No, not that one...
A decade before the premiere of the long-running medical drama that made George Clooney a star, there came this similarly titled sitcom, adapted from a stage play. The earlier show had a lot in in common with the better-known show, besides the title and setting. Both took place in Chicago and both had Clooney in the cast, making him the first performer to appear in two different shows with the same title.
On E/R (notice the slash in the name of this one), Elliott Gould starred as Dr. Howard Sheinfeld, an ear-nose-throat specialist who moonlighted in the emergency room at Clark Street Hospital in Chicago in order to maintain alimony payments to two ex-wives. The staff also included head E/R doctor Eve Sheridan (Mary McDonnell, who would also appear in the later ER), head nurse Joan Thor (Conchata Ferrell, later of L.A. Law and Two and a Half Men), and fellow nurses Julie Williams (Lynne Moody) and Cory Smith (Corrine Bohrer), receptionist Maria (Shuko Akune), Julie's roommate, and police officer Fred Burdock (Bruce A. Young), Maria's boyfriend. Recurring cast members included Clooney as EMT Mark "Ace" Kolmar, Thor's nephew, and Jason Alexander (in his first TV role) as Harold Stickley, the hospital administrator. The series had ties to the long-running comedy The Jeffersons: the character Julie Williams was the niece of George and Louise Jefferson, and Sherman Hemsley appeared in the E/R premiere as his iconic character. Also, Marcia Strassman (Welcome Back, Kotter) played Dr. Sheridan in the pilot.
It's obvious the show had two different intros, and it only lasted one season. I did not see it the first time, but caught some reruns on Lifetime in 1992. The reruns I saw then included the intro in the first clip.
A few serious issues such as Nurse Thor being diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease, and Officer Burdock having high blood pressure, but the the series was cancelled before either storyline could be taken any farther.
RIP Conchata Ferrell.
Not familiar with this one. I'm surprised how many hospital dramas are cancelled. Hollywood doesn't seem to be able to do them right. ER is maybe the exception.
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteWell, another I'd never heard... but would have watched it for Clooney! YAM xx
E=Eternalnot
Well, can't blame myself. This one didn't make it to India.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely Interesting!
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I see the / ... Wow such similarities. I am not familiar with this but will definitely check out the videos.
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I remember this show but I never watched it. I didn't watch any series shows in the earlier 80s because of my work hours. I don't think I've seen a medical TV drama show since Dr Kildare and Ben Casey in the sixties when there weren't very many choices as to what to watch on television.
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Tossing It Out
Didn't hear of this. Wasn't born then...may b hence...i only knew friends recently in 2010/11....would hav loved to watch for Clooney
ReplyDeleteI did watch this one every week. It was funny and sure had some great actors, who have gone on to other series now. :)
ReplyDeleteI vaguely remember this show. Fun fact: I worked at Warner Bros. when the second ER was being taped and used to see George Clooney on the lot. They built him a basketball court outside their soundstage, and you would often see him and others playing pick up games
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