1
00:00:08,091 --> 00:00:11,677
The drama of it is intense,
life-and-death stuff.
2
00:00:11,728 --> 00:00:14,763
This world of medicine has been
such a rich area.
3
00:00:14,848 --> 00:00:17,216
Put your hand between her legs
and hold the head in.
4
00:00:17,283 --> 00:00:18,884
Keep breathing, ma'am.
5
00:00:18,935 --> 00:00:20,819
"Groundbreaking" --
people say that word a lot,
6
00:00:20,887 --> 00:00:22,721
but this really was
groundbreaking television.
7
00:00:22,772 --> 00:00:25,190
The show is really about
flawed heroes.
8
00:00:25,241 --> 00:00:27,225
What do you think you're doing,
the e stine Chapel?
9
00:00:27,277 --> 00:00:28,861
Finish her up, start an IV
in room two.
10
00:00:33,116 --> 00:00:35,284
It was real,
and it was gritty.
11
00:00:35,368 --> 00:00:37,569
Peter, it's over.
12
00:00:37,620 --> 00:00:39,955
Hey, now, come on, Pete,
it's over!
13
00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:41,373
It's doesn't even make sense
to me.
14
00:00:41,424 --> 00:00:43,008
I'm going, "D5,
lactated ringers, colloids,
15
00:00:43,076 --> 00:00:44,543
O-negative blood,
and intubation tray."
16
00:00:44,594 --> 00:00:46,795
I'll get stat lytes, type and
cross, 4 units of whole blood.
17
00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:50,466
Medical shows, in particular,
have always been popular.
18
00:01:01,161 --> 00:01:03,529
"Pioneers of Television"
was made possible by
19
00:01:03,596 --> 00:01:06,098
contributions
to your PBS station
20
00:01:06,166 --> 00:01:07,933
from viewewe like you.
21
00:01:09,169 --> 00:01:13,172
They played the doctors and
nurses we watched every week.
22
00:01:13,239 --> 00:01:14,907
People used to come up to me
all the time,
23
00:01:14,974 --> 00:01:18,110
"Oh, my god,
I work in a hospital.
24
00:01:18,161 --> 00:01:20,946
The arrogant surgeon,
you got that down."
25
00:01:20,997 --> 00:01:23,198
Suddenly,
I was doing "Dr. Kildare."
26
00:01:23,283 --> 00:01:26,335
And it was amaz--
I mean, it took right off,
27
00:01:26,419 --> 00:01:28,370
all around the world,
as a matter of fact.
28
00:01:28,455 --> 00:01:31,123
Get an airway
from my bag.
29
00:01:31,174 --> 00:01:33,709
There's something so
intrinsically compelling
30
00:01:33,793 --> 00:01:36,328
about medical shows,
especially about the ER.
31
00:01:36,379 --> 00:01:38,130
What's the pulse?
32
00:01:38,181 --> 00:01:40,682
Pulse is 140,
pressure 60 over 40.
33
00:01:40,767 --> 00:01:42,518
I was sure
they had made a mistake.
34
00:01:42,602 --> 00:01:47,890
When Howie came in, it gave
a flip to the profession.
35
00:01:47,974 --> 00:01:49,308
was great.
36
00:01:49,359 --> 00:01:51,510
I'm going to be totally
honest with you now,
37
00:01:51,561 --> 00:01:53,378
I've never done
anything like this.
38
00:01:53,396 --> 00:01:54,730
What is that thing,
gall bladder?
39
00:01:54,847 --> 00:01:56,181
Liver.
40
00:01:56,232 --> 00:01:59,568
I hate liver.
Unless it's covered with onions.
41
00:01:59,652 --> 00:02:01,153
I think nurses are terrific,
42
00:02:01,204 --> 00:02:03,522
and I was so proud
to represent a nurse.
43
00:02:03,573 --> 00:02:06,041
The relationships alone,
both on screen and off --
44
00:02:06,126 --> 00:02:07,876
I mean, we really became
a family.
45
00:02:07,961 --> 00:02:10,963
Dr. Carter, stat.
Trauma line.
46
00:02:13,716 --> 00:02:15,417
[Laughter]
47
00:02:15,502 --> 00:02:18,837
They shaped our understanding
of medicine,
48
00:02:18,888 --> 00:02:20,038
for better and worse.
49
00:02:20,089 --> 00:02:22,508
I saw a guy on one show
50
00:02:22,559 --> 00:02:25,477
actually listening to
a patient's heart
51
00:02:25,545 --> 00:02:29,681
with a stethoscope, and the
earpieces were behind his ears.
52
00:02:29,732 --> 00:02:32,384
You've got all these
phone calls!
53
00:02:32,435 --> 00:02:34,686
Dr. Blackburn wants to see you
when you're free.
54
00:02:34,737 --> 00:02:36,238
Received, noted.
55
00:02:36,322 --> 00:02:38,774
It was the biggege innovation
of medical shows I'd ever seen.
56
00:02:38,858 --> 00:02:40,025
I just happened to be in it.
57
00:02:40,076 --> 00:02:43,562
The world of it
is inherently dramatic
58
00:02:43,613 --> 00:02:45,864
and relates to
the life-and-death experience
59
00:02:45,915 --> 00:02:47,366
that we have as human beings.
60
00:02:47,417 --> 00:02:50,285
Together, they built
medical shows
61
00:02:50,370 --> 00:02:54,122
into one of television's
most popular forms.
62
00:02:54,207 --> 00:02:56,875
They are
the pioneers of television.
63
00:02:59,679 --> 00:03:01,430
Clear!
64
00:03:01,514 --> 00:03:03,748
Mr. Jackson,
where does it hurt?
65
00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:06,518
Where does it hurt,
Mr. Jackson?
66
00:03:06,586 --> 00:03:09,388
Does it hurt
when you breathe in?
67
00:03:09,439 --> 00:03:11,607
From the very first scenes,
it was clear
68
00:03:11,691 --> 00:03:14,393
that "ER" wasn't going to be
a typical medical show.
69
00:03:14,444 --> 00:03:16,812
When we first started,
it was complete pandemonium.
70
00:03:16,896 --> 00:03:19,781
-Do you have pain in your head?
-No.
71
00:03:19,866 --> 00:03:21,900
-How about your neck, any pain?
-No.
72
00:03:21,951 --> 00:03:25,287
All right, now, what I want
you to do, ma'am --
73
00:03:25,371 --> 00:03:26,822
[Patient retches]
74
00:03:26,906 --> 00:03:29,825
I want you to tell me if it
hurts you when you breathe.
75
00:03:29,909 --> 00:03:32,244
We wanted these guys to feel
and look and sound
76
00:03:32,295 --> 00:03:34,162
like real
emergency room physicians.
77
00:03:34,247 --> 00:03:35,247
-Time?
-Two minutes.
78
00:03:35,298 --> 00:03:36,999
Come on, sweetheart.
79
00:03:37,083 --> 00:03:39,117
Getting me just
a little nervous here.
80
00:03:39,168 --> 00:03:40,502
Okay, paddles.
Let's go.
81
00:03:40,587 --> 00:03:42,671
[Flatlining]
Clear!
82
00:03:42,755 --> 00:03:43,839
Okay.
83
00:03:43,923 --> 00:03:44,956
[Thwack!]
84
00:03:45,008 --> 00:03:46,475
Is that a blip?
85
00:03:46,559 --> 00:03:47,509
Recharging.
86
00:03:47,594 --> 00:03:48,977
We have the respect
of doctors
87
00:03:49,062 --> 00:03:51,296
because they appreciated
what we were trying to do.
88
00:03:51,347 --> 00:03:55,100
What the producers of "ER"
were trying to do
89
00:03:55,151 --> 00:03:58,270
was create a medical show
with a new sense of realism.
90
00:03:58,321 --> 00:04:01,490
That meant using the language
of real doctors,
91
00:04:01,574 --> 00:04:03,992
even if the TV audience
didn't understand.
92
00:04:04,077 --> 00:04:06,695
65-year-old male with severe
peripheral vascular disease...
93
00:04:06,779 --> 00:04:09,448
"...manifested by claudication
of the left calf,
94
00:04:09,499 --> 00:04:11,149
10 days post-op
from Mercy General
95
00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:13,118
after having an aortic
bifemoral bypass.
96
00:04:13,169 --> 00:04:15,487
Normal post-operative course
till about six hours ago
97
00:04:15,538 --> 00:04:17,589
when he began to experience
the gradual onset
98
00:04:17,657 --> 00:04:18,790
of lower-left quadrant pain
99
00:04:18,841 --> 00:04:20,709
without palliative
or provoking factors."
100
00:04:20,793 --> 00:04:23,161
[Chuckles]
101
00:04:23,212 --> 00:04:25,347
Take that!
102
00:04:25,431 --> 00:04:27,132
[Chuckles]
103
00:04:27,183 --> 00:04:31,136
Actor Noah Wyle's proficiency
with medical jargon
104
00:04:31,187 --> 00:04:34,690
was in sharp contrast to
his character, Dr. John Carter,
105
00:04:34,774 --> 00:04:37,359
who had no mastery
of anything, at first.
106
00:04:37,443 --> 00:04:40,512
That character started off as,
basically, comic relief.
107
00:04:40,563 --> 00:04:41,897
You know, I was the guy
108
00:04:41,981 --> 00:04:44,399
that would spill trays of urine
on myself
109
00:04:44,484 --> 00:04:47,703
and sort of fall down and
pass out at the sight of blood.
110
00:04:47,787 --> 00:04:48,987
Thank you, doctor.
111
00:04:49,038 --> 00:04:50,739
You're very welcome.
112
00:04:50,823 --> 00:04:52,407
When do I come to have
my stitches out?
113
00:04:52,492 --> 00:04:54,993
Oh, uh...
three weeks.
114
00:04:55,044 --> 00:04:58,046
When my son had stitches
in his foot, they said 10 days.
115
00:04:58,131 --> 00:05:01,550
Really? Well, 10 days, three
weeks -- any time in there.
116
00:05:01,634 --> 00:05:05,887
It takes a skilled actor
to play an unskilled doctor.
117
00:05:05,972 --> 00:05:08,924
And Noah Wyle knew
just how to make it work.
118
00:05:09,008 --> 00:05:11,893
It was this scene -- which he
also played in his audition --
119
00:05:11,978 --> 00:05:13,095
that won him the role.
120
00:05:13,179 --> 00:05:16,381
Ow! Look, doc, you don't
mind my asking,
121
00:05:16,432 --> 00:05:18,433
have you done this before?
122
00:05:18,518 --> 00:05:21,853
Officer, I'd hate to tell you
how often I've done this before.
123
00:05:21,904 --> 00:05:23,722
I just knew that
if I did this little bit
124
00:05:23,773 --> 00:05:25,741
where, once I stuck him
and the guy screamed,
125
00:05:25,825 --> 00:05:28,443
if I just looked around to make
sure I wouldn't get in trouble,
126
00:05:28,528 --> 00:05:30,529
that I'd have the room
in the palm of my hand.
127
00:05:30,580 --> 00:05:32,864
Okay, you're going to feel
a little needle.
128
00:05:32,915 --> 00:05:34,282
Oww!
129
00:05:34,367 --> 00:05:37,119
[Chuckles]
Come on, that wasn't that bad.
130
00:05:37,203 --> 00:05:39,671
But we missed the vein.
131
00:05:41,708 --> 00:05:43,291
Noah Wyle holds the record,
132
00:05:43,376 --> 00:05:45,910
playing a doctor longer
than anyone else
133
00:05:45,962 --> 00:05:47,796
in a prime-time medical series.
134
00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:50,716
WYLE: He constantly changed
and evolved.
135
00:05:50,767 --> 00:05:53,602
If I'd stayed being
the comic relief character
136
00:05:53,686 --> 00:05:57,389
who was constantly screwing up,
that may have been frustrating.
137
00:05:57,440 --> 00:05:58,607
Uh...
138
00:05:58,691 --> 00:06:00,942
But he kept growing
as I kept growing.
139
00:06:01,027 --> 00:06:05,313
Over the years, Carter faced
addiction and rehab,
140
00:06:05,398 --> 00:06:09,618
was stabbed and recovered,
went to the Congo and returned.
141
00:06:09,702 --> 00:06:12,738
While shooting in Africa,
life imitated art
142
00:06:12,789 --> 00:06:16,458
as actor Noah Wyle was pressed
into real-life medical service.
143
00:06:16,542 --> 00:06:18,493
We were shooting
in the Kalahari Desert.
144
00:06:18,578 --> 00:06:20,128
It was 123 degrees.
145
00:06:20,213 --> 00:06:23,114
Between takes,
the on-set medic passed out.
146
00:06:23,166 --> 00:06:26,585
Wyle grabbed a working IV
and didn't hesitate.
147
00:06:26,636 --> 00:06:29,805
I stuck him with
a 14-gauge needle
148
00:06:29,889 --> 00:06:31,956
and revived him
with a bag of saline,
149
00:06:32,008 --> 00:06:34,125
and then I did
three or four more that day.
150
00:06:34,177 --> 00:06:35,644
And, uh...
