1
00:00:08,008 --> 00:00:11,788
The drama of it is intense,
life-and-death stuff.
2
00:00:11,812 --> 00:00:14,891
This world of medicine has been
such a rich area.
3
00:00:14,915 --> 00:00:17,327
Put your hand between her legs
and hold the head in.
4
00:00:17,351 --> 00:00:18,995
Keep breathing, ma'am.
5
00:00:19,019 --> 00:00:20,930
"Groundbreaking"...
People say that word a lot,
6
00:00:20,954 --> 00:00:22,832
but this really was
groundbreaking television.
7
00:00:22,856 --> 00:00:25,301
The show is really about
flawed heroes.
8
00:00:25,325 --> 00:00:27,337
What do you think you're doing,
the Sistine Chapel?
9
00:00:27,361 --> 00:00:28,954
Finish her up, start an IV
in room two.
10
00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:35,411
It was real, and it was gritty.
11
00:00:35,435 --> 00:00:37,680
Peter, it's over.
12
00:00:37,704 --> 00:00:40,083
Hey, now, come on, Pete,
it's over!
13
00:00:40,107 --> 00:00:41,484
It's doesn't even make sense
to me.
14
00:00:41,508 --> 00:00:43,119
I'm going, "D5,
lactated ringers, colloids,
15
00:00:43,143 --> 00:00:44,654
O-negative blood,
and intubation tray."
16
00:00:44,678 --> 00:00:46,923
I'll get stat lytes, type and
cross, 4 units of whole blood.
17
00:00:46,947 --> 00:00:50,577
Medical shows, in particular,
have always been popular.
18
00:01:01,228 --> 00:01:03,640
"Pioneers of Television"
was made possible by
19
00:01:03,664 --> 00:01:06,209
contributions
to your PBS station
20
00:01:06,233 --> 00:01:07,565
from viewers like you.
21
00:01:09,202 --> 00:01:13,249
They played the doctors and
nurses we watched every week.
22
00:01:13,273 --> 00:01:14,984
People used to come up to me
all the time,
23
00:01:15,008 --> 00:01:18,187
"Oh, my god,
I work in a hospital.
24
00:01:18,211 --> 00:01:21,024
The arrogant surgeon,
you got that down."
25
00:01:21,048 --> 00:01:23,293
Suddenly,
I was doing "Dr. Kildare."
26
00:01:23,317 --> 00:01:26,429
And it was amaz...
I mean, it took right off,
27
00:01:26,453 --> 00:01:28,464
all around the world,
as a matter of fact.
28
00:01:28,488 --> 00:01:31,200
Get an airway from my bag.
29
00:01:31,224 --> 00:01:33,803
There's something so
intrinsically compelling
30
00:01:33,827 --> 00:01:36,406
about medical shows,
especially about the ER.
31
00:01:36,430 --> 00:01:38,207
What's the pulse?
32
00:01:38,231 --> 00:01:40,777
Pulse is 140,
pressure 60 over 40.
33
00:01:40,801 --> 00:01:42,612
I was sure
they had made a mistake.
34
00:01:42,636 --> 00:01:47,984
When Howie came in, it gave
a flip to the profession.
35
00:01:48,008 --> 00:01:49,385
It was great.
36
00:01:49,409 --> 00:01:51,588
I'm going to be totally
honest with you now,
37
00:01:51,612 --> 00:01:53,423
I've never done
anything like this.
38
00:01:53,447 --> 00:01:54,824
What is that thing,
gall bladder?
39
00:01:54,848 --> 00:01:56,259
Liver.
40
00:01:56,283 --> 00:01:59,662
I hate liver.
Unless it's covered with onions.
41
00:01:59,686 --> 00:02:01,230
I think nurses are terrific,
42
00:02:01,254 --> 00:02:03,600
and I was so proud
to represent a nurse.
43
00:02:03,624 --> 00:02:06,135
The relationships alone,
both on screen and off...
