One Chicago Podcast: Alan McDonald (Chicago Med Showrunner)

Date: October 9, 2025
Host: Brian Lucci
Guest: Alan McDonald

Episode Overview

This episode features Alan McDonald, the showrunner for Chicago Med, in a candid conversation with host Brian Lucci. The pair dive into McDonald's lifelong love of medical dramas, his journey to running one of TV’s top hospital shows, and the heart and grit required to portray Chicago’s first responders authentically. McDonald discusses his approach to storytelling, the emotional realities behind the show’s cases, and offers behind-the-scenes insight into cast dynamics, writers’ room processes, and upcoming character arcs, including the highly anticipated reveal about Dr. Hannah Asher’s baby.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Alan McDonald's Path to Showrunning (03:47 – 08:41)

• Early Inspiration:

  • Grew up in Huntington Beach, CA, and fell in love with TV watching Little House on the Prairie reruns (03:54).
  • Later, St. Elsewhere solidified his obsession with medical dramas:

    “If there’s something I really like as a writer, I like to cry. I like shows that make me cry.” — Alan McDonald (04:28)

  • Mentions the influence of classic ensemble dramas like Hill Street Blues and ER.

• Transition to Television:

  • Started as a film student at San Diego State, did a range of internships, and broke into TV as a researcher on ER (05:28).
  • Networked via earlier assistantship at Peter Engel Productions (makers of Saved by the Bell), building friendships with industry peers like Rebecca McGill, who eventually brought him into the Wolf Entertainment family (06:46).

Authentic Storytelling and Research (09:00 – 14:25)

• Staying True to the Real World:

  • Emphasizes the importance of firsthand research for emotionally real stories—spending nights in LA county ERs to grasp both medical rhythm and human impact (12:00).
  • Shared a deeply personal and emotional story about witnessing a 14-year-old gang shooting victim die in the ER, and the mother’s heartbreaking cries:

    “I’ll never forget the sounds of her wailing.” — Alan McDonald (13:32)

• Emotional Authenticity:

  • Both host and guest reflect on making TV that honors the lived experience of both first responders and victims.

    “What you bring … is that emotional authenticity from your own experiences.” — Alan McDonald (11:32)

Joining Chicago Med & Building a Writers’ Room (14:53 – 15:38)

• Transition to Showrunner:
  • Joined Chicago Med in season 10, initially anxious about blending new and legacy writing staff but quickly felt welcomed.
  • Praises the collaborative, receptive culture in Chicago:

    “Everyone is just, from the beginning, has been so welcoming to me.” — Alan McDonald (15:24)

• On Being a Showrunner:
  • Describes the role as “in charge of the creative...what stories are gonna be told, what directions the characters are going...the tone of the show” (10:24)
  • Implemented a true writers’ room for Med, something the show hadn’t had before.

Fandom, Cliffhangers, and Character Focus (17:12 – 19:31)

• Surreal Full-Circle Moments:
  • Recalls watching S. Epatha Merkerson (Law & Order royalty) decades ago, now running a show where he works with her (17:12).
• Favorite Character to Write:
  • Loves writing for Dr. Caitlin Lennox (Sarah Ramos) because of her directness and being slightly on the spectrum:

    “...it’s just a lot of fun to write dialogue for her because she says the things that I wouldn’t say … she just doesn’t let any bullshit get in the way.” — Alan McDonald (17:54)

Working with the Cast (21:33 – 23:29)

• S. Epatha Merkerson (“Ipatha”) & Oliver Platt:
  • Praises both as extremely committed, talented, and collaborative.
    • “Oliver is just hysterical… never tires of talking about [story] and trying to make something better.” — Alan McDonald (21:33)
  • First phone call with Platt:

    “He called me…I didn’t answer because I didn’t recognize the number. Then I saw the voicemail, and I said, oh, shit, that was Oliver.” — Alan McDonald (22:30)

• On Dynamics:
  • Enjoys crafting scenes where characters “aren’t on the same page and are trying to get on the same page”—relishes the drama and tension (23:24).