151
00:06:35,728 --> 00:06:38,296
You know, there was enough that
we picked up through osmosis
152
00:06:38,347 --> 00:06:40,482
that we could actually
practically be of use
153
00:06:40,566 --> 00:06:41,767
in certain circumstances.
154
00:06:43,686 --> 00:06:45,270
In the early years,
155
00:06:45,321 --> 00:06:47,606
John Carter's mentor
was Dr. Peter Benton,
156
00:06:47,657 --> 00:06:49,140
played by Eriq La Salle.
157
00:06:49,192 --> 00:06:50,776
-John Carter.
-Yes, sir.
158
00:06:50,827 --> 00:06:52,477
In the scene where
he meets Carter,
159
00:06:52,528 --> 00:06:53,978
Benton's confidence
is clear,
160
00:06:54,030 --> 00:06:55,480
but for actor La Salle,
161
00:06:55,531 --> 00:06:57,249
this first day on the job
was a challenge.
162
00:06:57,316 --> 00:06:58,750
This is the admitting desk.
163
00:06:58,818 --> 00:07:01,336
If you need someone paged or
a chart called up, do it here.
164
00:07:01,421 --> 00:07:03,705
On the very first day of work,
he had to deliver
165
00:07:03,790 --> 00:07:05,257
what we used to call a "bullet,"
166
00:07:05,324 --> 00:07:07,509
which is a huge, long monologue
of medicalese,
167
00:07:07,593 --> 00:07:09,961
as he gives my character
a tour through the hospital.
168
00:07:10,012 --> 00:07:12,514
Everybody gets an IV the minute
they walk through the door.
169
00:07:12,598 --> 00:07:14,165
Use an angiocath with
a 16 needle.
170
00:07:14,217 --> 00:07:16,268
You need a large bore in case
they're bleeding
171
00:07:16,335 --> 00:07:17,636
and you need to transfuse them.
172
00:07:17,687 --> 00:07:19,721
-Do you know how to start an IV?
-Uh, actually, no.
173
00:07:19,806 --> 00:07:22,307
We're walking, we're talking,
we're going through, you know,
174
00:07:22,358 --> 00:07:24,175
this Steadicam is carrying us
everywhere.
175
00:07:24,227 --> 00:07:26,061
We're going in rooms,
coming out of rooms,
176
00:07:26,145 --> 00:07:27,896
going around in circles,
doing all this.
177
00:07:27,980 --> 00:07:31,650
And if the camera bumped
into somebody,
178
00:07:31,701 --> 00:07:35,036
at the very end of the scene,
we had to start over.
179
00:07:35,121 --> 00:07:36,738
So whenever r u can,
make sure
180
00:07:36,823 --> 00:07:38,657
you go with the patients
to x-ray.
181
00:07:38,708 --> 00:07:41,293
Don't let them get scared,
don't let them get hurt.
182
00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:43,912
Ah! Here's Dr. Morganstern.
He's the head of ER.
183
00:07:43,996 --> 00:07:46,832
One take led to the next take,
led totohe next take,
184
00:07:46,883 --> 00:07:49,417
and finally we got up to about
19 or 20 takes,
185
00:07:49,502 --> 00:07:51,336
and I see the director
and cameraman
186
00:07:51,387 --> 00:07:52,838
started getting really nervous
187
00:07:52,889 --> 00:07:54,723
because we were running
out of film.
188
00:07:54,807 --> 00:07:57,175
Your room will be down here,
that's where you sew people up.
189
00:07:57,226 --> 00:07:58,710
-Do you know how to suture?
-Uh...
190
00:07:58,761 --> 00:08:00,095
No. Okay, I'll teach you.
191
00:08:00,179 --> 00:08:05,216
Not only was it the 22nd take,
they were out of film.
192
00:08:05,268 --> 00:08:08,103
So basically, we either
got it or we didn't.
193
00:08:08,187 --> 00:08:09,938
So everyone is holding
their breath.
194
00:08:10,022 --> 00:08:13,224
And, on the 22nd take...
195
00:08:13,276 --> 00:08:14,609
I nail it.
196
00:08:14,694 --> 00:08:17,412
-Do we have anyone in sew-up?
-How would I know?
197
00:08:17,497 --> 00:08:19,564
You know, I love this great
spirit of camaraderie.
198
00:08:19,615 --> 00:08:21,082
Everyone wants to help,
you know.
199
00:08:21,167 --> 00:08:24,870
George and Noah just look
at me and they do...
200
00:08:24,921 --> 00:08:26,838
And I'm like,
what the hell is that?
201
00:08:26,906 --> 00:08:28,673
And they go, "22."
202
00:08:30,426 --> 00:08:31,710
We'll take her into two.
203
00:08:31,761 --> 00:08:33,762
Doug, take the little girl
into one.
204
00:08:33,846 --> 00:08:37,098
The roving, uninterrupted shots
were a signature o o"ER"
205
00:08:37,183 --> 00:08:39,083
and had to be
expertly choreographed
206
00:08:39,135 --> 00:08:41,686
to ensure dialogue, movement,
and medical procedures
207
00:08:41,754 --> 00:08:43,271
all went perfectly.
208
00:08:43,356 --> 00:08:45,557
And 1, 2, 3, go!
209
00:08:45,608 --> 00:08:47,442
Good. Type and cross match
210
00:08:47,527 --> 00:08:50,111
6 units packed cell, CBC,
chem 7.
211
00:08:50,196 --> 00:08:52,981
Let's get
moving now.
212
00:08:53,065 --> 00:08:56,568
CHILD, IN DISTANCE:
Mommy!
213
00:08:56,619 --> 00:08:59,437
ed a chest tool tray.
Come on, people, let's move.
214
00:08:59,488 --> 00:09:02,106
This isn't a museum.
Let's go, we've got work to do.
215
00:09:02,158 --> 00:09:04,576
-Who else is on the floor?
-Everybody's working.
216
00:09:04,627 --> 00:09:07,379
Well, call the O.R.,
let's see what they can spare..
217
00:09:07,446 --> 00:09:09,080
CHILD: Mommy!
218
00:09:13,052 --> 00:09:15,787
Can you cross-match
four units?
219
00:09:15,838 --> 00:09:18,122
If you can c creograph things
where the camera's moving
220
00:09:18,174 --> 00:09:20,642
and the actors are moving and
you're revealing what you need,
221
00:09:20,726 --> 00:09:22,761
you can get a lot done
in a single take,
222
00:09:22,812 --> 00:09:24,179
and we called those "oners."
223
00:09:24,263 --> 00:09:26,231
Those long scenes,
those long "oners,"
224
00:09:26,298 --> 00:09:28,850
the one thing that you hoped
wasn't going to happen
225
00:09:28,935 --> 00:09:30,902
was that you would have
the last line.
226
00:09:30,970 --> 00:09:33,638
Because if you had
the last line or the few lines
227
00:09:33,689 --> 00:09:35,690
and you screw it up,
228
00:09:35,775 --> 00:09:37,492
then it's on you.
229
00:09:37,577 --> 00:09:40,412
I felt worse for the actors that
had to make an entrance,
230
00:09:40,479 --> 00:09:42,914
you know, seven minutes
into one take.
231
00:09:42,982 --> 00:09:44,165
[Chuckles]
232
00:09:44,250 --> 00:09:46,451
Going, "Ahh, I don't want
to d dthis tray!"
233
00:09:46,502 --> 00:09:50,789
"ER" won accolades
for its medical accuracy,
234
00:09:50,840 --> 00:09:54,459
but it was the characters that
kept audiences coming back.
235
00:09:54,510 --> 00:09:57,161
None more important than
the head of the ER,
236
00:09:57,213 --> 00:09:59,864
Dr. Mark Greene,
played by Anthony Edwards.
237
00:09:59,866 --> 00:10:04,386
Anthony Edwards was very much
the lead actor on the show
238
00:10:04,470 --> 00:10:07,505
and the public face
of the ensemble.
239
00:10:07,556 --> 00:10:09,357
-Dr. Greene.
-What is it?
240
00:10:09,442 --> 00:10:11,509
6:30, Dr. Greene.
241
00:10:11,560 --> 00:10:14,679
This well-intentioned,
overworked person,
242
00:10:14,730 --> 00:10:17,032
who is always trying
to do the right thing
243
00:10:17,116 --> 00:10:18,516
and loves medicine.
244
00:10:18,567 --> 00:10:20,351
The fact that he loved it
so much
245
00:10:20,403 --> 00:10:22,237
is what really attracted me
to it.
246
00:10:22,321 --> 00:10:24,990
And then realizing and seeing
the storytelling
247
00:10:25,041 --> 00:10:28,793
that then there was going to be
probably every problem
248
00:10:28,861 --> 00:10:31,713
put in front of him that he was
going to have to face.
249
00:10:31,797 --> 00:10:33,632
And that's what
the adventure became.
250
00:10:35,868 --> 00:10:38,369
In season seven,
Anthony Edwards began
251
00:10:38,421 --> 00:10:41,339
the longest death scene
in television history,
252
00:10:41,390 --> 00:10:43,391
two years from the time
Dr. Mark Greene
253
00:10:43,476 --> 00:10:46,077
learned he was terminal,
until he actually passed away
254
00:10:46,145 --> 00:10:48,096
from brain cancer.
255
00:10:53,552 --> 00:10:55,687
I remember.
256
00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:10,335
EDWARDS: It was
a horrible way to go,
257
00:11:10,402 --> 00:11:11,786
but if you are going to go,
258
00:11:11,871 --> 00:11:16,291
they let Mark Greene go in a way
that was kind of beautiful.
259
00:11:18,961 --> 00:11:22,047
Mark Greene's nice guy persona
was a counterpoint
260
00:11:22,098 --> 00:11:24,599
to the roguish bad boy,
Dr. Doug Ross,
261
00:11:24,684 --> 00:11:26,017
played by George Clooney.
262
00:11:26,085 --> 00:11:27,218
Dr. Ross.
263
00:11:27,269 --> 00:11:29,971
Hi. Tracy Young.
I'm a third-year student.
264
00:11:30,056 --> 00:11:32,140
Well, hello, Tracy Young,
it's nice to meet you.
265
00:11:32,224 --> 00:11:34,926
For the next few days, we're
going to be working closely.
266
00:11:34,977 --> 00:11:37,946
Not that closely, Dr. Ross, but
I'll do my best to help you out.
267
00:11:38,030 --> 00:11:39,614
ll me what to do,
I'll get started.
268
00:11:39,699 --> 00:11:40,932
Just trying to be friendly.
269
00:11:40,983 --> 00:11:43,451
I've got all the friends
I need, thanks.
270
00:11:43,536 --> 00:11:45,203
Shall we get started?
271
00:11:47,540 --> 00:11:49,107
George Clooney had starred
272
00:11:49,158 --> 00:11:51,459
in a long list of shows
before "ER",
273
00:11:51,544 --> 00:11:53,294
but it was this series
that would launch him
274
00:11:53,379 --> 00:11:54,796
to the next level.
275
00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:59,134
LA SALLE: We were shooting in
Chicago and it was lunchtime
276
00:11:59,218 --> 00:12:02,620
and George and I were on our way
to grab something to eat.
277
00:12:02,671 --> 00:12:05,306
We passed by an office building
278
00:12:05,391 --> 00:12:07,642
and there were a lot of women.
279
00:12:07,727 --> 00:12:12,630
e women literally came out
and started running after us.
280
00:12:12,681 --> 00:12:16,818
And George and I are like,
you know...
281
00:12:16,902 --> 00:12:19,571
And they're like, "Ahhh!"
And we're like...
282
00:12:19,638 --> 00:12:22,157
And we're running
and we're trying to --
283
00:12:22,241 --> 00:12:24,308
And we...
I know it sounds...
284
00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:25,660
We ducked into an alley.
285
00:12:25,745 --> 00:12:27,662
Literally,
it was like a cartoon.
286
00:12:27,747 --> 00:12:31,332
We ducked into an alley,
and this herd of women went by.
287
00:12:31,417 --> 00:12:33,868
And we're in the alley,
and we just look at each other,
288
00:12:33,953 --> 00:12:35,370
and we're like, what the...?
289
00:12:35,454 --> 00:12:36,838
And...
and it was the beginning.
290
00:12:36,922 --> 00:12:38,923
He's relatively y active.
291
00:12:38,991 --> 00:12:40,925
[Whimpers]
292
00:12:40,993 --> 00:12:42,627
So, I think...
293
00:12:42,678 --> 00:12:44,295
you know, it's not so bad.
294
00:12:44,346 --> 00:12:46,998
Uh, so I think that...
295
00:12:47,049 --> 00:12:50,051
Women love him.
Guys want to be his friend.
296
00:12:50,136 --> 00:12:54,305
George Clooney was much more
than a pretty face.
297
00:12:54,356 --> 00:12:56,858
He was a leader on the set
and willing to stand up
298
00:12:56,942 --> 00:12:59,027
for his co-stars
when they were wronged.
299
00:12:59,111 --> 00:13:02,680
For example, TV Guide
repeatedly featured
300
00:13:02,731 --> 00:13:05,850
"ER"'s white actors
on its covers.
301
00:13:05,901 --> 00:13:08,219
But the show's
African American stars
302
00:13:08,287 --> 00:13:10,554
did not receive
equal treatment.
