‘ER’ At 30: Glimpse How Michael Crichton & John Wells Shaped Groundbreaking Medical Procedural

This week marks the 30th anniversary of the premiere of ER, one of the most seminal and groundbreaking series in TV history. The drama ran on NBC for 15 seasons and 331 episodes from 1994-2009, and the show was nominated for 124 Emmys, winning 23 of them including for Outstanding Drama Series in 1996.

To commemorate the anniversary, Sherri Crichton, the widow of ER creator and executive producer Michael Crichton, has provided Deadline with exclusive photos of Crichton and his personal typewritten creative notes to John Wells on the first few episodes of the landmark series.

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As you’ll read, these helped hammer the template that was followed by other dramas that mixed a medical procedural with the lives of overworked and fatigued emergency room doctors and young residents. Crichton was one of those, and the original ER was based on Crichton’s experiences as a medical intern in the emergency room of an urban hospital while he matriculated at Harvard Medical School.

ER would launch the fortunes of the talented original cast of Anthony Edwards, George Clooney, Julianna Margulies, Eriq La Salle, Noah Wyle and Sherry Stringfield. The entire series can be streamed on Hulu.

Enjoy.

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