NBCUniversalNew Amsterdam
NBC
Premieres: Sept. 25
Airs: Tuesdays at 10pm ET/PT
Who’s In It? Ryan Eggold, Freema Agyeman, Janet Montgomery, Jocko Sims, Anupam Kher, Tyler Labine
Discover what makes #NewAmsterdam unique in this first look. 👇 pic.twitter.com/338d7RzCLw
— New Amsterdam (@NBCNewAmsterdam) September 6, 2018
What’s It All About? Though the drama begs a drinking game from the get-go — take a swig every time Dr. Max Goodwin says, “How can I help?” — by the end of the premiere episode, you’ll also be toasting your good fortune at discovering this absorbing, emotionally rich medical drama. And likely sobbing your eyes out, to boot. Taking its inspiration from New York City’s Bellevue, America’s oldest public health institution, the series centers on New Amsterdam hospital — “The Dam” for short — and its new medical director, the aforementioned Dr. Goodwin (The Blacklist’s Eggold, whose puppy-dog eyes scream compassion). Though he’s chock-a-block with troubles of his own, the people-centric Goodwin is determined to return the understaffed, underfunded hospital to glory from the inside out. Bureaucratic bigwigs? Turn in your keys. Gutsy docs with bold, humanitarian ideas? Ask and ye shall receive.
The series is actually inspired by Dr. Eric Manheimer’s memoir of working at Bellevue, which Eggold read and found profoundly moving. “He has such incredible stories about his time at Bellevue. It’s hard to wrap my head around the reality of it,” Eggold tells us. “I think when people overload themselves with work in such a way, they are sort of potentially afraid to face something or be alone with something, so my big question with this character is, ‘What is he running from?’ Because it’s clear what he’s running toward, which is sort of trying to help people, trying to make a difference, trying to be of service, trying to get something done. He’s so invested in looking out at other people that I wonder, ‘Is he sort of afraid to look in?’ I don’t know the answer but I’m excited to find out, explore that.”
With an immensely watchable supporting cast and pulse-pounding medical cases, New Amsterdam brings to mind ER and St. Elsewhere — appointment viewing you’re eager to keep.
