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'ER' turns 300, quietly
As I was screening the 300th episode of ER that airs Thursday, I started thinking about the enormous influence the show has had on television.
Think back to the state of TV drama pre-1994, the year ER replaced L.A. Law on NBC's then-unstoppable Thursday schedule. NYPD Blue had debuted the previous year, as had The X-Files and Homicide, but it was hardly a golden age. Among the top-rated dramas that season were Murder, She Wrote and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (it was a big year for commas, apparently). The Emmy winner for the 1993-94 season was the aggressively quirky, overrated Picket Fences.
NYPD Blue pushed the envelope about as far as it had ever been pushed in terms of content on network TV. The debut of ER the next fall, though, set the template for what was possible in terms of scale and scope. Think about the things we expect from TV dramas today -- big ensemble casts, cinematic production values, fast pace and a blend of serious and silly. ER was doing all that from day one.
The year 1999, which brought us the premieres of The Sopranos and The West Wing, is generally acknowledged as the start of the current Golden Age of Drama. But I'd argue that ER, along with those three excellent shows from 1993, were actually the leading edge of that wave.
You'll notice I haven't said much about the 300th episode. That's because, having not been a regular viewer for the past couple years, I'm no longer invested in the stories of these characters. I'm guessing those of you who still are fans will get more out of the strained relationship between Abby and Luka, Sam's restlessness after four years as a County General nurse and Pratt's status as something of an elder statesman in the ER.
The episode is titled "300 Patients," following Morris' (Scott Grimes) quest to move that many folks through the ER in a 24-hour period (we pick up at the start of the day shift, with 142 of those patients already having come and gone). It also falls to Grimes to deliver a rather cheesy meta-line early on: "If we keep this thing cranking, we could hit 300. That's quite a milestone."
Rather than a frenetic sprint through a pileup of patients, though, the episode spends much of its time dealing with personal matters, including Abby coming to terms with her recent drinking and chaplain Julia Dupree (Reiko Aylesworth) organizing a "memorial and blessing" ceremony in the ER. Sam, riding shotgun in an ambulance, is involved in an accident, but it pales in comparison to any number of past ER calamities.
What struck me, in fact, is how quiet the episode is. It does allow for a couple of strong scenes between Maura Tierney and Goran Visnjic, and Peter Fonda does an affecting guest turn as the estranged father of a young man with Down syndrome.
It's odd, too, that ER has been around so long that all of its innovations have become commonplace, so the show now looks like just another drama. Maybe that's what happens to shows that are on forever; we start to take them for granted. (See also Simpsons, The.) But if ER is now just part of the landscape, it's worth remembering how big a role it had in changing that landscape.
Still with ER after all this time? What's your take on how the show has changed over the years?
I started watching ER on a regular basis back in 2003. Since then, with the help of reruns and DVD's, I have seen
every episode and it is now, and will probably always be, my favorite show. It's not what it used to be. There's no denying that. Seasons 1-8 were the best, and Dr. Greene's death left a hole in
the series. But, my opinion of the seasons since his death
isn't as negative as many other ER fans. I thought seasons 9 and 10 were very good, except for that awful African Christmas episode. Since Dr. Greene's death, Abby has been the heart of the show. I didn't like Carter much after Dr. Greene died and I don't like the woman he ended up with. On the
other hand, Abby went back to med school and became a doctor. Her story remained compelling even during what I consider the worst seasons of the ER's run (so far at least), which were 11 and 12. Then Abby started a family. She's spiraling downward now, but I think eventually, she will regain control of her life and her and Luka will have a happy ending. As for the current state of ER, I'm still not sure where this season ranks on my list of best/worst seasons. It's too soon. The show recovered amazingly last season, and this season hasn't held up to that so far. But only nine episodes have aired so far. This is a show that has a history of turning it around and returning to greatness, so I'll remain hopeful that
1. The writers begin to focus less on soapy storylines and
more on medicine 2. The writer's strike ends soon and ER can have a full 22 episode season and 3. That when ER ends, whenever that is, it goes out on a high note, creatively and maybe even
with great ratings. I'm looking forward to tonight's episode. Happy 300th ER!
It was nice to hear Nate's view of the show. There are fans out there...this is a fine show.
I've probably seen about 295 of the episodes first run. I don't love the show, but I do really like it. I was a senior in high school when the show started and now I'm 30! I have spent many Thursday nights watching this show. It has really blazed new trails, especially in terms of scope. I'm going to watch every episode this show makes. Give it props, people!
Amanda B. | Dec 6, 2007 10:02:33 AM | #This show has been a shadow of its former self ever since a bit before Carter left. I honestly think that Dr. Corday's departure episode was the beginning of the end. Not so much because she was a great character, but because she was a wasted character whose story floundered after her love interest died. (Yeah, a woman can't be interesting unless she's in a romantic relationship!)
The writers seemed to completely lose direction with most elements of the show. Compelling new characters have been in short supply. We got Ray, who had virtually no story for his entire three years on the show. Morris, who is generally just a laughingstock with occasional bursts of ability. (If I ran the ER, I'd have fired him for incompetence long ago.) Wishy-washy Neela. Boring Moretti (is he gone for good, I hope?). Sam, whose storylines have all been dead end. Wimpy relationship with Luka, annoying ex, working for Armand Assante (that story sure petered out), being mentored by Eve. Big yawns all around.
I don't even see the point of bringing on Luka's brother. He appeared in about two scenes over two episodes and contributed almost nothing. Unless he's to play a bigger role down the line, why'd they even bother?