303
00:13:10,556 --> 00:13:12,690
So George Clooney
stepped in.
304
00:13:12,741 --> 00:13:15,359
LA SALLE: George had actually
mounted a campaign.
305
00:13:15,411 --> 00:13:18,580
He'd done a lot of research
and he'd found out,
306
00:13:18,664 --> 00:13:21,916
for instance, with TV Guide,
at that time,
307
00:13:22,001 --> 00:13:23,585
that, historically,
they had
308
00:13:23,669 --> 00:13:25,720
more cartoon characters
on their cover
309
00:13:25,805 --> 00:13:27,755
than they had had
African Americans.
310
00:13:27,840 --> 00:13:29,090
And that the only time
311
00:13:29,175 --> 00:13:31,759
they ever put African Americans
on the cover
312
00:13:31,844 --> 00:13:33,377
was for the February month,
313
00:13:33,429 --> 00:13:36,397
which is the shortest month
and Black History Month.
314
00:13:36,482 --> 00:13:40,602
It caused enough of a stink
that Eriq got his cover
315
00:13:40,686 --> 00:13:43,238
and we all learned
the power of George's pen.
316
00:13:43,322 --> 00:13:45,023
He writes a very good letter.
317
00:13:46,859 --> 00:13:49,444
Early in "ER"'s run,
George Clooney began
318
00:13:49,528 --> 00:13:52,330
to get offers for major movies,
like "Batman."
319
00:13:56,202 --> 00:13:59,570
Hi, Freeze.
I'm Batman.
320
00:13:59,622 --> 00:14:04,075
For a time, Clooney was
shooting "ER" during the day
321
00:14:04,126 --> 00:14:05,543
and movies at night.
322
00:14:05,594 --> 00:14:08,213
But he found clever ways
to manage the workload.
323
00:14:08,264 --> 00:14:09,797
And so he developed a technique
324
00:14:09,882 --> 00:14:12,550
where he'd write the lines
on a patient's bed sheet,
325
00:14:12,601 --> 00:14:15,386
so he could just sort of
look down and read.
326
00:14:15,437 --> 00:14:16,888
[Chuckles]
327
00:14:16,939 --> 00:14:20,275
We have a 5-year-old with known
coarctation of the aorta.
328
00:14:20,359 --> 00:14:23,594
She had a a dden onset of severe
respiratory distress
329
00:14:23,646 --> 00:14:24,979
about an hour ago.
330
00:14:25,064 --> 00:14:27,115
GREENE: Are you worried about
congestive heart failure?
331
00:14:27,199 --> 00:14:28,783
ROSS: Resp's 40,
BP's 80 over 100.
332
00:14:28,868 --> 00:14:30,268
She's tachycardic,
her rate is 1 80.
333
00:14:30,319 --> 00:14:31,703
-Did you get blood gases?
-Mm-hmm.
334
00:14:31,770 --> 00:14:33,121
-Chest film?
-Yeah.
335
00:14:33,205 --> 00:14:36,040
Or he'd write his lines inside
the medical clipboards,
336
00:14:36,108 --> 00:14:39,160
so he could say, "Well, it looks
like you're going to need
337
00:14:39,245 --> 00:14:41,963
a CBC chem-7 cross-table
C-spine...
338
00:14:42,047 --> 00:14:45,800
And we're gonna get that
for you as soon as we can."
339
00:14:45,885 --> 00:14:48,452
He could have left earlier, too,
but he stayed
340
00:14:48,504 --> 00:14:50,805
and did what he said
he was going to do.
341
00:14:50,890 --> 00:14:52,957
You know, if there's anything
George is
342
00:14:53,008 --> 00:14:54,559
is he's true to his word.
343
00:14:56,178 --> 00:14:58,963
George Clooney's first
love interest on "ER"
344
00:14:59,014 --> 00:15:02,016
was Carol Hathaway,
played by Julianna Margulies.
345
00:15:02,101 --> 00:15:05,486
Carol, are you sure that you
don't have
346
00:15:05,571 --> 00:15:07,471
a PKU card tucked away
347
00:15:07,523 --> 00:15:10,491
in that special stash of yours?
348
00:15:12,361 --> 00:15:13,912
Like this?
349
00:15:13,979 --> 00:15:16,331
I can always count on you.
350
00:15:16,415 --> 00:15:18,750
Even if you do prefer
football players.
351
00:15:18,817 --> 00:15:20,201
Had your chance.
352
00:15:20,286 --> 00:15:22,670
Oh! I was young.
I was a fool.
353
00:15:22,755 --> 00:15:24,488
You're still a fool.
354
00:15:24,540 --> 00:15:27,959
Originally, the writers planned
to kill off
355
00:15:28,010 --> 00:15:30,845
Margulies' character
in the pilot.
356
00:15:30,930 --> 00:15:33,214
But viewers
wouldn't let that happen.
357
00:15:33,299 --> 00:15:35,016
The reaction of test audiences
358
00:15:35,100 --> 00:15:37,302
persuaded producers
to keep her on.
359
00:15:37,353 --> 00:15:40,221
As she lay on her death bed,
360
00:15:40,306 --> 00:15:43,474
the looks and the energy
that everybody else conveyed
361
00:15:43,525 --> 00:15:45,560
about their feeling
towards her
362
00:15:45,644 --> 00:15:47,895
was so powerful that,
when they tested the pilot,
363
00:15:47,980 --> 00:15:49,981
her character tested
way through the roof.
364
00:15:52,368 --> 00:15:53,618
WOMAN: Let's go.
365
00:15:56,989 --> 00:15:59,707
Call respiratory.
We may need to intubate.
366
00:15:59,792 --> 00:16:01,159
You know what she took?
367
00:16:01,210 --> 00:16:03,378
I don't know, she just went
into the medicine cabinet.
368
00:16:03,462 --> 00:16:04,829
We've got a lot
of stuff around.
369
00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:06,697
The near-death
of Margulies' character
370
00:16:06,749 --> 00:16:10,385
was a rare opportunity for
"ER"'s cast to show emotion.
371
00:16:10,469 --> 00:16:12,587
-Why did she do it?
-Doesn't matter why she did it.
372
00:16:12,671 --> 00:16:14,505
We don't ask that about
any other OD
373
00:16:14,556 --> 00:16:17,541
that comes through these doors,
we don't ask it about this one.
374
00:16:17,593 --> 00:16:20,211
Most of the time, the actors
tried to withhold
375
00:16:20,262 --> 00:16:23,047
their character's feelings,
like a real doctor would.
376
00:16:23,098 --> 00:16:26,601
A policy that was enforced
in weekly meetings.
377
00:16:26,685 --> 00:16:28,019
Every night we aired,
378
00:16:28,070 --> 00:16:30,738
we would get together
and watch that show as a cast.
379
00:16:30,823 --> 00:16:33,691
I don't know what the rest of
themem about that experience,
380
00:16:33,742 --> 00:16:36,077
but for my mind, we were pretty
merciless on each other.
381
00:16:36,161 --> 00:16:39,897
If there was a moment,
like an extra emotional moment,
382
00:16:39,948 --> 00:16:43,201
your job was
to walk away from it.
383
00:16:43,252 --> 00:16:45,903
If any character, any actor,
took a moment to themselves
384
00:16:45,954 --> 00:16:49,257
and sort of sighed
or rubbed their neck or...
385
00:16:49,341 --> 00:16:51,592
took a little kind of
character moment,
386
00:16:51,677 --> 00:16:54,512
we would be merciless,
we would fire on that person
387
00:16:54,579 --> 00:16:56,080
and tease them mercilessly.
388
00:16:56,131 --> 00:16:58,749
'Cause doctors don't stop
and think about
389
00:16:58,801 --> 00:17:01,219
or emotionally take that time
of like,
390
00:17:01,270 --> 00:17:03,254
"That was the toughest patient
of the day,
391
00:17:03,305 --> 00:17:05,023
and I'm gonna hold
for commercial."
392
00:17:05,090 --> 00:17:07,642
You know, you just don't
do that.
393
00:17:07,726 --> 00:17:09,110
Because we wanted it
to seem like,
394
00:17:09,194 --> 00:17:11,112
no matter what, there's
another patient to treat.
395
00:17:11,196 --> 00:17:12,980
No matter r at,
you're needed someplace else.
396
00:17:13,065 --> 00:17:14,649
The directors would get
very frustrated
397
00:17:14,733 --> 00:17:16,868
because they'd be like,
"Please, stay a little longer."
398
00:17:16,935 --> 00:17:18,369
We're like,
"No, I got work to do."
399
00:17:18,437 --> 00:17:20,071
And we'd pick up a chart
and keep going.
400
00:17:22,074 --> 00:17:24,409
"ER" storylines often
venturededar
401
00:17:24,460 --> 00:17:26,711
from standard
medical show fare,
402
00:17:26,778 --> 00:17:28,713
addressing the genocide
in Darfur
403
00:17:28,780 --> 00:17:31,416
or the ravages
of Alzheimer's.
404
00:17:31,467 --> 00:17:34,752
And the series shed
new light on HIV
405
00:17:34,803 --> 00:17:36,754
through the character
of Jeannie Boulet,
406
00:17:36,805 --> 00:17:37,955
played by Gloria Reuben.
407
00:17:38,006 --> 00:17:41,792
There was someone
very close to me
408
00:17:41,844 --> 00:17:43,728
who was HIV-positive.
409
00:17:43,795 --> 00:17:47,131
And, uh...
410
00:17:47,182 --> 00:17:51,135
this story of Jeannie Boulet
germinated from...
411
00:17:51,186 --> 00:17:53,237
this person's story.
412
00:17:53,305 --> 00:17:58,359
So, how this particular person
was living his life
413
00:17:58,444 --> 00:18:00,661
with a great deal
of dignity...
414
00:18:00,746 --> 00:18:01,863
You here for testing?
415
00:18:01,947 --> 00:18:03,147
No.
416
00:18:03,198 --> 00:18:05,199
You are HIV-positive?
417
00:18:05,284 --> 00:18:07,085
-Yes.
-When did you find out?
418
00:18:07,152 --> 00:18:09,837
Yesterday.
I'll come back later, all right?
419
00:18:09,922 --> 00:18:11,372
Wait. You're already here.
420
00:18:11,457 --> 00:18:13,875
Why don't you fill out a form
and I'll make sure you get in
421
00:18:13,959 --> 00:18:15,426
to see somebody, okay?
422
00:18:15,494 --> 00:18:19,464
Top form is general information.
Next few pages for insurance.
423
00:18:19,515 --> 00:18:21,466
Thanks.
424
00:18:21,517 --> 00:18:25,052
Without hitting somebody
over the head with it,
425
00:18:25,137 --> 00:18:27,188
you know, without
preaching about it,
426
00:18:27,272 --> 00:18:31,943
if one can display a certain way
of being in the world,
427
00:18:32,010 --> 00:18:33,311
even though dealing with
428
00:18:33,362 --> 00:18:35,613
extremely difficult
personal challenges,
429
00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:37,198
I think that's a good thing.
430
00:18:39,067 --> 00:18:42,620
In "ER"'s sixth season,
Gloria Reuben left the show,
431
00:18:42,687 --> 00:18:44,405
a path eventually taken
432
00:18:44,490 --> 00:18:47,525
by every member
of the original cast.
433
00:18:47,576 --> 00:18:51,695
By the time the series reached
its final episode in 2009,
434
00:18:51,747 --> 00:18:54,532
the faces were all different.
435
00:18:54,583 --> 00:18:57,718
But the ER was the same.
436
00:18:57,803 --> 00:18:59,537
[Siren wails]
437
00:18:59,588 --> 00:19:02,089
Check for singed nasal hair
from smoke inhalation.
438
00:19:02,174 --> 00:19:03,508
Set up for intubation!
439
00:19:07,813 --> 00:19:12,066
As innovative as "ER" was,
it did have a forerunner,
440
00:19:12,151 --> 00:19:14,735
a series that prototyped many
of the ideas
441
00:19:14,820 --> 00:19:16,404
that "ER" would build on --
442
00:19:16,488 --> 00:19:19,607
the long, roving shots,
the interwoven storylines,
443
00:19:19,691 --> 00:19:22,426
the doctors with
very human frailties.
444
00:19:22,444 --> 00:19:24,111
I mean, we killed
a lot of people.
445
00:19:24,196 --> 00:19:26,280
We should have saved
maybe a few more people.
446
00:19:26,365 --> 00:19:28,533
He's flatlined.
447
00:19:28,584 --> 00:19:31,235
No!
448
00:19:31,286 --> 00:19:32,903
No!
449
00:19:32,955 --> 00:19:34,405
Give it up.
450
00:19:34,456 --> 00:19:36,240
...4...5...
451
00:19:36,291 --> 00:19:38,626
I'll inform the family.
452
00:19:38,710 --> 00:19:41,045
My hands are numb.
453
00:19:41,096 --> 00:19:43,598
And I was proud
that it was real
454
00:19:43,682 --> 00:19:47,935
and thth it wasn't all glossy
and made-up and romanticized.
