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2 • November 22 - 28, 2015 • Brainerd Dispatch By Jacqui Wiens TV Media W hen it comes to medical dra- mas, for better or for worse, new shows tend to be compared to the iconic "ER," which ran for 15 seasons on NBC. That classic program succeeded in exquisitely balancing the hectic professional lives of ER staff with their personal drama, and set a benchmark that its successors have been hard- pressed to match. "Grey's Anatomy," which premiered a few years before the finale of "ER," has arguably been the most successful medi- cal drama since. Over the past several years, new medical dramas have come and gone, often fold- ing within one or two seasons. Fox's "Red Band Society," ABC's "Black Box," and USA's "Rush" are a few good examples. Lately, NBC is trying to reassert its domi- nance in the medical drama department with two new series — "Chicago Med" and "Heartbreaker" — but CBS is throwing its hat in the ring, too. Stepping into the operating room with a brand-new, adrenaline-filled show, the eye network premiered "Code Black" in September. A new episode airs Wednesday, Nov. 25, on CBS. "Code Black" is a medical term that can have different meanings depending on the hospital you're in. In this case, it refers to a situa- tion in which there are too many patients for the staff to assess and treat each one properly. While an average hospital might encounter a few "code black" situations a year, Los Angeles's fictional Angels Memorial Hospital is so under- staffed and overworked that a code black is an almost daily oc- currence. Despite the unrealistic nature of having such a consistently busy emergency room, "Code Black" attempts to stay as authentic as possible. Cast members prepared extensively for the show by learn- ing medical terms, following real medical professionals at work and learning to perform a handful of real medical proce- dures. Addi- tionally, there are advisers on hand to provide feedback and ad- vice during production, and some of the background actors are actually trained nurses. But, of course, "Code Black" is still a drama, and you can only be so realistic before you lose the audience's interest. Like other fictional medical shows, risky procedures will work more often than they should, treatments will take effect faster than they would in re- ality, and staff will still find moments for intense conversation, even in the worst rushes. It may play into some of the clichés of modern television, but you won't find any- one using a defibril- lator to try to start a heart that's stopped beating in this series. Headlining the cast is Marcia Gay Harden ("The Mist," 2007) as residency director Dr. Leanne Ror- ish. Her approach to medicine is a bit more rash than some of her colleagues, and certainly Dr. Neal Hudson (Raza Jaffrey, "MI-5") would prefer it if she toned it down. Dr. Hudson was once men- tored by Dr. Rorish, but now be- lieves she's far too reckless for both her own good and the good of the hospital. Despite their dis- agreements, Dr. Rorish proves time and again that she is both experi- enced and skilled enough to pull off the unorthodox or high-risk procedures she favors. Dr. Rorish has been nicknamed "Daddy" by the other staff, with senior nurse Jesse Sallander (Luis Guzmán, "Traffic," 2000) earning the nickname "Mama." Sallander manages the residents, skirting a fine line between being tough enough to keep the young doctors in line and being likeable enough to build relationships with them. Rounding out the senior staff members is Dr. Rollie Guthrie (Wil- liam Allen Young, "Moesha"), an upbeat attending physician who has been at the hospital longer than any other doctor and who is always available to help the resi- dents talk through a tough shift. Angels Memorial has four new resident doctors who are learning the ropes in the incredibly high- stress environment. Christa Loren- son (Bonnie Sommerville, "The Ugly Truth," 2009) went to medi- cal school following her son's can- cer diagnosis and subsequent death. Her personal experience with the pain her patients and their families are experiencing al- lows her to connect with them on an emotional level. Malaya Pineda (Melanie Chandra, "Love, Lies and Seeta," 2012) is driv- en by evidence. Her instinct is to test and test until she figures out what's wrong, but in the fast-paced environ- ment of Angels Memorial, there isn't always time to do things by the book. Mario Savetti (Benjamin Hollings- worth, "The Joneses," 2009) has spent his life so far relying on nobody but himself, beating drug addiction and working multiple jobs to pay his way through medical school. While self-sufficiency has served him well, Mario needs to work on interperson- al skills and learn to let others assist him. Up to 'Code' CBS delves into the world of medical dramas with 'Code Black' Cover Story this week Luis Guzmán and Marcia Gay Harden in a scene from "Code Black" Like us on Facebook to receive info and specials at Baxter Country Kitchen www.BAXTERcountrykitchen.com 7788 Fairview Rd, Baxter 218-829-1739 Guest Check on guest checks totaling $18.00 or more (Before Tax) Coupon Exp. 12-06-15 Not valid with any other offers or discounts. One coupon per table, per person, per visit. No cash value. Customer pays all applicable sales tax. Valid at Baxter location only. Off $ 3.00 One coupon per table, per person, per visit. One coupon per table, per person, per visit. $ 1.00 CAFÈ STYLE BEVERAGES REAL EXPRESSO ICED COFFEE & ICED LATTES Not valid with any other offers or discounts. One coupon per table, per person, per visit. No cash value. 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