The personal relationships are the heart of the show, more than the medicine. Make the medicine personal, and then you have something. At least Abby and Luka are still around. But once they're gone, a decaying mess remains.
I wish they would just end it now. Get back some of the best stars and go out with grace, if at all possible.
i love the show and have seen every episode and i really hope it doesnt stop this yr like said it might.i love abby and miss carter alot but i like so many of them.
jan | Dec 6, 2007 12:09:06 PM | #I agree with Lisa, time to end the show. I have watched every episode since the show began, and usually the same night it aired which is pretty unusual for me, especially since TIVO. I remember when it came out and how exciting and ground breaking it was. I used to be a huge St. Elsewhere fan, but I watched reruns of that show about 10 years ago and it moved at a glacial pace since ER had really set a new benchmark for medical shows. However, the last three years I really feel like I've been watching ER out of obligation and "I haven't missed an episode since it started, so how can I stop watching it now." They've done every story we've seen in the last few years in some way or another, except for the trips to Africa which I find very preachy.I really can't take another one of NBC's promos for "If you thought you've seen big things in the Er before, just wait until you see this week's episode this ". I was actually disappointed to hear that the show was coming back this season since I thought NBC would put it out of its misery. Too bad NBC's development team can't come up with enough good shows that they can let it go. While the show has improved a little bit, and for some reason I still feel compelled to watch it, I think it is time forit to end, gracefully.
LC | Dec 6, 2007 12:22:20 PM | #There really should be a "pull date" on every t.v. series and for every character on a series and it should be long before 300 episodes. ER has had some great episodes and still has some fine actors, but it's sad when you start to recognize subplots you've seen four or five times before, or when you find yourself wondering why Abby doesn't just shoot herself because her misery is apparently never going to end. I'll watch tonight out of nostalgia and because the actors will probably give the writers better than they deserve, but it's too bad this isn't the series finale. Time to bow out gracefully, Mr. Wells.
Katie | Dec 6, 2007 12:50:11 PM | #I attended the Paley Center screening and event a longtime fan of both the show and of actress Maura Tierney. I was struck by the simplicity of the episode - no frills, no fuss, just good old-fashioned dramatic prowess. Fonda was brilliantly understated in his role, but it was the cast that stole the show. The tumult of the revolving door lineup has left even diehard fans with a sense that it's time to end, but this week's episode was the first time I've seen the new ensemble really pull together - perfect to mark such a milestone.
What blew me away was Maura Tierney's angst-ridden performance. Many chalk it up to good writing, but put another actress in that role and it would turn to mush faster than you can say "Grey's Anatomy." She pulls it off so effortlessly that it's no wonder Sally Field was cast to play her mother - and yes, we really do like Maura.
Maggie | Dec 6, 2007 1:05:18 PM | #I have watched this show since its debut and have been a fan since day 1. I guess I will always have an affection for ER since I was a revolving extra back when Clooney was part of the cast. Although many of the people I knew and worked with are gone, it still churns out top notch acting performances week in and week out. It is way more "real" and "gritty" than Grey's Anatomy could ever hope to be. One of the things ER has always done well is stay true to itself, never changing the way the show works to match current trends or to appease a fad. \
Another interesting perspective I have is that I worked in a hospital for 3 years. Much like the TV show, the same stalwart nurses are always there, but the doctors come and go. ER is more true to life in that aspect than you know.
Mike | Dec 6, 2007 3:54:33 PM | #Ive been watching this show as long as I can remember. I was just a kid when its started watching because my parents watched it, now i'm still watching. I can't say going back to the early seasons i remember much of it, but I know I really enjoy it now. The way the show has been creative with its storys and character changes over the years just proves why this show is still on the air. Corday was one of the saddest for me to see go and Abby has been my favorite for the longest. I never cared for Carter much and have to say that while some of the greatest episodes came in its earlier seasons, I much more enjoy the show now then I did 5, 7, 10 seasons ago. I can't imagine a Thursday and no ER...Kudos to ER and and congrats on 300...heres to many more that I will always continue to watch!
Drew | Dec 6, 2007 4:17:56 PM | #I missed the ER 300 patients tonight and don't have it recorded. Does anyone know when it will be aired again?
m.s. | Dec 6, 2007 8:46:44 PM | #I watched this show religiously every Thursday night until Dr. Carter left. I stayed with it the next season and then sort of lost interest... It wasn't that I disliked it, it just wasn't a part of my must see list any longer. I still enjoy an episode if I happen to catch one, but no longer make it a point to be in front of my tv at 9 p.m. cst any longer. I must say though, that I greatly enjoy the reruns on TNT - it's great to see Drs. Greene, Lewis, Carter, Benton, et al again. After this many years, they're like old friends...
And let's face it, ER hasn't come up with an original storyline in forever... Even the 300 concept isn't that new - true, they didn't mention a number, but does anyone else remember an episode when Dr.Greene had a waiting room full of people and he got fed up after not being able to give a kid stitches b/c he had waited too long and took supplies out to the waiting room and started treating people there? Sounds like treating mass numbers of people to me... (sorry about the run on, I'll stop now)
I've stop watching a year after Carter left. The show had really changed over the year. Carter was my favorite character, so when he left, I stuck around for one more season and eventually quit. I did watch the 300th episode b/c it's quite a milestone, so Congrats ER!
Hans | Dec 15, 2007 5:23:19 PM | #
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