The Pitt - Appointment Television
Monthly Media Obsession
I spent four or so weeks of my hospital stay watching the entirety of the television show, Scrubs, on a laptop (yes, even the odd sequel seasons too). Every staff member, nurse, doctor, or otherwise that came across me would stop and look over my shoulder for a time. Then they’d comment, without fail, “You know, Scrubs really is the most accurate medical show.”
This was 2013 and shows like House, Grey’s Anatomy, and Nurse Jackie had already grown to acclamations far beyond the often overlooked genre of comedy that Scrubs was pigeon holed into. When I would ask the hospital staff, “why Scrubs?” they had the same response every time, “We have so much more fun than the dramas portrait, if we didn't, we’d all go crazy.”
This was 2013, and long before the show The Pitt would air last year.
I am not the largest consumer of television, less than an hour a day is my average; I’m also the kind to wait for entire seasons to be available, but The Pitt has broken all of my norms, including rewatching the first season. I hear the voice in my head: really, writing about Television? And the response: Yeah, it’s The Pitt! This past month’s media obsession has been this show, full stop.
A Short Interview with an ICU Nurse
I’m going to let the short verbatim conversation I had with an Inner Magic subscriber, who has always made me laugh and who now works in the ICU that once saved my life, describe the show further:
● …I’ve been watching The Pitt and curious if you had too…
○ …The Pitt is appointment television for me. What do you think about it?
● I love the drama … What is appointment television though?
○ Appointment television, meaning we don’t miss it, and tune in the evening it airs… I love it, It’s very accurate and the real life situations are very dramatic
● I going to write about it on SubStack… what else would you say about it?
○ … Something something the nexus of critical moments of American life revolving around hospital stays as we keep pushing off single payer health care … Blah Blah Blah Pitt came along at the right cultural moment. You know. [because you lived it yourself]
A Place for the Emotional Body to let go
My wonderful therapist of several years once told me, after I had recounted an experience in a hospital prayer room, “the hospital sounds like it is church for you.” I raised an eyebrow, and then she clarified, “You describe many experiences in hospitals as if there is magic there, as if angels inhabit it, as if it is a temple, a church.”
She was right, I just hadn’t seen it so clearly. This revelation may one day be it’s own post, but for now, I bring it up because when I watch The Pitt, I feel a similar feeling. It comes, in this case, because I trust the writers, actors, and production crew enough to open my heart for every character on screen. Open my heart for the medical staff, whose daily life is so vastly different than my own; for the patients on screen, who provide me both moments of PTSD and nostalgia, and for the families of them, who help teach me what my family went through, while I laid unconscious in my stroke.
I can let my emotional body experience all of the drama in The Pitt, because I trust my heart is in good hands.
A note to the queasy or the doubtful
The Queasy: I understand turning away from shows like Game of Thrones or other gore-porn filled entertainment. So much of the violence doesn’t serve a plot, and tends to glorify it. I also understand turning away from medical procedures on shows like these, but what is great about The Pitt, is there is always a warning for gross. You will get the same notice the script provides the doctors, and looking away won’t ruin the scenes; the plot moves forward with the over communication required in a training hospital; all of which can be heard, rather than seen.
The Doubtful: This isn’t just a drama; it is at times a comedy, a social commentary, and a series of overlapping character studies; it is a safe container to process the challenges of a mortal container; and a wonderful way to be educated on the miracles of allopathic medicine. It is winning awards, not out of hype, but out of a respect for showing us all what, and who, it takes to save our lives.
A Thank You, for the character Dana
My parents have told me, since my first lucid moments in the hospital, that the charge nurses, Donna and Tina, responsible for the ICU during my most touch and go moments, are the reason I’m here; are the reason you are able to read my writing. The character Dana, played by Katherine LaNasa, feels like an embodiment of the angels who helped save my life. A similar no BS attitude, a similar private but open expression of faith, and a similar dedication to the patients, their families, and the staff that show up to do it everyday.
I applaud The Pitt for acknowledging all nurses; especially the less understood, but most important role of the Charge Nurse.
Odd After Note: after I finished editing this post, I’ve begun to see trailers for yet another…
Season of Scrubs
This Side Quest is far from regular content on Inner Magic content, however if you enjoyed this writing, you may enjoy the other Full Posts, Parables, and Poems found here. Consider subscribing to support an intentional author and receive weekly writings like this one.
I am also not a huge fan of television but as usual you include much depth and authenticity in your writing. Nice job!