455
00:19:53,775 --> 00:19:58,062
Designed as television's first
realistic medical show,
456
00:19:58,113 --> 00:20:01,115
"St. Elsewhere" began filming
in mid-1982.
457
00:20:03,151 --> 00:20:07,855
But after a few days,
production was abruptly halted.
458
00:20:08,006 --> 00:20:13,244
And half-way through
the pilot,
459
00:20:13,295 --> 00:20:16,464
Bruce Paltrow,
who was the producer,
460
00:20:16,548 --> 00:20:18,583
stopped
461
00:20:18,634 --> 00:20:21,285
and said,
"It's going the wrong way."
462
00:20:21,336 --> 00:20:25,590
Overnight, several key actors
were replaced.
463
00:20:25,641 --> 00:20:27,791
Among the newcomers
was a performer
464
00:20:27,843 --> 00:20:30,177
who'd never acted before.
465
00:20:30,262 --> 00:20:33,314
His only show-biz experience
was doing this...
466
00:20:33,398 --> 00:20:36,067
[Audience laughing]
467
00:20:40,972 --> 00:20:43,858
If you look at my early stuff,
I didn't have an act.
468
00:20:43,942 --> 00:20:46,277
Why are you laughing?
469
00:20:46,328 --> 00:20:48,529
Does it look --
No, does it look stupid?
470
00:20:48,614 --> 00:20:51,148
And then I started going,
"What? What? Tell me what?"
471
00:20:51,199 --> 00:20:52,816
And that became
my catchphrase.
472
00:20:52,868 --> 00:20:54,335
What, what, what, what?
473
00:20:54,419 --> 00:20:55,786
No, tell me.
474
00:20:55,837 --> 00:20:57,838
And I didn't have anything to do
and I have OCD
475
00:20:57,923 --> 00:20:59,790
and I had gloves with me,
and out of a lack
476
00:20:59,841 --> 00:21:02,293
of anything else to do, I pulled
a rubber glove on my head,
477
00:21:02,344 --> 00:21:04,462
and that became
a signature piece.
478
00:21:04,513 --> 00:21:07,798
Okay, how many fingers
am I holding up?
479
00:21:07,849 --> 00:21:09,550
[Laughter]
480
00:21:09,635 --> 00:21:13,771
Howie Mandel had always hoped
to land a sitcom.
481
00:21:13,838 --> 00:21:16,107
And that's what he thought
he was reading for
482
00:21:16,174 --> 00:21:18,025
when a call came in
for an audition.
483
00:21:18,110 --> 00:21:20,478
I went home, and I remember
telling my wife,
484
00:21:20,529 --> 00:21:21,862
she goes, "How did it go?"
485
00:21:21,947 --> 00:21:24,398
And I went, "I don't think
it went real well."
486
00:21:24,483 --> 00:21:25,700
She goes, "Do you feel bad?"
487
00:21:25,784 --> 00:21:27,735
And I said, "You know,
I don't feel terrible."
488
00:21:27,819 --> 00:21:29,153
She goes, "Why?"
489
00:21:29,204 --> 00:21:31,322
I go, "Because it wasn't funny."
490
00:21:31,373 --> 00:21:33,541
I had no idea what I was
reading for,
491
00:21:33,625 --> 00:21:35,192
and it just wasn't funny.
492
00:21:35,243 --> 00:21:38,296
This is the worst sitcom
I had read in my life.
493
00:21:38,363 --> 00:21:40,581
This torturous,
not-funny sitcom.
494
00:21:40,666 --> 00:21:42,216
It doesn't even make sense
to me.
495
00:21:42,301 --> 00:21:44,051
I'm going, "D5,
lactated ringers, colloids,
496
00:21:44,136 --> 00:21:45,736
O-negative blood,
and intubation tray."
497
00:21:45,804 --> 00:21:48,889
"Congratulations, you got it."
What?
498
00:21:48,974 --> 00:21:51,092
And there was a show
called "St. Elsewhere."
499
00:21:51,176 --> 00:21:54,679
You got x-rays -- C-spine,
chest, abdomen?
500
00:21:54,730 --> 00:21:56,314
Yes. She's in sinus tach.
501
00:21:56,381 --> 00:22:00,434
Give me a thoracotomy tray.
Chest tube, 28 French.
502
00:22:00,519 --> 00:22:02,903
I'll get stat lytes, type
and cross 4 units whole blood.
503
00:22:02,988 --> 00:22:06,190
Howie Mandel wasn't
the only comic
504
00:22:06,241 --> 00:22:08,859
destined for "St. Elsewhere."
505
00:22:08,910 --> 00:22:11,696
After years in standup,
Ed Begley, Jr.
506
00:22:11,747 --> 00:22:14,332
landed the role
of Victor Ehrlich,
507
00:22:14,399 --> 00:22:17,401
perhaps the most annoying
doctor ever on television.
508
00:22:17,452 --> 00:22:19,587
Ehrlich was
a highly flawed individual.
509
00:22:19,671 --> 00:22:21,255
[Pager beeping]
Ahh!
510
00:22:21,340 --> 00:22:22,673
[Chuckles]
511
00:22:22,741 --> 00:22:24,241
The hours,
oh, the hours.
512
00:22:24,292 --> 00:22:26,877
I used to fantasize about sex,
now all I dream about is sleep.
513
00:22:26,928 --> 00:22:28,212
I'm losing my rabbit impulses.
514
00:22:28,263 --> 00:22:29,413
He's one of those guys
515
00:22:29,464 --> 00:22:31,432
that thought he was funnier
than he was.
516
00:22:31,516 --> 00:22:34,769
You know, trying to be
the hospital class clown
517
00:22:34,853 --> 00:22:36,604
and not really succeeding.
518
00:22:36,688 --> 00:22:40,024
I wish I had a dollar for every
metastasized cell in his liver.
519
00:22:40,091 --> 00:22:41,192
How long you give him?
520
00:22:41,259 --> 00:22:43,444
Six months,
a year on the outside.
521
00:22:43,528 --> 00:22:45,813
Ah, 20 bucks says he won't
make it past May Day.
522
00:22:45,897 --> 00:22:48,566
ou're on.
-Hey, why don't we start a pool?
523
00:22:50,318 --> 00:22:51,569
That's disgusting.
524
00:22:51,620 --> 00:22:53,287
You ought to be ashamed
of yourself, Ehrlich.
525
00:22:53,372 --> 00:22:54,789
Why?
526
00:22:54,873 --> 00:22:59,460
BEGLEY: And they discocored this
thing with Bill Daniels and I.
527
00:22:59,544 --> 00:23:01,412
I was this tall,
kind of goofy guy
528
00:23:01,463 --> 00:23:04,114
that was very nervous
around him and what have you,
529
00:23:04,166 --> 00:23:07,284
and there was this Mutt and Jeff
thing that they found was...
530
00:23:07,335 --> 00:23:09,637
you know, that was good
to write for.
531
00:23:09,721 --> 00:23:12,640
Ed Begley, Jr...
532
00:23:12,724 --> 00:23:14,642
and Billy Daniels
533
00:23:14,726 --> 00:23:18,512
had one of the greatest moments
in the history of art...
534
00:23:18,597 --> 00:23:19,764
[Chuckles]
535
00:23:19,815 --> 00:23:21,131
on "St. Elsewhere."
536
00:23:21,183 --> 00:23:22,650
DANIELS: What's the mean flow?
537
00:23:22,734 --> 00:23:24,602
EHRLICH: Flow meter.
538
00:23:26,354 --> 00:23:29,490
Ed Begley can't keep
his mouth shut.
539
00:23:29,574 --> 00:23:32,777
He's talking all through it
as his assistant.
540
00:23:32,828 --> 00:23:35,913
And at one point,
they lean over the body
541
00:23:35,980 --> 00:23:37,531
and...
542
00:23:37,616 --> 00:23:39,200
Ed Begley says something.
543
00:23:39,284 --> 00:23:41,702
EHRLICH: Uh, 60 to 65.
544
00:23:41,787 --> 00:23:44,755
DANIELS: Thought you'd get me
a better vein than that.
545
00:23:44,823 --> 00:23:46,490
Let's try it again.
546
00:23:46,541 --> 00:23:49,293
EHRLICH: Uh, yeah, 68.
547
00:23:49,344 --> 00:23:50,678
DANIELS: Give me that.
548
00:23:50,762 --> 00:23:54,665
And Billy can't take it anymore,
and he bumps!
549
00:23:54,716 --> 00:23:57,668
They're on the body,
and he bumps his head
550
00:23:57,719 --> 00:23:59,520
against Ed Begley's head...
551
00:23:59,604 --> 00:24:00,971
by way of reprimand.
552
00:24:02,140 --> 00:24:04,058
78!
553
00:24:04,142 --> 00:24:05,810
Moron.
554
00:24:05,861 --> 00:24:09,697
I thought that was the greatest
moment I'd ever seen.
555
00:24:09,781 --> 00:24:11,732
[Chuckles]
556
00:24:11,817 --> 00:24:15,569
The cast of "St. Elsewhere"
remains an unequaled mix
557
00:24:15,654 --> 00:24:18,989
of experienced actors
and up-and-coming stars.
558
00:24:19,040 --> 00:24:22,076
Including Mark Harmon,
Denzel Washington,
559
00:24:22,160 --> 00:24:25,463
Ed Flanders,
David Morse, Alfre Woodard,
560
00:24:25,530 --> 00:24:28,165
Norman Lloyd,
and Christina Pickles.
561
00:24:28,216 --> 00:24:31,702
One of the memories I have
was this very sweet scene
562
00:24:31,753 --> 00:24:35,806
where I was massaging
Denzel Washington's shoulders,
563
00:24:35,874 --> 00:24:37,341
'cause he was having
a hard time
564
00:24:37,392 --> 00:24:39,259
and I was helping him
through a hard time.
565
00:24:39,344 --> 00:24:41,762
Being chosen Chief Resident
is important to you.
566
00:24:41,847 --> 00:24:44,265
The only reason I became
a doctor
567
00:24:44,349 --> 00:24:46,267
was because my father pushed.
568
00:24:46,351 --> 00:24:48,385
He was a terrific actor
to work wiwi.
569
00:24:48,436 --> 00:24:49,854
He was very present.
570
00:24:49,905 --> 00:24:54,158
But at Brooklyn Jewish, I got
a taste of administrating.
571
00:24:54,225 --> 00:24:56,360
Leading other residents.
572
00:24:56,411 --> 00:25:00,331
Finally found myself enjoying
medicine for the first time.
573
00:25:00,398 --> 00:25:01,615
Even today, I will get a call.
574
00:25:01,700 --> 00:25:03,450
I don't care if it's 2:00
in the morning.
575
00:25:03,535 --> 00:25:05,452
Denzel will call me
from a movie set and say,
576
00:25:05,570 --> 00:25:07,004
"Howie, how would you
play this?"
577
00:25:07,071 --> 00:25:08,506
And I'm more than happy
578
00:25:08,573 --> 00:25:10,758
to help him and be there
for him.
579
00:25:10,842 --> 00:25:12,543
[Snickers]
580
00:25:15,297 --> 00:25:17,414
In an era when
most medical dramas
581
00:25:17,465 --> 00:25:20,017
featured just two or three
main characters,
582
00:25:20,084 --> 00:25:22,419
"St. Elsewhere" had
more than a dozen.
583
00:25:22,470 --> 00:25:23,921
But the innovations didn't end
584
00:25:23,972 --> 00:25:25,973
with the unusually large
ensemble cast.
585
00:25:26,057 --> 00:25:29,143
Even more groundbreaking was
the production technique
586
00:25:29,227 --> 00:25:31,979
designed to mimic the look
of a gritty documentary.
587
00:25:32,063 --> 00:25:33,781
The camera roved
the corridors,
588
00:25:33,865 --> 00:25:36,033
moving from conversation
to conversation,
589
00:25:36,100 --> 00:25:37,601
without edits.
590
00:25:37,652 --> 00:25:41,605
That meant extremely long takes
that were not easily repeated.
591
00:25:41,656 --> 00:25:43,324
I think we were
the first show
592
00:25:43,408 --> 00:25:45,275
to do these long,
meandering shots,
593
00:25:45,327 --> 00:25:47,578
where we would do like
six pages of dialogue
594
00:25:47,629 --> 00:25:49,296
all in one shot
without a cut.
595
00:25:53,301 --> 00:25:55,052
Are we doing rounds or what?
596
00:25:55,119 --> 00:25:57,137
Don't tell me nobody ordered
a Kosher plate.
597
00:25:57,222 --> 00:25:59,056
We need a D.I. consult,
419, fast.
598
00:25:59,123 --> 00:26:01,642
-I put her chart right there.
-Big mistake.
599
00:26:01,726 --> 00:26:03,260
And then we walked down
that hall
600
00:26:03,311 --> 00:26:04,812
and we'd go to
a nurse's station,
601
00:26:04,896 --> 00:26:07,297
or another pair of characters,
and then they would go...
602
00:26:07,349 --> 00:26:09,183
And then you'd come out
of the room,
603
00:26:09,267 --> 00:26:11,301
you'd be the last one
in the sixth page,
604
00:26:11,353 --> 00:26:12,803
with two lines.
