The SCA Division of Cinema & Media Studies invites USC Students of ALL MAJORS
to attend a Special Open House Class Session of CTCS-467: Television Symposium,
featuring a screening of the HBO Original Series

THE PITT
Season 2, Episode 9: "3:00 P.M."

+ Q&A with Creator/Executive Producer R. Scott Gemmill
and Writer/Supervising Producer Cynthia Adarkwa

Taught by SCA Professor Mary McNamara
Pulitzer Prize-winning Television Critic at The Los Angeles Times

7:00 - 9:30 P.M. on Monday, March 9th, 2026

The Ray Stark Family Theater, SCA 108
George Lucas Building at the USC School of Cinematic Arts Complex
900 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007

THIS EVENT WILL BE PART OF A REGULAR CLASS SESSION FOR CTCS-467: TELEVISION SYMPOSIUM, AND THEREFORE WE CAN ONLY OPEN IT TO CURRENT USC STUDENTS (OF ALL CAMPUSWIDE MAJORS).

NO GENERAL PUBLIC WILL BE ADMITTED. RSVPs ARE NON-TRANSFERABLE.
FOOD AND DRINKS ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED IN THE AUDITORIUM.
 

CLICK HERE TO RSVP
 

About The Pitt

The Pitt is a realistic examination of the challenges facing healthcare workers in today’s America as seen through the lens of the frontline heroes working in a modern-day hospital in Pittsburgh.

The Pitt is produced by John Wells Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, where JWP is under an overall deal. R. Scott Gemmill created the series and serves as an executive producer alongside Emmy® winner John Wells (“Animal Kingdom,” “Shameless,” “The West Wing,” “ER”), Noah Wyle, Michael Hissrich (“Shameless,” “The West Wing,” “Third Watch”), JWP’s Erin Jontow (“Animal Kingdom,” “Maid,” “Shameless”), and Simran Baidwan (“Manifest,” “Ordinary Joe,” “The Good Doctor,” “Chicago Med”).

Season 2, Episode 9: "3:00 P.M." is Directed by Shawn Hatosy and Written by Cynthia Adarkwa.

About the Guests

R. SCOTT GEMMILL (Creator, Executive Producer)

R. Scott Gemmill is an Emmy®, Golden Globe, Critics Choice and Humanitas Award winning television writer, producer and showrunner with decades of experience shaping some of television’s most successful dramas including JAG, ER and NCIS: LOS ANGELES. He is the creator and showrunner of the Emmy award winning hit series, The Pitt, which viewers and the medical community praise for its realistic depiction of an emergency department.

CYNTHIA ADARKWA (Writer, Supervising Producer)

Cynthia Adarkwa is an Emmy Award-winning writer and producer of HBOMax’s The Pitt. She was a writer for Legacies (CW), Saint X (Hulu) and the Forrest Whitaker starring Emperor of Ocean Park (MGM+.) A first-generation Ghanaian American writer from the DMV, Cynthia went on to obtain her BFA in Dramatic Writing from the Savannah College of Art & Design. Cynthia’s work centers on Black women finding their place in the world — telling stories rooted in humor, truth, and purpose.

About CTCS-467: Television Symposium

This Spring 2026 semester, the School of Cinematic Arts will offer a very special course called CTCS-467: Television Symposium, a four-unit elective class open for enrollment to ALL USC STUDENTS OF ANY MAJOR that brings you face-to-face with the leading television writers, producers, directors and actors working today.

Each week, students watch contemporary television programming selected from the best shows on the air, followed by an exclusive Q&A with the creative team behind the show. The class is taught by MARY MCNAMARA, Pulitzer Prize-winning television critic and cultural editor for the Los Angeles Times and meets in person every Monday night @ 7:00 P.M. in the Ray Stark Family Theatre, SCA 108.

Recent guests have included: Chris Storer (The Bear), Charles Yu (Interior Chinatown), Eric Ledgin (St. Denis Medical), Jenni Konner (Deli Boys), Greg Yaitanes (Presumed Innocent), Paul Simms (What We Do in the Shadows), Athena Wickham (Fallout), Lauren LeFranc (The Penguin), Ben Watkins (Cross), John Landgraf (FX Networks), Lulu Wang (Expats), Ron Moore (Battlestar Galactica, Outlander), Zal Batmanglij & Brit Marling (A Murder at the End of the World), Josh Schwartz & Stephanie Savage (The O.C.), Fred Golan (Silo), Nicholas Hatton & Jeremy Weinberg (Jury Duty), Syreeta Singleton (Rap Sh!t), Eric Kripke (The Boys, Gen V), Meera Menon (Ms Marvel),  David Goyer & Allan Heinberg (The Sandman), Craig Mazin (The Last of Us), Al Gough & Miles Millar (Wednesday), Bill Lawrence (Ted Lasso), Jen Statsky (Hacks), Julie Plec (Vampire Academy), Hiro Murai (Station Eleven, Atlanta), Tazbah Rose Chavez (Reservation Dogs), Danny Strong (Dopesick), Dong Hyuek (Squid Game), Tracy Oliver (Harlem), Brad Ingelsby (Mare of Easttown), Ilana Peña (Diary of a Future President), Jac Schaeffer (WandaVision), Scott Frank (The Queen's Gambit), Malcolm Spellman (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier), Susan Downey & Tim Van Patten (Perry Mason), Raamla Mohamed (Little Fires Everywhere), Joe Mantello (The Boys in the Band), Jay Roach & Sarah Paulson (Coastal Elites), Prentice Penny (Insecure), Jon Favreau (The Mandalorian), Adam McKay (Succession), Alena Smith (Dickinson), Stephen Williams (Watchmen), Steven Canals (Pose), Sam Levinson (Euphoria), Matt Duffer & Ross Duffer (Stranger Things), Liz Flahive & Carly Mensch (Glow), Noah Hawley (Fargo), and Kenya Barris (black-ish).

About Professor Mary McNamara

Mary McNamara is a Pulitzer-prize winning television critic and cultural editor for the Los Angeles Times, where she has worked since 1990. Previously she was an editor at Ms. Magazine and for Whittle Communications. In her 26 years at The Times, McNamara has worked as an assigning editor for the Los Angeles Times Magazine, a feature writer for Life & Style and a reporter and columnist for Calendar. She covered the film industry for four years before becoming a television critic ten years ago. She was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for criticism in 2013 and 2014 before winning in 2015. She has won numerous other awards for her work as a feature writer and critic. McNamara is also the author of the Hollywood mysteries Oscar Season and The Starlet, both published by Simon & Schuster. A native of Maryland, she attended the University of Missouri-Columbia and holds bachelor’s degrees in journalism and women’s studies. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, three children, two dogs, one hamster and a very large bottle of Advil.

Check-In & Reservations

The USC School of Cinematic Arts operates all of its programs and activities consistent with the University’s Notice of Non-Discrimination. Eligibility is not determined based on race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited factor.

This special Open House session of CTCS-467: Television Symposium is free of charge and open EXCLUSIVELY to USC Students. A reservation confirmation will automatically be sent to your e-mail account upon successfully making an RSVP through this website. Doors will open at 6:30 P.M.

Accessibility Needs

Individuals with disabilities who need accommodations to attend this event may contact Alessandro Ago, Assistant Dean, Programming and Special Events, at aago@cinema.usc.edu or 213-740-2330. It is requested that individuals requiring accommodations or auxiliary aids such as sign language interpreters and alternative format materials notify us at least seven days prior to the event. Every reasonable effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodations in an effective and timely manner.

Contact Information

Name: Alessandro Ago
Email: aago@cinema.usc.edu