ER (TV series)
Medical drama set in a Chicago emergency room.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
ER is an American medical drama that ran on NBC for 15 seasons, from September 19, 1994, to April 2, 2009, totaling 331 episodes. Created by Michael Crichton, the series was produced by Constant c Productions and Amblin Television, in association with Warner Bros. Television. It centers on the emergency room of Chicago’s fictional Cook County General Hospital—modeled after the real Cook County Hospital—and explores the professional, ethical, and personal struggles of its doctors, nurses, and staff.
The show ranks as the second-longest-running primetime medical drama in U.S. TV history, behind *Grey’s Anatomy*, and is the most decorated medical drama ever, with 124 industry wins from 442 nominations. Its honors include a Peabody Award, a TCA Award for Program of the Year, and a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series. By 2014, *ER* had generated over $3 billion in television revenue. It is widely regarded as one of the best medical dramas of all time, pioneering the genre and setting a template for later medical shows.
**Production**
Michael Crichton originally wrote a screenplay titled “EW” (for Emergency Ward) in 1974, drawing on his own experience as a medical student in a busy ER, but producers passed on it. After publishing *Jurassic Park* in 1990 and collaborating with Steven Spielberg on its 1993 film adaptation, Crichton and Spielberg revisited the project, now called *ER*. Spielberg opted to produce it as a two-hour TV pilot rather than a feature film, seeing potential for ongoing stories. He handed the script to his production company, Amblin Entertainment. Anthony Thomopoulos, head of Amblin’s TV division, contacted Warner Bros. Television CEO Les Moonves about the idea. Amblin Television brought in John Wells as executive producer.
Warner Bros. pitched *ER* to NBC alongside Crichton, Spielberg, and Wells. NBC Entertainment head Warren Littlefield liked the project, but other executives were skeptical, given the recent medical drama *St. Elsewhere*. NBC first offered a two-hour TV movie, which was rejected. The team then tried other networks before returning to NBC, which ordered a pilot. The pilot script was nearly identical to Crichton’s 1974 version; the only major changes were turning a male character into female (Susan Lewis) and making Peter Benton African-American. The runtime was cut by about 20 minutes for a two-hour network slot.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Medical drama
- Creator
- Michael Crichton
- Theme Music Composer
- James Newton Howard (1994–2006; 2009) / Martin Davich (2006–2009)
- Composer
- Martin Davich
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Num Seasons
- 15
- Num Episodes
- 331
- List Episodes
- List of ER episodes
- Executive Producer
- Michael Crichton / John Wells / Christopher Chulack / Lydia Woodward / Carol Flint / Jack Orman / David Zabel
- Camera
- Single-camera
- Runtime
- 45 minutes
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
In 1974, Michael Crichton wrote a screenplay titled 'EW' based on his experiences as a medical student. Producers were not interested, and Crichton turned to other topics. After the success of Jurassic Park, Crichton and Steven Spielberg revisited the project, with Spielberg deciding to film a two-hour pilot for a television series rather than a feature film. The script was passed to Amblin Television, and John Wells became executive producer. Warner Bros. Television pitched the series to NBC, where Warren Littlefield liked the project despite debate among other executives. The pilot was filmed at the former Linda Vista Hospital in Los Angeles, and a set was later built at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California.
Reader's Guide
ER is considered one of the best medical dramas of all time, pioneering the field of medical fiction and setting a model for other contemporary medical dramas to follow. As of 2014, it had grossed over $3 billion in television revenue. The series was known for its commitment to medical accuracy, with producers stating they would 'bend the rules but never break them.' It aired in the Thursday 10:00 pm time slot for its entire run, capping NBC's Must See TV block. The series finale charged $425,000 per 30-second ad spot. ER won a Peabody Award, TCA Award for Program of the Year, and Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series. Its success surprised networks and critics, as David E. Kelley's Chicago Hope was expected to crush the new series.
Did You Know?
- The pilot episode was filmed in the former Linda Vista Hospital in Los Angeles, a facility that had ceased operating in 1990.
- The only substantive changes made to Crichton's 1974 script for the pilot were changing a male character to female (Susan Lewis) and changing Peter Benton's race to African-American.
- ER is NBC's third longest-running drama, after Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order.
- Starting with season seven, ER was broadcast in the 1080i HD format.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ER (TV series)?
ER is an American medical drama that followed the day-to-day chaos of a Chicago emergency room, airing on NBC from 1994 through 2009. It tracked the professional and personal lives of the doctors, nurses, and support staff who worked in the ER of the fictional Cook County General Hospital.
Who created ER (TV series)?
The series was created by novelist Michael Crichton, who is well known for books like Jurassic Park. Production was handled by Constant c Productions, Amblin Television, and Warner Bros. Television.
How long did ER (TV series) run and how many episodes were there?
The show stretched across 15 seasons and 331 episodes, premiering on September 19, 1994, and wrapping its final episode on April 2, 2009. That makes it the second-longest-running primetime medical drama in American television history.
Why is ER (TV series) considered a Nielsen ratings winner?
During its 15-year run, ER consistently drew massive audiences and regularly topped weekly ratings charts, making it one of NBC's most reliable hit shows of the era. Its blend of high-stakes medical cases with deep character drama kept viewers tuning in week after week.
Where is ER (TV series) set and is the hospital real?
The action takes place in the emergency department of Cook County General Hospital in Chicago. That fictional facility was loosely modeled on the actual Cook County Hospital, giving the show a grounded, gritty urban backdrop.
More in Nielsen ratings winners 1-24
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