605
00:26:12,854 --> 00:26:16,240
If you got one word wrong,
they'd go, "Cut! From the top."
606
00:26:16,307 --> 00:26:18,409
And everybody had to go back
to the top.
607
00:26:18,476 --> 00:26:23,614
So, the pressure to be perfect
was so incredible.
608
00:26:23,665 --> 00:26:25,148
It's all got to work
just right.
609
00:26:25,200 --> 00:26:26,817
The crash cart has to go
over here.
610
00:26:26,868 --> 00:26:28,752
The amber bag has
to come on there.
611
00:26:28,820 --> 00:26:31,288
Ed Flanders comes in
at this point, what have you.
612
00:26:31,339 --> 00:26:32,823
The only time it gets difficult
613
00:26:32,874 --> 00:26:35,709
is when you blow it or you drop
the clipboard or something,
614
00:26:35,794 --> 00:26:37,661
and everybody, the rest of
the actors,
615
00:26:37,712 --> 00:26:40,097
"Come on, get it right,
for GoGos sake, would you?"
616
00:26:40,164 --> 00:26:43,100
I got to talk to a doctor.
I feel woozy.
617
00:26:43,167 --> 00:26:44,885
Maybe it's chicken pox.
618
00:26:44,970 --> 00:26:47,354
No, this ain't the chicken pox,
I had the chicken pox.
619
00:26:47,439 --> 00:26:49,506
It's a lot worse
than the stupid chicken pox.
620
00:26:49,557 --> 00:26:51,358
It's in good condition, huh?
621
00:26:51,443 --> 00:26:52,893
Good condition?
Mint condition.
622
00:26:52,978 --> 00:26:55,112
I'm really not in the market
for a car, Mark.
623
00:26:55,179 --> 00:26:56,230
Not a car, a classic!
624
00:26:56,314 --> 00:26:57,681
You did Lamaze, didn't you?
625
00:26:57,732 --> 00:26:59,400
Yeah. It was all right
the first time.
626
00:26:59,484 --> 00:27:00,701
What do you mean?
627
00:27:00,785 --> 00:27:02,453
By the time you get to
your second kid,
628
00:27:02,520 --> 00:27:04,989
you're gonna wish that the stork
dropped it down the chimney.
629
00:27:05,040 --> 00:27:07,574
It's all right: they don't start
Lamaze till the seventh month.
630
00:27:07,659 --> 00:27:10,861
The scariest thing was,
two characters would meet,
631
00:27:10,912 --> 00:27:12,529
then one would go off
into the elevator
632
00:27:12,580 --> 00:27:14,131
and then they'd go
into the elevator
633
00:27:14,198 --> 00:27:16,083
and two people would be
talking in the elevator
634
00:27:16,167 --> 00:27:17,751
while the crew was changing
the outside
635
00:27:17,836 --> 00:27:20,304
from second floor to third floor
and the colors on the outside,
636
00:27:20,371 --> 00:27:22,556
so when we walked out, it looked
like a different floor.
637
00:27:22,641 --> 00:27:25,976
I spent a lot of time
studying my lines.
638
00:27:26,044 --> 00:27:29,379
Because I was afraid
to mess up.
639
00:27:29,431 --> 00:27:33,400
And also because it was often
unfamiliar sentences.
640
00:27:33,485 --> 00:27:35,069
The name's Francine Delgado.
641
00:27:35,153 --> 00:27:38,105
She, seven days ago, had
a mitral valve replacement.
642
00:27:38,189 --> 00:27:40,691
Well, what's her post-op course
been like?
643
00:27:40,742 --> 00:27:42,743
It was excellent till about
24 hours ago.
644
00:27:42,827 --> 00:27:45,062
She started vomiting,
started having diarrhea,
645
00:27:45,113 --> 00:27:46,830
temperature went through
the roof,
646
00:27:46,898 --> 00:27:48,115
and in the last few hours,
647
00:27:48,199 --> 00:27:50,067
she's been coughing
without sputum production.
648
00:27:50,118 --> 00:27:51,752
That style was favorable
649
00:27:51,836 --> 00:27:54,738
to those of us who came
from the theater.
650
00:27:54,789 --> 00:27:57,341
Because in the long takes,
651
00:27:57,408 --> 00:28:00,077
you got a sense of what you
would do in the theater --
652
00:28:00,128 --> 00:28:01,929
you would be playing
a long scene.
653
00:28:02,013 --> 00:28:03,914
No one on "St. Elsewhere"
654
00:28:03,965 --> 00:28:09,219
knew more about acting for
the theater than Norman Lloyd.
655
00:28:09,270 --> 00:28:11,138
With a resume that includes
performing
656
00:28:11,222 --> 00:28:12,690
in the famed Mercury Theatre
657
00:28:12,757 --> 00:28:14,391
with John Houseman
and Orson Welles,
658
00:28:14,442 --> 00:28:18,228
in the years before Welles
created "Citizen Kane."
659
00:28:18,279 --> 00:28:20,814
The best work Orson ever did
was with Jack Houseman.
660
00:28:20,899 --> 00:28:25,435
He needed that other voice
that pushed him on.
661
00:28:25,487 --> 00:28:26,704
They would get
662
00:28:26,771 --> 00:28:29,623
in the most terrible arguments
at rehearsals,
663
00:28:29,708 --> 00:28:31,825
when we were at the Mercury.
664
00:28:31,910 --> 00:28:33,994
They'd start screaming
at each other.
665
00:28:34,079 --> 00:28:35,579
I don't know over what.
666
00:28:35,630 --> 00:28:37,081
Norman Lloyd also starred
667
00:28:37,132 --> 00:28:38,332
in iconic films like
668
00:28:38,416 --> 00:28:40,084
Alfred Hitchcock's "Saboteur."
669
00:28:40,135 --> 00:28:43,670
Come on, quit stalling.
Who are you?
670
00:28:43,755 --> 00:28:46,590
I think I told you.
A working girl on her day off.
671
00:28:46,641 --> 00:28:48,142
Don't kid me!
672
00:28:50,395 --> 00:28:51,845
What are you doing here?
673
00:28:51,930 --> 00:28:54,464
The great thing about Hitch
was, for example,
674
00:28:54,516 --> 00:28:56,316
my scene on the Statue
of Liberty.
675
00:28:56,401 --> 00:28:58,769
GUNMAN: Come on, Frye!
676
00:29:04,409 --> 00:29:07,077
He expected you,
as the character,
677
00:29:07,145 --> 00:29:08,695
to bring the richness
678
00:29:08,780 --> 00:29:15,836
and the personality and whatever
the character was doing...
679
00:29:15,920 --> 00:29:19,506
That's you
as a professional actor.
680
00:29:19,591 --> 00:29:21,125
He didn't go into any
681
00:29:21,176 --> 00:29:22,826
deep, reasoning things,
682
00:29:22,877 --> 00:29:26,213
which some directors took on.
683
00:29:26,297 --> 00:29:30,350
On the set of "St. Elsewhere,"
Norman Lloyd regaled the cast
684
00:29:30,435 --> 00:29:33,053
with his stories
of old Hollywood.
685
00:29:33,138 --> 00:29:36,339
I remember sitting around with
Norman Lloyd and just, you know,
686
00:29:36,391 --> 00:29:41,361
like with my jaw
just dropped open,
687
00:29:41,446 --> 00:29:44,014
just hearing the stories of,
you know,
688
00:29:44,065 --> 00:29:46,617
Charlie Chaplin
and Alfred Hitchcock.
689
00:29:46,684 --> 00:29:48,702
I remember him
saying things like,
690
00:29:48,787 --> 00:29:51,371
"My dear, I was playing tennis
with Charlie,"
691
00:29:51,456 --> 00:29:52,689
meaning Chaplin.
692
00:29:52,740 --> 00:29:55,909
You will be amused to know that
when I was making
693
00:29:55,994 --> 00:29:57,711
"Limelight" with Chaplin...
694
00:29:57,796 --> 00:29:59,546
[Chuckles]
695
00:29:59,631 --> 00:30:02,032
I overheard him...
696
00:30:02,083 --> 00:30:04,585
talking to the cameraman.
697
00:30:04,669 --> 00:30:06,970
And he asked Chaplin,
698
00:30:07,038 --> 00:30:11,875
he said, "What do you want me
to do in the scene, Charlie?"
699
00:30:11,926 --> 00:30:14,428
And Chaplin said,
700
00:30:14,512 --> 00:30:17,898
"Get me in the crosshairs
and just stay with me."
701
00:30:17,982 --> 00:30:19,983
[Chuckles]
702
00:30:20,051 --> 00:30:23,687
So, he really knew how
to shoot a picture.
703
00:30:23,738 --> 00:30:25,889
Terri. I was just about
to leave a note
704
00:30:25,940 --> 00:30:27,741
and you're right
about Palvera.
705
00:30:27,826 --> 00:30:29,243
Have him see me in my office
706
00:30:29,327 --> 00:30:31,612
in the morning before
your audition, 9:30.
707
00:30:31,696 --> 00:30:33,363
e's all set for the part.
-Wonderful!
708
00:30:33,414 --> 00:30:35,782
You can't tell a story about
Norman Lloyd
709
00:30:35,867 --> 00:30:38,252
without becoming Norman,
with his cadence.
710
00:30:38,336 --> 00:30:40,671
"My dear, how are you."
711
00:30:40,738 --> 00:30:43,173
And he's so sweet
and he's so real.
712
00:30:43,241 --> 00:30:46,510
He's not phony in any way,
but you just become him
713
00:30:46,577 --> 00:30:48,962
because it is so distinct.
714
00:30:49,047 --> 00:30:53,750
Norman Lloyd's Dr. Auschlander
had liver cancer...
715
00:30:53,801 --> 00:30:55,936
and originally just
a four-episode arc.
716
00:30:56,020 --> 00:31:00,641
I can face the pain that goes
with the injections,
717
00:31:00,725 --> 00:31:03,393
the fever, the nausea,
the diarrhea
718
00:31:03,444 --> 00:31:06,096
that goes along with
chemotherapy.
719
00:31:06,147 --> 00:31:12,119
But what I hate is that, as the
chemotherapy kills the cancer...
720
00:31:12,203 --> 00:31:14,154
I will grow weaker and weaker.
721
00:31:14,239 --> 00:31:16,657
But the producers kept him on,
722
00:31:16,741 --> 00:31:20,294
creating television's
first-ever cancer survivor.
723
00:31:20,378 --> 00:31:23,080
It was just one of a long list
of firsts
724
00:31:23,131 --> 00:31:25,966
that "St. Elsewhere" brought
to television.
725
00:31:26,050 --> 00:31:27,751
We were the first
in a lot of things,
726
00:31:27,802 --> 00:31:29,970
but I think at the time
we didn't even realize it.
727
00:31:30,054 --> 00:31:31,788
We were just doing it.
728
00:31:31,839 --> 00:31:34,591
Christina Pickles' character,
Nurse Helen Rosenthal,
729
00:31:34,642 --> 00:31:37,294
was television's first
dical professional
730
00:31:37,345 --> 00:31:38,979
with a drug addiction.
731
00:31:39,063 --> 00:31:41,982
Mark Harmon's Dr. Caldwell was
the first lead character
732
00:31:42,066 --> 00:31:43,133
to contract AIDS.
733
00:31:43,184 --> 00:31:44,651
And you haven't noticed
anything?
734
00:31:49,157 --> 00:31:52,826
I thought it was
an infection.
735
00:31:52,911 --> 00:31:55,279
Kaposi's Sarcoma?
736
00:31:59,150 --> 00:32:01,001
I've got AIDS?
737
00:32:01,085 --> 00:32:04,838
Tommy Westfall was the first
character wiwi autism.
738
00:32:04,923 --> 00:32:06,873
And the series was decades
ahead of its time
739
00:32:06,958 --> 00:32:08,709
in addressing the cost
of health care.
740
00:32:08,793 --> 00:32:10,210
They went at
741
00:32:10,295 --> 00:32:13,463
the cost of certain treatments
and the inability
742
00:32:13,514 --> 00:32:17,000
to get those treatments if you
didn't have the money.
743
00:32:17,051 --> 00:32:24,174
So, they attacked these social
problems of medical aid head on.
744
00:32:24,225 --> 00:32:26,944
"St. Elsewhere" was the first
show that really got it right
745
00:32:27,011 --> 00:32:30,113
about medical procedures,
the way doctors lived --
746
00:32:30,181 --> 00:32:31,848
the way they went through
divorces
747
00:32:31,899 --> 00:32:34,234
and cheated on their spouses
and did all that stuff
748
00:32:34,319 --> 00:32:37,204
and did drugs
and were highly flawed.
749
00:32:37,288 --> 00:32:40,374
Medical professionals praised
all aspects
750
00:32:40,458 --> 00:32:42,409
of "St. Elsewhere"'s realism
751
00:32:42,493 --> 00:32:46,246
and ofofn wanted to give input
to the show's actors.
752
00:32:46,331 --> 00:32:50,751
I had my first child in the
midst of the "St. Elsewhere" run
753
00:32:50,835 --> 00:32:54,421
and every doctor in the hospital
wanted to come in
754
00:32:54,505 --> 00:32:57,707
and share war stories
or their favorite episode.
