During a press day on the set of The Pitt, star Noah Wyle discusses returning to medical dramas and being the older guy on set now.
Press were invited to the set of The Pitt to speak with the cast about their new, and very successful, medical drama series that is now streaming on Max. The series stars Noah Wyle, who is well known for his portrayal of John Carter on ER, talks about his return to medical dramas, even joking that the back of his neck has a notch from wearing stethoscopes so much.
Wyle also explains how strange, but exciting, it is to no longer be the young guy on set. He is able to now be the one offering advice to the younger actors, rather than the one asking for it. He is also a writer on The Pitt, which he confesses is “extremely gratifying.”
Noah Wyle Says Entering The Writers Room Is “One Of The Most Gratifying Things I’ve Been Involved With”
What has it been like stepping into the writers room on this series?
Noah Wyle: Extremely gratifying. I mean, one of the most gratifying things I’ve been involved with in my whole career was getting to be in the writing room with Scott and these incredible writers and learn, you know, at this caliber how the sausage gets made and how thoughtfully these things are put together.
Noah Wyle Appreciates Being Able To Return To Medical Dramas: “It’s So Rare”
What was it like coming back to medical dramas? Is there any muscle memory there?
Noah Wyle: Oh it was so crazy putting this [stethoscope] on the first time. It’s just like, I have a groove in the back of my neck that it just clicks into place. It’s uncanny. It would be rare for another actor or artist to have an opportunity to revisit something that was such a huge part of their early career and that was so ingrained in their tissues and then get to play that instrument again with a little wisdom and maturity and hear the tone and how it’s changed over the years. It’s been really rewarding.
Noah Wyle On Being A Leader Instead Of The Young Guy
On ER, you were the young guy on set and now you are more of a leader. What has that exerience been like for you?
Noah Wyle: We showed up two weeks early to start medical boot camp on Stage 16, I think it was, which looks out across at Stage 11 where we’d spent 15 years of our life, and that 200 feet felt like 200 years. It felt like 20 pounds. It felt like a thousand miles. It’s really heady. It’s really been rewarding to come back and get to play in this arena again. But one of the most gratifying aspects has been working with this ensemble behind me and watching them go through this for the first time and to not be going through it for the first time again, but to be able to be available to them as a resource if they want. But to also enjoy watching them on their roads and be sort of a Trojan horse that is allowing everybody to meet this invading army of talent behind me.
The first season of The Pitt is currently streaming on Max, with new episodes being released weekly.
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About The Pitt
A realistic examination of the challenges facing healthcare workers in America as seen through the lens of the frontline heroes working in a modern-day hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.