"Code Black" depicts the busiest, most notorious emergency room in America, which means things can get pretty messy. On the ER set actors routinely walk away caked in fake blood that takes a little more than a hot shower to wash off. Harry Ford, who plays first-year resident Angus Leighton on the CBS medical drama, documented such an experience on his Instagram after a 15-hour shooting day, waking up to his own "bloodied" knees even though he showered before bed.
"As soon as I walked into the bathroom and looked down, I thought, 'What did you do in the middle of the night? Where did you go?' " Ford told Headlines & Global News in an exclusive interview that included co-star Ben Hollingsworth. "It's not uncommon to discover patches of blood on us after 'Code Black' days. Unfortunately, it doesn't come off unless you use some sort of shaving cream."
Hollingsworth, who plays first-year resident Mario Savetti, says it's also tough to navigate the "Code Black" set with it's maze of realistic hospital halls and beds as well as a hectic cast of extras and crew members. He compared it to a shopping mall on Black Friday and Ford joked that whenever he loses his co-star, he can always find him at the doughnut cart. "I always know... that's where he is."
Angus and Mario share a rocky friendship on the show, but fans quickly dubbed their relationship #TeamMangus on social media. The characters first butted heads in episode three when Mario threw Angus under the bus over an unnecessary operation. He apologized a couple episodes later, although Ford doesn't remember Hollingsworth actually uttering the words, "I'm sorry."
Ford: Did you say the actual words I'm sorry though? I don't think you said the specific words.
Hollingsworth: I'm pretty sure... I said I'm really scared. I know I said it because I usually say I'm "sore-ry" and I had to say I'm 'sorry.'
Ford: Emily, I'll bet you this: He doesn't say I'm sorry enough.
For the record, Mario did say "I'm sorry" at the end of episode five, and then they got a beer together, which audiences didn't actually see. "Code Black" has shown little of the doctors and nurses' lives outside the hospital so far. Neal (Raza Jaffrey) and Christa (Bonnie Somerville) got breakfast at a nearby Mexican restaurant, and Leanne (Marcia Gay Harden) recently visited the prisoner who killed her family in a drunk-driving accident.
Ford: Weren't they lucky? We kind of got that beer. They just didn't show us.
Hollingsworth: What was that?
Ford: We went out and got that beer. After you told me how sorry you were for being such a jerk and then you bought me the beer. See Emily, the scene that you didn't see was we drank pitchers of beer and played beer pong.
Hollingsworth: Well, I drank the beer. Angus was drinking chocolate-tinis.
Ford: It's appletinis!
Hollingsworth: Appletinis? For the record, chocolate-tinis.
Ford: Or Budweiser. Either one.
Mario and Angus may be on good terms right now, but their love for the same pretty doctor could put them at odds once again. Angus felt a real connection with Dr. Heather Pinkney (Jillian Murphy), comforting her with a "lingering hug." Mario got a little farther with her – sex in the locker room.
(Speaking with HNGN before that scene occurred, Hollingsworth already knew the few kisses shared between Mario and Heather would stir up trouble.)
Ford: He knows I'm in love with her, and he kissed her again anyways.
Hollingsworth: Well, he does kiss her again, but Mario is doing his best.
Ford: He didn't try his best! That was a half effort.
Hollingsworth: He gave it the college try.
Ford: Emily, he just wanted to show off his massive pecs to America. That's what it was, and they wrote toward his body. Don't blame Heather. Blame the writers.
If Mario wasn't enough to deal with at work, Angus now has his older brother Mike (Tommy Dewey) working alongside him in the ER. The brothers don't share a particularly tense or competitive relationship, but Mike does cause Angus to question his instincts from time to time.
"He's Angus' hero. He's also the one person who makes him doubt himself the most and wish he could be the best at anything. So it's a double- edged sword," Ford said. "The world is less lonely when he shows up. So it's a boon for Angus, but it's also complicated."
There are no immediate plans for any of Mario's family to visit. He did have a sweet phone call with his grandmother in an earlier episode, and Hollingsworth has one actress in mind to play his granny if she ever comes to town.
"I think we're just waiting for Betty White to become available," he joked.
Obviously, Ford and Hollingsworth have formed a close bond in just their first season working together. Ford even offered to help deliver the baby boy Hollingsworth and his wife are expecting soon.
"I'm going to be the wet nurse for Ben's baby. Did you know that Ben? Maybe I'll be the doula... I'll deliver the baby and be the wet nurse," he cracked.
The anticipated arrival of his own child has completely changed Hollingsworth's perspective on cases that involve children on the show.
"It's impossible, if you have a working heart and you're human, not to feel emotional when watching 'Code Black.' It's a very emotional show," the expectant father said. "But even more so, when you start to realize that you're going to be a dad yourself, a sense of overwhelming responsibility [comes over you] and also joy and love..."
"... And tears," Ford teased. "He's a little weepy."
The entire cast and crew share a strong family bond, according to Hollingsworth. Co-star Luis Guzmán lives up to his onscreen nickname 'Mama" yet offscreen everone calls him "Mamacita."
Ford also has a tendency to call Harden mama, "but she probably hates that," he said.
No converstaion with the actor would be complete without attempting to confirm if Ford's birth name, Harrison Ford, was inspired by a certain A-list actor.
"It is a family name," he said, denying the obvious tie to Harrison Ford, who had already starred in "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones" by the time the "Code Black" actor was born. "My great grandmother's last name was Harris, and she was my parents' most favorite person in the world. She didn't have any sons, so they thought, 'Son of Harris? Harris-son. That would be perfect.'"
He added, "They never dreamed... they claimed I'd never be an actor. What about a person?" Ford said, laughing.
Be sure to catch Ford and Hollingsworth on "Code Black" airing on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. EST on CBS.
