ER (season 1)

infobox tvseason
season_name = ER: The Complete First Series
show_name = "ER"


caption =
dvd_release_date = February 23 2004
dvd_format = Widescreen, Boxset
country = USA
network = NBC
first_aired = September 19, 1994
last_aired = May 18, 1995
num_episodes = 25
next_season = "ER season 2"|

The first season of the American fictional drama television series "ER" aired from 1994-1995 with 25 episodes.

The 2-hour pilot episode aired on September 19, 1994 and was followed by 24 other episodes, including the season finale that aired on May 18, 1995.

Plot

In ER's first season, the core cast consisted of Chief Resident Dr. Mark Greene, pediatric resident and lothario Dr. Doug Ross, second-year resident Dr. Susan Lewis, medical student John Carter, head nurse Carol Hathaway, and second-year surgical resident Dr. Peter Benton. The series premiere "24 Hours" sees Dr. Greene considering a move into private practice at the request of his wife, Jen. The episode also sees a suicide attempt from staff nurse Carol Hathaway, who had previously been in a long-term relationship with Doug Ross, and the first day for medical student John Carter. Originally, Carol Hathaway's suicide was intended to be successful, but her death in the pilot was never shown or referred to by other characters, leaving her open for a return. Audiences responded so well to her character that producers decided to offer Julianna Margulies a permanent spot in the cast. Nurse Hathaway returned in Episode 3, "Going Home". Over the course of the season, Dr. Greene's marriage disintegrates. At work he experiences problems, after making a fatal error in the treatment of a pregnant woman in the Emmy-winning episode "Love's Labor Lost". Dr. Ross struggles to come to terms with the fact that a recovered Hathaway is moving on with her life. Dr. Lewis tries to cope with her tearaway sister, Chloe, who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a daughter at the end of the season. Lewis also struggles professionally with cardiologist Dr. Kayson and romantically with mentally unstable psychiatric resident Dr. Div Cvetic.

Carter comes to grips with the fast-paced life of an ER doctor, while trying to win the approval of his supervising resident, Dr. Benton. Hathaway gets back on her feet in the aftermath of her suicide attempt; she gets engaged and tries to adopt an HIV-positive Russian orphan, but can not, due to her suicide attempt. However, on her wedding day, her fiance, Dr. John Taglieri, questions the strength of her love for him. She admits she does not love him as much as he loves her, and he leaves her shortly before the ceremony. Meanwhile, Dr. Benton is forced to cope with his busy surgical schedule, while caring for his ailing mother. After her death, he becomes romantically involved with her physical therapist Jeanie Boulet.

Production

Cast

tarring cast

* Anthony Edwards as Dr. Mark Greene - Chief Resident
* George Clooney as Dr. Doug Ross - Paediatric Fellow
* Sherry Stringfield as Dr. Susan Lewis - Second Year Resident
* Noah Wyle as John Carter - Third-year Medical student
* Julianna Margulies as Carol Hathaway - Nurse Manager
* Eriq La Salle as Dr. Peter Benton - Second Year Surgical Resident

upporting cast

Doctors and med students:
*Sam Anderson as Dr. Jack Kayson
*Amy Aquino as Dr. Janet Coburn
*Michael Ironside as Dr. William "Wild Willy" Swift
*William H. Macy as Dr. David Morgenstern
*CCH Pounder as Dr. Angela Hicks
*Rick Rossovich as Dr. John "Tag" Taglieri
*John Terry as Dr. David "Div" Cvetic
*Ming-Na Wen as Med Student Deb Chen

Nurses and PAs:
*Conni Marie Brazelton as Nurse Conni Oligario
*Ellen Crawford as Nurse Lydia Wright
*Deezer D as Nurse Malik McGrath
*Yvette Freeman as Nurse Haleh Adams
*Dinah Lenney as Nurse Shirley
*Lily Mariye as Nurse Lily Jarvik
*Vanessa Marquez as Student nurse Wendy Goldman
*Gloria Reuben as PA Jeanie Boulet

Staff and Paramedics:
*Abraham Benrubi as desk clerk Jerry Markovic
*Malgoscha Gebel as ER aide Bogdanilivestsky "Bob" Romansky
*Glenn Plummer as desk clerk Timmy Rawlins
*Monté Russell as Paramedic Dwight Zadro
*Emily Wagner as Paramedic Doris Pickman
*Lisa Zane as Diane Leeds

Other:
*Khandi Alexander as Jackie Benton-Robbins
*Zachary Browne as Jake Leeds
*Mike Genovese as Officer Al Grabarsky
*Christine Harnos as Jennifer "Jenn" Greene
*Andrea Parker as Linda Ferrell
*Ving Rhames as Walt Robbins
*Beah Richards as Mae Benton
*Kathleen Wilhoite as Chloe Lewis
*Yvonne Zima as Rachel Greene

Notable guest stars

*Rosemary Clooney as Mary Cavanaugh/Madame X (1994)
*Vondie Curtis-Hall as Henry Colton/Rena
*Sanford Meisner as Joseph Klein (1995)
*Alan Rosenberg as Samuel Gasner (1994)

Crew

The series pilot was executive produced by Michael Crichton and John Wells, Dennis Murphy produced the pilot episode and Wendy Spence-Rosato served as Associate Producer. Crichton, Wells and Spence-Rosato continued these roles for the series proper while Murphy was replaced as producer by Christopher Chulack. Also joining the production team were Mimi Leder, Robert Nathan and Lydia Woodward as supervising producers and Paul Manning as Co-producer.

Crichton wrote the series pilot and is credited as the creator of the series for the rest of the season. Producers Wells, Nathan, Woodward, and Manning were regular writers for the first season. Medical specialist and technical advisor Lance Gentile made his television writing debut in the first season. His first teleplay "Love's Labours Lost" won multiple Emmy Awards. Medical student Neal Baer was the seasons other regular writer. Tracey Stern contributed the script for a single episode.

Producers Leder and Chulack were regular directors on the first season. Rod Holcomb directed the pilot episode and returned for a regular season episode. Charles Haid, Elodie Keene and Fred Gerber also helmed multiple episodes. Film director Quentin Tarantino contributed a single episode. Other single episode directors include Mark Tinker, Vern Gillum, James Hayman, Daniel Sackheim, Felix Enriquez Alcala, Anita Addison, James Hayman, and Donna Deitch.

Episodes

"Series #" refers to the episode's number in the overall series, whereas "Season #" refers to the episode's number in this particular season.

Reception

References