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{{short description|American medical drama television series (1994–2009)}}
{{semi-protect}}
{{distinguish|E/R{{!}}the sitcom ''E/R''}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2014}}
{{Infobox Television
{{Infobox television
| show_name = ER
| image = ER (Amblin Television series) logo (4).svg
| image = ]
| caption = ER title card. | genre = ]
| format = ] | creator = ]
| starring = {{Plainlist|
| camera = ]
* ]
| runtime = 61 minutes (including commercials) <br> 46 minutes (without commercials)
* ]
| creator = ]
* ]
| starring = ]*<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br> *credited first in episodes where he appears
* ]
| opentheme = ] <br> (1994&ndash;2006) <br> Martin Davich <br> (2006&ndash;])
* ]
| country = ]
* ]
|picture_format = ] (]), <br> ] (])
* ]
| network = ]
* ]
| first_aired = ], ]
* ]
| last_aired = present
* ]
| num_seasons = 14
* ]
| num_episodes = ] <!--(as of November 1, 2007)-->
* ]
| website = http://www.nbc.com/ER/
* ]
| imdb_id = 0108757
* ]
| tv_com_id = 111
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
}}
| theme_music_composer = {{Plainlist|
* ] (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 = {{Plainlist|
* Michael Crichton
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
}}
| camera = ]
| runtime = 45 minutes
| company = {{Plainlist|
* ]
* ]
* ]
}}
| network = ]
| first_aired = {{start date|1994|9|19}}
| last_aired = {{end date|2009|4|2}}
| related = '']''
}} }}
'''''ER''''' is an ]-winning ] ] ] created by ]ist ] and set primarily in the ] of fictional County General Hospital in ], ]. It is produced by Constant c Productions and ] in association with ]


'''''ER''''' is<!--"is" not "was"; it doesn't stop being a TV show after the final episode --> an American ] television series created by ] that aired on ] from September 19, 1994, to April 2, 2009, with a total of 331 episodes spanning 15 seasons. It was produced by ] and ], in association with ]. ''ER'' follows the inner life of the ] (ER) of Cook County General Hospital, a fictionalized version of the real ], in ], and the various critical professional, ethical, and personal issues faced by the department's physicians, nurses, and staff.
==Series run==
]
''ER'' is NBC's second longest-running drama (after '']''), with 14 seasons, making it the longest American primetime medical drama of all time.<ref></ref>. It premiered on ], ] and has been shown on Thursday nights at 10:00 throughout its entire run. However www.tvseriesfinale.com has reported that ER will likely end this upcoming season. <ref></ref><br />


The show is the second longest-running ] medical drama in ] behind '']''. The highest awarded medical drama, ''ER'' won 128 industry awards from 442 nominations, including the ] in 1995, ] in 1995, and ] in 1996.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nbc.com/ER/about/|title=About the Hit NBC TV Show ER|publisher=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111028193641/http://www.nbc.com/ER/about/ |archive-date=October 28, 2011 |url-status=dead|df=mdy-all |access-date=October 14, 2011}}</ref> As of 2014, ''ER'' had grossed over {{US$|3 billion|long=no}} in television revenue.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Tait |first=R. Colin |url=https://www.flowjournal.org/2014/11/marathon-viewing-e-r/ |title=Marathon Viewing E.R.: Rewatching Television's Greatest Prime-Time Serial |date=November 26, 2014 |journal=]}}</ref> It 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.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Chaney |first=Jen |url=https://www.vulture.com/2019/09/er-filmmaking-style-legacy.html |title=As ER Turns 25, a Look at How Its Visual Style Changed the TV Game |date=September 20, 2019 |magazine=]}}</ref>
==History and production==
The novel ''ER'' was originally slated to be a movie, directed by ]. However, during the early stages of pre-production, Spielberg asked ] what his current project was. Crichton said he was working on a novel about dinosaurs and DNA. Spielberg subsequently dropped what he was doing to film this project, which became '']''. Afterwards, he returned to ''ER'' and helped develop the show, serving as a producer on season one and offering advice (he insisted on ] becoming a regular, for example). It was also through Spielberg's ] that ] was contacted to be the show's executive producer.


==Production==
Due to a lack of time and money to build a set, the pilot episode of ''ER'' was filmed in the former ] in Los Angeles, an old facility that ceased operating as a medical center in 1990.<ref>http://ludb.clui.org/ex/i/CA6083/#</ref> A set modelled after that hospital was built soon after at the ] studios in ], although the show makes extensive use of location shoots in Chicago, most notably the city's famous ] train platforms.


===Development===
Michael Crichton wrote the script that became the pilot episode of the show in the early 1970s. It was based on some of his experiences working in an ER. By the time the pilot episode was shot and aired in ], it had been 20 years since it was written. On his commentary track, included on the first season DVD set, Crichton says that the script used to shoot the pilot was virtually unchanged from what he had written 20 years earlier. Dr. Lewis was written as a male character, and though producers decided Lewis should be a woman, that change didn't require an adjustment of her dialogue. The producers also decided Dr. Benton would be African-American, though he wasn't written that way. The original script had to be shortened by about 20 minutes in order to air in a two-hour block on network TV.
] in 2002|alt=Michael Crichton wearing a suit.]]
In 1974, author ] wrote a screenplay then entitled "''EW''" (for emergency ward) based on his own experiences as a ] in a busy hospital ].<ref>{{cite book |last=Jacobs |first=Jason |title=Body Trauma TV: The New Hospital Dramas |publisher=] |year=2003 |edition=Illustrated |page= |isbn=0-85170-880-3 |url=https://archive.org/details/bodytraumatvnewh0000jaco/page/24}}</ref> Producers were not interested in the screenplay, and Crichton turned to other topics. In 1990, he published the novel '']'', and in 1993 began a collaboration with director ] on the ] of the book.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Richard |first=Zoglin |author2=Smilgis, Martha |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,981691-2,00.html |title=Television: Angels with Dirty Faces |date=October 31, 1994 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104084035/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,981691-2,00.html |archive-date=November 4, 2012 |magazine=] |access-date=October 17, 2009}}</ref>


After its release, Crichton and Spielberg then turned to what was now known as ''ER'', but Spielberg decided to film the story as a two-hour pilot for a television series rather than as a feature film after considering the potential for various stories to be told in the setting.<ref>{{cite book |last=Keenleyside |first=Sam |title=Bedside manners: George Clooney and ER |publisher=] |year=1998 |edition=Illustrated |page=129 |isbn=1-55022-336-4}}</ref> He passed the script on to a team at his production company, ]. ], then head of Amblin's television division, got in touch with then CEO of ], ], about the idea for the series and to send the script. Spielberg's ] provided ] as the show's executive producer.
==Episodes==
{{main|List of ER episodes}}


Warner Bros. Television pitched ''ER'' to ], alongside Crichton, Spielberg and Wells. ], head of ] at the time, liked the project, but there was much debate and controversy among other executives at the network, who were dubious about the nature of the series. NBC offered a chance to make a two-hour ] movie from the script, which was rejected. They then tried to get the show greenlit at rival networks before returning to NBC, who this time around ordered a ].
''ER'' has had many memorable episodes, and is particularly notable for broadcasting a live episode, "Ambush," in 1997, with the NBC camera crew disguised as a ] crew making a documentary film in the hospital. The actors performed the show again three hours later so that the ] airing would be live as well. This episode received ] nominations for Outstanding Directing and Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic), and won the Emmy for Outstanding Technical Direction/Camera/Video for a Series.


The script used to shoot the pilot was virtually unchanged from what Crichton had written in 1974. The only substantive changes made by the producers in 1994 were that a male character was changed to a female character (]) and the ] character's race was changed to African-American. The running time was shortened by about 20 minutes in order for the pilot to air in a two-hour block on network TV.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}} Because of a lack of time and money necessary to build a set, the pilot episode of ''ER'' was filmed in the former ] in ], an old facility that had ceased operating in 1990.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ludb.clui.org/ex/i/CA6083/# |title=Linda Vista Hospital |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050418050155/http://ludb.clui.org/ex/i/CA6083/ |archive-date=April 18, 2005 |website=The Center for Land Use Interpretation |access-date=June 28, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Pirrello |first=Phil |url=https://www.emmys.com/news/online-originals/er-oral-history |title=ER at 30: The Oral History of Making the Pilot |date=September 19, 2024 |website=]}}</ref> A set modeled after ]'s emergency room was built soon afterward at the ] studios in ], although the show makes extensive use of location shoots in ], most notably the city's famous ] train platforms.<ref>{{cite book |last=Carter |first=Bill |title=Desperate Networks | publisher=] |year=2006 |edition=Illustrated |page= |isbn=0-385-51440-9 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/desperatenetwork00cart/page/30}}</ref>
Most episodes center on the ER, with almost all scenes at the hospital. There are however often at least one scene showing the goings-on of the ER staff outside the hospital. Also, there is a tradition to feature one or a few episodes each season almost completely out of the ER, for example an episode in which Carol Hathaway is drawn in to a hostage drama in a grocery store, and one in which Mark Greene and Doug Ross go on a road trip to claim the body of Dr Ross' recently deceased father.


Littlefield was impressed by the series: "We were intrigued, but we were admittedly a bit spooked in attempting to go back into that territory a few years after '']''."<ref name="Saying goodbye to 'ER'">{{cite magazine |last=Richmond |first=Ray | title=Saying goodbye to 'ER' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i7288557915e143d093978f906f0a5cbf |date=April 1, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918124825/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i7288557915e143d093978f906f0a5cbf |archive-date=September 18, 2010 |magazine=] |access-date=September 18, 2010}}</ref> With Spielberg attached behind the scenes, NBC ordered six episodes. "''ER'' premiered opposite a '']'' game on ] and did surprisingly well. Then we moved it to Thursday and it just took off," commented Littlefield.<ref name="Saying goodbye to 'ER'"/> ''ER''{{'}}s success surprised the networks and critics alike, as ]'s new medical drama '']'' was expected to crush the new series, airing directly opposite ''ER'' in the Thursday 10:00 pm time slot over on ].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Rice |first=Lynette |url=https://ew.com/tv/2019/04/02/er-25-anniversary-oral-history-pilot/ |title=How ER beat a bad early prognosis to become one of TV's biggest hits |date=April 2, 2019 |magazine=]}}</ref>
==Cast==
===Main cast===
The original cast of relatively unknown actors consisted of ] as ], ] as ], ] as ], ] as medical student ], and ] as ]. ] guest starred in the pilot as ] and then became part of the regular cast.


