ER was a very popular television show in the 90’s and continues to be today. How did this show become so popular and continue its success? This show was a result of many other shows that were created in the 80’s, some of which include but are not limited to: MASH, The Crosby Show, Hill Street Blues, and St. Elsewhere. 

The final episode of the hit TV show MASH was on of the most watched television episodes. The final episode was unprecedented and an audience of 23 million people tuned in to watch as the show aired. It was difficult for the producers to understand the size of the emotional response that the series had created for American people. Although, after the series came to an end there was worry that television would not be able to get any better than that. Where was sitcom going to go from here?

In 1989 The Crosby Show came to television and sitcom found its roots once again. It was this show and shows like Hill Street Blues, and St. Elsewhere that led to the creation of ER. Hill Street Blues did not want to follow the plot of a basic cop show, but wanted to include the personal lives of the characters. It became a trend to accept these flawed characters and the viewers were eating it up. This show was interactive, the episodes bled into one another. This series led to the creation of St. Elsewhere, which broke the rules and created new ones. They introduced tragedy into the characters and made the audience feel for them. It challenged you to think and tackled many difficult subjects. It was shows like these that led to the creation of ER.

When ER began it had a very strong pedigree that set it apart from other competing series. It continued for 15 seasons, which was very uncommon for a television show to achieve. There was question of whether the show could compete in a streaming environment. It was a complete success. The show was frantic and exciting. Every episode there was something new happening that kept the audience on the edge of their seats. They were very successful in the way they got rid of characters and introduced new ones. When a character left, the new character that replaced them was completely different. This was something that other shows failed to do successfully. Characters could come and go with ease, which was a main aspect of the success to this show.

There are many competitors to ER such as the hit hospital drama out today, Grey’s Anatomy. I am a huge fan of Grey’s,  yet I can see how it may not be as successful as ER is. When these two shows are compared you can see the similarities but also many differences. In ER the main character of the show is the hospital and the emergency room itself. But in Grey’s Anatomy the main character of the show are the characters themselves. The hospital and medicine aspect is second to the characters’ drama. We are more caught up in the personal lives of the characters. And because of this we become attached to them and upset when one leaves or dies. Grey’s Anatomy lost many viewers after one of the main characters, Derek, died. This is where ER has one up on them. They keep the attachment away from the characters allowing us to fall in love with the hospital, something that will always be constant. They have been so successful for so long because they can continue to grow and change characters with ease without losing their audience. They have the system figured out.