Did you know that Los Angeles County hospital had a renowned ER trauma center, known as C booth, which took care of LA County’s most critical patients? Or did you know that the USC Medical School was the first medical school in the country to establish a department of emergency medicine? I sure didn’t!
These are just some of the things you learn at a TV show screenings on-campus. Several weeks ago, I went to an early preview of Code Black, a CBS medical procedural drama based on the LA County (LAC+USC) hospital that premiered the last week of September. The show stars Marcia Gay Harden, and is filmed at the LA County hospital as well.
Although C booth is no longer functional and was replaced by a more modern building, the TV show brings it to life and pulls you into the gritty action of the ER room. The screenwriter and producer who came to talk about the show explained their efforts to make the medical drama authentic. Afterwards I heard a registered nurse tell them that it was one of the most accurate medical shows she had seen so far.
One of the best parts of seeing TV or film screenings on campus are the stories you hear about all the little details that shaped how the show was made behind-the-scenes. One story that stuck with me was that during the filming, the filmmaker learned that the ER surgeon always had one person he would talk to after every surgery, the janitor. The janitor cleaned up the operating room, and played a critical role in preventing infections from one patient to another. The emphasis on the mess on the floor in the pilot episode highlights the importance of this seemingly mundane task.
The show so far looks great, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it develops. It airs Wednesdays on CBS at 10pm PT so be sure to check it out!
Published on October 15th, 2015
Last updated on August 29th, 2017