Crichton was credited as an executive producer until his death in November 2008, although he was still credited as one throughout that entire final season. Wells, the series' other initial executive producer, served as ] for the first three seasons. He was the show's most prolific writer and became a regular director in later years. ] was a part of the first season production team and became an executive producer for the third season. She took over as showrunner for the fourth season while Wells focused on the development of other series, including '']'', '']'', and '']''. John Wells continued to serve as the primary Executive Producer for the remainder of the series.<ref>{{cite web |last=Siegel |first=Alan |url=https://www.theringer.com/tv/2019/9/19/20872849/er-how-it-was-made-20th-anniversary |title='ER' Was Prestige TV Before the Term Even Existed |date=November 26, 2014 |website=]}}</ref> Lydia Woodward left her executive producer position at the end of the sixth season but continued to write episodes throughout the series run.
{| class="wikitable"


], who was a writer and producer of the series, believed keeping a commitment to medical accuracy was extremely important: "We'd bend the rules but never break them. A medication that would take 10 minutes to work might take 30 seconds instead. We compressed time. A 12- to 24-hour shift gets pushed into 48 minutes. But we learned that being accurate was important for more reasons than just making real and responsible drama."<ref name="Saying goodbye to 'ER'"/>
|- style="background-color:#E0E0E0"
! rowspan="2" style="text-align: left" | Actor
! rowspan="2" style="text-align: left" | Role
! colspan="2" | Appearance as Star
! colspan="2" | as Guest Star / Supporting Actor


Woodward was replaced as showrunner by ]. Orman was recruited as a writer-producer for the series in its fourth season after a successful stint working on CBS's '']''. He was quickly promoted and became an executive producer and showrunner for the series' seventh season. He held these roles for three seasons before leaving the series at the end of the ninth season. Orman was also a frequent writer and directed three episodes of the show.
|- style="background-color:#E0E0E0; text-align:left"
! style="width: 8%; text-align: left;" | <small>Season</small>
! style="width: 13%; text-align: left;" | <small>Episode</small>
! style="width: 8%; text-align: left;" | <small>Season</small>
! style="width: 28%; text-align: left;" | <small>Episode</small>
|-
! colspan="6" style="text-align: left;" | CURRENT <small>(sorted by first appearance as Star)</small>
|-
| ]
| ]
| 6– || 114–290; 295; 298- || ||
|-
|]
| ]
| 6– || 125– || 6 || 121


] served as the series' head writer and executive producer in its later seasons. He initially joined the crew for the eighth season and became an executive producer and showrunner for the twelfth season onward. Zabel was the series' most frequent writer, contributing to 41 episodes. He also made his directing debut on the series. ] was the series' most frequent director and worked as a producer on all 15 seasons. He became an executive producer in the fourth season but occasionally scaled back his involvement in later years to focus on other projects.
|-
| ]
| ]
| 9– || 180– || 8 || 175–177, 179


Other executive producers include writers ], ], ], Joe Sachs, ], ], and ]. Several of these writers and producers had background in healthcare: Joe Sachs was an ], while Lisa Zwerling and Neal Baer were both ]s. The series' crew was recognized with awards for writing, directing, producing, film editing, sound editing, casting, and music.
|-
| ]
| ]
| 10– || 204– || 10 || 202


===Broadcasting===
|-
Following the broadcast of its two-hour ] on September 19, 1994, ''ER'' premiered Thursday, September 22 at 10pm. It remained in the same Thursday time slot for its entire run, capping the ] primetime block.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Adalian |first=Josef |url=https://www.vulture.com/2014/09/1994-friends-seinfeld-er-warren-littlefield-transcript.html |title=The Architects of NBC's Classic Must-See Lineup Reveal How Friends and ER Became Legends |date=September 18, 2019 |magazine=Vulture}}</ref> ''ER'' is NBC's third longest-running drama, after '']'' and '']'',<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Goldberg |first=Lesley |title='TV's Top 5' Podcast: Oscars Preview, Marvel Cancellations Decoded |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tvs-top-5-podcast-oscars-preview-marvel-cancellations-decoded-1188818 |date=February 22, 2019 |magazine=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=25 February 2019}}</ref> and the second longest-running American primetime medical drama of all time, behind ABC's '']''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Keveney |first=Bill |url=http://www.erheadquarters.com/news/11/after11years_033105.htm |title=After 11 years, Dr. Carter takes leave from ''ER'' |date=March 31, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090709102637/http://www.erheadquarters.com/news/11/after11years_033105.htm |archive-date=July 9, 2009 |website=ER Headquarters |access-date=June 28, 2009 |df=mdy}}</ref> Starting with season seven, ''ER'' was broadcast in the ] HD format, appearing in ] format when presented in standard definition.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Gardner |first=Eriq |url=https://slate.com/culture/2002/02/why-the-sopranos-and-er-put-those-black-bands-across-your-screen.html |title=Why The Sopranos and ER put those black bands across your screen |date=February 6, 2002 |magazine=]}}</ref> On April 2, 2008, NBC announced that the series would return for its fifteenth season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nbcumv.com/release_detail.nbc/nbcuniversaltelevision-20080402000000-nbcpicksupclassic.html |title=NBC PICKS UP CLASSIC, EMMY AWARD-WINNING 'ER' FOR 15TH AND FINAL SEASON |date=April 2, 2008 |access-date=June 28, 2009 |website=]}}{{dead link|date=May 2024}}</ref> The fifteenth season was originally scheduled to run for 19 episodes before retiring with a two-hour series finale to be broadcast on March 12, 2009,<ref>{{cite news |last=Levin |first=Gary |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2008-04-07-er-final-season_N.htm |title=NBC veteran 'ER' will end its run next year |date=April 8, 2008 |work=] |access-date=June 28, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=''The Futon Critic'' Staff |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=7876 |title=NBC Fallout: "Knight" Cut, "Er" Extended |date=December 3, 2008 |website=] |access-date=June 28, 2009}}</ref> but NBC announced in January 2009 that it would extend the show by an additional three episodes to a full 22-episode order as part of a deal to launch a new series by John Wells titled ''Police'', later retitled '']''.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Schneider |first=Michael |url=https://variety.com/2009/scene/markets-festivals/wells-police-close-to-series-order-1117998243/ |title=Wells' 'Police' close to series order, Final season of 'ER' to be extended |date=January 8, 2009 |magazine=] |access-date=June 28, 2009}}</ref> ''ER''{{'}}s ] aired on April 2, 2009; the two-hour episode was preceded by a one-hour retrospective special.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tvseriesfinale.com/articles/er-clooney-and-margulies-to-return-for-final-episodes/ |title=ER: Clooney and Margulies Return to Closed Set for a Final Episode |date=January 22, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20090130040614/http://tvseriesfinale.com/articles/er-clooney-and-margulies-to-return-for-final-episodes/ |archive-date=January 30, 2009 |website=TV Series Finale |access-date=June 28, 2009 |df=mdy}}</ref> The series finale charged $425,000 per 30-second ad spot, more than three times the season's rate of $135,000.<ref name="Saying goodbye to 'ER'"/> From season 4 to season 6 ''ER'' cost a record-breaking $13 million per episode.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web |url=http://marshallinside.usc.edu/mweinstein/teaching/fbe552/552secure/notes/Thurday-Night%20Massacre.pdf |title=Archived copy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304070055/http://marshallinside.usc.edu/mweinstein/teaching/fbe552/552secure/notes/Thurday-Night%20Massacre.pdf |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |access-date=February 28, 2013 |df=mdy}}</ref> ] also paid a record price of $1 million an episode for four years of repeats of the series during that time.<ref>{{cite news |last=Carter |first=Bill |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/16/business/media-what-price-er-syndication.html |title=What Price 'E.R.' Syndication? |date=November 16, 1998 |work=] |access-date=March 1, 2013}}</ref> The cost of the first three seasons was $2 million per episode and seasons 7 to 9 cost $8 million per episode.<ref name="autogenerated1"/><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Fleming |first=Michael |url=https://variety.com/2001/film/columns/dish-er-doc-cuts-big-deal-1117801914/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130412034010/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117801914/?refCatId=14 |url-status=live |archive-date=April 12, 2013 |title=Dish: 'ER' doc cuts big deal |date=June 25, 2001 |magazine=Variety |access-date=March 1, 2013}}</ref>
| ]
| ]
| 10– || 206– || ||


==Cast and characters==
|-
{{Main|Cast of ER}}
| ]
| ]
| 12– || 246– || 10–11 || 204–206, 208–209, 212, 215–217, 220–222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 236, 238–239, 241–242, 244–245


]
|-
]
| ]
| ]
| 13– || 269– || 12 || 252–253


The original starring cast consisted of ] as Dr. ], ] as Dr. ], ] as Dr. ], ] as medical student ], and ] as Dr. ].<ref name="Saying goodbye to 'ER'" /> As the series continued, some key changes were made: Nurse ], played by ], who attempts suicide in the original pilot script, was made into a regular cast member. ] debuted in the middle of the first season as medical student ], but did not return for the second season; she returns in season 6 episode 10. ] and ] would join the series as Physician Assistant ] and Dr. ], respectively, by the second season.<ref name="Memories of 'ER'">{{cite news |url=http://www.military.com/entertainment/television/memories-of-er |title=Memories of 'ER' |date=March 30, 2009 |work=] |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref>
|-
! colspan="6" style="text-align: left;" | PAST <small>(sorted by last appearance as star)</small>
|-
| ]
| ]
| 11–13 || 224–290 || ||


In the third season, a series of cast additions and departures began that would see the entire original cast leave over time. Stringfield was the first to exit the series, reportedly upsetting producers who believed she wanted to negotiate for more money, but the actress did not particularly care for "fame."
|-
<ref name="EW.com">{{cite magazine |last=Kennedy |first=Dana |title=Sherry Stringfield, the Goodbye Girl |url=https://ew.com/article/1997/10/17/sherry-stringfield-goodbye-girl/ |date=October 17, 1997 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=December 6, 2011}}</ref> She would return to the series from 2001 until 2005.<ref name="Saying goodbye to 'ER'" /> Clooney departed the series in 1999 to pursue a film career, and Margulies exited the following year.<ref name="Saying goodbye to 'ER'" /> Season eight saw the departure of La Salle and Edwards when Benton left County General and Greene died from a brain tumor.<ref name="Saying goodbye to 'ER'" /> Wyle left the series after season 11 in order to spend more time with his family, but would return for two multiple-episode appearances in the show's twelfth and final seasons.<ref>{{cite news |last=Albiniak |first=Paige |url=http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/item_QbjH5HA6n46umyyowU3aZN/1 |title=Memories of 'ER' |date=February 12, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019124650/http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/item_QbjH5HA6n46umyyowU3aZN/1 |archive-date=October 19, 2012 |work=] |access-date=June 13, 2010 |df=mdy}}</ref> ] as Dr. ], ] as Dr. ], ] as Dr. ], ] as medical student ], ] as Dr. ], ] as Dr. ], ] as Dr. ], ] as Nurse ], ] as medical student ] and ] as Dr. ] all joined the cast as the seasons went on.<ref name="Memories of 'ER'" /> In the much later seasons, the show would see the additions of ] as medical student ], ] as Dr. ], ] as Nurse ], ] as Dr. ], ] as Paramedic ], ] as Dr. ], and ] as Dr. ].<ref name="Memories of 'ER'" />
| ]
| ]
| 3–13 || 48–280 || 2 || 26–29, 31, 34–35, 38, 40, 43–47


In addition to the main cast, ''ER'' featured a large number of frequently seen recurring cast members who played key roles such as paramedics, hospital support staff, nurses, and doctors. ''ER'' also featured a sizable roster of well-known guest stars, some making rare television appearances, who typically played patients in single episode appearances or multi-episode arcs.
|-
| ]
| ]
| 1–3, 8–12 || 1–55, 161–246 || ||


==Episodes==
|-
{{Main|List of ER episodes}}
| ]
{{:List of ER episodes}}
| ]
| 1–11 || 1–245 || 12 || 259–260, 264–265


