Brilliant Minds is an American medical drama television series created and written by Michael Grassi for NBC that is inspired by the Oliver Sacks books The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and An Anthropologist on Mars.[1] It premiered on September 23, 2024.

Brilliant Minds
GenreMedical drama
Created byMichael Grassi
Starring
ComposerJoseph Trapanese
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes8
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Zachary Quinto
  • Carl Ogawa
  • Mohan Mandali
  • Michael Wray
CinematographyPierre Gill
Editors
  • Nicholas Wong
  • Gaston Jaren Lopez
  • Finnian Murray
Running time43 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseSeptember 23, 2024 (2024-09-23) –
present (present)

Cast

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Main

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  • Zachary Quinto as Oliver Wolf, an attending neurologist at Bronx General Hospital
  • Tamberla Perry as Carol Pierce, the chair of psychiatry
  • Ashleigh LaThrop as Ericka Kinney, a first-year resident
  • Alex MacNicoll as Van Markus, a first-year resident
  • Aury Krebs as Dana Dang, a first-year resident
  • Spence Moore II as Jacob Nash, a first-year resident
  • Teddy Sears as Josh Nichols, the chair of neurosurgery at Bronx General Hospital

Recurring

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Guest

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Episodes

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No.Title [3]Directed byWritten by [4]Original air date [3]Prod.
code
U.S. viewers
(millions)
1"Pilot"Lee Toland KriegerMichael Grassi & Alex BergerSeptember 23, 2024 (2024-09-23)T15.101683.92[5]
2"The Disembodied Woman"Lee Toland KriegerMichael GrassiSeptember 30, 2024 (2024-09-30)T13.251023.46[6]
3"The Lost Biker"DeMane DavisSara Saedi & Ryan KnightonOctober 7, 2024 (2024-10-07)T13.251033.30[7]
4"The Blackout Bride"Deborah KampmeierDavia Carter & Daniela LamasOctober 14, 2024 (2024-10-14)T13.251043.09[8]
5"The Haunted Marine"Charles Randolph-WrightAisha Bhoori & Will EwingOctober 21, 2024 (2024-10-21)T13.251053.12[9]
6"The Girl Who Cried Pregnant"Jordan CanningStasia Demick & William YuOctober 28, 2024 (2024-10-28)T13.251062.63[10]
7"The Man From Grozny"David KatzenbergMichael Grassi & Shannon LooneyNovember 11, 2024 (2024-11-11)T13.251072.63[11]
8"The Lovesick Widow"James DeWilleSara SaediNovember 18, 2024 (2024-11-18)TBATBD
9"The Colorblind Painter"TBADavia Carter & Ryan KnightonNovember 25, 2024 (2024-11-25)TBATBD
10"The First Responder"TBAStasia Demick & William YuDecember 2, 2024 (2024-12-02)TBATBD

Production

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Development

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In November 2019, it was announced that the series was in development at Fox, with the network landing the project with a script deal plus penalty.[12] However, Fox did not go forward with the project. On January 24, 2023, the show's development was moved to NBC;[13] it was given a series order on October 20, 2023. The series is created by Michael Grassi, and he is also expected to executive produce alongside Lee Toland Krieger, Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Leigh London Redman, Henrik Bastin, Melissa Aouate, Andy Serkis, Jonathan Cavendish, Will Tennant, and DeMane Davis.[14] Production companies involved with the series are Grassi Productions, Berlanti Productions, Fabel Entertainment, The Imaginarium, Universal Television, and Warner Bros. Television.[15]

Brilliant Minds was moved to the 2024–25 season due to strike-related production delays.[16] On May 1, 2024, the name change from Dr. Wolf to Brilliant Minds was announced.[17] The show was given a 13 episode, season 1 order.[18]

Casting

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On February 23, 2023, Zachary Quinto was cast to star.[19] In April 2023, Teddy Sears, Tamberla Perry, Alex MacNicoll, Spence Moore II, Aury Krebs, and Ashleigh LaThrop joined the main cast.[20][21] On November 28, 2023, Donna Murphy was cast in a recurring capacity.[22]

Filming

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Principal photography for the series began on April 8, 2024, and concluded on August 23, 2024, in Toronto, Canada.[23]

Broadcast

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Brilliant Minds premiered on September 23, 2024, on NBC.[24]

Reception

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Critical response

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The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 92% approval rating with an average rating of 6.9/10, based on 13 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Benefitting from a characteristically sharp performance by Zachary Quinto, Brilliant Minds is a medical procedural with brains but also a surprising amount of heart."[25] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 64 out of 100 based on 10 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[26]