44
00:02:06,159 --> 00:02:07,971
I mean, we really became
a family.
45
00:02:07,995 --> 00:02:11,022
Dr. Carter, stat.
Trauma line.
46
00:02:15,535 --> 00:02:18,915
They shaped our understanding
of medicine,
47
00:02:18,939 --> 00:02:20,116
for better and worse.
48
00:02:20,140 --> 00:02:22,585
I saw a guy on one show
49
00:02:22,609 --> 00:02:25,555
actually listening to
a patient's heart
50
00:02:25,579 --> 00:02:29,759
with a stethoscope, and the
earpieces were behind his ears.
51
00:02:29,783 --> 00:02:32,462
You've got all these
phone calls!
52
00:02:32,486 --> 00:02:34,764
Dr. Blackburn wants to see you
when you're free.
53
00:02:34,788 --> 00:02:36,265
Received, noted.
54
00:02:36,289 --> 00:02:38,868
It was the biggest innovation
of medical shows I'd ever seen.
55
00:02:38,892 --> 00:02:40,103
I just happened to be in it.
56
00:02:40,127 --> 00:02:43,640
The world of it
is inherently dramatic
57
00:02:43,664 --> 00:02:45,942
and relates to
the life-and-death experience
58
00:02:45,966 --> 00:02:47,443
that we have as human beings.
59
00:02:47,467 --> 00:02:50,380
Together, they built
medical shows
60
00:02:50,404 --> 00:02:54,217
into one of television's
most popular forms.
61
00:02:54,241 --> 00:02:56,938
They are
the pioneers of television.
62
00:02:59,713 --> 00:03:01,524
Clear!
63
00:03:01,548 --> 00:03:03,826
Mr. Jackson,
where does it hurt?
64
00:03:03,850 --> 00:03:06,596
Where does it hurt,
Mr. Jackson?
65
00:03:06,620 --> 00:03:09,465
Does it hurt
when you breathe in?
66
00:03:09,489 --> 00:03:11,701
From the very first scenes,
it was clear
67
00:03:11,725 --> 00:03:14,470
that "ER" wasn't going to be
a typical medical show.
68
00:03:14,494 --> 00:03:16,906
When we first started,
it was complete pandemonium.
69
00:03:16,930 --> 00:03:19,876
- Do you have pain in your head?
- No.
70
00:03:19,900 --> 00:03:21,978
- How about your neck, any pain?
- No.
71
00:03:22,002 --> 00:03:25,381
All right, now, what I want
you to do, ma'am...
72
00:03:26,940 --> 00:03:29,919
I want you to tell me if it
hurts you when you breathe.
73
00:03:29,943 --> 00:03:32,321
We wanted these guys to feel
and look and sound
74
00:03:32,345 --> 00:03:34,257
like real
emergency room physicians.
75
00:03:34,281 --> 00:03:35,324
- Time?
- Two minutes.
76
00:03:35,348 --> 00:03:37,093
Come on, sweetheart.
77
00:03:37,117 --> 00:03:39,195
Getting me just
a little nervous here.
78
00:03:39,219 --> 00:03:40,596
Okay, paddles.
Let's go.
79
00:03:40,620 --> 00:03:42,765
Clear!
80
00:03:42,789 --> 00:03:43,933
Okay.
81
00:03:45,058 --> 00:03:46,569
Is that a blip?
82
00:03:46,593 --> 00:03:47,570
Recharging.
83
00:03:47,594 --> 00:03:49,072
We have the respect of doctors
84
00:03:49,096 --> 00:03:51,374
because they appreciated
what we were trying to do.
85
00:03:51,398 --> 00:03:55,178
What the producers of "ER"
were trying to do
86
00:03:55,202 --> 00:03:58,347
was create a medical show
with a new sense of realism.
87
00:03:58,371 --> 00:04:01,584
That meant using the language
of real doctors,
88
00:04:01,608 --> 00:04:04,087
even if the TV audience
didn't understand.
