This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The first episode of "Code Black" (Wednesday, 9 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2) feels like a series that's been running for years. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's not a particularly good thing.

This new medical drama really, REALLY wants to be "ER." And there are great similarities — it's set in an overworked emergency room; it features a group of veteran doctors tutoring newcomers; there are nurses who seem to be pretty much in charge; and the personal stories take a back seat to the medical stories.

(That's the way "ER" started out, although it became much more a prime-time soap a few seasons into its 15-year run.)

Among the things "Code Black" has going for it is Marcia Gay Harden, who stars as residency director Leanne Rorish. She's a brilliant doctor who doesn't get along with her colleague, Dr. Neal Hudson (Raza Jaffrey, "Smash"), and is exceptionally hard on the new residents.

"Life is measured here in split seconds," she shouts. "Hesitate and he will die!"

There's very little hesitation in "Code Black." The first hour barrels along, racing from one medical disaster to another.

The title, by the way, refers to what happens when the emergency room is overwhelmed with too many patients, too many medical emergencies and too few staff.

We quickly meet chief nurse Jesse Sallander (Luis Guzman), who tells the residents, "I'm your mama." But he's not exactly a warm, welcoming person.

And, while this is a massive hospital with, we're told, the busiest emergency room in the nation, "Code Black" focuses on four first-year residents (Melanie Chandra, Harry M. Ford, Benjamin Hollingsworth and Bonnie Summerville), all of whom have personal issues that will, no doubt, be mined for stories in subsequent episodes.

"Code Black" might seem more interesting if it felt in any way new. As it is, it feels like it's built from parts of medical dramas from years past.

But if you like medical dramas, this one is nicely executed. If you miss "ER," you'll feel very much at home.