755
00:32:57,759 --> 00:32:59,977
But they didn't just want
to walk into the room
756
00:33:00,044 --> 00:33:02,763
while my wife was in labor just
to say that they were a fan,
757
00:33:02,847 --> 00:33:04,381
so they wanted
to seem useful.
758
00:33:04,432 --> 00:33:06,716
So every doctor
would walk in, put a glove on,
759
00:33:06,768 --> 00:33:09,019
and while they were asking me
about episodes,
760
00:33:09,070 --> 00:33:11,238
would tell me how many,
how dilated she was.
761
00:33:11,322 --> 00:33:13,607
You know,
after the fifth doctor,
762
00:33:13,691 --> 00:33:15,892
it's like my wife
was a puppet.
763
00:33:15,943 --> 00:33:19,196
"St Elsewhere"'s most
controversial moments
764
00:33:19,247 --> 00:33:21,915
came in its final episode
in 1989.
765
00:33:22,000 --> 00:33:24,034
How's he been?
He giving you any trouble?
766
00:33:24,085 --> 00:33:25,786
In "St. Elsewhere"'s
final scene,
767
00:33:25,870 --> 00:33:28,121
the autistic Tommy Westfall
stares at a snow globe
768
00:33:28,206 --> 00:33:30,207
and it's implied that
the entire series
769
00:33:30,258 --> 00:33:32,376
was simply the product
of his imagination.
770
00:33:32,427 --> 00:33:35,929
Be careful with that, son.
771
00:33:36,014 --> 00:33:37,764
Remember what I told you?
772
00:33:41,719 --> 00:33:44,137
I don't understand
this autism thing, pop.
773
00:33:44,222 --> 00:33:45,755
He's my son.
774
00:33:45,807 --> 00:33:48,425
I talk to him but I don't even
know if he can hear me.
775
00:33:48,476 --> 00:33:51,361
You go six years and you come up
and say,
776
00:33:51,429 --> 00:33:54,231
"Well, it's all in
a little boy's mind."
777
00:33:54,282 --> 00:33:59,653
I thought thatatas a cheat.
778
00:33:59,737 --> 00:34:04,074
I thought it should have been
a real experience of people.
779
00:34:04,125 --> 00:34:06,326
I have no idea what it meant.
780
00:34:06,411 --> 00:34:07,794
[Chuckles]
781
00:34:07,879 --> 00:34:11,915
Now there are people say,
"What a great idea!"
782
00:34:11,966 --> 00:34:14,951
It's a cheat. It's a trick.
783
00:34:15,002 --> 00:34:18,422
The show was above that,
in my view,
784
00:34:18,473 --> 00:34:24,344
and I think I was a minority
of one.
785
00:34:24,429 --> 00:34:26,596
[Chuckles]
786
00:34:26,647 --> 00:34:29,433
So, I'm sorry,
but that's the way I felt.
787
00:34:29,484 --> 00:34:32,519
I thought it was great, and
I think what was so great was
788
00:34:32,603 --> 00:34:34,271
you can decide what you think.
789
00:34:34,322 --> 00:34:36,440
Everybody can have their own
opinion,
790
00:34:36,491 --> 00:34:37,991
that was the genius of that.
791
00:34:38,076 --> 00:34:40,494
I think we really hit
792
00:34:40,578 --> 00:34:42,329
the right note
793
00:34:42,413 --> 00:34:48,201
between very serious
and very funny and very real.
794
00:34:48,286 --> 00:34:50,003
Because life is pretty funny
sometimes.
795
00:34:50,088 --> 00:34:52,839
Go home.
It's finished.
796
00:34:52,924 --> 00:34:56,676
The year's over,
your residency's over.
797
00:34:56,761 --> 00:34:59,513
No, sir.
798
00:34:59,597 --> 00:35:01,831
It ain't over till
the fat lady sings.
799
00:35:01,883 --> 00:35:04,518
WOMAN: ¶ Ahhh... ¶
800
00:35:04,602 --> 00:35:10,474
¶ Ah-ah-ah-ahhhh! ¶
801
00:35:13,311 --> 00:35:15,061
Regardless of its ending,
802
00:35:15,146 --> 00:35:17,481
"St. Elsewhere" --
and later "ER" --
803
00:35:17,532 --> 00:35:19,533
changed
medical dramas forever,
804
00:35:19,617 --> 00:35:21,868
introducing ensemble
casts...
805
00:35:21,953 --> 00:35:24,654
frenetic pacing,
and gritty realism.
806
00:35:24,705 --> 00:35:27,741
It's a stark contrast
to earlier medical dramas
807
00:35:27,825 --> 00:35:29,960
that portrayed
god-like heroes
808
00:35:30,027 --> 00:35:31,828
who could heal every patient.
809
00:35:31,879 --> 00:35:33,747
Heroes like Dr. Kildare.
810
00:35:33,831 --> 00:35:37,033
In 1961, NBC made plans
to launch
811
00:35:37,084 --> 00:35:39,753
TV's first major medical drama,
812
00:35:39,837 --> 00:35:41,671
"Dr Kildare."
813
00:35:41,722 --> 00:35:44,341
In the lead role, they cast
William Shatner.
814
00:35:44,392 --> 00:35:46,927
But Shatner didn't want
to commit
815
00:35:47,011 --> 00:35:50,764
to the 16-hour-a-day rigor
of a regular weekly series.
816
00:35:50,848 --> 00:35:54,351
What isn't fun on a series
is the isolation,
817
00:35:54,402 --> 00:35:57,404
the eventual isolation of just
you and the people
818
00:35:57,488 --> 00:36:00,557
struggling to get through it,
which is what it is.
819
00:36:00,608 --> 00:36:04,561
The hours are so demanding.
820
00:36:04,612 --> 00:36:06,947
When Shatner turned down
the role,
821
00:36:07,031 --> 00:36:10,200
the producers turned to
a less experienced actor,
822
00:36:10,251 --> 00:36:11,751
Richard Chamberlain.
823
00:36:11,836 --> 00:36:14,737
In the first rehearsals,
Chamberlain was shaky.
824
00:36:14,789 --> 00:36:16,739
I'm no good at cold readings,
825
00:36:16,791 --> 00:36:19,926
because it takes me time to find
the character
826
00:36:20,011 --> 00:36:22,879
and I always feel
like I start from zero.
827
00:36:22,930 --> 00:36:27,467
The series' more-experienced
co-star, Raymond Massey,
828
00:36:27,552 --> 00:36:29,519
had reserveded right
to fire Chamberlain
829
00:36:29,587 --> 00:36:31,972
if he felt the young actor
wasn't right for the role.
830
00:36:32,056 --> 00:36:34,608
So, as their first
scene together approached,
831
00:36:34,692 --> 00:36:35,925
the producers worried.
832
00:36:35,977 --> 00:36:37,444
But when the film rolled,
833
00:36:37,528 --> 00:36:39,613
everything clicked
for "Dr. Kildare."
834
00:36:39,697 --> 00:36:41,815
CHAMBERLAIN: And we liked
each other
835
00:36:41,899 --> 00:36:44,401
right off the bat,
836
00:36:44,452 --> 00:36:47,370
and he became a kind
of surrogate father for me.
837
00:36:47,438 --> 00:36:50,790
I didn't happen to get along
very well with my own father,
838
00:36:50,875 --> 00:36:53,943
and Ray was so, the opposite
of my father.
839
00:36:53,995 --> 00:36:56,213
He was so supportive
and so interested
840
00:36:56,280 --> 00:36:58,114
and so kind of
non-judgmental.
841
00:36:58,165 --> 00:37:01,117
I just don't know what kind
of a future they can have.
842
00:37:01,168 --> 00:37:03,753
I'll tell you a secret, doctor.
They'll be all right.
843
00:37:03,804 --> 00:37:06,456
When the time comes for
Lucky Alcott to change his life,
844
00:37:06,507 --> 00:37:09,226
he'll change it ananhe'll make
the right decision because
845
00:37:09,293 --> 00:37:11,811
instinctively he knows what is
right for himself
846
00:37:11,896 --> 00:37:13,096
and for those he loves.
847
00:37:13,147 --> 00:37:15,232
It's rare to find a man who has
848
00:37:15,299 --> 00:37:17,734
his own special kind of
maturity,
849
00:37:17,801 --> 00:37:20,186
who knows who he is
and where he belongs.
850
00:37:20,271 --> 00:37:22,239
I don't think a man like that
can be beaten.
851
00:37:22,306 --> 00:37:24,107
CHAMBERLAIN:
Even when I would screw up --
852
00:37:24,158 --> 00:37:28,445
especially in the early weeks,
because I was so green --
853
00:37:28,496 --> 00:37:30,113
he never twitched.
854
00:37:30,164 --> 00:37:34,200
He never looked impatient,
he just was with me.
855
00:37:34,285 --> 00:37:37,487
And I will always remember that.
856
00:37:37,538 --> 00:37:40,490
With Massese his camp,
857
00:37:40,541 --> 00:37:42,842
Richard Chamberlain
pressed forward,
858
00:37:42,927 --> 00:37:44,461
but it wasn't easy.
859
00:37:44,512 --> 00:37:46,630
Medical dramas deal with life
and death,
860
00:37:46,681 --> 00:37:49,516
requiring a wide emotional
nge for the actors.
861
00:37:49,600 --> 00:37:52,352
I had a couple
of emotional scenes
862
00:37:52,436 --> 00:37:55,438
and I found that, at that point
in my life,
863
00:37:55,506 --> 00:37:58,391
I was very
out of touch with my feelings.
864
00:37:58,476 --> 00:38:02,178
If I had to cry or something
or get very angry in a scene,
865
00:38:02,229 --> 00:38:04,731
it took me a lot of building up,
866
00:38:04,815 --> 00:38:06,950
a lot of roaming the,
867
00:38:07,017 --> 00:38:09,536
whatever part t he set was not
being used,
868
00:38:09,620 --> 00:38:12,906
going, "Oh god!
What if my dog died?!"
869
00:38:12,990 --> 00:38:15,909
You know, and things like that
to try to work up the emotion.
870
00:38:15,993 --> 00:38:18,378
When we get people around here
like you, Mrs. Drussard,
871
00:38:18,462 --> 00:38:20,580
we put them in restraints
and we call the police
872
00:38:20,665 --> 00:38:22,916
and have them removed
to the hospital at City Jail.
873
00:38:23,000 --> 00:38:27,370
Now, put that gown on
and behave yourself.
874
00:38:27,421 --> 00:38:30,724
"Dr. Kildare" was a big hit
almost immediately,
875
00:38:30,808 --> 00:38:33,710
largely because of
Richard Chamberlain's
876
00:38:33,761 --> 00:38:35,428
heartthrob appeal.
877
00:38:35,513 --> 00:38:38,715
Meanwhile CBS had launched
its own medical drama,
878
00:38:38,766 --> 00:38:41,017
"Ben Casey," starring
Vince Edwards --
879
00:38:41,068 --> 00:38:43,019
who had an appeal of his own.
880
00:38:47,391 --> 00:38:48,558
Casey?
881
00:38:48,609 --> 00:38:50,160
Casey!
882
00:38:57,034 --> 00:38:58,201
Hold me!
883
00:38:58,252 --> 00:39:00,754
Hold me!
Hold me.
884
00:39:00,838 --> 00:39:04,174
CHAMBERLAIN: Women especially
had a favorite
885
00:39:04,241 --> 00:39:06,092
in one camp or the other.
886
00:39:06,177 --> 00:39:08,077
Vince was a very different type.
887
00:39:08,129 --> 00:39:10,380
He was dark and surly
and hairy chested
888
00:39:10,431 --> 00:39:13,600
and he'd have this thing...
a lot of chest hair and stuff.
889
00:39:13,684 --> 00:39:15,969
It was a darker show,
I think, than ours.
890
00:39:16,053 --> 00:39:17,854
And I was this '50s kid,
you know,
891
00:39:17,921 --> 00:39:19,055
all scrubbed and clean.
892
00:39:19,106 --> 00:39:21,090
Both stars were so popular
893
00:39:21,142 --> 00:39:24,477
that the merchandising machines
kicked in,
894
00:39:24,562 --> 00:39:27,731
selling Ben Casey board games,
Dr. Kildare comic books,
895
00:39:27,782 --> 00:39:31,234
and countless magazine covers.
896
00:39:31,285 --> 00:39:33,570
Fans could even
buy pillow cases
897
00:39:33,621 --> 00:39:36,790
with a life-size image
of Edwards or Chamberlain.
898
00:39:36,874 --> 00:39:39,108
CHAMBERLAIN: Ben Casey,
of course, was opposite us
899
00:39:39,160 --> 00:39:41,828
and we were neck and neck
all the time, very competitive.
900
00:39:41,912 --> 00:39:43,279
Enrollment in medical schools,
901
00:39:43,330 --> 00:39:45,882
which had been going down,
after our two shows were on,
902
00:39:45,949 --> 00:39:48,301
it started to go up because
all these young people
903
00:39:48,386 --> 00:39:50,887
thought theyeye going to have
these glamorous lives.
