ER (season 1)

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ER: The Complete First Series
Series ER
Country of origin Flag of the United States United States
Network NBC
Original run September 19, 1994 – May 18, 1995
No. of episodes 25
DVD release date February 23, 2004 (Widescreen, Boxset)
Next season ER season 2
For more details on this topic, see List of ER episodes.

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.

Contents

[edit] 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 practise 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.

[edit] Production

[edit] Cast

[edit] Starring cast

[edit] Supporting cast

Doctors and med students:

Nurses and PAs:

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:

[edit] Notable guest stars

[edit] 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.

[edit] Episodes

See also: List of ER episodes

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

Season # Series # Title Writer(s) Director Original airdate
1 1 "24 Hours (Pilot)"  Michael Crichton Rod Holcomb September 15, 1994
John Carter begins the first day of his internship at County General Hospital, a surgical student under the mentorship of Dr. Peter Benton. Dr. Mark Greene, an ER resident physician, is mulling an offer to go into private practice. Dr. Susan Lewis, another ER resident, deals with an advanced cancer patient. Dr. Doug Ross, the ER pediatrician, confronts a woman over potential abuse of her daughter. The lead nurse, Carol Hathaway, returns several hours after her shift as a patient, overdosing in an apparent suicide attempt. Nielsen Ratings: 23 million viewers 
2 2 "Day One"  John Wells Mimi Leder September 22, 1994
Lewis butts heads with the resident psychologist, her lover, Dr. Cvetic, over care for a senile patient. Greene tries to deal with an elderly man who insists on keeping his wife on life support even though she is DNR (do-not-resuscitate). Benton corrects a diagnosis made on a patient by their own physician. Carter is seduced by a sexy hypochondriac. A family comes in after an alcohol-related car accident. Greene's wife has passed the bar exam, but Greene has no intention on entering private practice. Ross visits Hathaway, who is recovering from her suicide attempt. 
3 3 "Going Home"  Lydia Woodward Mark Tinker September 29, 1994
Hathaway returns to work after her suicide attempt, and gets support from her co-workers and her orthopedic surgeon boyfriend, Dr. John "Tag" Tagliari. A mysterious woman (played by Rosemary Clooney) comes to the ER and sings to the doctors and patients while the doctors try to find out who she is. Lewis deals with a heart patient. Carter continues to work with the hypochondriac woman. Benton works with an injured convenience store clerk who insists on defending himself when his store is robbed. 
4 4 "Hit and Run"  Paul Manning Mimi Leder October 06, 1994
Greene mulls a decision to move to Milwaukee so his wife, Jennifer, can pursue her law career. Ross attempts to reconcile his lingering feelings for Hathaway. Benton clashes with another surgeon over a hit-and-run patient. Carter mixes up patients when he tries to notify a family of a lost patient. A married man comes in suffering a mild heart attack while handcuffed to his mistress. 
5 5 "Into That Good Night"  Robert Nathan Charles Haid October 13, 1994
Greene and rest of the ER staff tend to a dying heart transplant candidate. Ross counsels a woman who cannot afford medication for her asthmatic daughter. Carter may have made a mistake with a former patient. Lewis has to juggle dealing with an alcohol-poisoned fraternity brother and calls from her mother to get her prodigal sister, Chloe, a job. 
6 6 "Chicago Heat"  Neal Baer (story), and John Wells (teleplay) Elodie Keene October 20, 1994
The air conditioning at County General is broken. Greene brings his daughter, Rachel, to work with him while Jennifer goes apartment-hunting in Milwaukee. Ross works with a 5-year-old girl that ingested cocaine. Benton tries to save a young robber shot by his frequent convenience store clerk patient. Lewis tries to deal with Chloe's worsening mental problems. 
7 7 "Another Perfect Day"  Lance Gentile (story) and Lydia Woodward (teleplay) Vern Gillum November 03, 1994