Ratings

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Viewership and ratings per episode of Brilliant Minds
No. Title Air date Rating/share
(18–49)
Viewers
(millions)
DVR
(18–49)
DVR viewers
(millions)
Total
(18–49)
Total viewers
(millions)
1 "Pilot" September 23, 2024 0.3/3 3.92[5]
2 "The Disembodied Woman" September 30, 2024 0.3/3 3.46[6]
3 "The Lost Biker" October 7, 2024 0.3/3 3.30[7]
4 "The Blackout Bride" October 14, 2024 0.2/2 3.09[8] 0.2 1.99 0.4 5.08[8]
5 "The Haunted Marine" October 21, 2024 0.3/3 3.12[9] 0.2 2.02 0.5 5.15[9]
6 "The Girl Who Cried Pregnant" October 28, 2024 0.2/2 2.64[10] 0.1 1.88 0.4 4.52[10]
7 "The Man From Grozny" November 11, 2024 0.2/2 2.63[11] TBD TBD TBD TBD

References

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  1. ^ "Brilliant Minds: A New TV Show Based on Oliver Sacks". Oliver Sacks | Official Website of Author, Neurologist & Foundation. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
  2. ^ Cobb, Kayla (14 July 2024). "Zachary Quinto's 'Brilliant Minds' Taps Mandy Patinkin in Recurring Role Steve Howey and André De Shields will also guest star on the NBC medical drama". The Wrap. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Shows A-Z – brilliant minds on nbc". The Futon Critic. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  4. ^ "Brilliant Minds". Writers Guild of America West. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Pucci, Douglas (September 24, 2024). "Monday Ratings: Brilliant Minds Debut on NBC Earns Decent Total Viewership". Programming Insider. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Pucci, Douglas (October 1, 2024). "Monday Ratings: Brilliant Minds on NBC Relatively Steady in Week Two from Debut". Programming Insider. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Pucci, Douglas (October 9, 2024). "Monday Ratings: 60 Minutes Election Special on CBS Tops Non-Sports Telecasts in Prime Time Among Total Viewers". Programming Insider. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  8. ^ a b c Pucci, Douglas (October 16, 2024). "Monday Ratings: NCIS: Origins Gets Modest Launch on CBS Opposite NFL on ABC". Programming Insider. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
  9. ^ a b c Pucci, Douglas (October 22, 2024). "Monday Ratings: Wayans Sitcom Poppa's House Off to Good Start for CBS, Well Compatible with Lead-In The Neighborhood". Programming Insider. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  10. ^ a b c Pucci, Douglas (October 29, 2024). "Monday Ratings: MLB World Series Game 3 and NFL Monday Night Football Nearly Even in Total Viewers". Programming Insider. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Pucci, Douglas (November 12, 2024). "Monday Ratings: The Voice Powers NBC to Top Broadcast Networks in Prime Time". Programming Insider. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  12. ^ Andreeva, Nellie; Petski, Denise (November 22, 2019). "Fox Nabs Oliver Sacks Medical Drama From Alex Berger, Lee Toland Krieger, Fabrik & Imaginarium As Put Pilot". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 7, 2023. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  13. ^ Campione, Katie (November 7, 2023). "'Wolf' Medical Drama Inspired By Oliver Sacks From Michael Grassi, Lee Toland Krieger & Greg Berlanti Lands NBC Pilot Order". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 3, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  14. ^ Mitovich, Matt (October 20, 2023). "Zachary Quinto's Dr. Wolf Ordered to Series at NBC". TVLine. Archived from the original on January 5, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  15. ^ Rice, Lynette (October 20, 2023). "Zachary Quinto-Led Medical Drama 'Dr. Wolf' Lands Series Order At NBC". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 6, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  16. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (November 8, 2023). "Most New Broadcast Scripted Series Moving To 2024–25 Season Due To Strike-Related Production Delays". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 9, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  17. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 1, 2024). "Upfronts 2024: Pilot Buzz & Other Development Updates In Another Atypical Broadcast Cycle". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 3, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  18. ^ Foutch, Haleigh (30 September 2024). "'Brilliant Minds' Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Air? Zachary Quinto stars as a neurologist in the NBC series inspired by the life of Oliver Sacks". The Wrap. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  19. ^ Otterson, Joe (February 28, 2023). "Zachary Quinto to Lead NBC Medical Drama Pilot 'Wolf' From Producers Greg Berlanti, Andy Serkis". Variety. Archived from the original on August 6, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  20. ^ Cordero, Rosy (April 10, 2023). "Teddy Sears & Tamberla Perry Join Zachary Quinto-Led NBC Medical Drama Pilot 'Wolf'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 6, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  21. ^ Cordero, Rosy (April 20, 2023). "Alex MacNicoll, Spence Moore II, Aury Krebs & Ashleigh LaThrop Board NBC Medical Drama Pilot 'Wolf'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 6, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  22. ^ Cordero, Rosy (November 28, 2023). "'The Gilded Age' Actress Donna Murphy To Recur In NBC's 'Dr. Wolf'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 6, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  23. ^ "Current Productions". City of Toronto. 7 August 2017. Archived from the original on August 27, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  24. ^ Schwartz, Ryan (July 9, 2024). "NBC Reveals Fall Premiere Dates for The Voice, #OneChicago, Law & Order: SVU and More". TVLine. Archived from the original on July 9, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  25. ^ "Brilliant Minds: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  26. ^ "Brilliant Minds: Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
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