904
00:39:50,954 --> 00:39:54,674
Real-life doctors and nurses
both loved and hated
905
00:39:54,759 --> 00:39:57,460
this first wave
of medical shows.
906
00:39:57,511 --> 00:40:01,064
On the plus side, the series
often increased awareness
907
00:40:01,131 --> 00:40:02,932
of important medical issues.
908
00:40:02,983 --> 00:40:04,484
But many viewers assumed
909
00:40:04,568 --> 00:40:06,403
what they saw on television
was real,
910
00:40:06,470 --> 00:40:09,138
creating a false expectation
of the medical profession.
911
00:40:09,190 --> 00:40:11,241
Some of these shows where
the doctor
912
00:40:11,308 --> 00:40:13,476
would come knocking
at a person's door.
913
00:40:13,527 --> 00:40:16,329
"You didn't make your
appointment on Monday, Fred.
914
00:40:16,414 --> 00:40:17,864
Are you feeling all right?"
915
00:40:17,948 --> 00:40:19,949
And I don'n'remember a doctor
ever knocking on my door
916
00:40:20,000 --> 00:40:21,451
because I didn't make
an appointment.
917
00:40:21,502 --> 00:40:23,002
It was, you know,
those kinds of shows.
918
00:40:23,087 --> 00:40:25,505
The public's perception
of doctors
919
00:40:25,589 --> 00:40:29,092
was so influenced by television
that many fans assumed
920
00:40:29,159 --> 00:40:31,594
the actors actually knew
medicine.
921
00:40:31,662 --> 00:40:33,963
CHAMBERLAIN: Ray would get into
trouble with that sometime.
922
00:40:34,014 --> 00:40:35,849
He was having dinner
at Chasin's once
923
00:40:35,933 --> 00:40:38,501
and somebody in a neighboring
booth had a heart attack,
924
00:40:38,552 --> 00:40:41,104
and people were very angry
with him for not jumpipi in
925
00:40:41,171 --> 00:40:43,673
and helping this guy,
but Ray didn't know what to do.
926
00:40:43,724 --> 00:40:45,391
[Chuckles]
927
00:40:45,476 --> 00:40:48,611
Actor Raymond Massey didn't
want people to think
928
00:40:48,679 --> 00:40:50,613
he had medical expertise...
929
00:40:50,681 --> 00:40:54,451
but Robert Young
had no such reservations.
930
00:40:54,518 --> 00:40:57,454
His willingness to blur the
line between actor and doctor
931
00:40:57,521 --> 00:40:59,122
would help make him
television's
932
00:40:59,189 --> 00:41:00,824
all-time best known
physician --
933
00:41:00,875 --> 00:41:02,041
Marcus Welby.
934
00:41:02,126 --> 00:41:03,376
The psychiatry we know
935
00:41:03,461 --> 00:41:04,961
is practiced sitting down.
936
00:41:05,028 --> 00:41:06,162
Dermatologists don't
937
00:41:06,213 --> 00:41:07,380
make house calls.
938
00:41:07,465 --> 00:41:11,033
General practice is
performed standing up,
939
00:41:11,085 --> 00:41:14,888
sitting down, outdoors, indoors,
wherever there's illness,
940
00:41:14,972 --> 00:41:16,923
and that means everywhere.
941
00:41:17,007 --> 00:41:20,477
Because, gentlemen,
we don't treat fingers
942
00:41:20,544 --> 00:41:23,680
or skins or bones or skullss
or lungs.
943
00:41:23,731 --> 00:41:25,231
We treat people.
944
00:41:25,316 --> 00:41:28,485
Robert Young so relished
playing a doctor,
945
00:41:28,552 --> 00:41:32,221
he regularly gave speeches
at medical conventions,
946
00:41:32,273 --> 00:41:35,825
and offered health tips
to cast and crew.
947
00:41:35,893 --> 00:41:38,661
He was so enthusiastic
with scalpels and needles,
948
00:41:38,729 --> 00:41:40,864
he accidentally cut
a fellow actor.
949
00:41:40,915 --> 00:41:46,235
He got so carried away with
the part, he cut him open.
950
00:41:46,287 --> 00:41:49,956
There was blood all over
the place.
951
00:41:50,040 --> 00:41:52,959
Yes, Robert really did
get into it.
952
00:41:53,043 --> 00:41:57,079
For Robert Young,
playing a wise doctor
953
00:41:57,131 --> 00:41:59,799
helped him deal with his
own personal insecurities.
954
00:41:59,884 --> 00:42:03,136
Suffering from depression
ananalcoholism,
955
00:42:03,220 --> 00:42:06,589
just getting through the day
was sometimes a challenge.
956
00:42:06,640 --> 00:42:08,591
VERDUGO: He had his hangups.
957
00:42:08,642 --> 00:42:12,729
If he had his problems,
they were with alcohol,
958
00:42:12,780 --> 00:42:14,364
probably at home,
959
00:42:14,431 --> 00:42:20,153
but he never came on the set
smelling of alcohol.
960
00:42:20,237 --> 00:42:24,908
Ironically, in Robert Young's
first big role on television,
961
00:42:24,959 --> 00:42:28,077
he played one of the happiest
people on TV --
962
00:42:28,128 --> 00:42:29,779
the father
on "Father Knows Best."
963
00:42:29,830 --> 00:42:32,281
-Hi, brother!
-I don't see why --
964
00:42:32,333 --> 00:42:33,967
-Kathy.
-Hello, Bud.
965
00:42:34,051 --> 00:42:36,586
What did I do?
966
00:42:36,637 --> 00:42:38,922
We're just glad to see you, son.
967
00:42:38,973 --> 00:42:41,257
-Would you like some ice cream?
-Or some milk?
968
00:42:42,893 --> 00:42:44,394
After "Father Knows Best,"
969
00:42:44,461 --> 00:42:46,763
Robert Young reached
his lowest point
970
00:42:46,814 --> 00:42:49,131
and finally sought
professional help.
971
00:42:49,183 --> 00:42:53,269
After a hospital stay and
joining Alcoholics Anonymous,
972
00:42:53,320 --> 00:42:55,855
he began to rebuild his life.
973
00:42:55,940 --> 00:42:58,658
For Young, landing the role
of Dr. Welby
974
00:42:58,742 --> 00:43:01,327
would be the key step
in his personal
975
00:43:01,412 --> 00:43:03,112
and public rehabilitation.
976
00:43:03,163 --> 00:43:06,583
But ABC didn't want him
for the part.
977
00:43:06,650 --> 00:43:09,485
Young pressed, even paying
for his own screen test.
978
00:43:09,536 --> 00:43:14,507
Finally, ABC agreed, and from
the very first episode,
979
00:43:14,592 --> 00:43:17,343
Marcus Welby became
America's favorite doctor.
980
00:43:17,428 --> 00:43:19,262
The part of Tina
that wants to believe that
981
00:43:19,329 --> 00:43:21,598
the best thing for her husband
would be to commit him.
982
00:43:21,665 --> 00:43:23,499
But there's another part --
her conscience.
983
00:43:23,550 --> 00:43:24,801
You can't read it on a meter --
984
00:43:24,852 --> 00:43:26,886
But you know what
her conscience is telling her?
985
00:43:26,971 --> 00:43:29,272
I'm her doctor, too.
986
00:43:29,339 --> 00:43:31,841
Why do you think she wants
my signature, not yours?
987
00:43:31,892 --> 00:43:33,860
She doesn't want permission,
she wants absolution.
988
00:43:33,944 --> 00:43:35,111
Which you won't give.
989
00:43:35,178 --> 00:43:37,230
Not until I've done
everything I possibly can
990
00:43:37,314 --> 00:43:39,315
for my patient's interests --
as I see it!
991
00:43:39,366 --> 00:43:42,351
And even then, only medical
permission, not absolution.
992
00:43:42,403 --> 00:43:43,953
I'm a doctor, not a priest.
993
00:43:44,021 --> 00:43:46,823
Many medical professionals
were not happy
994
00:43:46,874 --> 00:43:49,208
with the "Marcus Welby"
program,
995
00:43:49,293 --> 00:43:51,661
thinking the portrayal
was unrealistic.
996
00:43:51,712 --> 00:43:54,380
Welby would sit with patients
all night long,
997
00:43:54,465 --> 00:43:56,416
invite them to dinner
at his home,
998
00:43:56,500 --> 00:43:58,835
drive them home
from the hospital.
999
00:43:58,886 --> 00:44:00,386
What are you prescribing?
1000
00:44:00,471 --> 00:44:02,972
Vitamins.
1001
00:44:03,040 --> 00:44:07,043
Also, I want you in my office
next Monday morning at 11:00.
1002
00:44:07,094 --> 00:44:09,929
Robert Young didn't see
the problem
1003
00:44:10,014 --> 00:44:12,765
and encouraged real doctors
to be more like Welby...
1004
00:44:12,850 --> 00:44:15,685
and even offered medical advice
in interviews.
1005
00:44:15,736 --> 00:44:20,023
Elena Verdugo, who starred
as Welby's nurse,
1006
00:44:20,074 --> 00:44:22,692
was more responsive to
the medical community...
1007
00:44:22,743 --> 00:44:26,446
and made sure her character
stopped doing the one thing
1008
00:44:26,530 --> 00:44:27,580
that annoyed many nurses.
1009
00:44:27,665 --> 00:44:29,449
Coffee's hot.
Want some?
1010
00:44:29,533 --> 00:44:31,534
Yes, ma'am.
I'll take some black.
1011
00:44:31,585 --> 00:44:33,903
Thank you, Consuelo.
1012
00:44:33,954 --> 00:44:37,740
"Will you stop getting him
coffee in the morning?"
1013
00:44:37,791 --> 00:44:40,009
-Here you are.
-Thank you, ma'am.
1014
00:44:40,077 --> 00:44:41,577
"We're sick of it.
1015
00:44:41,628 --> 00:44:45,048
w all of our doctors want us
to get a cup of coffee for them
1016
00:44:45,099 --> 00:44:46,883
first thing in the morning."
1017
00:44:46,934 --> 00:44:50,436
And I said, "I got it, I got it.
I will cut it down."
1018
00:44:50,521 --> 00:44:52,522
Elena Verdugo's Consuelo Lopez
1019
00:44:52,589 --> 00:44:55,725
was the first Latina character
on television
1020
00:44:55,776 --> 00:44:57,843
to have a professional career.
1021
00:44:57,861 --> 00:45:00,697
They were looking for
a Mexican girl,
1022
00:45:00,764 --> 00:45:02,448
and I said, "Well, forget it.
1023
00:45:02,533 --> 00:45:07,320
I'm not playing maids
and housekeepers, you know."
1024
00:45:07,404 --> 00:45:09,405
That's all that they were
showing.
1025
00:45:09,456 --> 00:45:12,241
Once she learned Consuelo
was a nurse,
1026
00:45:12,292 --> 00:45:13,910
Elena took the role....
1027
00:45:13,961 --> 00:45:17,046
adding one more chapter
to a family history
1028
00:45:17,114 --> 00:45:20,666
in Southern California
that dated back to the 1700s,
1029
00:45:20,751 --> 00:45:23,052
when the Verdugo family owned
all of what is now
1030
00:45:23,120 --> 00:45:24,754
Burbank and Glendale.
1031
00:45:24,805 --> 00:45:28,391
I'd say, "You're on my land --
off!"
1032
00:45:32,229 --> 00:45:34,263
It wasn't funny at the time,
either.
1033
00:45:34,314 --> 00:45:38,151
Verdugo got her start
on television in a sitcom
1034
00:45:38,235 --> 00:45:40,520
as the lead in "Meet Millie."
1035
00:45:40,604 --> 00:45:44,657
Oh, sweetie, what kind of
problems have you got?
1036
00:45:44,742 --> 00:45:47,660
Well, how to cope with
man's inhumanity to man.
1037
00:45:47,745 --> 00:45:49,946
How to achieve
everlasting peace.
1038
00:45:49,997 --> 00:45:52,031
How to keep from falling off
the roof.
1039
00:45:52,116 --> 00:45:53,916
Are you sure you didn't?
1040
00:45:53,984 --> 00:45:57,153
Verdugo brought her skill
for comedy to "Marcus Welby,"
1041
00:45:57,204 --> 00:45:59,488
adding a lighter touch
to a show
1042
00:45:59,540 --> 00:46:01,340
that could be overly serious.
1043
00:46:01,425 --> 00:46:03,476
Soon, she became a fan
favorite...
1044
00:46:03,543 --> 00:46:05,344
and America's best-known nurse.
1045
00:46:05,395 --> 00:46:06,846
Why didn't you tell me?
1046
00:46:06,897 --> 00:46:09,715
Doctor, if I told you everything
that goes on in the office...
1047
00:46:09,767 --> 00:46:12,351
If it concerns a patient,
I want to know!
1048
00:46:12,402 --> 00:46:15,188
Yes, sir.
1049
00:46:15,239 --> 00:46:19,225
Mr. Whitehead came in and read
his girlie magazine again.
1050
00:46:19,276 --> 00:46:20,860
Well, what do I care?
1051
00:46:20,911 --> 00:46:23,746
You just said that you wanted
to know everything that goes on.
1052
00:46:23,831 --> 00:46:26,749
-Out!
