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Inspired by creator Michael Crichton's experiences as a medical student in a hospital emergency room,
ER quickly became one of the most compelling shows of the 1990s, each episode a whirlwind of intense and involving drama, gritty realism, and offbeat humor. Heading the staff at the inner-city Chicago hospital is Mark Greene (Anthony Edwards), a doctor so good at providing care to the downtrodden, helpless, or just plain quirky patients that his career blossoms even as his personal life crumbles. Greene is the soul of the cast, but the heart is Julianna Margulies's nurse Carol Hathaway. Her character was intended only for the pilot episode, but she ended up capturing viewers with her palpable empathy for patients and her troublesome romance with womanizing pediatrician Doug Ross (George Clooney). The rest of the central cast consisted of compassionate Susan Lewis (Sherry Stringfield), Peter Benton (Eriq Lasalle), whose prodigious talent nearly matches his ambition, and his fresh-faced student, John Carter (Noah Wyle). Other key characters included ER heads Morgenstern and Swift (William H. Macy and Michael Ironside, respectively), overachieving student Deb (Ming Na), who returned later in the show's run, attending physician Angela Hicks (CCH Pounder), and physical therapist Jeanie Boulet (Gloria Rueben).
The remarkably strong first season showed off its sharp ensemble cast through a variety of compelling story lines both personal (Carter's conflicts with Benton, Lewis's struggles with her no-account sister, Chloe, played by Kathleen Wilhoite) and professional (a holiday blizzard and especially the harrowing tale of a pregnancy gone bad, "Love's Labor Lost," which won five Emmy Awards). When Carter is pondering whether his future includes the ER, Green jokes, "It's not bad: Stress, late nights, hard work, no pay--it's hard to beat." It's hard to imagine people choosing to work under those conditions, but they do, and in the process these very human people perform superhuman feats as they face life and death as part of their daily jobs.
DVD features are fairly generous for a TV series box. There are two commentary tracks on the pilot episode, including one by Crichton, and crew commentaries on "Sleepless in Chicago" and "Love's Labor Lost." A new 39-minute documentary discusses the show's genesis, casting, and the "Chicago hospital drama smackdown" with Chicago Hope through interviews with Crichton, executive producer Steven Spielberg, other crew members, and the principal cast members other than Eriq LaSalle. Also included are a very watchable featurette on the show's realism (ever wonder why Ross is always looking down?) and another on post-production, a list of characters (including patients by episode, but why no actor credits?), three minor deleted scenes, outtakes, and a glossary of frequently used medical terms. Particularly notable is that the episodes are shown in anamorphic widescreen. ER was one of the first network shows broadcast in widescreen, but that was years after these episodes, which are shown in widescreen for the first time. --David Horiuchi
Video Details
During its first season, "ER" quickly became a staple of watercooler conversations, with such heart-rending episodes as "Love's Labors Lost," and instantly had viewers hooked on the lives, loves and losses of the staff of Chicago's fictional County General hospital. In addition, the series launched the careers of Anthony Edwards, George Clooney, Sherry Stringfield, Noah Wyle, Julianna Margulies and Eriq La Salle. Equally impressive were the show's sterling cast of guest stars, which included the late Rosemary Clooney, Bradley Whitford, Rick Rossovich, Ving Rhames, CCH Pounder, William H. Macy, Ming-Na Wen, Gloria Reuben, Bobcat Goldthwait, Robert Carradine, Michael Ironside, Valerie Perrine, and Quentin Tarrantino, who also directed an episode.
EPISODE SYNOPSES:
1. Pilot: After a building collapses, victims are rushed to Chicago's County General, a teaching hospital, where the young residents and interns help with the injured while also dealing with other patients. Medical student John Carter (Noah Wyle) experiences his first day and Nurse Hathaway (Julianna Margulies) attempts suicide.
2. Day One: The physicians are inundated with food poisoning victims, including German tourists and members of a wedding party who ate at the same restaurant. Dr Ross (George Clooney) visits Nurse Hathaway and Dr. Greene (Anthony Edwards) angers his wife by turning down a lucrative job offer.
3. Going Home: A mysterious patient (Rosemary Clooney) wanders the halls of the ER, breaking into song to express herself, but nobody seems to know who she is. Carter contends with romantic advancements from a patient and Nurse Hathaway returns to work after her suicide attempt.
4. Into That Good Night: Dr Greene must decide whether to leave Chicago and follow his wife to her new job in Milwaukee, or stay behind. Carter suspects he got herpes from a patient. Dr Ross treats a pregnant woman who was in a car accident, while Dr. Benton (Eriq La Salle) treats the gang member responsible for the accident.
5. Hit And Run: Dr. Ross deals with a schizophrenic mother who brings her son in to get his hearing checked because he can't hear the same voices she can. Carter accidentally contacts the wrong parents to inform them of their loss in a fatal accident. Nurse Hathaway must contend with Dr. Ross's romantic advances.
6. Chicago Heat: A broken air conditioner causes tempers to flare amongst the doctors contending with a variety of emergencies. Dr. Ross and Dr. Greene treat a 5-year-old girl who accidentally swallowed cocaine, Dr. Susan Lewis (Sherry Stringfield) must deal with her lazy sister Chloe, who wants to move in with her.
7. Another Perfect Day: Dr. Benton is a candidate for a Fellowship against his rival, Dr. Langworthy (Tyra Ferrell). Dr. Ross and Nurse Hathaway save a 12-year-old boy injured in a boating accident and celebrate with a kiss. Carter gains confidence by performing his first spinal tap. Dr. Greene's family problems increase.
