I Hope ‘The Pitt’ Never Ditches Its Funniest Running Gag

Editor’s note: The below contains spoilers for The Pitt.

At first, I was skeptical about watching Max’s new medical drama, The Pitt. Anyone who’s ever been in a hospital emergency room knows that it can be a place filled with suffering. I worried that it would be too heartwrenching to watch all of these life-or-death, high-stakes moments play out at such a fast-paced, intense speed. If you’ve ever had any health problems, even just viewing hospital scenes like this can be a bit traumatizing. However, I decided to still give The Pitt a shot, and I’m so glad I did. Because even though there are plenty of tragic circumstances taking place at the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital (nicknamed The Pitt), there’s also some humor, courtesy of one Dr. Dennis Whitaker (Gerran Howell), who makes the show a must-watch for me every week.

Dr. Whitaker and His Scrubs Offer Much-Needed Comic Relief in ‘The Pitt’

Dr. Whitaker is a fourth-year medical student who starts work at The Pitt in Episode 1. He’s lacking confidence, and even though he’s consistently trying his best, his first shift is a challenging one. He befriends one of his patients, who tragically suffers a cardiac event, and dies. Whitaker tries valiantly to save him, even performing CPR well after it’s clear that the patient won’t survive. This man is the first patient Whitaker has lost, and it hits him hard. But after this event, Whitaker unwittingly becomes the comedic relief for The Pitt. In a series of mishaps, Whitaker’s scrubs get doused in something gross, and he’s forced to get another pair from the vending machine over and over again.

In Episode 3, Whitaker is tasked with getting Mylanta for a patient. However, he hilariously forgets to check that the cap is screwed on the bottle, shakes it, and finds himself covered in white goo. After that, it seems like every time Whitaker is on-screen, he’s having to change his scrubs. In Episode 5 alone, he has to change twice. First, he gets covered in blood after hitting an artery during a wound debridement. He grabs another pair of scrubs, only to discover that the only pair left in his size is the color the morgue workers have to wear. He’s already feeling pretty demoralized when his next patient (a teen who’s suffering complications from a tonsillectomy) spews blood all over him. No matter how hard he tries, it seems like the universe is determined to keep Whitaker humble (and covered in bodily fluids).

This Running Gag on ‘The Pitt’ Provides a Necessary Levity To the Show

The best part about this ongoing joke is that it helps the viewer get to know Whitaker better. Through these moments, I instantly understand that he’s a kindhearted doctor who never complains. Whitaker’s humble background growing up on a farm keeps him grounded, and even though he’s shaken up quite a bit during this shift (even injuring himself while moving a patient), he’s also determined to be there for his patients. Because The Pitt has a pretty large ensemble cast, it’s imperative that we understand who these characters are, even if we don’t get a lot of backstory for them right away. With Whitaker having to continuously change his scrubs, we get a good sense of his character. He’s definitely not vain, and he doesn’t want to step on anyone’s toes while he tries to climb up the ladder. Whitaker also stands out from the other characters because of this bit. I find myself rooting more for him than any other member of The Pitt‘s cast (at least to make it through the rest of the shift without any more catastrophes!).

I hope The Pitt keeps this silly gag going because it also helps showcase that there are always moments of levity in life (even when things are at their worst). Sometimes finding the humor in dire situations can allow people to actually push through. The inclusion of humor also creates an easier viewing experience for people like me, who might need a break from the constant grief and sadness that permeate the ER. A little lightheartedness can go a long way in such an intense environment. Even though Dr. Whitaker is having an extremely tough shift, we all know it’s just a matter of time before he runs out of credits for fresh scrubs. Knowing his luck, he’s going to have to resort to some other funny (and probably undignified) outfit to wear before the shift is over. But at least this humor will help me get through some otherwise pretty hard-to-watch content.

The Pitt is available to stream on Max in the US. New episodes drop every Thursday.