Ross and Hathaway save a young boating accident victim. They give in to their feelings briefly, making Hathaway reconsider moving in with Tag. Chloe disrupts a date between Lewis and Cvetic. Benton is competing for a prestigious fellowship. Greene observes Carter in the ER, giving Carter some confidence. 
8 8 "9 1/2 Hours"  Robert Nathan James Hayman November 10, 1994
Greene calls in sick so he and Jennifer can spend the day together, leaving Ross in charge of the ER. Carter works on a high school wrestler that starved himself to make weight. Hathaway counsels a young rape victim. Benton is dealing with his senile mother, and butts heads with Ross. Lewis is worried about Cvetic's growing temper problem. 
9 9 "ER Confidential"  Paul Manning Daniel Sackheim November 17, 1994
Lewis is caught in the middle as both Cvetic and Chloe have problems. Carter tries to help a suicidal transsexual. The ER tries to save two boys who killed a girl in a car accident. Benton invites Carter to Thanksgiving with his family. Hathaway confesses her feelings about Ross to Tag after Ross begins a new affair. 
10 10 "Blizzard"  Neal Baer & Paul Manning (story), and Lance Gentile (teleplay) Mimi Leder December 08, 1994
It's a December blizzard, and the day starts out quiet. Hathaway announces her engagement with Tag. Suddenly, County General goes into crisis mode when a 32-car pileup on an expressway inundates them with patients. Among the patients are a young male that Benton knows that lost his leg, a friend of Ross that dies suddenly while waiting for treatment, and a man who is snowed in at home and calls Greene when his wife refuses to go to the hospital to have her baby. Lewis tries to save a man that suddenly develops an aneurysm, and the patient is saved by the most unlikely person. 
11 11 "The Gift"  Neal Baer Félix Enríquez Alcalá December 15, 1994
Dr Benton makes a grave mistake with a brian dead patient. Dr Ross crashes the party. 
12 12 "Happy New Year"  Lydia Woodward Charles Haid January 05, 1995
Dr Benton must deal with a family conflict. 
13 13 "Luck of the Draw"  Paul Manning Rod Holcomb January 12, 1995
Dr Carter shows new medical student Deb around the ER. 
14 14 "Long Day's Journey"  Robert Nathan Anita Addison January 19, 1995
Dr Lewis treats a fellow Doctor. Dr Benton hires a physical therapist, Jeanie Boulet, to take care of his mother. 
15 15 "February Fifth, 1995"  John Wells James Hayman February 02, 1995
Dr Greene gets an offer for an attending position. 
16 16 "Make of Two Hearts"  Lydia Woodward Mimi Leder February 09, 1995
The ER Doctors treat a different kind of patient. Nurse Hathaway becomes attached to an abandoned 6-year-old girl from Russia. 
17 17 "The Birthday Party"  John Wells Elodie Keene February 16, 1995
Dr Benton must decide between his mother and his career. Nurse Hathaway considers adoption. 
18 18 "Sleepless in Chicago"  Paul Manning Christopher Chulack February 23, 1995
Dr Benton works 48 straight hours. Nurse Hathaway's past comes back to haunt her. 
19 19 "Love's Labor Lost"  Lance Gentile Mimi Leder March 09, 1995
Dr Greene misdiagnosed a pregnant patient. 
20 20 "Full Moon, Saturday Night"  Neal Baer Donna Deitch March 30, 1995
There is a new ER chief 
21 21 "House of Cards"  Tracey Stern Fred Gerber April 06, 1995
Dr Chen makes a disastrous mistake. Dr Lewis's sister Chloe comes back. Nielsen Ratings: 35.3 million viewers (highest rated of season one) 
22 22 "Men Plan, God Laughs"  Robert Nathan Christopher Chulack April 27, 1995
Dr Benton compensated his inability in helping his mother by going beyond the call to help his patients. 
23 23 "Love Among the Ruins"  Paul Manning Fred Gerber May 04, 1995
Dr Carter's family background is discovered. Dr Benton starts falling for a married woman. Nurse Hathaway has trouble writing her wedding vows. 
24 24 "Motherhood"  Lydia Woodward Quentin Tarantino May 11, 1995
Dr Ross must deal with commitment issues. Dr Carter's future is uncertain. Dr Lewis helps deliver her niece. Dr Benton receives some bad news. 
25 25 "Everything Old Is New Again"  John Wells Mimi Leder May 18, 1995
Dr Carter gets some surprising news. Dr Greene gets sued. It is Nurse Hathaway's wedding. Will she make it down the aisle or get cold feet? Nielsen Ratings: 33.6 million viewers 


[edit] Reception

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[edit] References

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