A typical episode centered on the ER, with most scenes set in the hospital or surrounding streets. In addition, most seasons included at least one storyline located completely outside of the ER, often outside of ]. Over the span of the series, stories took place in the ], ], ], and ]. One early storyline involved a road trip taken by Dr. Ross and Dr. Greene to ] and a season eight episode included a storyline in ] featuring Dr. Greene and Dr. Corday. Beginning in season nine, storylines started to include the Congo, featuring Dr. Kovač, Dr. Carter, and Dr. Pratt.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Cupples |first1=Julie |last2=Glynn |first2=Kevin |title=Postdevelopment Television? Cultural Citizenship and the Mediation of Africa in Contemporary TV Drama |journal=] |volume=103 |issue=4 |pages=1003–1021 |year=2013 |doi=10.1080/00045608.2011.653741|s2cid=143688124}}</ref> "We turned some attention on the Congo and on ] when nobody else was. We had a bigger audience than a nightly newscast will ever see, making 25 to 30 million people aware of what was going on in Africa," ''ER'' producer ] said. "The show is not about telling people to eat their vegetables, but if we can do that in an entertaining context, then there's nothing better." The series also focused on sociopolitical issues such as ] and ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ].<ref>{{cite web |last=Young |first=Susan C. |url=http://www.today.com/id/29843242 |title='ER' closes door, leaves behind satisfying legacy |date=March 24, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302201554/http://www.today.com/id/29843242 |archive-date=March 2, 2014 |website=]}}</ref>
|-
| ]
| ]
| 6–11 || 123–232 || 1 || 13–17, 19–21


Some episodes used creative formats, such as the 1997 "]," which was broadcast live twice, once for the east coast and again three hours later for the west coast,<ref name="Saying goodbye to 'ER'"/> and 2002's "Hindsight," which ran in reverse time as it followed one character, Dr. Kovač, through the events of a Christmas Eve shift and the Christmas party that preceded it.
|-
| ]
| ]
| 4–11 || 70–227 || ||


===Crossover with ''Third Watch''===
|-
{{See also|Third Watch#Crossovers|l1=Crossovers}}
| ]
The episode "Brothers and Sisters" (first broadcast on April 25, 2002) begins a crossover that concludes on the '']'' episode "Unleashed" in which Dr. Lewis enlists the help of Officers Maurice Boscorelli and Faith Yokas to find her sister and niece.
| ]
| 8–10 || 172–219 || 8, 11–12 || 164–166, 168–170, 239–240, 253–254, 257, 266


==Ratings==
|-
U.S. seasonal rankings based on average total viewers per episode of ''ER'' on ] are tabulated below. Each U.S. network television season starts in late September and ends in late May, which coincides with the completion of May ]. All times mentioned in this section were in the Eastern and Pacific time zones. Ratings for seasons 1–2 are listed in households (the percentage of households watching the program), while ratings for seasons 3–15 are listed in viewers.
| ]
| ]
| 6–10 || 114–209 || 4, 5 || 74–75, 77–81, 84–90, 93, 95–96, 100–101, 103–107, 109–113

|-
| ]
| ]
| 1–8 || 1–179 || ||

|-
| ]
| ]
| 6–8 || 114–167, 178 || ||

|-
| ]
| ]
| 1–8 || 1–167, 172, 178 || ||

|-
| ]
| ]
| 6–8 || 120–161 || 6 || 115–119

|-
| ]
| ]
| 1–6 || 2–134 || 1 || 1

|-
| ]
| ]
| 5–6 || 92–127 || ||

|-
| ]
| ]
| 2–6 || 31–119 || 1, 2 || 14–17, 20–28

|-
| ]
| ]
| 1–5 || 1–106 || 6 || 134

|-
| ]
| ]
| 4 || 70–91 || 3 || 67–69

|}
]

===Main cast departures===
]'s first departure on the show was in 1996, when her character, ''']''', transferred her residency to Phoenix, Arizona, in the Season 3 episode "Union Station." In 2001, Stringfield returned to the series, reprising her role of Dr. Lewis, in the Season 8 episode "Never Say Never." She departed again in the Season 12 premiere, "Canon City." This second departure was not depicted, but rather mentioned by character ] four episodes later in "Wake Up," when she explains that Susan accepted a tenure position at a hospital in Iowa City, Iowa, after having been denied tenure at County.
After playing ''']''' for one season, ] was simply not a part of the ensemble cast when Season 5 began. Like ]'s second exit, her character's departure was mentioned but not depicted; in the season premiere, "Day for Knight," ] explains to new medical student ] that the locker she is inheriting used to belong to Anna Del Amico, who is working in a pediatric ER back in Philadelphia, where she has family and a boyfriend.
] left the show in 1999, in the Season 5 episode "The Storm, Part 2," when his character, ''']''', quit before being fired by County for his involvement in a patient's death. Clooney made a brief reappearance in the Season 6 episode "Such Sweet Sorrow" when his character reunited with ].
] departed early in Season 6, in the episode "The Peace of Wild Things," when her character, ''']''', decided to become a stay-at-home mom and care for her newly adopted HIV-positive baby.
], who played medical student ''']''', left the series midway through Season 6 in the episode "All In The Family," when her character was killed by a patient suffering from an undiagnosed case of ]; his ] occurred before a backed-up psychiatry department could arrive in the ER for a consult.
] left the show at the end of Season 6, in the episode "Such Sweet Sorrow," when her character, ''']''', decided on the spur of the moment to go to Seattle, Washington, and reunite with ], her true love and the father of her twin daughters.
] departed early in Season 8, in the same episode that ] returned in, "Never Say Never," an episode after his character, ''']''', was fired for improper conduct.
]'s character, ''']''', departed in the Season 8 episode "I'll Be Home For Christmas" in order to spend more time with his son, Reese, and his girlfriend, former fellow ER doctor ''']''', portrayed by ], who also left the show in the same episode.
]'s character, ''']''', died of a brain tumor in Season 8's penultimate episode, "On the Beach." Both ] and ] made brief cameo appearances in that episode when their characters, ] and ], were shown in attendance at Mark's funeral. Unusually, Anthony Edwards was credited in the following episode "Lockdown".
]'s character, ''']''', whose arm had been severed just above the elbow by a helicopter's tail rotor in the Season 9 premiere "Chaos Theory," was killed in the Season 10 episode "Freefall" when a helicopter that was taking off from the hospital roof was buffeted by strong winds, causing it to crash on the roof and plummet over the side of the building; it fell into a crowded ambulance bay and landed squarely on Romano.
] left the series twice; once in the Season 10 episode "Where There's Smoke," when his character, ''']''', revealed that the Army was sending him to Iraq, and more definitively in the Season 12 episode "The Gallant Hero and The Tragic Victor," when he was killed by a roadside bomb while serving a second tour.
]'s character, ''']''', left the series in the Season 11 episode "Fear" after getting in trouble for performing an illegal organ donation procedure; rather than being summarily fired, County offered her a demotion to a non-tenured position, but she turned it down and opted to return to England instead. In an interview with Britain's ''Radio Times'' magazine, Kingston spoke of being written off the show due to her age, a statement that sparked some controversy. She later withdrew that claim.<ref>http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271%7C88645%7C1%7C,00.html</ref>
] left in Season 11 when her character, ''']''', quit the ER in the episode "Twas the Night" in order to take care of her ailing father, whom she later mercy killed. This was the second time her character left County General; in Season 1, medical student "Deb" Chen recurred in an eight episode story arc which concluded (apparently not permanently) with her quitting medical school after deciding she was better suited to research than to applied medicine.
] left in the Season 11 finale, "The Show Must Go On." His character, ''']''', had decided to reunite in Africa with his girlfriend ] (portrayed by ]). During Season 12, Wyle returned as Carter and made guest appearances in four episodes: "Quintessence of Dust," "Darfur," "No Place to Hide," and "There Are No Angels Here." He is reported to make further guest appearances in season 14 by David Zabel who claims "He'll be in Chicago in the ER, interacting with all our people," and not running around in Africa. His return is so that his character can check out the Joshua-Carter centre.
] left midway through Season 13, in the episode "A House Divided," when a reluctant ] was forced by budget cuts to fire her character, ''']'''. After bracing for a battle to keep her position, and in spite of the fact that Kovač realized he must find a way to keep her on staff, Weaver ultimately decided to resign from County and accept a job offer from a television station in Miami, Florida.
] also left at the end of the 13th season after his character, ''']''' lost both his legs and returned to Baton Rouge with his mother to recuperate. His character may return during the 14th season. West's final appearance as a main cast member was in "The Honeymoon is Over."

] is expected to leave the main cast at an indeterminate time during the 14th season. At present, his character, ''']''' is in his native Croatia to be with his father, who required surgery for cancer followed by an extended recuperation. As the new season opened, the character remained active through dialogue and discussion of the status of his stay in Croatia, and Visnjic returned to the role briefly in the fifth episode of the season, again credited first in the main cast credits, and will wind up Kovac's story in Croatia before he returns to Chicago and the ER in the eighth episode of the season.

===Notable guest stars===

Memorable appearances on the show have included:
*] in 1995 (as the husband of a woman who dies at the hands of ] in a complicated emergency delivery and files a malpractice suit)
*] in 1995 (as an ] ] whose son suffers from AIDS. She was credited as "Lucy Alexis Liu.")
*] in 1996-99 as Dr. Maggie Doyle, a gay resident who eventually tried to bring a sexual harassment lawsuit against ].
*] as Joseph Klein, a terminally ill patient inadvertently given a reprieve by Carter. (1995)
*] in 1996 as one of ]'s many flings.
*] in 1996 as a paramedic.
*] in 1996–97 (as a troubled teenager)
*] in 1997 (as a convenience store gunman)
*] as ] (A desk clerk Dr. Greene dated)
*] in a series of 15 episodes between 1997 and 2000 (as ]'s father)
*] in 1999 (as a ] survivor)
*] in 1999 (as a teenage alcoholic)
*] in 2000 and 2002 (as a ] who stabs ] and ])
*] in 2001 (as a car crash survivor named Paul Harris)
*] in 2002 (as an injured teen named Bobby Neville)
*] in 2003 (as a thieving ])
*] as Dr. Carter's love interest and mother of his stillborn son.
*] in 2005 (as a ] victim)
*] in 2005 as ], a zealous nurse manager.
*] in 2005 (as ], a zealous but troubled attending physician)
*] in 2006 (as an ]-stricken ] ])

Guest stars whose performances won them ] are:
*] in 2001 for playing ], ]'s mother
*] in 2005, for playing a regret-ridden, dying ] Charlie Metcalf
Guest stars whose performances earned them ] nominations include:
*] in 1995 (for playing ] patient "Madame X")
*] in 2000 (for playing ], an Alzheimer's-stricken doctor and one-time teacher of ])
*] in 2001 as an ailing ] ] who takes an interest in Luka, and coaxes a ] from Luka before dying
*] in 2002 (for playing ], the mother of ])
*] in 2003 (for playing ], a medical student with ]),
*] in 2004 (for playing ], an ] model maker losing his sight).
*] in 2007 (for playing ] a patient filing a lawsuit against ].)

===Supporting cast===
{{main|List of supporting characters in ER (TV series)}}

==U.S. television ratings==
Seasonal rankings (based on average total viewers per episode) of ''ER'' on NBC.

''Note: Each U.S. network television season starts in late September and ends in late May, which coincides with the completion of ]. All times mentioned in this section were in the Eastern & Pacific time zones.''


