In the medical world, a Code Black means there are more patients than there are doctors or nurses to care for them. This scenario happens maybe a few times a year for most hospitals, but however at Angels Memorial Hospital in Los Angeles, they are in a Code Black 300 times per year.
The hospital serves as the backdrop for the new medical drama “Code Black,” airing on CBS Wednesdays. The series is an adrenaline-fueled, emotional roller coaster that follows a group of residents led by cutthroat residency director Dr. Leanne Rorish, played by Marcia Gay Harden.
“It’s life and death. I think all of us end up in a hospital at some point or have a relative who is at the hospital at some point, so it’s universal. It’s instantly relatable,” Harden says of the appeal of the series. “The amount of things that I didn’t realize about hospitals, emergency rooms, county hospitals, politics, patients — the list goes on and on and it is a great awakening every day.”
Dr. Leanne Rorish is the “daddy” of the team, relentless and quick to dismiss anyone she doesn’t think can handle the pressure. She’s also suffered enormous personal loss. The team’s “mama” is senior nurse Jesse Sallander (played by Luis Guzmán), who is Leanne’s closest confidant.
“Leanne is in control. She’s not an emotional mess,” Harden says. “There’s just something buried deeply underneath. She’s a person who hides her pain and doesn’t want to bring it into the workplace, but it’s there and it’s maybe made her a little bit reckless, taking chances, but that lightning speed that she uses has actually made her a better doctor.”
Harden spends much of her time at center stage, in the trauma area reserved for the most critical cases, which is exquisitely orchestrated chaos involving a packed set of actors and actual medical staff.
“It’s peopled with hundreds of extras, many, many med techs, our rather large cast, a large crew, and a really small space. … Real medical people (RMPs) are of absolute necessity and sustenance for us. There’s no way we could do a shot without them.” Harden says it’s a constant learning experience. “The doctors almost having to MacGyver it to care for the patients. Death is commonplace. Life is a celebration.”
