How a fictional hospital drama became a real-world revenue stream for New York City
In short: New Amsterdam, the NBC medical drama inspired by the memoirs of a former Bellevue Hospital director, did more than just entertain. By filming on-site at real public hospitals, the production generated significant revenue for the city’s health system, even donating its own personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Created by David Schulner and based on Eric Manheimer’s book Twelve Patients: Life and Death at Bellevue Hospital, New Amsterdam debuted on NBC in September 2018. The series followed Dr. Max Goodwin, played by Ryan Eggold, as he attempted to overhaul the bureaucracy of a fictional facility modeled after the real Bellevue Hospital. Bellevue, which opened in 1736, holds the distinction of being the oldest public hospital in the United States, providing a historic backdrop for the show's narrative.
The production’s relationship with New York City’s infrastructure was uniquely tangible. Universal Television paid NYC Health + Hospitals, the corporation overseeing the city's public medical facilities, US$665,000 for the right to film in various locations, including Woodhull and Kings County hospitals. Officials noted that utilizing unoccupied, unstaffed areas of these hospitals provided a welcome revenue source for the health system. This collaboration extended beyond finance; when production halted in March 2020 due to the pandemic, the show donated its stock of personal protective equipment to the New York State Department of Health.
The series faced significant real-world challenges, most notably when NBC shelved a second-season episode titled "Pandemic" because its depiction of a flu outbreak felt too sensitive during the actual COVID-19 crisis. Despite mixed critical reception—with some reviewers praising the cast while others criticized the show's predictable, manipulative tone—the series ran for 89 episodes over five seasons. Its legacy continues to evolve, with reports in 2024 suggesting NBC is exploring a spin-off titled New Amsterdam: Tomorrow, focusing on the daughter of the show's protagonist.
The show's reach also extended internationally, spawning a Turkish adaptation titled Hayat Bugün, which aired in 2022. While the original series concluded in January 2023, its blend of medical drama and institutional reform left a distinct mark on both the television landscape and the public hospitals that served as its set.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: New Amsterdam (2018 TV series)
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/entertainment-new-amsterdam-2018-tv-series.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in TV series · More in Entertainment · Latest · A–Z · All topics