{| class="wikitable" {| class="wikitable"

|- |-
! Season ! Season
! Episodes
! style="text-align:left" | Season Premiere
! Timeslot (])
! style="text-align:left" | Season Finale
! Season premiere
! style="text-align:left" | TV Season
! Season finale
! Viewer<BR>Rank (#)
! TV season
! Viewers<BR>(in millions)
! Viewer<br />rank (#)

! Households/<br />Viewers<br />(in millions)
|- |-
! ]
! 1st
| style="text-align:center;" | 25
| ], ]
| rowspan=15|Thursday 10:00{{nbsp}}pm
| ], ]
| 1994-1995 | September 19, 1994
| May 18, 1995
| style="text-align:center" | 2<ref name="variety">A Dramatic Achievement (Variety Magazine) – Maynard, Kevin: (from Mai 2003), access on October 23, 2006</ref>
| ]
| style="text-align:center" | 28.9 {{Fact|date=February 2007}}
! style="text-align:center" | #2<ref name="Classic TV Hits94">{{cite web |url=http://www.classictvhits.com/tvratings/1994.htm |title=TV Ratings: 1994–1995 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091026022514/http://www.classictvhits.com/tvratings/1994.htm |archive-date=October 26, 2009 |website=Classic TV Hits |access-date=October 16, 2009 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

! style="text-align:center" | 19.08<ref name="Classic TV Hits94"/>
|- |-
! ]
! 2nd
| style="text-align:center;" | 22
| ], ]
| September 21, 1995
| ], ]
| 1995-1996 | May 16, 1996
| ]
| style="text-align:center" | 1<ref name="variety"/>
! style="text-align:center" | #1<ref name="Classic TV Hits95">{{cite web |url=http://www.classictvhits.com/tvratings/1995.htm |title=TV Ratings: 1995–1996 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091109205105/http://www.classictvhits.com/tvratings/1995.htm |archive-date=November 9, 2009 |website=Classic TV Hits |access-date=December 13, 2009 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center" | 32.0 {{Fact|date=February 2007}}
! style="text-align:center" | 21.10<ref name="Classic TV Hits95"/>
|- |-
! ]
! 3rd
| style="text-align:center;" | 22
| ], ]
| September 26, 1996
| ], ]
| 1996-1997 | May 15, 1997
| ]
| style="text-align:center" | 1<ref name="variety"/>
! style="text-align:center" | #1<ref name="season 3">{{cite news |last=Lowry |first=Brian |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-05-23-ca-61847-story.html |title=A Milestone Year, for a Decidedly Dubious Reason |date=May 23, 1997 |work=]}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center" | 30.8 {{Fact|date=February 2007}}
! style="text-align:center" | 30.79<ref name="season 3"/>

|- |-
! ]
! 4th
| style="text-align:center;" | 22
| ], ]
| September 25, 1997
| ], ]
| 1997-1998 | May 14, 1998
| ]
| style="text-align:center" | 2<ref name="variety"/>
! style="text-align:center" | #2<ref name="season 4">{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/1998/05/29/what-ranked-and-what-tanked/ |title=The Final Countdown |date=May 29, 1998 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212121724/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,283382,00.html |archive-date=February 12, 2012 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=December 2, 2010}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center" | 30.2 {{Fact|date=February 2007}}
! style="text-align:center" | 30.2<ref name="season 4"/>

|- |-
! ]
! 5th
| style="text-align:center;" | 22
| ], ]
| September 24, 1998
| ], ]
| 1998-1999 | May 20, 1999
| ]
| style="text-align:center" | 1<ref name="ew">{{cite news|url=http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/4616/ew0604.html|publisher=]|date=June 4, 1999|title=TV Winners & Losers: Numbers Racket A Final Tally Of The Season's Show (from Nielsen Media Research)}}</ref>
! style="text-align:center" | #1<ref name="season 5">{{cite web |url=http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/4616/ew0604.html |title=TV Winners & Losers: Numbers Racket A Final Tally Of The Season's Show (from Nielsen Media Research)|date=June 4, 1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091029011819/http://geocities.com/Hollywood/4616/ew0604.html |archive-date=October 29, 2009 |website=] |access-date=December 2, 2010}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center" | 25.4<ref name="ew"/>
! style="text-align:center" | 25.4<ref name="season 5"/>

|- |-
! ]
! 6th
| style="text-align:center;" | 22
| ], ]
| September 30, 1999
| ], ]
| 1999-2000 | May 18, 2000
| ]
| style="text-align:center" | 4<ref name="variety"/>
| style="text-align:center" | 25.0<ref>Quotenmeter.de: , access on October 23, 2006</ref> ! style="text-align:center" | #4<ref name="variety">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=chart_pass&charttype=chart_topshows99&dept=TV |magazine=Variety |title=Top TV Shows For 1999–2000 Season |date=August 6, 2000 |access-date=September 9, 2011}}</ref>
! style="text-align:center" | 24.95<ref name="variety"/>

|- |-
! ]
! 7th
| style="text-align:center;" | 22
| ], ]
| ], ] | October 12, 2000
| 2000-2001 | May 17, 2001
| ]
| style="text-align:center" | 2<ref name="eonline01">{{cite news|url=http://cache.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,8327,00.html|publisher=E! Online|date=May 25, 2001|title=Outback in Front: CBS Wins Season|first=Mark|last=Armstrong}}</ref>
! style="text-align:center" | #2<ref name="0001season">{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2001/06/01/bitter-end/ |title=The Bitter End |date=June 1, 2001 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718141929/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,256435,00.html |archive-date=July 18, 2012 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=December 2, 2010}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center" | 22.4<ref name="eonline01"/>
! style="text-align:center" | 22.4<ref name="0001season"/>

|- |-
! ]
! 8th
| style="text-align:center;" | 22
| ], ]
| September 27, 2001
| ], ]
| 2001-2002 | May 16, 2002
| ]
| style="text-align:center" | 3<ref name="usatoday02">{{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/2002/2002-05-28-year-end-chart.htm|publisher=USA Today|date=May 28, 2002|title=How did your favorite show rate?}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center" | 22.1<ref name="usatoday02"/> ! style="text-align:center" | #3<ref name="usatoday02">{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/2002/2002-05-28-year-end-chart.htm |title=How did your favorite show rate? |date=May 28, 2002 |work=USA Today |access-date=October 16, 2009}}</ref>
! style="text-align:center" | 22.1<ref name="usatoday02"/>

|- |-
! ]
! 9th
| style="text-align:center;" | 22
| ], ]
| September 26, 2002
| ], ]
| 2002-2003 | May 15, 2003
| ]
| style="text-align:center" | 4<ref name="eonline03">{{cite web|url=http://cache.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,11855,00.html?newsrellink|publisher=E! Online|date=May 22, 2003|accessdate=2006-09-16|title=TV Season Wraps; 'CSI' Rules|first=Joal|last=Ryan}}</ref>
! style="text-align:center" | #6<ref name="eonline03">{{cite web |url=https://groups.google.com/group/rec.arts.tv/browse_thread/thread/ee82c0640bcaeb06/82c78e0fe7710443?lnk=st&q=nielsen+top+156&rnum=1#82c78e0fe7710443 |title=Nielsen's TOP 156 Shows for 2002–03 |website=Google Groups |access-date=September 3, 2011}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center" | 20.0<ref name="eonline03"/>
! style="text-align:center" | 19.99<ref name="eonline03"/>

|- |-
! ]
! 10th
| style="text-align:center;" | 22
| ], ]
| September 25, 2003
| ], ]
| 2003-2004 | May 13, 2004
| ]
| style="text-align:center" | 8<ref name="eonline04">{{cite web|url=http://cache.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,14203,00.html|publisher=E! Online|date=May 27, 2004|accessdate=2006-10-14|title="Idol" Rules TV Season|first=Joal|last=Ryan}}</ref>
! style="text-align:center" | #8<ref name=s2003>{{cite web |url=http://www.abcmedianet.com/Web/progcal/dispDNR.aspx?id=060204_11 |title=ABC Medianet |date=September 30, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930155240/http://www.abcmedianet.com/Web/progcal/dispDNR.aspx?id=060204_11 |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |website=ABC Medianet |access-date=September 3, 2011}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center" | 19.5<ref name="eonline04"/>
! style="text-align:center" | 19.04<ref name=s2003/>

|- |-
! ]
! 11th
| style="text-align:center;" | 22
| ], ]
| September 23, 2004
| ], ]
| 2004-2005 | May 19, 2005
| ]
| style="text-align:center" | 16<ref name="er0405">{{cite news|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/television/feature_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000937471|publisher=]|date=May 27, 2005|title=2004-05 Final audience and ratings figures}}</ref>
! style="text-align:center" | #16<ref name=abc05>{{cite web |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=060105_05 |title=ABC Television Network 2004–2005 Primetime Ranking Report |date=June 1, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421023509/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=060105_05 |archive-date=April 21, 2012 |website=ABC Medianet |access-date=November 6, 2007}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center" | 15.5<ref name="er0405"/>
! style="text-align:center" | 15.17<ref name="abc05"/>

|- |-
! ]
! 12th
| style="text-align:center;" | 22
| ], ]
| September 22, 2005
| ], ]
| 2005-2006 | May 18, 2006
| ]
| style="text-align:center" | 30<ref name="er0506">{{cite news|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/television/feature_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002576393|publisher=]|date=May 26, 2006|title=2005-06 primetime wrap}}</ref>
! style="text-align:center" | #30<ref name=abc06>{{cite web |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=053106_05 |title=ABC Television Network 2005–2006 Primetime Ranking Report |date=May 31, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011060406/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=053106_05 |archive-date=October 11, 2014 |website=ABC Medianet |access-date=November 6, 2007}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center" | 12.3<ref name="er0506"/>
! style="text-align:center" | 12.06<ref name="abc06"/>

|- |-
! ]
! 13th
| style="text-align:center;" | 23
| ], ]
| September 21, 2006
| ], ]
| 2006-2007 | May 17, 2007
| ]
| style="text-align:center" | 31<ref name="HRwrap2006-07">{{cite news|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/features/e3ifbfdd1bcb53266ad8d9a71cad261604f|source=Hollywood Reporter|date=] ]|title=Hollywood Reporter: 2006-07 primetime wrap}}</ref>
! style="text-align:center" | #40<ref name=abc07>{{cite web |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=053007_08 |title=ABC Television Network 2006–2007 Primetime Ranking Report |date=May 30, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323004317/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=053007_08 |archive-date=March 23, 2012 |website=ABC Medianet |access-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center" | 11.5<ref name="HRwrap2006-07">{{cite news|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/features/e3ifbfdd1bcb53266ad8d9a71cad261604f|source=Hollywood Reporter|date=] ]|title=Hollywood Reporter: 2006-07 primetime wrap}}</ref>
! style="text-align:center" | 11.56<ref name="abc07"/>

|- |-
! ]
! 14th
| style="text-align:center;" | 19
| ], ]
| September 27, 2007
|
| 2007-2008 | May 15, 2008
| ]
| style="text-align:center" |
! style="text-align:center" | #54<ref name=abc08>{{cite web |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=052808_06 |title=ABC Television Network 2007–2008 Primetime Ranking Report |date=May 28, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413172935/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=052808_06 |archive-date=April 13, 2010 |website=ABC Medianet |access-date=July 3, 2009}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center" |
! style="text-align:center" | 9.20<ref name="abc08"/>

|-
! ]
| style="text-align:center;" | 22
| September 25, 2008
| April 2, 2009
| ]
! style="text-align:center" | #37<ref name=abc09>{{cite web |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=060209_05 |title=ABC Television Network 2008–2009 Primetime Ranking Report |date=June 2, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140410204904/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=060209_05 |archive-date=April 10, 2014 |website=ABC Medianet |access-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref>
! style="text-align:center" | 10.30<ref name=abc09/>
|} |}


