Joe Sachs

I'm Joe Sachs. I am an executive producer, writer, and also a real-world emergency physician. I came in halfway through the first season of ER and stayed for 14 and a half years.

I'm Joe Sachs. I am an executive producer, writer, and also a real-world emergency physician. I came in halfway through the first season of ER and stayed for 14 and a half years.

I'm Joe Sachs. I am an executive producer, writer, and also a real-world emergency physician. I came in halfway through the first season of ER and stayed for 14 and a half years.

Yeah, you know, back in the day, there was no streaming. There was no YouTube. Basically, there were four television networks. There was NBC, CBS, ABC, and Fox. So after I came on the show, there was a milestone.

Yeah, you know, back in the day, there was no streaming. There was no YouTube. Basically, there were four television networks. There was NBC, CBS, ABC, and Fox. So after I came on the show, there was a milestone.

Yeah, you know, back in the day, there was no streaming. There was no YouTube. Basically, there were four television networks. There was NBC, CBS, ABC, and Fox. So after I came on the show, there was a milestone.

the show got a 50 share. That means that 50% of all televisions in America that were on were watching ER. So, you know, right now a big hit show that's two or 3% of the American public is watching you. And it was really the classic water cooler show.

the show got a 50 share. That means that 50% of all televisions in America that were on were watching ER. So, you know, right now a big hit show that's two or 3% of the American public is watching you. And it was really the classic water cooler show.

the show got a 50 share. That means that 50% of all televisions in America that were on were watching ER. So, you know, right now a big hit show that's two or 3% of the American public is watching you. And it was really the classic water cooler show.

And what's fascinating about the pit is that I've heard so many stories and so many online postings from people who say that on Friday morning, everybody's talking about the pit in the office.

And what's fascinating about the pit is that I've heard so many stories and so many online postings from people who say that on Friday morning, everybody's talking about the pit in the office.

And what's fascinating about the pit is that I've heard so many stories and so many online postings from people who say that on Friday morning, everybody's talking about the pit in the office.

Well, after ER, I didn't have a strong desire to work on a medical show. And in fact, I worked for 10 years on a crime show. When John Wells, Noah Wiley, and Scott Gemmel first called me in to pitch the show, they said, well, what's changed? What's different? And my answer was everything. And I said... After COVID, you wouldn't recognize the place. There's this thing called the boarding crisis.

Well, after ER, I didn't have a strong desire to work on a medical show. And in fact, I worked for 10 years on a crime show. When John Wells, Noah Wiley, and Scott Gemmel first called me in to pitch the show, they said, well, what's changed? What's different? And my answer was everything. And I said... After COVID, you wouldn't recognize the place. There's this thing called the boarding crisis.

Well, after ER, I didn't have a strong desire to work on a medical show. And in fact, I worked for 10 years on a crime show. When John Wells, Noah Wiley, and Scott Gemmel first called me in to pitch the show, they said, well, what's changed? What's different? And my answer was everything. And I said... After COVID, you wouldn't recognize the place. There's this thing called the boarding crisis.

Most of the beds and all the hallway spaces are taken up by patients who can't go upstairs to be admitted because they don't have the nursing staff. They don't have the beds. The waiting room is filled to the brim, and you have to try to practice medicine from the waiting room. So people are angry. People are frustrated. Waits are long.

Most of the beds and all the hallway spaces are taken up by patients who can't go upstairs to be admitted because they don't have the nursing staff. They don't have the beds. The waiting room is filled to the brim, and you have to try to practice medicine from the waiting room. So people are angry. People are frustrated. Waits are long.

Most of the beds and all the hallway spaces are taken up by patients who can't go upstairs to be admitted because they don't have the nursing staff. They don't have the beds. The waiting room is filled to the brim, and you have to try to practice medicine from the waiting room. So people are angry. People are frustrated. Waits are long.

And these doctors and nurses who are trying to deliver quality, compassionate care, have the deck is just stacked against them so i said to them you want to make it real this is how it's real and they embrace that that um number one there's a crisis in emergency medicine and we're going to show that warts and all and um and number two post-covid there's tremendous

And these doctors and nurses who are trying to deliver quality, compassionate care, have the deck is just stacked against them so i said to them you want to make it real this is how it's real and they embrace that that um number one there's a crisis in emergency medicine and we're going to show that warts and all and um and number two post-covid there's tremendous