Cast of "New Amsterdam" Discuss the Pandemic at PaleyFest NY

NBC medical drama “New Amsterdam” did not shy away from current events last season. The COVID-19 pandemic heavily influenced season three, as the staff at one of the country’s oldest public hospitals faced a massive influx of patients, supply shortages, and other pandemic-related hardships. When the show returned for its third season in March, it started with a five-minute tribute to frontline workers set to the Louis Armstrong song “What a Wonderful World” performed by Jon Batiste.

Castmembers Ryan Eggold (Dr. Max Goodwin), Janet Montgomery (Dr. Lauren Bloom), Freema Agyeman (Dr. Helen Sharpe), and Jocko Sims (Dr. Floyd Reynolds) joined David Schulner (creator, executive producer, and showrunner) and Peter Horton (executive producer) in a virtual panel conversation at PaleyFest NY to talk about how the pandemic has impacted the show, which is currently airing its fourth season Tuesday nights on NBC. “New Amsterdam” has been filmed at our Brooklyn-based facilities for all of its four seasons.

Also joining the panel were public health experts Christopher Bailey and Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Horton said the decision to begin season three with a tribute to frontline workers was inspired by the real nurses and doctors employed on the show as extras and supporting cast members. The writers wanted to honor them with a truthful portrayal of what they went through during the pandemic.

Bailey said that he was so moved by the montage that he posted it to the intranet at WHO so it would be seen by employees around the world. “The response was just amazing. People began commenting on the cathartic feeling it gave them, just this notion that somebody listened, somebody understood and was giving voice to what they were feeling... It was pretty remarkable.”

Watch the full panel interview