In its first year, ''ER'' attracted an average of 19 million viewers per episode, becoming the year's second most watched television show, just behind '']''. In the following two seasons (1995–1997), ''ER'' was the most watched show in ]. For almost five years, ''ER'' battled for the top spot against ''Seinfeld'', but in 1998, ''Seinfeld'' ended and then ''ER'' became number one again. The ] attracted 16.4 million viewers.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Littleton |first=Cynthia |url=https://variety.com/2009/scene/features/er-series-finale-scores-with-auds-1118002091/ |title='ER' series finale scores with auds |date=April 3, 2009 |magazine=Variety}}</ref> The show's highest rating came during the episode "]" with 48 million viewers and a 45% market share. It was the highest for a regularly scheduled drama since a May 1985 installment of '']'' received a 46. The share represents the percentage of TVs in use tuned in to that show.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tv.com/shows/er/hell-and-high-water-25591 |title=ER - Season 2, Episode 7: Hell and High Water |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112073932/http://www.tv.com/shows/er/hell-and-high-water-25591/ |archive-date=November 12, 2017 |website=] |access-date=September 9, 2011}}</ref>
==Awards and nominations==
''ER'' won the ] in 1995. In addition, the series has earned 123 ] nominations, making it the most Emmy-nominated show in history.<ref> from the Emmy Awards. Retrieved July 22, 2006.</ref> as well as 22 ] (at least one every year up to and including 2005, except for 2004). It also won the ] for "Favorite Television Dramatic Series" every year from 1997 to 2002. Over the years, it has been nominated for and/or won numerous other awards, including ] Awards, ], ], and ]s, among others.<ref>http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108757/awards</ref>


==Critical reception==
The following is a partial list of major awards and nominations received by the show, its cast, and crew.
Throughout the series ''ER'' received positive reviews from critics and fans alike. ] from '']'' said: "It's like '']'' with just the helicopters showing up and no laughs. ''E.R.'' is all trauma; you never get to know enough about the patients or get involved with them. It's just treat, release and move on."<ref>{{cite news |last=Kitman |first=Marvin |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/278825813 |title=THE MARVIN KITMAN SUNDAY SHOW 2 Doses of Strong Medicine |id={{ProQuest|278825813}} |page=19 |date=September 18, 1994 |work=] |access-date=January 30, 2021}}</ref> ] from '']'' stated that it's "probably the most realistic fictional treatment of the medical profession TV has ever presented."<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Zoglin |first=Richard |url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,981462,00.html |title=TELEVISION: Network Scramble |date=September 19, 1994 |magazine=TIME}}</ref>


] launched the show at the same time that ] launched its own medical drama '']''; many critics drew comparisons between the two. Eric Mink, writing for the '']'', concluded that ''ER'' may rate more highly in the ] but ''Chicago Hope'' told better stories,<ref>{{cite news |last=Swan|first=Lisa |title=Daily News Deja Vu: 'ER' |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2008/09/21/2008-09-21_daily_news_deja_vu_er-1.html?print=1&page=all |date=September 22, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414002527/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2008/09/21/2008-09-21_daily_news_deja_vu_er-1.html?print=1&page=all |archive-date=April 14, 2009 |work=] |access-date=December 31, 2008}}</ref> while ], writing for '']'', felt both shows were "riveting, superior TV fare."<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Rich |first=Alan |url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117909056.html?categoryid=31&cs=1 |title=ER Review |date=September 19, 1994 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090412194437/http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117909056.html?categoryid=31&cs=1 |archive-date=April 12, 2009 |magazine=Variety |access-date=December 31, 2008}}</ref> '']'' wrote in 1996: "Not being able to follow what on earth is going on remains one of the peculiar charms of the breakneck American hospital drama, ''ER''."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hammond |first1=Michael |last2=Mazdon |first2=Lucy |title=The Contemporary Television Series |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p9Sv7-llzyUC&q=er+television&pg=PA217 |publisher=] |date=January 30, 2007 |page=219 |isbn=978-0-7486-1901-6}}</ref>
===Awards===
''']'''
* Outstanding Drama Series (1996)
* Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series—] (1995)
* Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing for a Drama Series—] for episode "Love's Labor Lost" (1995)
* Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series—] (2001)
* Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series—] (2005)


In 2002, '']'' ranked ''ER'' No. 22 on their list of "TV's Top 50 Shows," making it the second highest ranked medical drama on the list (after '']'' at No. 20).<ref>{{cite news |last=Cosgrove-Mather |first=Bootie |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tv-guide-names-top-50-shows/ |title=TV Guide Names Top 50 Shows |date=April 2, 2002 |work=] |access-date=December 24, 2010}}</ref> Also, the episode "]" was ranked No. 6 on ] list having earlier been ranked No. 3.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Special Collector's Issue: ] |issue=June 28 – July 4 |year=1997 |magazine=]}}</ref> The show placed No. 19 on '']''{{'s}} "New TV Classics" list.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2007/06/18/new-classics-tv/ |title=The New Classics: TV |date=June 18, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716041112/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C20207339%2C00.html |archive-date=July 16, 2014 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=February 6, 2012}}</ref> '']'' ranked it No. 29 in their list of the "50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time" and said the best episode was "]" where "] (]) saves a young boy from drowning during a flood."<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.empireonline.com/50greatesttv/default.asp?tv=29 |title=Empire Features: ''ER'' |year=2008 |magazine=] |access-date=February 6, 2012}}</ref> In 2012, ''ER'' was voted Best TV Drama on ]'s '']'' special episode "Best in TV: The Greatest TV Shows of Our Time."<ref>{{cite news |last=Hughes |first=Jason |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/19/best-in-tv-classic-comedy-favorite-video_n_1895871.html |title='Best In TV: The Greatest TV Shows Of All Time': Which Classic Comedy Is America's All-Time Favorite? (VIDEO) |date=September 19, 2012 |work=] |access-date=June 4, 2013}}</ref> In 2013, ''TV Guide'' ranked it No. 9 in its list of The 60 Greatest Dramas of All Time<ref>Roush, Matt (February 25, 2013). "Showstoppers: The 60 Greatest Dramas of All Time." ''TV Guide''. pp. 16–17.</ref> and No. 29 in its list of the 60 Best Series.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Fretts |first1=Bruce |last2=Roush |first2=Matt |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/tv-guide-magazine-60-best-series-1074962/ |title=TV Guide Magazine's 60 Best Series of All Time |date=December 23, 2013 |magazine=TV Guide |access-date=May 30, 2024}}</ref> In the same year, the ] ranked ''ER'' No. 28 in its list of the 101 Best Written TV Series of All Time.<ref>{{cite news |last=Pedersen |first=Erik |url=https://deadline.com/2013/06/wgas-101-best-written-tv-series-of-all-time-complete-list-512061/ |title='101 Best Written TV Series Of All Time' From WGA/TV Guide: Complete List |date=June 2, 2013 |work=] |access-date=June 4, 2013}}</ref>
''']s'''
* Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series-Drama—] (1998)


===Awards and nominations===
''']'''
{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by ER}}
* Best Performance by a Cast in a Drama Series (1996-1999) 4 wins
''ER'' has won 128 industry awards from 442 nominations, including the ] in 1995, ] in 1995, and ] in 1996. It was also nominated for 124 ] (with 23 wins), 25 ] (with one win), 18 ] (with eight wins), 12 ] (with four wins), 8 ] (with two wins), 5 ] (with one win), and 3 ] (with two wins).
* Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series—] (1998-99) 2 wins
* Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series—] (1996, 1998) 2 wins


===Nominations=== ==Distribution==
''']'''
* Outstanding Drama Series (1995, 1997-2001) 6 nominations
* Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series—] (1995-98) 4 nominations
* Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series—] (1995-96) 2 nominations
* Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series- ] (2002)
* Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series—] (1997-2000) 4 nominations
* Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series—] (1995-97) 3 nominations
* Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series—] (1995-99) 5 nominations
* Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series—] (1995, 1997-98) 3 nominations
* Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series- ] (2001)
* Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series—] (2001)
* Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series—] (1997-98) 2 nominations
* Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series—] (1997-98) 2 nominations
* Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series—] (1996)
* Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series-] (2007)
* Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series—] (2006)
* Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series—] (2005)
* Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series—] (2004)
* Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series—] (2003)
* Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series—] (2003)


===Home media===
''']s'''
] has released all 15 seasons in Region 1, Region 2, and Region 4.
* Best TV Series-Drama (1995-2001) 7 nominations
* Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series-Drama—] (1996-97, 1999) 3 nominations
* Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series-Drama—] (1996-98) 3 nominations
* Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series-Drama—] (1999-2000) 3 nominations
* Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series-Drama—] (1996-97) 2 nominations
* Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a TV Series—] (1997-99) 3 nominations
* Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a TV Series—] (1998)
* Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a TV Series—] (1998)
* Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a TV Series—] (1996)
* Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a TV Series—] (1997)


In the United Kingdom (Region 2), The Complete Series boxset was released on October 26, 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/ER-Complete-Seasons-1-15-DVD/dp/B002JF3FSS |title=ER: Complete Seasons 1–15 |date=October 25, 2009 |website=]}}</ref> On September 12, 2016, the series was re-released in three box sets, Seasons 1–5,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/ER-Season-1-5-Anthony-Edwards/dp/B01J5PFGSQ/ref=pd_lpo_74_t_0/261-2099117-3187901?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01J5PFGSQ&pd_rd_r=b254f2d7-5e08-443f-8503-30154e6cd126&pd_rd_w=fNbVn&pd_rd_wg=qFsKF&pf_rd_p=7b8e3b03-1439-4489-abd4-4a138cf4eca6&pf_rd_r=E8DPTJ4Q75Y55QAXFM45&psc=1&refRID=E8DPTJ4Q75Y55QAXFM45 |title=ER – Season 1–5 |date=September 12, 2016 |website=Amazon}}</ref> Seasons 6–10,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/ER-Season-6-10-Anthony-Edwards/dp/B01J5PFGS6/ref=pd_sbs_74_2/261-2099117-3187901?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01J5PFGS6&pd_rd_r=499898c8-272c-4a47-b544-13ec23210dd3&pd_rd_w=242mi&pd_rd_wg=I0u9Z&pf_rd_p=2773aa8e-42c5-4dbe-bda8-5cdf226aa078&pf_rd_r=E8DPTJ4Q75Y55QAXFM45&psc=1&refRID=E8DPTJ4Q75Y55QAXFM45 |title=ER – Season 6–10 |date=September 12, 2016 |website=Amazon}}</ref> and Seasons 11–15.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/ER-Season-11-15-Sherry-Stringfield/dp/B01J5PFGT0/ref=pd_lpo_74_t_2/261-2099117-3187901?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01J5PFGT0&pd_rd_r=b254f2d7-5e08-443f-8503-30154e6cd126&pd_rd_w=fNbVn&pd_rd_wg=qFsKF&pf_rd_p=7b8e3b03-1439-4489-abd4-4a138cf4eca6&pf_rd_r=E8DPTJ4Q75Y55QAXFM45&psc=1&refRID=E8DPTJ4Q75Y55QAXFM45 |title=ER – Season 11–15 |date=September 12, 2016 |website=Amazon}}</ref>
''']'''
* Best Performance by a Cast in a Drama Series (1995, 1998, 2000-01) 4 nominations
* Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series—] (2001)
* Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series—] (1996)
* Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series—] (1997, 1999, 2001) 3 nominations
* Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series—] (1996-97) 2 nominations


