‘Brilliant Minds’ and ‘English Teacher’ show burnout in the workplace as a constant

As a seasoned educator who has spent countless hours in classrooms and staff rooms, I find myself deeply resonating with the experiences portrayed in “Abbott Elementary.” The depiction of burnout as an accepted norm among teachers is heartbreakingly familiar. I’ve seen colleagues push through exhaustion, shoulder mountains of paperwork, and navigate the complexities of teaching while juggling their personal lives.

Feeling Overwhelmed and Exhausted: It’s a Common Struggle, Especially in Professions Like Medicine, Education, and Journalism (Yours Truly Included). The Constant Demand for Attention and Productivity Has Led to Concerns About Burnout, a Topic That Has Been Frequently Discussed in the News.

And yet, TV shows about people in these professions are powering through.

Occasionally, it’s due to the wisdom gained from past events. For instance, “Grey’s Anatomy” by ABC, which starts its 21st season on Thursday, has been running for such a long time that Taryn Helm (Jaicy Elliot), one of its characters, stepped away from the medical field to work at a bar before coming back to the intense and dramatic realm of medicine. Now, she holds the position of co-chief resident at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.

Sometimes, it involves breathing fresh perspective into traditional genres and storylines. The revamped “Criminal Minds,” aptly titled “Evolution,” which recently concluded its second season on Paramount+, maintains its CBS ancestry as a series centered around criminal profilers. However, it unabashedly explores the psychological impact that this line of work can have on the characters.

In the fresh medical drama “Brilliant Minds” by NBC, which aired its premiere on Monday, burnout is a common theme. Zachary Quinto plays Oliver Wolf, a committed neurologist who delivers locker room speeches – “Clear eyes. Full hearts. Can’t breathe,” quips one of his interns, portrayed by Aury Krebs. However, the characters depicted in the show aren’t always so self-assured. Despite being dedicated, Oliver and the other doctors sometimes struggle, as seen in moments of hesitation during a spinal tap or intruding too much into their patients’ personal lives to help with a father-daughter reunion.

Michael Grassi, the mastermind behind “Brilliant Minds”, encourages viewers to understand that the show portrays a realistic depiction of work life. It’s essentially a high-stress workplace drama, with doctors who are dedicated to helping patients physically and mentally. However, in a relatable manner, they often overlook their own mental health amidst their relentless service.

Grassi’s team comprises Dr. Daniela Lamas, a doctor specializing in pulmonary and critical care, who additionally writes scripts for medical television shows. (Her works have been featured on the Fox show “The Resident”).

She notes that individuals with pre-existing anxiety often choose careers as doctors, making it an integral aspect of their lives. Consequently, she emphasizes the significance of consistently portraying these feelings throughout the series instead of focusing on them as a single narrative. “It’s not something you can simply highlight and then have it vanish,” Lamas concludes.

The team behind “Brilliant Minds” needs to maintain this continuous energy as well. Unlike the 2022 AMC limited series “This Is Going to Hurt,” starring Ben Whishaw, which provides a raw portrayal of the constant pressures faced by medical professionals (particularly obstetricians), our show is planned for multiple seasons.

In Lamas’ words, “This show’s humor effectively balances out the weighty themes in a manner that seems genuine and refreshingly light.

Sometimes, the shows themselves embody an optimistic perspective. This is evident in ABC’s popular sitcom “Abbott Elementary,” a mockumentary following the lives of teachers and staff at a Philadelphia public school, which begins its fourth season on Oct. 9, and FX’s new comedy “English Teacher,” set in a Texas high school. Despite tackling topics like burnout and the factors that lead people to leave these careers, both shows effectively blend practicality with optimism.

Justin Halpern, a co-creator of “Abbott” alongside Patrick Schumacker and Quinta Brunson (unfortunately unavailable for this interview due to filming commitments), shares that they haven’t produced an episode focusing on burnout because, according to him, it’s not typically the way teachers discuss this issue.

They point out that certain storylines suggest this idea, such as a Season 2 episode exploring the disagreement about whether sick days are solely for physical health. However, Halpern explains that burnout is widespread and almost routine among educators, to the extent that they often don’t explicitly mention it; instead, it has become an accepted aspect of their daily lives.

Schumacker mentions that the upcoming season may feature some characters reflecting on their entire professional journeys, while Halpern hints at another storyline focusing on the fiscal strains experienced by educators.

But they also say that the natural whimsy of a setting surrounded by young kids helps ground their series and keep it from being too depressing. They feel the show might have a different vibe if it were called “Abbott High.”

Initially, during our conversation about the series with Quinta, we discussed the practical aspects of filming involving younger children. Quinta aptly pointed out, “If the show is set in a high school instead, there are distinct types of interactions and drama among older students, which can help reduce some of the lightheartedness that an elementary school setting provides.

But even the way we look at these stories has changed.

Shows like “Welcome Back, Kotter,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” and even recent series such as “Derry Girls” have shown that school authorities often wield power through intimidation. However, in “English Teacher,” Enrico Colantoni portrays Principal Grant Moretti, a principal who, despite his stressful nature, skillfully navigates helicopter parenting, student conflicts, budget cuts, and other challenges. He acts as a protective barrier, absorbing much of the abuse, allowing Brian Jordan Alvarez’s younger, more naive title character, Evan, to focus on nurturing young minds unhindered.

As a devoted cinema enthusiast, I found myself in awe of a friend of Colantoni’s – a retired principal. Listening to her tales of death threats and harassment, I couldn’t help but ponder over the conundrum she faced: “How does one shoulder the duty without the power? How can you persist in your vocation amidst constant criticism?” It was as if she was compensated for her work, yet felt unappreciated at every turn.

In my viewpoint, initially, everyone harbors the dream of reshaping the world and offering a unique outlook on life. However, as time progresses, it transforms into a more personal pursuit – if during my tenure as an educator or performer, I can make a difference in one or two lives…

He adds that “people who go into any profession for the wrong reasons won’t last long enough to get burned out.”

Bernice Pescosolido, a sociologist and head of Indiana University’s Indiana Consortium for Mental Health Services Research and Irsay Institute for Sociomedical Sciences, points out that while burnout is currently a popular term, it’s not a recent issue. She references the Japanese term karoshi, meaning death from overwork, to illustrate this. She explains that terms like nervous breakdown, anxiety, and PTSD may sometimes be exaggerated or misused, but they also serve as ways for the general public to comprehend mental strain.

“I think maybe there are lives without stressors, but I doubt it,” Pescosolido says.

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2024-09-24 13:31