Pilot

St Elsewhere was the best American hospital drama I have seen in recent decades. I was going to say years but I realised the last episode was broadcast over 30 years ago.

The first episode carries an element over from St Elsewhere. Both shows had a major character afflicted with cancer.

Dr Max Goodwin is the new medical director at New Amsterdam Hospital. He wants to shake things up and his first act is to fire all the cardiologists as they are all lazy. Goodwin wants to put patients first.

The rest of the episode is the staff with everyday medical issues. A patient from Liberia who may have Ebola to a teenager with a history of abuse with psychiatric issues. There is even moments of doctors personal lives.

This was a pretty competent and zippy opener. There is nothing new here that was not found in ER or Chicago Hope. Making your lead character superhuman and heroic looks like a misstep. Goodwin goes around asking staff how he can help but he has come to the hospital with no big vision of his own.