==DVD releases==
{| class="wikitable" {| class="wikitable"
|+
! Season
! Date of ] DVD Release
! Date of UK ]* DVD Release
! Date of AUS ] DVD Release
|- |-
! rowspan="2"|] title
| The Complete First Season (1994-1995)
! rowspan="2"|{{Abbr|No.|Number}} of<br />episodes
| ], ]
! colspan="3"|Release dates
| ], ]
| ], ]
|- |-
! ]
| The Complete Second Season (1995-1996)
! ]
| ], ]
! ]
| ], ]
| ], ]
|- |-
| The Complete Third Season (1996-1997) | ''ER: The Complete First Season (1994–1995)''
| style="text-align:center;"|25
| ], ]
| August 26, 2003
| ], ]
| ], ] | February 23, 2004
| April 28, 2004

|-
| ''ER: The Complete Second Season (1995–1996)''
| style="text-align:center;"|22
| April 27, 2004
| July 26, 2004
| July 15, 2004
|- |-
| The Complete Fourth Season (1997-1998) | ''ER: The Complete Third Season (1996–1997)''
| style="text-align:center;"|22
| ], ]
| ], ] | April 26, 2005
| ], ] | January 31, 2005
| December 16, 2004
|- |-
| The Complete Fifth Season (1998-1999) | ''ER: The Complete Fourth Season (1997–1998)''
| style="text-align:center;"|22
| ], ]
| ], ] | December 20, 2005
| ], ] | May 16, 2005
| April 27, 2005
|- |-
| The Complete Sixth Season (1999-2000) | ''ER: The Complete Fifth Season (1998–1999)''
| style="text-align:center;"|22
| ], ]<ref>http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=6278</ref>
| ], ] | July 11, 2006
| ], ] | October 24, 2005
| November 15, 2005
|- |-
| The Complete Seventh Season (2000-2001) | ''ER: The Complete Sixth Season (1999–2000)''
| style="text-align:center;"|22
| ], ]
| ], ] | December 19, 2006
| ], ] | April 3, 2006
| May 5, 2006
|- |-
| The Complete Eighth Season (2001-2002) | ''ER: The Complete Seventh Season (2000–2001)''
| style="text-align:center;"|22
| ], ]<ref>http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/ER-Season-8-Press%20Release/8145</ref>
| May 15, 2007
| ], ]<ref>http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/3350001/E_R_Season_8/Product.html</ref>
| ], ] | September 18, 2006
| October 3, 2006
|- |-
| The Complete Ninth Season (2002-2003) | ''ER: The Complete Eighth Season (2001–2002)''
| style="text-align:center;"|22
| Not yet released
| January 22, 2008
| ], ]<ref>http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/3438579/-/Product.html</ref>
| ], ] | July 16, 2007
| September 6, 2007
|- |-
| The Complete Tenth Season (2003-2004) | ''ER: The Complete Ninth Season (2002–2003)''
| style="text-align:center;"|22
| Not yet released
| Not yet released | June 17, 2008
| October 29, 2007
| Not yet released
| October 31, 2007
|- |-
| The Complete Eleventh Season (2004-2005) | ''ER: The Complete Tenth Season (2003–2004)''
| style="text-align:center;"|22
| Not yet released
| March 3, 2009
| Not yet released
| January 28, 2008
| Not yet released
| May 7, 2008
|- |-
| The Complete Twelfth Season (2005-2006) | ''ER: The Complete Eleventh Season (2004–2005)''
| style="text-align:center;"|22
| Not yet released
| Not yet released | July 14, 2009
| April 21, 2008
| Not yet released
| May 7, 2008
|- |-
| The Complete Thirteenth Season (2006-2007) | ''ER: The Complete Twelfth Season (2005–2006)''
| style="text-align:center;"|22
| Not yet released
| January 12, 2010
| Not yet released
| September 15, 2008
| Not yet released
| October 1, 2008
|- |-
| The Complete Fourteenth Season (2007-2008) | ''ER: The Complete Thirteenth Season (2006–2007)''
| style="text-align:center;"|23
| Not yet released
| Not yet released | July 6, 2010
| November 3, 2008
| Not yet released
| April 29, 2009
|-
| ''ER: The Complete Fourteenth Season (2007–2008)''
| style="text-align:center;"|19
| January 11, 2011
| May 18, 2009
| April 28, 2010
|-
| ''ER: The Final Season (2008–2009)''
| style="text-align:center;"|22
| July 12, 2011
| September 21, 2009
| October 12, 2010
|} |}


The first six DVD box sets of ''ER'' are unusual in the fact that they are all in ] even though these episodes were broadcast in a standard 4:3 format. Only the live episode "Ambush" is not in the widescreen format. All "Previously on ER" segments are removed from each episode. The DVD's are boxes containing 4 discs (either 4 (seasons 1 and 2), with episodes on both sides of the disc, the fourth disc containing all special features) or 6 discs ((seasons 3-up), special features and episodes on one side of each disc only). The DVD box sets of ''ER'' are unusual in the fact that they are all in ] even though the first six seasons of the show were broadcast in a standard 4:3 format. ''ER'' was shot ] for widescreen presentation, allowing the show to be presented in 16:9 ] (leaving only the title sequence in the 4:3 format). However, as the production of the show was generally conceived with 4:3 presentation in mind, some episodes feature vignetting or unintended objects towards the sides of the frame that would not be visible when presented in the 4:3 format. These episodes also appear in the widescreen format when rerun on ], ] and streaming services.


In 2018, ] struck a deal with ] to stream all 15 seasons of the show.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Littleton |first=Cynthia |url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/er-streaming-hulu-deal-330-episodes-1202664169/ |title='ER' Finally Makes Streaming Debut With Hulu Pact |date=January 14, 2018 |magazine=Variety |access-date=June 22, 2018}}</ref> The show arrived on ] in January 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last=Strout |first=Paige |url=https://www.tvinsider.com/1026710/new-on-hbo-movies-shows-january-2022/ |title=What's Coming & Going From HBO Max in January 2022 |date=December 31, 2021 |website=] |access-date=March 26, 2022}}</ref>
The first six seasons of the series have also been released in ] and other markets. Other Region 2 markets have different release dates. In Germany, Season 9 was released on 7 September 2007. amazon.de


===Soundtrack===
==Other Merchandise==
In 1996, ] released an album of music from the first two seasons, featuring ]'s theme from the series in its on-air and full versions, selections from the weekly scores composed by Martin Davich (Howard scored the two-hour pilot, Davich scored all the subsequent episodes and wrote a new theme used from 2006–2009 until the final episode, when Howard's original theme returned) and songs used on the series.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/er-original-television-theme-music-and-score-mw0000076128 |title=E.R.: Original Television Theme Music and Score |website=] |access-date=June 8, 2013}}</ref>


'''Soundtrack''': Various compositions from season 1 and 2 episodes by ]. # Theme From ''ER'' James Newton Howard (3:02)
# Dr. Lewis and Renee (from "The Birthday Party") (1:57)
# Canine Blues (from "Make of Two Hearts") (2:27)
# Goodbye Baby Susie (from "Fever of Unknown Origin") (3:11)
# Doug & Carol (from "The Gift") – composed by James Newton Howard and Martin Davich (1:59)
# Healing Hands – Marc Cohn (4:25)
# The Hero (from "Hell And High Water") composed by James Newton Howard and Martin Davich (1:55)
# Carter, See You Next Fall (from "Everything Old Is New Again") (1:28)
# Reasons For Living – Duncan Sheik (4:33)
# Dr. Green and a Mother's Death (from "Love's Labor Lost") (2:48)
# Raul Dies (from "The Healers") (2:20)
# Hell and High Water (from "Hell And High Water") – composed by James Newton Howard and Martin Davich (2:38)
# Hold On (from "Hell And High Water") (2:47)
# Shep Arrives (from "The Healers") (3:37)
# Shattered Glass (from "Hell And High Water") (2:11)
# Theme From ''ER'' – James Newton Howard (1:00)
# It Came Upon a Midnight Clear – Mike Finnegan (2:30)


===Other media===
'''Game''': A video game, where the player takes control of a character in the series and treats patients.
* An ''ER'' video game developed by ] for ] and ] was released in 2005.<ref>{{cite web |last=Adams |first=David |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/05/31/er-admitted-to-retail |title=ER Admitted to Retail |date=May 31, 2005 |website=] |access-date=March 3, 2019}}</ref>
* In the '']'' episode "Pokémon Park / WWER," the show was parodied in the style of ].
* A recurring sketch called "Toy ER" in the ] comedy series '']'' parodies the show, featuring Dr. Malady (Chelsea Brummet), Dr. Botch (]), and Dr. Sax (]) "treating" damaged toys.
* A book about emergency medicine based on the TV series, '''' was published in 1996. Authors Alan Duncan Ross and Harlan Gibbs M.D. have hospital administration and ER experience, respectively, and are called fans of the TV show in the book's credits.
* An episode-by-episode ] called '''' launched in 2019, and has featured numerous cast and crew interviews, including ], ], ], ], ], ], John Frank Levy, ], and others.


===Foreign adaptations===
==References==
In March 2012, ] announced that they would sell the format rights to ''ER'' to overseas territories. This allowed foreign countries to produce their own version of the series.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://deadline.com/2012/03/warner-bros-will-begin-to-sell-er-format-rights-overseas-250111/ |title=Warner Bros Will Begin To Sell 'ER' Format Rights Overseas |date=March 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707125652/http://www.deadline.com/2012/03/warner-bros-will-begin-to-sell-er-format-rights-overseas/ |archive-date=July 7, 2012 |url-status=live |work=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref>
{{reflist|2}}

In June 2013, Warner Bros. International Television and ] announced a ]n version of ''ER.''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mondo.rs/s294577/Zabava/Rijaliti_TV/Potraga_za_srpskim_Dzordzom_Klunijem.html |title=Potraga za srpskim Džordžom Klunijem |date=June 21, 2013 |language=sr |access-date=August 26, 2016}}</ref> '']'' premiered on October 6, 2014, on ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.prva.rs/program/serija/urgentni-centar.html |title=Urgentni centar |website=] |language=sr |access-date=August 26, 2016}}</ref> As of 2023, four seasons of the show have been filmed.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tvinemania.rs/urgentni-centar-4-sezona-prva/ |title=Sve što znamo u 4. sezoni serije URGENTNI CENTAR |website=TVINEMANIA |date=February 19, 2023 |language=sr}}</ref>

In January 2014, Warner Bros. International Television with ], ] and ] announced a ]n version of ''ER.''<ref>{{cite news |last=Tartaglione |first=Nancy |url=https://deadline.com/2014/01/global-showbiz-briefs-colombia-orders-60-episodes-of-er-tbilisi-i-love-you-hits-georgia-theaters-in-february-more-670678/ | title=Global Showbiz Briefs: Colombia Orders 60 Episodes Of 'ER'; 'Tbilisi, I Love You' Hits Georgia Theaters In February; More |date=January 24, 2014 |work=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref>

In March 2014, Warner Bros. International Television and ] announced a ] version of ''ER.''{{cn|date=June 2024}}

In February 2015, Warner Bros. International Television and ] announced a ] version of ''ER.''{{cn|date=June 2024}}

==Reboot==
Original cast member ] revealed that in 2020 there were talks to revive the show. However, development of that series stalled due to issues with the estate of creator ], and in early 2024, Wyle was announced as starring in a new medical drama from ] and original ''ER'' showrunner ], '']''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rice |first=Lynette |url=https://deadline.com/2024/06/noah-wyle-tried-to-revive-er-before-the-pitt-john-wells-max-1235983879/ |title=Noah Wyle Says There Was An Effort To Revive 'ER' Before He & John Wells Moved Ahead With 'The Pitt' |date=June 26, 2024 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref> That August, the Crichton estate brought a lawsuit against Warner Bros., Wells, and Wyle, alleging that ''The Pitt'' was in fact an unauthorized remake of ''ER'' which could not be produced without the estate's approval; Warner Bros. has denied the allegation, calling ''The Pitt'' "a new and original show."<ref>{{cite web |last=Yoon |first=John |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/28/arts/television/michael-crichton-er-pitt-lawsuit.html |title=Michael Crichton's Estate Calls New Show an Unauthorized 'ER' Remake in Lawsuit |date=August 28, 2024 |website=The New York Times}}</ref>


==See also== ==See also==
* '']'' – Similar concept but based on a ] fictional hospital's accident & emergency department.
*]

*]
==References==
{{reflist}}


==External links== ==External links==
* Official website
{{wikiquote|ER}}
* ER's official (last updated in 2004) * Official website
* ER's official * Official website
* {{IMDb title|0108757}}
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* {{wikiquote-inline|ER}}


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{{British Academy Television Award for Best International Programme}}
{{EmmyAward DramaSeries 1976-2000}}
{{TCA Heritage Award}}
}}


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Latest revision as of 04:36, 19 December 2024

American medical drama television series (1994–2009) Not to be confused with the sitcom E/R.