8. 9 1/2 Hours: Dr. Greene calls in sick to spend time with his wife and Dr. Ross reluctantly substitutes for him as chief resident. Dr. Benton deals with the loss of his Fellowship to his rival, while dealing with his family. Nurse Hathaway helps a young rape victim. Carter becomes infatuated with Dr. Lewis.
9. ER Confidential: On Thanksgiving Day, Dr. Lewis prepares dinner, completely unaware that her lover Dr. Cvetic (John Terry) is suffering a nervous breakdown. Carter is unsuccessful in helping a suicidal transvestite. Dr. Greene, Dr. Langworthy and Nurse Hathaway deal with reckless teenage drivers who killed a girl.
10. Blizzard: The first major snowstorm of the season causes a 32 car accident and the victims are rushed in. Dr. Greene instructs a man, via telephone, on how to deliver a baby. Dr. Ross clashes with a new physician (CCH Pounder), then is upset when Nurse Hathaway announces her engagement to Dr. Taglieri (Rick Rossovich).
11. The Gift: On Christmas Eve, Dr. Greene desperately tries to leave the hospital to buy gifts for his family, but keeps getting pulled back in. Dr. Benton clashes with a brain-dead patient's wife over organ salvaging. Dr. Lewis discovers that her sister is pregnant. Dr. Ross makes a fool of himself at Nurse Hathaway's engagement party.
12. Happy New Year: Dr. Lewis releases a patient who later dies of a heart attack. Carter tries to prove himself to Dr. Benton by attending a surgery, but then fouls it up. Dr. Greene and Nurse Hathaway try to save a young gang member with multiple gunshot wounds. Dr. Benton's sister decides to put his mother in a nursing home.
13. Luck Of The Draw: Dr. Lewis is accused of negligence. Dr. Benton is called out of surgery to find his senile mother who is wandering the streets of Chicago. Dr. Greene contends with a patient who has cocaine packed in condoms blocking his intestines. Carter helps Benton's other new intern, Deb (Ming-Na Wen).
14. Long Day's Journey: Dr. Greene deals with a woman who has been physically abused by her teenage daughter. Dr. Benton hires a physical therapist (Gloria Reuben) to stay with his mother. The doctor who accused Dr. Lewis of negligence has a heart attack and, ironically, she is the only one he trusts to care for him.
15. Feb 5, '95: Dr. Greene is offered an attending position after completion of his residency, which greatly displeases his wife. Dr. Benton has run-ins with several people, including Nurse Hathaway and his mother's physical therapist. Dr. Ross treats a boy bitten by his pet viper, while hospital personnel search for the snake.
16. Made Of Two Hearts: Dr. Ross and Nurse Hathaway treat a young Russian girl with AIDS, who was abandoned at the hospital by her adoptive mother. Carter treats three high school cheerleaders who ate chocolate soaked in LSD. Deb also eats some of the candy and botches an assignment. A policeman brings in an injured dog.
17. The Birthday Party: Dr. Benton desperately tries to leave the ER so he can attend his mother's birthday party. Carter tries to get Dr. Benton to ask him to return next year, because he's already asked Deb. Dr. Ross risks his career when he loses his temper with an abusive parent. Dr. Greene's marriage problems worsen.
18. Sleepless In Chicago: Dr. Benton pulls a 48 hour shift and the staff worries that he's working too hard, especially after his mother falls down the stairs and is rushed to the ER. Dr. Greene learns that his wife wants a divorce. Dr. Lewis is scammed by an escaped mental patient, who passes himself off as an MIT efficiency doctor.
19. Love's Labor Lost: A special episode focusing on one gripping case. Dr. Greene misdiagnoses a pregnant woman's condition and releases her to her husband, only to have her return later. He must race to save her life and that of her unborn child, but in the end only the baby survives. As a result, Dr. Greene becomes severely depressed.
20. Full Moon, Saturday Night: The ER is filled with especially strange patients. Dr. Lewis takes over for the depressed Dr. Greene and greatly impresses the new chairman of the ER (Michael Ironside). Carter and Deb help Dr. Lewis save an 18-year-old man hit by a car, then have to help the driver who hit him.
21. House Of Cards: Dr. Greene is forced to present the case of a pregnant woman, who died, before an auditorium of his peers. Dr. Benton commits his mother to a nursing home. Deb makes a grave error in judgement and decides to quit medicine. Dr. Lewis must contend with her pregnant sister. Dr. Ross's new relationship heats up.
22. Men Plan, Gods Laugh: Helpless to save his mother, Dr. Benton begins a crusade to cure every patient he sees. Dr. Ross makes plans with his new girlfriend (Lisa Zane). Dr. Greene butts head with ER Chairman Dr. Swift, when he opts to spend time with his wife instead of attending a meeting to discuss his career options.
23. Love Among The Ruins: Carter gains confidence in himself, impressing Dr. Swift and even Dr. Benton, until Benton learns that Carter's family is wealthy. Dr. Greene jeopardizes his attending job by moving to Milwaukee to reconcile with his wife. Nurse Hathaway and Dr. Taglieri bicker over the details of their wedding.
24. Motherhood: Dr. Lewis delivers her sister's baby girl, but is dismayed when she finds out that her mother (Valerie Perrine) won't let them live with her. Carter turns down an internship with Dr. Greene, in favor of one with Dr. Benton, only to discover that Dr. Benton has found someone else. Dr. Ross's relationship falls apart.
25. Everything Old Is New Again: Dr. Greene is sued for malpractice in the death of a young pregnant woman. On his last day in the ER, Carter gives Dr. Benton a low evaluation, only to discover that Benton gave him an excellent review. Benton then offers him an internship. Dr. Taglieri dumps Nurse Hathaway on their wedding day.