-You just said that you...
1053
00:46:29,002 --> 00:46:32,705
She was as American
as apple pie.
1054
00:46:32,756 --> 00:46:35,574
But she had this Mexican...
1055
00:46:35,626 --> 00:46:38,944
a little bit of a fire
underneath it all.
1056
00:46:38,946 --> 00:46:43,082
"Marcus Welby M.D."
premiered on NBC
1057
00:46:43,133 --> 00:46:45,685
on September 23, 1969.
1058
00:46:45,752 --> 00:46:49,272
The very next day, CBS launched
its own doctor series --
1059
00:46:49,356 --> 00:46:51,974
"Medical Center",
starring Chad Everett
1060
00:46:52,059 --> 00:46:53,475
as surgeon Joe Gannon.
1061
00:46:53,560 --> 00:46:56,646
Have you ever had shortness
of breath?
1062
00:46:56,730 --> 00:46:57,897
Nope.
1063
00:46:57,948 --> 00:47:00,116
Blurred vision?
1064
00:47:00,200 --> 00:47:01,784
Nope.
1065
00:47:01,869 --> 00:47:03,602
Nose bleeds as a kid?
1066
00:47:03,654 --> 00:47:04,704
Never.
1067
00:47:07,407 --> 00:47:08,774
But you have them now.
1068
00:47:08,826 --> 00:47:11,244
Mm-hmm.
1069
00:47:11,295 --> 00:47:12,778
We were a different cup of tea.
1070
00:47:12,830 --> 00:47:14,163
Scalpel.
1071
00:47:14,248 --> 00:47:16,165
We were medically correct.
1072
00:47:16,250 --> 00:47:20,086
We were required viewing for
a lot of schools of nursing.
1073
00:47:22,506 --> 00:47:24,590
Exploring the left adrenal.
1074
00:47:28,562 --> 00:47:31,130
I find nothing.
1075
00:47:31,181 --> 00:47:32,565
Never did I not have
1076
00:47:32,649 --> 00:47:35,467
at least one technical advisor
on the set,
1077
00:47:35,519 --> 00:47:37,904
or usually two or three,
depending on the equipment
1078
00:47:37,971 --> 00:47:40,439
we were using on the procedures
we were involved with.
1079
00:47:40,490 --> 00:47:42,825
-Blood pressure.
-80 over 40.
1080
00:47:42,910 --> 00:47:45,328
Better pump the blood in.
1081
00:47:45,412 --> 00:47:47,496
We used to have
a laugh a minute watching
1082
00:47:47,581 --> 00:47:51,117
some of our peers
in medical shows.
1083
00:47:51,168 --> 00:47:53,336
The guy would come in,
he's all scrubbed,
1084
00:47:53,420 --> 00:47:56,155
he's gowned, he's masked,
he's scrubbed, he's gloved.
1085
00:47:56,206 --> 00:48:00,126
And there is the patient's head.
1086
00:48:00,177 --> 00:48:01,878
Getting the shot?
1087
00:48:01,962 --> 00:48:04,630
And he goes, "Mrs. Brown,
you're going to be fine.
1088
00:48:04,681 --> 00:48:05,831
Don't you worry now."
1089
00:48:05,883 --> 00:48:08,217
Pats her on the head
and calls for a scalpel.
1090
00:48:08,302 --> 00:48:10,686
Staph infection! I mean
it's a staph infection!
1091
00:48:10,771 --> 00:48:13,672
Despite the quest
for accuracy,
1092
00:48:13,724 --> 00:48:17,026
this wasn't a show about
operating procedures.
1093
00:48:17,110 --> 00:48:18,694
The producers
of "Medical Center"
1094
00:48:18,779 --> 00:48:20,313
located the series
in a hospital
1095
00:48:20,364 --> 00:48:22,231
mainly because it was the ideal
starting point
1096
00:48:22,316 --> 00:48:23,866
for weekly
life-and-death stories.
1097
00:48:23,951 --> 00:48:27,036
For the first year and half,
Dr. Joe Gannon
1098
00:48:27,120 --> 00:48:30,072
valiantly kept
all his patients alive.
1099
00:48:30,157 --> 00:48:32,574
Chad Everett
wasn't satisfied.
1100
00:48:32,659 --> 00:48:35,527
I said,
"Let me lose a patient.
1101
00:48:35,579 --> 00:48:38,214
That's where the drama is;s;"
1102
00:48:38,298 --> 00:48:40,800
The producers agreed,
but the writers
1103
00:48:40,867 --> 00:48:43,952
couldn't come up with
a scenario Everett liked.
1104
00:48:43,971 --> 00:48:47,340
Don Green, our set decorator,
comes up.
1105
00:48:47,391 --> 00:48:50,843
He sits down next to me, he
says, "What's your specialty?"
1106
00:48:50,894 --> 00:48:53,145
And I said,
"Well, open heart surgery.
1107
00:48:53,213 --> 00:48:54,563
I'm a thoracic surgeon."
1108
00:48:54,648 --> 00:48:56,182
Stand cleaea
1109
00:48:58,068 --> 00:48:59,185
[Thwack!]
1110
00:49:04,191 --> 00:49:06,242
[Thwack!]
1111
00:49:06,326 --> 00:49:09,829
He said, "Why don't you crack
her right there in a room
1112
00:49:09,896 --> 00:49:11,614
and do open heart massage?"
1113
00:49:11,698 --> 00:49:14,784
I went, "That is soooo good!"
1114
00:49:14,868 --> 00:49:18,204
Give me a scalpel.
1115
00:49:29,766 --> 00:49:33,252
She dies with her heart
in my hand.
1116
00:49:33,303 --> 00:49:36,722
Joe. She won't come back.
1117
00:49:49,069 --> 00:49:51,904
"Medical Center"'s creators
wanted to do more
1118
00:49:51,955 --> 00:49:54,957
than just entertain,
they wanted to take a stand
1119
00:49:55,042 --> 00:49:56,325
on important issues.
1120
00:49:56,410 --> 00:49:58,411
When they learned that a woman
1121
00:49:58,462 --> 00:50:01,998
could be fired from her job
for having a mastectomy,
1122
00:50:02,082 --> 00:50:04,750
they created an episode
designed to help push through
1123
00:50:04,801 --> 00:50:06,785
a bill
in the California legislature.
1124
00:50:06,837 --> 00:50:08,504
EVERETT: We did it in
conjunction
1125
00:50:08,588 --> 00:50:10,556
with an Assemblyman named
Albert Siegler.
1126
00:50:10,623 --> 00:50:12,758
Bill 1194.
1127
00:50:12,809 --> 00:50:16,729
Prior to that, in 1975 --
nationwide --
1128
00:50:16,796 --> 00:50:21,017
it was lawful for an employer
to discriminate
1129
00:50:21,101 --> 00:50:24,070
against a person
for their medical history.
1130
00:50:24,137 --> 00:50:27,139
Since 1975 in California
it's not.
1131
00:50:27,190 --> 00:50:29,408
And that's spread across
the country.
1132
00:50:29,476 --> 00:50:31,110
All across United States now,
1133
00:50:31,161 --> 00:50:33,446
it is not lawful to do that.
1134
00:50:35,315 --> 00:50:37,249
Like "Dr. Kildare"
and "Ben Casey,"
1135
00:50:37,317 --> 00:50:39,368
part of the appeal
of "Medical Center"
1136
00:50:39,453 --> 00:50:41,871
was the handsomeness of
its star, Chad Everett.
1137
00:50:41,955 --> 00:50:45,591
When the producers wanted
to add a second leading man,
1138
00:50:45,658 --> 00:50:47,376
Everett politely objected.
1139
00:50:47,461 --> 00:50:50,629
So I went up to the producers
and sat down with them and said,
1140
00:50:50,680 --> 00:50:53,933
"Gentlemen, there's only room
for one stud in the barn."
1141
00:50:54,000 --> 00:50:55,667
[Chuckles]
1142
00:50:57,003 --> 00:51:00,022
Chad Everett's popularity
points to a common thread
1143
00:51:00,107 --> 00:51:01,507
in all medical shows --
1144
00:51:01,558 --> 00:51:03,675
viewers love doctors
and nurses.
1145
00:51:03,727 --> 00:51:06,678
From Richard Chamberlain
to George Clooney,
1146
00:51:06,730 --> 00:51:09,398
television's medical
professionals s rtray
1147
00:51:09,483 --> 00:51:11,033
a goal to aspire to --
1148
00:51:11,118 --> 00:51:13,736
a model of knowledge, skill,
and success...
1149
00:51:13,820 --> 00:51:17,990
an ideal that keeps viewers
tuning in every week.
1150
00:51:18,041 --> 00:51:20,543
It's that primal thing
that I think
1151
00:51:20,627 --> 00:51:23,862
draws people to medical shows.
1152
00:51:23,914 --> 00:51:26,749
I think we're here
to show diversity.
1153
00:51:26,833 --> 00:51:30,719
This show is
the forefront of that.
1154
00:51:30,804 --> 00:51:33,255
There'll always be medical shows
'cause it's a great way
1155
00:51:33,340 --> 00:51:34,673
to move a lot of stories along.
1156
00:51:34,724 --> 00:51:36,559
But ultimately, it's got to be
about the people,
1157
00:51:36,643 --> 00:51:38,644
about the human stories,
or you don't care about it.
1158
00:51:38,711 --> 00:51:41,397
Everybody ends up coming in
the world in the hospital
1159
00:51:41,481 --> 00:51:43,899
and going out in a hospital,
for the most part.
1160
00:51:43,984 --> 00:51:47,653
What an amazing discipline
and training ground that was
1161
00:51:47,720 --> 00:51:50,439
for any of us who had
anything to do
1162
00:51:50,524 --> 00:51:51,723
with "St. Elsewhere."
1163
00:51:51,775 --> 00:51:53,892
It's life and death.
1164
00:51:53,944 --> 00:51:56,779
I mean, uh...
1165
00:51:56,863 --> 00:52:00,533
while we're in it,
we're about elongating it,
1166
00:52:00,584 --> 00:52:04,203
and then we all know we're gonna
exit sooner or later.
1167
00:52:04,254 --> 00:52:07,406
Together they entertained us
1168
00:52:07,457 --> 00:52:11,127
and helped define
our view of medicine.
1169
00:52:11,211 --> 00:52:14,213
They are the pioneers
of television.
1170
00:52:19,419 --> 00:52:22,021
Next time
on "Pioneers of Television"...
1171
00:52:22,088 --> 00:52:24,256
Come on, let's get
some black people in here!
1172
00:52:24,324 --> 00:52:26,358
I was not a domestic.
1173
00:52:26,426 --> 00:52:28,493
That was the problem.
1174
00:52:28,495 --> 00:52:30,496
That's the first time
that a Latino
1175
00:52:30,564 --> 00:52:32,765
has been placed
in that position, ever.
1176
00:52:32,833 --> 00:52:35,434
For Asians,
the image of Asians,
1177
00:52:35,502 --> 00:52:38,170
it was a tremendous
breakthrough.
1178
00:52:38,238 --> 00:52:41,574
Let's have the conversation,n,
say, "Here's what it was."
1179
00:54:48,635 --> 00:54:51,003
Then I get this phone call
at my apartment one night.
1180
00:54:51,071 --> 00:54:53,572
contributions
to your PBS station
1181
00:54:53,640 --> 00:54:55,407
from viewers like you.
1182
00:54:56,309 --> 00:54:58,978
They played the doctors and
nurses we watched every week.
1183
00:54:59,045 --> 00:55:01,747
It's Eriq, he says, "What are
you doing this summer?"
1184
00:55:01,815 --> 00:55:03,649
Because we had two or three
months to wait
1185
00:55:03,717 --> 00:55:05,718
to see if the show was
going to get picked up.
1186
00:55:05,785 --> 00:55:07,653
I said, "I don't know.
What are you doing?"
1187
00:55:07,721 --> 00:55:10,289
"I'm thinking about going
to Spain; do you want to go?"
1188
00:55:10,357 --> 00:55:12,391
And I cacaed George Clooney up
and I said,
1189
00:55:12,459 --> 00:55:14,259
"Eriq just invited me
to go to Spain."
1190
00:55:14,327 --> 00:55:16,862
He goes, "Don't go! Don't go!
Here's what's gonna happen.
1191
00:55:16,930 --> 00:55:19,164
You're gonna fight,
you're gonna hate each other,
1192
00:55:19,232 --> 00:55:20,899
have to come back
and work together
1193
00:55:20,967 --> 00:55:23,102
every day for the next
five years -- don't go!"
1194
00:55:23,169 --> 00:55:25,471
I said, "Wanna come with us?"
He goes, "Yeah."
1195
00:55:27,307 --> 00:55:30,476
For more insider features
about your favorite TV stars,
1196
00:55:30,543 --> 00:55:32,878
stories you won't hear
anywhere else,
1197
00:55:32,946 --> 00:55:35,314
visit pbs.org.
1198
00:55:39,085 --> 00:55:41,887
To order this program,
visit us online
1199
00:55:41,955 --> 00:55:43,789
at shopPBS.org
1200
00:55:43,857 --> 00:55:43,789
or call us
at 1-800-PLAY-PBS.