ER
GenreMedical drama
Created byMichael Crichton
Starring
Theme music composer
ComposerMartin Davich
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons15
No. of episodes331 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time45 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseSeptember 19, 1994 (1994-09-19) –
April 2, 2009 (2009-04-02)
Related
Third Watch

ER is an American medical drama television series created by Michael Crichton that aired on NBC from September 19, 1994, to April 2, 2009, with a total of 331 episodes spanning 15 seasons. It was produced by Constant c Productions and Amblin Television, in association with Warner Bros. Television. ER follows the inner life of the emergency room (ER) of Cook County General Hospital, a fictionalized version of the real Cook County Hospital, in Chicago, and the various critical professional, ethical, and personal issues faced by the department's physicians, nurses, and staff.

The show is the second longest-running primetime medical drama in American television history behind Grey's Anatomy. The highest awarded medical drama, ER won 128 industry awards from 442 nominations, including the Peabody Award in 1995, TCA Award for Program of the Year in 1995, and Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in 1996. As of 2014, ER had grossed over $3 billion in television revenue. It 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.

Production

Development

Michael Crichton wearing a suit.
Michael Crichton in 2002

In 1974, author Michael Crichton wrote a screenplay then entitled "EW" (for emergency ward) based on his own experiences as a medical student in a busy hospital emergency room. Producers were not interested in the screenplay, and Crichton turned to other topics. In 1990, he published the novel Jurassic Park, and in 1993 began a collaboration with director Steven Spielberg on the film adaptation of the book.

After its release, Crichton and Spielberg then turned to what was now known as ER, but Spielberg decided to film the story as a two-hour pilot for a television series rather than as a feature film after considering the potential for various stories to be told in the setting. He passed the script on to a team at his production company, Amblin Entertainment. Anthony Thomopoulos, then head of Amblin's television division, got in touch with then CEO of Warner Bros. Television, Les Moonves, about the idea for the series and to send the script. Spielberg's Amblin Television provided John Wells as the show's executive producer.

Warner Bros. Television pitched ER to NBC, alongside Crichton, Spielberg and Wells. Warren Littlefield, head of NBC Entertainment at the time, liked the project, but there was much debate and controversy among other executives at the network, who were dubious about the nature of the series. NBC offered a chance to make a two-hour made-for-TV movie from the script, which was rejected. They then tried to get the show greenlit at rival networks before returning to NBC, who this time around ordered a pilot.

The script used to shoot the pilot was virtually unchanged from what Crichton had written in 1974. The only substantive changes made by the producers in 1994 were that a male character was changed to a female character (Susan Lewis) and the Peter Benton character's race was changed to African-American. The running time was shortened by about 20 minutes in order for the pilot to air in a two-hour block on network TV. Because of a lack of time and money necessary to build a set, the pilot episode of ER was filmed in the former Linda Vista Hospital in Los Angeles, an old facility that had ceased operating in 1990. A set modeled after Los Angeles County General Hospital's emergency room was built soon afterward at the Warner Bros. studios in Burbank, California, although the show makes extensive use of location shoots in Chicago, most notably the city's famous "L" train platforms.

Littlefield was impressed by the series: "We were intrigued, but we were admittedly a bit spooked in attempting to go back into that territory a few years after St. Elsewhere." With Spielberg attached behind the scenes, NBC ordered six episodes. "ER premiered opposite a Monday Night Football game on ABC and did surprisingly well. Then we moved it to Thursday and it just took off," commented Littlefield. ER's success surprised the networks and critics alike, as David E. Kelley's new medical drama Chicago Hope was expected to crush the new series, airing directly opposite ER in the Thursday 10:00 pm time slot over on CBS.

Crichton was credited as an executive producer until his death in November 2008, although he was still credited as one throughout that entire final season. Wells, the series' other initial executive producer, served as showrunner for the first three seasons. He was the show's most prolific writer and became a regular director in later years. Lydia Woodward was a part of the first season production team and became an executive producer for the third season. She took over as showrunner for the fourth season while Wells focused on the development of other series, including Trinity, Third Watch, and The West Wing. John Wells continued to serve as the primary Executive Producer for the remainder of the series. Lydia Woodward left her executive producer position at the end of the sixth season but continued to write episodes throughout the series run.

Joe Sachs, who was a writer and producer of the series, believed keeping a commitment to medical accuracy was extremely important: "We'd bend the rules but never break them. A medication that would take 10 minutes to work might take 30 seconds instead. We compressed time. A 12- to 24-hour shift gets pushed into 48 minutes. But we learned that being accurate was important for more reasons than just making real and responsible drama."

Woodward was replaced as showrunner by Jack Orman. Orman was recruited as a writer-producer for the series in its fourth season after a successful stint working on CBS's JAG. He was quickly promoted and became an executive producer and showrunner for the series' seventh season. He held these roles for three seasons before leaving the series at the end of the ninth season. Orman was also a frequent writer and directed three episodes of the show.

David Zabel served as the series' head writer and executive producer in its later seasons. He initially joined the crew for the eighth season and became an executive producer and showrunner for the twelfth season onward. Zabel was the series' most frequent writer, contributing to 41 episodes. He also made his directing debut on the series. Christopher Chulack was the series' most frequent director and worked as a producer on all 15 seasons. He became an executive producer in the fourth season but occasionally scaled back his involvement in later years to focus on other projects.

Other executive producers include writers Carol Flint, Neal Baer, R. Scott Gemmill, Joe Sachs, Dee Johnson, Lisa Zwerling, and Janine Sherman Barrois. Several of these writers and producers had background in healthcare: Joe Sachs was an emergency physician, while Lisa Zwerling and Neal Baer were both pediatricians. The series' crew was recognized with awards for writing, directing, producing, film editing, sound editing, casting, and music.

Broadcasting

Following the broadcast of its two-hour pilot on September 19, 1994, ER premiered Thursday, September 22 at 10pm. It remained in the same Thursday time slot for its entire run, capping the Must See TV primetime block. ER is NBC's third longest-running drama, after Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order, and the second longest-running American primetime medical drama of all time, behind ABC's Grey's Anatomy. Starting with season seven, ER was broadcast in the 1080i HD format, appearing in letterbox format when presented in standard definition. On April 2, 2008, NBC announced that the series would return for its fifteenth season. The fifteenth season was originally scheduled to run for 19 episodes before retiring with a two-hour series finale to be broadcast on March 12, 2009, but NBC announced in January 2009 that it would extend the show by an additional three episodes to a full 22-episode order as part of a deal to launch a new series by John Wells titled Police, later retitled Southland. ER's final episode aired on April 2, 2009; the two-hour episode was preceded by a one-hour retrospective special. The series finale charged $425,000 per 30-second ad spot, more than three times the season's rate of $135,000. From season 4 to season 6 ER cost a record-breaking $13 million per episode. TNT also paid a record price of $1 million an episode for four years of repeats of the series during that time. The cost of the first three seasons was $2 million per episode and seasons 7 to 9 cost $8 million per episode.

Cast and characters

Main article: Cast of ER
Original cast of the show (1994–1995)
Final season cast (2008–2009)

The original starring cast consisted of Anthony Edwards as Dr. Mark Greene, George Clooney as Dr. Doug Ross, Sherry Stringfield as Dr. Susan Lewis, Noah Wyle as medical student John Carter, and Eriq La Salle as Dr. Peter Benton. As the series continued, some key changes were made: Nurse Carol Hathaway, played by Julianna Margulies, who attempts suicide in the original pilot script, was made into a regular cast member. Ming-Na debuted in the middle of the first season as medical student Jing-Mei "Deb" Chen, but did not return for the second season; she returns in season 6 episode 10. Gloria Reuben and Laura Innes would join the series as Physician Assistant Jeanie Boulet and Dr. Kerry Weaver, respectively, by the second season.

In the third season, a series of cast additions and departures began that would see the entire original cast leave over time. Stringfield was the first to exit the series, reportedly upsetting producers who believed she wanted to negotiate for more money, but the actress did not particularly care for "fame." She would return to the series from 2001 until 2005. Clooney departed the series in 1999 to pursue a film career, and Margulies exited the following year. Season eight saw the departure of La Salle and Edwards when Benton left County General and Greene died from a brain tumor. Wyle left the series after season 11 in order to spend more time with his family, but would return for two multiple-episode appearances in the show's twelfth and final seasons. Maria Bello as Dr. Anna Del Amico, Alex Kingston as Dr. Elizabeth Corday, Paul McCrane as Dr. Robert Romano, Kellie Martin as medical student Lucy Knight, Goran Višnjić as Dr. Luka Kovač, Michael Michele as Dr. Cleo Finch, Erik Palladino as Dr. Dave Malucci, Maura Tierney as Nurse Abby Lockhart, Sharif Atkins as medical student Michael Gallant and Mekhi Phifer as Dr. Greg Pratt all joined the cast as the seasons went on. In the much later seasons, the show would see the additions of Parminder Nagra as medical student Neela Rasgotra, Scott Grimes as Dr. Archie Morris, Linda Cardellini as Nurse Sam Taggart, Shane West as Dr. Ray Barnett, John Stamos as Paramedic Tony Gates, David Lyons as Dr. Simon Brenner, and Angela Bassett as Dr. Cate Banfield.

In addition to the main cast, ER featured a large number of frequently seen recurring cast members who played key roles such as paramedics, hospital support staff, nurses, and doctors. ER also featured a sizable roster of well-known guest stars, some making rare television appearances, who typically played patients in single episode appearances or multi-episode arcs.

Episodes

Main article: List of ER episodes
SeasonEpisodesOriginally releasedRankRatingViewers (millions)
First releasedLast released
125September 19, 1994 (1994-09-19)May 18, 1995 (1995-05-18)220.030.1
222September 21, 1995 (1995-09-21)May 16, 1996 (1996-05-16)122.035.7
322September 26, 1996 (1996-09-26)May 15, 1997 (1997-05-15)121.233.9
422September 25, 1997 (1997-09-25)May 14, 1998 (1998-05-14)220.433.3
522September 24, 1998 (1998-09-24)May 20, 1999 (1999-05-20)117.829.6
622September 30, 1999 (1999-09-30)May 18, 2000 (2000-05-18)416.929.8
722October 12, 2000 (2000-10-12)May 17, 2001 (2001-05-17)215.027.0
822September 27, 2001 (2001-09-27)May 16, 2002 (2002-05-16)314.226.1
922September 26, 2002 (2002-09-26)May 15, 2003 (2003-05-15)613.122.7
1022September 25, 2003 (2003-09-25)May 13, 2004 (2004-05-13)812.921.5
1122September 23, 2004 (2004-09-23)May 19, 2005 (2005-05-19)1610.417.5
1222September 22, 2005 (2005-09-22)May 18, 2006 (2006-05-18)308.114.2
1323September 21, 2006 (2006-09-21)May 17, 2007 (2007-05-17)407.412.0
1419September 27, 2007 (2007-09-27)May 15, 2008 (2008-05-15)548.7
1522September 25, 2008 (2008-09-25)April 2, 2009 (2009-04-02)376.79.0

A typical episode centered on the ER, with most scenes set in the hospital or surrounding streets. In addition, most seasons included at least one storyline located completely outside of the ER, often outside of Chicago. Over the span of the series, stories took place in the Congo, Iraq, France, and Sudan. One early storyline involved a road trip taken by Dr. Ross and Dr. Greene to California and a season eight episode included a storyline in Hawaii featuring Dr. Greene and Dr. Corday. Beginning in season nine, storylines started to include the Congo, featuring Dr. Kovač, Dr. Carter, and Dr. Pratt. "We turned some attention on the Congo and on Darfur when nobody else was. We had a bigger audience than a nightly newscast will ever see, making 25 to 30 million people aware of what was going on in Africa," ER producer John Wells said. "The show is not about telling people to eat their vegetables, but if we can do that in an entertaining context, then there's nothing better." The series also focused on sociopolitical issues such as HIV and AIDS, organ transplants, mental illness, racism, human trafficking, euthanasia, poverty and gay rights.

