If you’ve seen ER and The Pitt, you probably know that they have two things in common: they’re terrific shows… and they’re about doctors. Beyond that, they’re clearly different in their characters, their plots, their style and, above all, their tone. However, in the United States that seemed to be enough to spark a lawsuit that could end in some pretty absurd financial consequences for the HBO Max series.
An expedited trial
Michael Crichton’s widow, the showrunner of ER, filed the lawsuit in August 2024, months before The Pitt had even premiered, and it’s now, two seasons later, that it is reaching a conclusion: “There are clear and numerous similarities between The Pitt and ER, such as the setting of an emergency room, the fast pace, the medical chatter, the graphic depictions of injuries and a young, incompetent doctor fresh out of medical school”.
And that’s it. Enough, apparently, to have a prima facie case, and now the final outcome will depend on a trial to determine whether The Pitt really is a derivative work of ER or not. Sarah Crichton, the widow, though, is very grateful: “I look forward to seeing our case, which affects writers, creators and their families, presented to a jury”.
Meanwhile, the team behind The Pitt is preparing to launch its season 3 amid all kinds of awards, several Emmy wins and a streak that seems set to continue for a long time. So, all signs point to them brushing off the lawsuit and making it go nowhere.
