A@=:4J^4@??64E:4FE\=2H>2<6CD\42==\7@C\>@C6\4J36C\AC@E64E:@?DQmr@??64E:4FEk^2m[ 92G6 E2<6? 7FCE96C 24E:@?[ 6?D9C:?:?8 ?6H 3:==D :? a_ad 2?5 a_ae >2?52E:?8 9@DA:E2=D 56G6=@A DA64:7:4 4J36CD64FC:EJ A=2?D E@ AC@E64E A2E:6?ED] p?5 E96 u@@5 2?5 sCF8 p5>:?:DEC2E:@? ?@H k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH];5DFAC2]4@>^=682=?6HD^752\:DDF6D\C6G:D65\4J36CD64FC:EJ\cah_bca^Qm6G2=F2E6D E96 4J36CD64FC:EJ @7 ?6H >65:42= 56G:46Dk^2m AC:@C E@ E96:C 2CC:G2= E@ >2C<6E[ 2?5 42? :DDF6 C642==D @7 E9@D6 7@F?5 E@ 92G6 D:8?:7:42?E GF=?6C23:=:E:6D]k^Am
kAmrJ36CD64FC:EJ C6>2:?D @?6 @7 E96 76H 3:A2CE:D2? :DDF6D @? r2A:E@= w:==] p k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4@?8C6DD]8@G^3:==^``hE9\4@?8C6DD^D6?2E6\3:==^bb`d^E6IEQm962=E9 42C6 4J36CD64FC:EJ 3:==k^2m 4@\DA@?D@C65 3J $6?2E@CD q:== r2DD:5J[ #\{2][ 2?5 |2C< (2C?6C[ s\'2][ :?EC@5F465 :? s646>36C a_ad[ H@F=5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4J36CD4@@A]4@>^D6?2E6\A2DD6D\962=E9\42C6\4J36C\C67@C>D\42DD:5J^QmC6BF:C6 9@DA:E2=D E@ 25@AE D64FC:EJ AC24E:46Dk^2m[ :?4=F5:?8 >F=E:724E@C 2FE96?E:42E:@? 2?5 52E2 6?4CJAE:@?[ 2==@42E6 255:E:@?2= 8C2?ED 7@C 9@DA:E2=D 2?5 4=:?:4D[ 2?5 DEC6?8E96? E96 A:A6=:?6 7@C 4J36CD64FC:EJ AC@76DD:@?2=D H@C<:?8 :? E96 962=E9 42C6 D64E@C[ 2>@?8 @E96C AC@G:D:@?D]k^Am
kAmw@H6G6C[ E9:D AC@3=6> :D?’E 8@:?8 2H2J] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^:97\7:9]@C8^?6HD\:?D:89ED^2CE:7:4:2=\:?E6==:86?46\2?5\4J36CD64FC:EJ\:?\962=E942C6^QmpCE:7:4:2= :?E6==:86?46k^2m 2?5 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`__f^D`_gff\_ab\_`_`b\dQm6IA2?D:@? @7 C6>@E6 2?5 G:CEF2= 42C6k^2m >62? E92E >2=:4:@FD 924<6CD 92G6 D@A9:DE:42E65 ?6H E@@=D 2?5 :?4C62D65 @AA@CEF?:E:6D E@ E2C86E 9@DA:E2=D] #6D62C496CD =:<6 FD H:== 92G6 E@ 7:?5 ?6H H2JD E@ AC6G6?E 4J36C2EE24<D H96? A@DD:3=6 2?5 AC@E64E A2E:6?ED H96? E96J :?6G:E23=J 6CFAE]k^Am
kAmk6>m%9:D 2CE:4=6 :D C6AF3=:D965 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^FDnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<\_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afgfhdQm%96 r@?G6CD2E:@?k^2m[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E[ :?56A6?56?E ?6HD @C82?:K2E:@? 3C:?8:?8 J@F 724ED 2?5 ECFDEH@CE9J 2?2=JD:D E@ 96=A J@F >2<6 D6?D6 @7 @FC 4@>A=6I H@C=5] xE H2D HC:EE6? 3Ji k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^AC@7:=6D^;677C6J\EF==J\aeafbfenFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afgfhdQmy677C6J %F==Jk^2m[ k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^:?DE:EFE:@?D^F?:G6CD:EJ\@7\42=:7@C?:2\D2?\5:68@\`b`cnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afgfhdQm&?:G6CD:EJ @7 r2=:7@C?:2[ $2? s:68@k^2mk^6>m 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^AC@7:=6D^49C:DE:2?\52>677\aeafbfhnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afgfhdQmr9C:DE:2? s2>677k^2m[ k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^:?DE:EFE:@?D^F?:G6CD:EJ\@7\42=:7@C?:2\D2?\5:68@\`b`cnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afgfhdQm&?:G6CD:EJ @7 r2=:7@C?:2[ $2? s:68@k^2mk^6>mk^6>mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m#625 >@C6ik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^5676?5:?8\9@DA:E2=D\282:?DE\=:76\E9C62E6?:?8\4J36C2EE24<D\hb_danFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afgfhdQms676?5:?8 9@DA:E2=D 282:?DE =:76‑E9C62E6?:?8 4J36C2EE24<Dk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^4@>:4\3@@<\:?EC@5F46D\<:5D\E@\<6J\4@?46AED\2?5\42C66CD\:?\4J36CD64FC:EJ\`f``ebnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<`U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afgfhdQmr@>:4 3@@< :?EC@5F46D <:5D E@ <6J 4@?46AED 2?5 42C66CD :? 4J36CD64FC:EJk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^D6==:?8\762C\>2C<6E:?8\7@C\4J36CD64FC:EJ\AC@5F4ED\@7E6?\=62G6D\4@?DF>6CD\=6DD\D64FC6\acdbd`nFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<aU2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afgfhdQm$6==:?8 762Ci |2C<6E:?8 7@C 4J36CD64FC:EJ AC@5F4ED @7E6? =62G6D 4@?DF>6CD =6DD D64FC6k^2mk^=:mk^F=m
kA 4=2DDlQ7:?6\AC:?EQmk6>mkDA2?my677C6J %F==J :D E96 4@\7@F?56C @7 x?@4F=F> {23D] w6 C646:G6D 7F?5:?8 7C@> E96 p5G2?465 #6D62C49 !C@;64ED p86?4J 7@C w62=E9] w6 :D 277:=:2E65 H:E9 E96 w62=E942C6 2?5 !F3=:4 w62=E9 $64E@C r@@C5:?2E:?8 r@F?4:= rJ36CD64FC:EJ (@C<:?8 vC@FA]k^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQ7:?6\AC:?EQmk6>mkDA2?mr9C:DE:2? s2>677 4@\7@F?565 :?@4F=F> =23D] w6 C646:G6D 7F?5:?8 7C@> p#!p\w]k^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am
kAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^4@F?E6C]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^4@?E6?E^afgfhd^4@F?E]8:7n5:DEC:3FE@Cl=66Q DEJ=6lQ96:89Ei`AIjH:5E9i`AIjQ 2=ElQQ ^mk^Am
