However, your parents’ favorite show got off to a bit of a rocky start. It took 20 years to make it to the air and sparked doubt among NBC executives early on.
Here are 20 facts you might not know about the making of the series.
1.
ER was originally supposed to be a movie directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Michael Crichton.
2.
The pilot that eventually aired in 1994 was almost the same as the screenplay Crichton wrote in the 1970s.
4.
Carol was supposed to die after the first episode.
5.
The first episode was shot in a rumored haunted hospital.
6.
The cast often pranked each other on set.
7.
ER often took inspiration from real-life surgeries.
8.
The cast took four yearly trips to Chicago.
9.
George Clooney sometimes wrote his lines down on clipboards.
10.
Noah Wyle rejected just one storyline.
11.
Noah Wyle was sick with mono during the filming of Love’s Labor Lost.
12.
Noah also successfully treated a dehydrated medic years after the show.
13.
Lucy’s death “traumatized” Kellie Martin.
14.
Laura Innes developed real hip problems from playing a character with a fake hip.
15.
George Clooney’s surprise return to the show involved a private jet and was kept top-secret.
16.
Eriq La Salle asked producers to end his Dr. Benton’s interracial relationship with Dr. Corday.
17.
ER has helped many people make real-life health decisions, and has even helped save lives.
18.
Executives weren’t confident about the show when they first saw it.
19.
Mekhi Phifer requested to die onscreen — and so did Maura Tierney.
20.
Some episodes of ER cost $13 million to make.
Which of these facts surprised you the most? Has ER helped you make any health-related decisions? Let us know in the comments!
Stream every season of ER on HBO Max.