Standout Scenes & Notable Moments (23:55 – 26:33)

• Favorite Dramatic Scene:
  • Highlights an emotionally loaded exchange between Oliver Platt’s Dr. Charles and Darren Barnett’s Dr. Frost, filled with subtext and restraint (24:27).
• Favorite Comic Scene:
  • Recalls Stephen Weber’s Dr. Archer accidentally dosed with acid, providing comedic relief and emotional revelation:

    “You just have to hear a scene from it. But there’s, like… you first realize he’s high because we cut into a scene and he’s just going, ‘Wheels.’” — Alan McDonald (25:10)

• Cliffhanger Philosophy:
  • Justified leaving fans in suspense over Hannah’s baby’s father:

    “You don’t want to give the fans what they want. You want to give them what they need.” — Alan McDonald (01:07, 26:33)

  • Eventually confirmed that Dr. Dean Archer is the father, and explained the misdirects and build-up to the revelation (27:35).

Story Development Process (29:55 – 31:15)

• Season Planning:
  • Begins every year with character arcs, then brainstorms medical stories linked to those arcs.
  • The chosen writer for each episode often picks the relevant medical case to best impact the characters’ journeys.
• Writers’ Room:
  • Credits dynamic team leaders Andy and Lauren for keeping the room self-sufficient and true to the show’s tone.

Themes and What’s Ahead (31:21 – 32:09)

• Season 11’s Theme:
  • “Running out of time”—manifesting through different character arcs (31:21).
  • Example: Dr. Charles facing his own aging and retirement anxieties.

Memorable Quotes

• On giving fans what they need, not what they want:

  “You don’t want to give the fans what they want. You want to give them what they need.” — Alan McDonald (01:07, 26:33)

• On writing for Dr. Lennox:

  “She just doesn’t let any bullshit get in the way.” — Alan McDonald (17:54)

• On Oliver Platt:

  “He has a way… of just putting you at complete ease, and you really feel that everything is going to be ok, even if it’s not.” — Alan McDonald (32:52)

• On emotional research:

  “It imprints itself on you indelibly.” — Alan McDonald (12:28)
  “I’ll never forget the sounds of her wailing.” — Alan McDonald (13:32)

Rapid-Fire “STAT” Questions (32:09 – 34:44)

• Any Wolf Entertainment character to bring on Med:

  “Christian Stolte, because I love Mouch.” — Alan McDonald (32:23)

• Doctor he’d want to wake up to:

  “Dr. Daniel Charles, because I think everyone should wake up to Oliver Platt.” (32:52)

• Surgical team:

  “Dr. Dean Archer and Dr. Caitlin Lennox together. Both have military trauma backgrounds.” (33:14)

• Vacation buddy:

  “Dr. John Frost. He just seems like he would be fun.” (33:36)

• Would swap lives with:

  “Dr. Caitlin Lennox … would be fun to have people see Lennox coming and to kind of, you know, back away.” (34:21)

• Dream guest star:

  “Dana Delaney—she’s phenomenally talented and a phenomenal person.” (34:50)

Key Timestamps

• Early life & TV inspiration: 03:47–04:28
• Transition to ER/medical research: 05:28–06:09
• How Wolf connection happened: 06:46–08:41
• Authenticity and emotional storytelling: 09:00–14:25
• Joining Chicago Med & staff integration: 14:53–15:38
• Being on set, full-circle moments: 16:15–17:12
• Favorite character to write: 17:36–18:35
• Cast insights (Epatha & Platt): 21:33–23:29
• Favorite dramatic scenes: 23:55–25:07
• Season 10 finale cliffhanger & pregnancy arc: 26:33–29:31
• Writers’ room and process: 29:55–31:15
• Season 11 theme: 31:21
• Rapid fire questions: 32:09–34:44

Tone and Atmosphere

The conversation is warm, candid, and often emotional, with Alan McDonald and Brian Lucci bonding over shared experiences in service-oriented professions. The podcast balances laughs and deeply personal moments, mirroring the show’s unique blend of drama and levity.

For New Listeners

This episode offers rich insights into how Chicago Med is crafted, what motivates its showrunner, and why emotional truth and collaboration are at its core. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the series, you’ll walk away appreciating the heart, humor, and authenticity driving the stories in One Chicago.