The critically acclaimed, Emmy-winning HBO Max medical drama, “The Pitt,” is set to make its linear television debut on TNT next month, beginning Monday, December 1, at 9 p.m. ET. Notably, the entire 15-episode first season will air completely unedited, preserving all the intense and sometimes raw content from its original streaming version. This means that the show’s “graphic medical imagery,” including nudity and the depiction of a birth in Episode 11, will remain intact, a decision hailed by the show’s creators and medical professionals alike.

TNT emphasized that the choice to air “The Pitt” without edits is directly in line with the show’s “core mission to accurately depict the realities of an emergency department.” These scenes, which are integral to the series, portray the raw emotional toll that the medical profession takes on its practitioners. While such imagery is typically edited out from acquired content on linear commercial television, TNT, as a cable network, is not subject to the same content standards enforced by the FCC for over-the-air broadcast TV outlets. To prepare viewers, the network will include advisories at the beginning of each episode and coming out of commercial breaks.

The full first season, produced by John Wells Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, will air three back-to-back episodes weekly on TNT from December 1 to December 29. Channing Dungey, chairman and CEO of the Warner Bros. Television Group and US Networks, announced this linear run earlier in May. The strategic move aims to introduce “The Pitt” to new audiences who may not have seen it on streaming and to serve as a marketing prelude for the much-anticipated January premiere of Season 2 on HBO Max. Executive producer John Wells expressed gratitude for TNT’s decision, stating, “All of us at ‘The Pitt’ are very excited that the TNT audience will have the opportunity to see our Emmy award-winning show beginning on December 1st. We’re also very grateful to TNT for allowing the series to be shown as it was initially shot and aired on HBO Max.”

“The Pitt” features a talented ensemble cast including Noah Wyle, Tracey Ifeachor, Patrick Ball, Katherine LaNasa, Supriya Ganesh, Fiona Dourif, Taylor Dearden, Isa Briones, Gerran Howell, and Shabana Azeez in Season 1. The series centers on Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch, portrayed by Noah Wyle, following his intense 15-hour shifts as the chief attendant in the emergency room at Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center. Created by R. Scott Gemmill, the show boasts an executive producer team that includes Wyle, Wells, Erin Jontow of John Wells Productions, Simran Baidwan, and Michael Hissrich.

The series has garnered significant critical acclaim, reaching 20 million global viewers per episode and making a considerable splash at the Primetime Emmy Awards. It won five Emmys, including outstanding drama series, and earned first-time Emmy wins for Noah Wyle (drama lead actor), Katherine LaNasa (drama supporting actress), and Shawn Hatosy (drama guest actor), along with an award for outstanding drama series casting. Additionally, “The Pitt” received a Humanitas Prize for drama teleplay this year.

Beyond its critical success, “The Pitt” has also demonstrated a tangible impact on real-world medical discourse. A recent study by the USC Norman Lear Center indicated that the show has influenced conversations around critical issues such as organ donation and end-of-life planning. L. Anthony Cirillo, MD, FACEP, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), praised the series, stating, “‘The Pitt’ gives everyone a rare and authentic view of what it’s like to practice emergency medicine. This show offers a unique glimpse of the humanity of emergency care and what it takes to heal people within a broken system.” He added that emergency physicians are proud of the show and grateful for its role in highlighting their challenges and work.

The move to TNT is part of a broader strategy by Warner Bros. Discovery to leverage linear platforms for HBO Max content, following successful runs of shows like “True Detective: North Country,” “Hacks,” and “Peacemaker.” This approach is seen as a “win/win,” driving new viewers to Max for upcoming seasons. The loosening of content restrictions in basic cable, partly due to advertisers becoming more open to TV-MA content to appeal to younger audiences, has facilitated the unedited airing of such shows.

As Season 1 courts new viewers on TNT, “The Pitt” is poised for its highly anticipated second season return on HBO Max in January. Season 2 will continue the procedural format, following another intense shift during a busy Fourth of July weekend, introducing both familiar and new faces to the evolving ER environment. New cast member Sepideh Moafi joins Noah Wyle, Patrick Ball, Katherine LaNasa, Supriya Ganesh, Fiona Dourif, Taylor Dearden, Isa Briones, Gerran Howell, and Shabana Azeez.