Some episodes used creative formats, such as the 1997 "Ambush," which was broadcast live twice, once for the east coast and again three hours later for the west coast, and 2002's "Hindsight," which ran in reverse time as it followed one character, Dr. Kovač, through the events of a Christmas Eve shift and the Christmas party that preceded it.

Crossover with Third Watch

See also: Crossovers

The episode "Brothers and Sisters" (first broadcast on April 25, 2002) begins a crossover that concludes on the Third Watch episode "Unleashed" in which Dr. Lewis enlists the help of Officers Maurice Boscorelli and Faith Yokas to find her sister and niece.

Ratings

U.S. seasonal rankings based on average total viewers per episode of ER on NBC are tabulated below. Each U.S. network television season starts in late September and ends in late May, which coincides with the completion of May sweeps. All times mentioned in this section were in the Eastern and Pacific time zones. Ratings for seasons 1–2 are listed in households (the percentage of households watching the program), while ratings for seasons 3–15 are listed in viewers.

Season Episodes Timeslot (ET) Season premiere Season finale TV season Viewer
rank (#)
Households/
Viewers
(in millions)
1 25 Thursday 10:00 pm September 19, 1994 May 18, 1995 1994–1995 #2 19.08
2 22 September 21, 1995 May 16, 1996 1995–1996 #1 21.10
3 22 September 26, 1996 May 15, 1997 1996–1997 #1 30.79
4 22 September 25, 1997 May 14, 1998 1997–1998 #2 30.2
5 22 September 24, 1998 May 20, 1999 1998–1999 #1 25.4
6 22 September 30, 1999 May 18, 2000 1999–2000 #4 24.95
7 22 October 12, 2000 May 17, 2001 2000–2001 #2 22.4
8 22 September 27, 2001 May 16, 2002 2001–2002 #3 22.1
9 22 September 26, 2002 May 15, 2003 2002–2003 #6 19.99
10 22 September 25, 2003 May 13, 2004 2003–2004 #8 19.04
11 22 September 23, 2004 May 19, 2005 2004–2005 #16 15.17
12 22 September 22, 2005 May 18, 2006 2005–2006 #30 12.06
13 23 September 21, 2006 May 17, 2007 2006–2007 #40 11.56
14 19 September 27, 2007 May 15, 2008 2007–2008 #54 9.20
15 22 September 25, 2008 April 2, 2009 2008–2009 #37 10.30

In its first year, ER attracted an average of 19 million viewers per episode, becoming the year's second most watched television show, just behind Seinfeld. In the following two seasons (1995–1997), ER was the most watched show in North America. For almost five years, ER battled for the top spot against Seinfeld, but in 1998, Seinfeld ended and then ER became number one again. The series finale attracted 16.4 million viewers. The show's highest rating came during the episode "Hell and High Water" with 48 million viewers and a 45% market share. It was the highest for a regularly scheduled drama since a May 1985 installment of Dallas received a 46. The share represents the percentage of TVs in use tuned in to that show.

Critical reception

Throughout the series ER received positive reviews from critics and fans alike. Marvin Kitman from Newsday said: "It's like M*A*S*H with just the helicopters showing up and no laughs. E.R. is all trauma; you never get to know enough about the patients or get involved with them. It's just treat, release and move on." Richard Zoglin from TIME stated that it's "probably the most realistic fictional treatment of the medical profession TV has ever presented."

NBC launched the show at the same time that CBS launched its own medical drama Chicago Hope; many critics drew comparisons between the two. Eric Mink, writing for the New York Daily News, concluded that ER may rate more highly in the Nielsens but Chicago Hope told better stories, while Alan Rich, writing for Variety, felt both shows were "riveting, superior TV fare." The Daily Telegraph wrote in 1996: "Not being able to follow what on earth is going on remains one of the peculiar charms of the breakneck American hospital drama, ER."

In 2002, TV Guide ranked ER No. 22 on their list of "TV's Top 50 Shows," making it the second highest ranked medical drama on the list (after St. Elsewhere at No. 20). Also, the episode "Love's Labor Lost" was ranked No. 6 on TV Guide's 100 Greatest Episodes of All-Time list having earlier been ranked No. 3. The show placed No. 19 on Entertainment Weekly's "New TV Classics" list. Empire ranked it No. 29 in their list of the "50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time" and said the best episode was "Hell and High Water" where "Doug Ross (George Clooney) saves a young boy from drowning during a flood." In 2012, ER was voted Best TV Drama on ABC's 20/20 special episode "Best in TV: The Greatest TV Shows of Our Time." In 2013, TV Guide ranked it No. 9 in its list of The 60 Greatest Dramas of All Time and No. 29 in its list of the 60 Best Series. In the same year, the Writers Guild of America ranked ER No. 28 in its list of the 101 Best Written TV Series of All Time.

Awards and nominations

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by ER

ER has won 128 industry awards from 442 nominations, including the Peabody Award in 1995, TCA Award for Program of the Year in 1995, and Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in 1996. It was also nominated for 124 Primetime Emmy Awards (with 23 wins), 25 Golden Globe Awards (with one win), 18 Screen Actors Guild Awards (with eight wins), 12 Directors Guild of America Awards (with four wins), 8 TCA Awards (with two wins), 5 Writers Guild of America Awards (with one win), and 3 Producers Guild of America Awards (with two wins).

Distribution

Home media

Warner Home Video has released all 15 seasons in Region 1, Region 2, and Region 4.

In the United Kingdom (Region 2), The Complete Series boxset was released on October 26, 2009. On September 12, 2016, the series was re-released in three box sets, Seasons 1–5, Seasons 6–10, and Seasons 11–15.

DVD title No. of
episodes
Release dates
Region 1 Region 2 Region 4
ER: The Complete First Season (1994–1995) 25 August 26, 2003 February 23, 2004 April 28, 2004
ER: The Complete Second Season (1995–1996) 22 April 27, 2004 July 26, 2004 July 15, 2004
ER: The Complete Third Season (1996–1997) 22 April 26, 2005 January 31, 2005 December 16, 2004
ER: The Complete Fourth Season (1997–1998) 22 December 20, 2005 May 16, 2005 April 27, 2005
ER: The Complete Fifth Season (1998–1999) 22 July 11, 2006 October 24, 2005 November 15, 2005
ER: The Complete Sixth Season (1999–2000) 22 December 19, 2006 April 3, 2006 May 5, 2006
ER: The Complete Seventh Season (2000–2001) 22 May 15, 2007 September 18, 2006 October 3, 2006
ER: The Complete Eighth Season (2001–2002) 22 January 22, 2008 July 16, 2007 September 6, 2007
ER: The Complete Ninth Season (2002–2003) 22 June 17, 2008 October 29, 2007 October 31, 2007
ER: The Complete Tenth Season (2003–2004) 22 March 3, 2009 January 28, 2008 May 7, 2008
ER: The Complete Eleventh Season (2004–2005) 22 July 14, 2009 April 21, 2008 May 7, 2008
ER: The Complete Twelfth Season (2005–2006) 22 January 12, 2010 September 15, 2008 October 1, 2008
ER: The Complete Thirteenth Season (2006–2007) 23 July 6, 2010 November 3, 2008 April 29, 2009
ER: The Complete Fourteenth Season (2007–2008) 19 January 11, 2011 May 18, 2009 April 28, 2010
ER: The Final Season (2008–2009) 22 July 12, 2011 September 21, 2009 October 12, 2010

The DVD box sets of ER are unusual in the fact that they are all in anamorphic widescreen even though the first six seasons of the show were broadcast in a standard 4:3 format. ER was shot protecting for widescreen presentation, allowing the show to be presented in 16:9 open matte (leaving only the title sequence in the 4:3 format). However, as the production of the show was generally conceived with 4:3 presentation in mind, some episodes feature vignetting or unintended objects towards the sides of the frame that would not be visible when presented in the 4:3 format. These episodes also appear in the widescreen format when rerun on TNT HD, Pop and streaming services.

In 2018, Hulu struck a deal with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution to stream all 15 seasons of the show. The show arrived on Max in January 2022.

Soundtrack

In 1996, Atlantic Records released an album of music from the first two seasons, featuring James Newton Howard's theme from the series in its on-air and full versions, selections from the weekly scores composed by Martin Davich (Howard scored the two-hour pilot, Davich scored all the subsequent episodes and wrote a new theme used from 2006–2009 until the final episode, when Howard's original theme returned) and songs used on the series.

  1. Theme From ER – James Newton Howard (3:02)
  2. Dr. Lewis and Renee (from "The Birthday Party") (1:57)
  3. Canine Blues (from "Make of Two Hearts") (2:27)
  4. Goodbye Baby Susie (from "Fever of Unknown Origin") (3:11)
  5. Doug & Carol (from "The Gift") – composed by James Newton Howard and Martin Davich (1:59)
  6. Healing Hands – Marc Cohn (4:25)
  7. The Hero (from "Hell And High Water") composed by James Newton Howard and Martin Davich (1:55)
  8. Carter, See You Next Fall (from "Everything Old Is New Again") (1:28)
  9. Reasons For Living – Duncan Sheik (4:33)
  10. Dr. Green and a Mother's Death (from "Love's Labor Lost") (2:48)
  11. Raul Dies (from "The Healers") (2:20)
  12. Hell and High Water (from "Hell And High Water") – composed by James Newton Howard and Martin Davich (2:38)
  13. Hold On (from "Hell And High Water") (2:47)
  14. Shep Arrives (from "The Healers") (3:37)
  15. Shattered Glass (from "Hell And High Water") (2:11)
  16. Theme From ER – James Newton Howard (1:00)
  17. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear – Mike Finnegan (2:30)

Other media

Foreign adaptations

In March 2012, Warner Bros. International Television announced that they would sell the format rights to ER to overseas territories. This allowed foreign countries to produce their own version of the series.

In June 2013, Warner Bros. International Television and Emotion Production announced a Serbian version of ER. Urgentni Centar premiered on October 6, 2014, on TV Prva. As of 2023, four seasons of the show have been filmed.

In January 2014, Warner Bros. International Television with RCN, Fox International Channels and TC announced a Colombian version of ER.

In March 2014, Warner Bros. International Television and StarLight Films announced a Ukrainian version of ER.

In February 2015, Warner Bros. International Television and Medyapım announced a Turkish version of ER.

Reboot

Original cast member Noah Wyle revealed that in 2020 there were talks to revive the show. However, development of that series stalled due to issues with the estate of creator Michael Crichton, and in early 2024, Wyle was announced as starring in a new medical drama from Warner Bros. and original ER showrunner John Wells, The Pitt. That August, the Crichton estate brought a lawsuit against Warner Bros., Wells, and Wyle, alleging that The Pitt was in fact an unauthorized remake of ER which could not be produced without the estate's approval; Warner Bros. has denied the allegation, calling The Pitt "a new and original show."

See also

  • Casualty – Similar concept but based on a British fictional hospital's accident & emergency department.

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