ER - Specials (2009)

The cast and crew reflect on 15 years in the ER. From the pilot to the finale the stories from Country General have impacted audiences all around the world. Now, the most recognized drama bids farewell.

The plot of the episode "Ambush," which aired in 1997, revolves around a PBS documentary crew filming a "typical day" in the emergency room at Chicago's County General Hospital. The episode was notable for being filmed and broadcast live twice: once for East Coast viewers and again for West Coast viewers.

An absolutely incredible supplement that mixes clips from the show and recently filmed interviews with the principals and the stars and it gives us a great breakdown on the genesis of the first season. We learn about the birth of the show (based on Crichton’s actual experiences while training as a physician), the trials of having the show picked up for television, Spielberg and Amblin’s eventual involvement in the pilot and how Crichton’s mention of Jurassic Park to Spielberg slowed the development down on ER, the circumstances around casting the actors for the main roles and how close relationships were formed with the original cast, finding the perfect location, and so on.

The trials and tribulations of the first season including shooting 80-pages of script (basically, feature length) in seven days, the non-stop schedules needed to get the show made on such short time frames, the difficulties (and eventual triumphs) of working with a steadi-cam which was very unconventional at the time, the writers used on the show and how ideas became story lines, as well as touching on great episodes from the first season.

This supplement gives us interviews with the technical advisors/consultants on the show, as well as other members of the cast and crew (including Spielberg and Crichton) and we learn how everyone involved strived for realism in every aspect of the show – starting with the script and on to the technical choreography, terminology, and props.

Here we learn about post production on the show and the short amount of time the editors, producers, and composer(s) have to get a show ready to run on the tube. Those involved said that there are usually eight days of shooting and after that, only three or four days before the show airs. We learn how the show is edited, how the sound and music are added and dubbed, and how all those involved in post production strive for realism in their work as well.

Behind the scenes on the Ambush episode.

The plot of the episode "Ambush," which aired in 1997, revolves around a PBS documentary crew filming a "typical day" in the emergency room at Chicago's County General Hospital. The episode was notable for being filmed and broadcast live twice: once for East Coast viewers and again for West Coast viewers.

Behind the scenes, Season 2 episode - Hell and High Water

Behind the scenes directing an ER episode. Season 02 Special Feature.

A look at the unlikely buddies, Drs Benton and Carter. Season 02 Special Feature.

ER Episodes - where does all that blood and gore come from? And the people who make it happen. Season 03 Special Feature.

Season 03 Special Feature.

Season 03 Special Feature.

Outtakes from the Paley center's Celebration of the 300th Episode of ER.

Miscues and comedic outtakes from season 1.

Miscues and comedic outtakes from season 2

Miscues and comedic outtakes from season 3.

Miscues and comedic outtakes from season 4.

Miscues and comedic outtakes from season 5.

Miscues and comedic outtakes from season 6.

Miscues and comedic outtakes from season 7.

Miscues and comedic outtakes from season 8.

Miscues and comedic outtakes from season 9.

Miscues and comedic outtakes from season 10.

Miscues and comedic outtakes from season 14. Season 11-13 did not have have similar outtakes.

The reunion episode will feature cast members Gloria Reuben (Jeanie Boulet), George Clooney (Doug Ross), Noah Wyle (John Carter), Laura Innes (Kerry Weaver), Anthony Edwards (Mark Greene), Julianna Margulies (Carol Hathaway), Goran Visnjic (Luka Kovac), Paul McCrane (Robert Romano), Ming-Na Wen (Jing-Mei Chen), Laura Cerón (Chuny Marquez), Yvette Freeman (Haleh Adams), Conni Marie Brazelton (Connie Oligario), Ellen Crawford (Lydia Wright) and CCH Pounder (Angela Hicks). This special episode of Stars in the House will be held in benefit of the Waterkeeper Alliance — the fastest growing global nonprofit focused solely on clean water.