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'E.R.' docs work on a live one
September 26, 1997
Web posted at: 6:49 a.m. EDT (1049 GMT)NEW YORK (CNN) -- It was a delicate operation, rarely performed in recent memory. It was carried out by people pretending to be doctors and nurses. The whole thing was watched by millions. And two hours after it was all over they turned around and did it again.
NBC's hit drama "E.R." went live for its season premiere, a common practice in the early days of television drama, but rare in recent decades. It was again performed live for audiences in the Pacific time zone, and was only broadcast on tape -- a repeat of the Eastern time performance, one hour later -- in the Mountain time zone.
The pursuit of technical achievement didn't lower the show's emotional punch. The live camera crews -- camouflaged as documentary filmmakers shooting for PBS -- focused on Dr. Mark Greene, played by Anthony Edwards, who seemed close to an emotional collapse near the end of last season as the result of a physical assault.
The episode also featured a rekindled romance between Dr. Doug Ross (George Clooney) and nurse Carol Hathaway (Julinana Margulies), who were a turbulent couple in the show's first season. The jumpy cameras of the season premier caught the pair in an intimate conversation, with Hathaway oblivious that the "documentary" crew had her wearing a microphone.
In working out the logistics of live television, the show didn't sacrifice its customary frenetic pace. The elaborate set of connecting rooms and hallways, with a cast of over 100 actors and extras, was a daunting challenge. But the execution was nearly flawless. The staging made the live production part of the show -- cameramen jumped out of the path of moving gurneys, got knocked to the floor, and had doors slammed in their faces.
In one standout scene, Laura Innes, as Dr. Carrie Weaver, read the riot act to a cameraman who made the mistake of questioning her treatment of a patient. Greene also has no great love for the documentary cameras. He agrees to grant an interview only in the episode's final scene, which ends with request that they "turn it off."
Clooney and Edwards raised the idea of a live show after separate appearances on "Saturday Night Live." After tasting the adrenaline rush of live TV, they wanted to begin this season, the show's fourth, with a new challenge.
Before the show, Clooney said the audience would also be in it for the thrill. "That's why we all watch sporting events like the indianapolis 500," he said. "It's not to see cars go round and round in circles. We want to see if they can survive the race."
And survive they did. Twice.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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- NBC.com - ER Live
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