New Amsterdam: Sandra Mae Frank Upped to Series Regular for Season 5
New Amsterdam‘s newest surgeon will definitely be scrubbing back in for the fifth and final season: The NBC medical drama has promoted Sandra Mae Frank, who plays Dr. Elizabeth Wilder, to series regular for the show’s swan song, TVLine has learned exclusively.
Frank joined the ensemble in the Season 4 premiere as a deaf surgeon whom Max was initially interviewing to fill Helen’s position before offering her his job as the hospital’s medical director. She declined the gig, but eventually joined the staff as Chief of Oncology. Thus far, Frank has appeared in 12 episodes this season and earned a TVLine Performer of the Week Honorable Mention for Episode 13 (“Family”), which explored the relationship between Dr. Wilder and her brother.
New Amsterdam‘s Season 4 finale airs tonight (NBC, 10/9c) and features a weather crisis as a hurricane approaches New York ahead of Max and Helen’s wedding.
“Obviously, no one was planning for this hurricane to hit. It was coming for the Carolinas and then changes directions pretty abruptly,” executive producer David Schulner tells TVLine. “So that’s really where everyone finds themselves, having to worry about something that, literally and figuratively, was not on their radar hours before.”
Meanwhile, Helen is on a plane traveling from London to New York for the wedding during most of the episode. “Because Helen is mid-Atlantic when the hurricane changes directions, there is some jeopardy in the air as well,” Schulner warns. (Get more finale scoop here.)
New Amsterdam fans, are you excited to see more of Dr. Wilder next season? Hit the comments!
This was the hardest secret to keep in my life.
When did they announce next season would be the last? I must’ve missed that one.
Couple of months ago, back around the time they renewed it.
https://tvline.com/2022/03/14/new-amsterdam-cancelled-ending-season-5-nbc-finale/
Well, not renewed it then, exactly. Next season is the final season of a 3 season renewal.
I think producers missed an opportunity in S4E18 “No Ifs, Ands or Buts” with Dr. Sharpe’s 1-episode speech incapacity where she & Max chould have learn ASL with the help of Dr. Wilder and… hey, should they promote Wilder’s ASL interpreter (Conner Marx) for S5 as well?
So happy to hear Sandra will be a regular on New Amsterdam in season 5. I love her character so much!
It’s sounds like Helen will be in danger tonight due to a hurricane endangering her flight. In real life that would never happen. The flight would be rerouted to an alternate destination.
She low key breathed a bit of new life back into the show. I would not even be opposed to a Wilder centered Spin-off
I agree and yes that would be fantastic!
I second this. Yes please!
Viva l’resistance
Agreed! They character assassinated most of the original crew.
She’s fantastic! I’m so happy we’ll see more of her
I wish they were doing a full 22 episodes. I think they still have room for many more stories.
Probably my least favorite character. But hey, kudos to Sandra!!!
I love New Amsterdam, but Max and Helen moving this season to London and away from the hospital was a big misfire.
Also I’m not wild about Dr. Wilder–I feel that she has been given too much airtime at the expense of the main characters and the regular supporting characters (Casey, Gladys, etc.)
Nosso grupo ,ficaria decepcionado ,com fatos ,q mudaria todo o segmento ,Helen / Max.Ja estamos sentido , mágoa.😞
I abhorred the London arc. There have been numerous misfires/missteps (and unresolved issues) in S4 which I think contributed to the lower ratings this season. The writers seemed to have lost their way with the direction of the show and for most of the characters. This season was disastrous and a real disappointment, Imo
Yes keep everyone they are all great
I like Dr. Wilder but as mentioned in the article, she only appeared in 12 episodes of S4. With S5 being an abbreviated 13 episodes, doesn’t mean she’ll appear in every episode. So why bother to make her a series regular at this point since S5 is the series finale?
Also, I wish they’d stop with the cliffhangers. Perhaps it would have been different if we had a full S5, but with it only being 13 episodes, they’re really going to have to cram a heck of a lot into it to wrap up all the unresolved storylines.
I am tired of Max like Dr Wilder. Probably won’t watch next season because of Max
This Show Presents The Past, Present & future of their characters. They should be role models for their tv viewers. Max is both romantic & serious about his job. I hope he stays in America to run new amsterdam.
I don’t like the fact that Max and Helen didn’t get married. Why would you let them go all season long being together and then pulling them apart. I had stopped watch when that heffer was in charged but came back when She left. So I guess I will not be watching the last and final series.
Same here! I Loved their storyline!!!! Why????!!!!
I agree, Max & Helen should’ve gotten married, how can they do that to him, 1st loosing Georgia, now Helen, poor Max! I do love Sandra though! Please, please keep this show! It gives hope in these tough days of the pandemic & other tragedies in this world, if only for an hour a week! More people should be like Max & New Amsterdam, the world would be a better place! The show, although fictional, is a true inspiration and has changed my life forever! If you do end the show, which i desperately hope you don’t, please at least end it happy for New Amsterdam, Max, little Luna, Helen, Iggy, Lauren, Reynolds, have heart, please! It’s like you totally feel for these people, they are truly Amazing!
Why do the NETWORKS discontinue the BEST SHOWS and replace them with: shows of LOW QUALITY?
New Amsterdam season 4 episode 23 I want to watch the season please
They should reconsider ending this show ,its better than alot of junk out there, great actors ,relevant story lines, we look forward to it every week . Please dont end this series.
I am so glad that Sandra is joining the cast as a permanent member. I absolutely adore her!!! ❤️🥰 She is beautiful, smart, and an inspiration to all people who can’t hear. At least, that’s how I feel. I can’t imagine not being able to hear, but I love how perfectly she communicates. She’s the best!!!! 🥰❤️❤️
Soo glad to hear that New Amsterdam is coming back. My husband travels and I save up and watch it back to back. I will miss Ryan tho. His character is quiet different. I am in the medical field so I get absorbed by the politics and hate it.
Absolutely…love her especially her feistiness.
Yes I’m very excited
Thank God! Used to love this show, now it’s just one big political mess! She is now the only reason why I continue to watch it!!
Love her and am glad they are featuring more of her! She’s got spunk and charisma and heart! Maybe she and Max?
He nice. But not Helen. I wish her the best but I want Helen back