89
00:04:04,111 --> 00:04:06,789
65-year-old male with severe
peripheral vascular disease...
90
00:04:06,813 --> 00:04:09,525
"manifested by claudication
of the left calf,
91
00:04:09,549 --> 00:04:11,227
10 days post-op
from Mercy General
92
00:04:11,251 --> 00:04:13,196
after having an aortic
bifemoral bypass.
93
00:04:13,220 --> 00:04:15,565
Normal post-operative course
till about six hours ago
94
00:04:15,589 --> 00:04:17,667
when he began to experience
the gradual onset
95
00:04:17,691 --> 00:04:18,868
of lower-left quadrant pain
96
00:04:18,892 --> 00:04:20,803
without palliative
or provoking factors."
97
00:04:23,263 --> 00:04:25,441
Take that!
98
00:04:26,933 --> 00:04:31,214
Actor Noah Wyle's proficiency
with medical jargon
99
00:04:31,238 --> 00:04:34,784
was in sharp contrast to
his character, Dr. John Carter,
100
00:04:34,808 --> 00:04:37,453
who had no mastery
of anything, at first.
101
00:04:37,477 --> 00:04:40,590
That character started off as,
basically, comic relief.
102
00:04:40,614 --> 00:04:41,991
You know, I was the guy
103
00:04:42,015 --> 00:04:44,494
that would spill trays of urine
on myself
104
00:04:44,518 --> 00:04:47,797
and sort of fall down and
pass out at the sight of blood.
105
00:04:47,821 --> 00:04:49,065
Thank you, doctor.
106
00:04:49,089 --> 00:04:50,833
You're very welcome.
107
00:04:50,857 --> 00:04:52,502
When do I come to have
my stitches out?
108
00:04:52,526 --> 00:04:55,071
Oh, uh...
three weeks.
109
00:04:55,095 --> 00:04:58,141
When my son had stitches
in his foot, they said 10 days.
110
00:04:58,165 --> 00:05:01,644
Really? Well, 10 days, three
weeks... any time in there.
111
00:05:01,668 --> 00:05:05,982
It takes a skilled actor
to play an unskilled doctor.
112
00:05:06,006 --> 00:05:09,018
And Noah Wyle knew
just how to make it work.
113
00:05:09,042 --> 00:05:11,988
It was this scene... which he
also played in his audition...
114
00:05:12,012 --> 00:05:13,189
That won him the role.
115
00:05:13,213 --> 00:05:16,459
Ow! Look, doc, you don't
mind my asking,
116
00:05:16,483 --> 00:05:18,528
have you done this before?
117
00:05:18,552 --> 00:05:21,931
Officer, I'd hate to tell you
how often I've done this before.
118
00:05:21,955 --> 00:05:23,800
I just knew that
if I did this little bit
119
00:05:23,824 --> 00:05:25,835
where, once I stuck him
and the guy screamed,
120
00:05:25,859 --> 00:05:28,538
if I just looked around to make
sure I wouldn't get in trouble,
121
00:05:28,562 --> 00:05:30,606
that I'd have the room
in the palm of my hand.
122
00:05:30,630 --> 00:05:32,942
Okay, you're going to feel
a little needle.
123
00:05:32,966 --> 00:05:34,377
Oww!
124
00:05:34,401 --> 00:05:37,213
Come on, that wasn't that bad.
125
00:05:37,237 --> 00:05:39,729
But we missed the vein.
126
00:05:41,741 --> 00:05:43,386
Noah Wyle holds the record,
127
00:05:43,410 --> 00:05:45,988
playing a doctor longer
than anyone else
128
00:05:46,012 --> 00:05:47,890
in a prime-time medical series.
129
00:05:47,914 --> 00:05:50,793
He constantly changed
and evolved.
130
00:05:50,817 --> 00:05:53,696
If I'd stayed being
the comic relief character
131
00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:57,466
who was constantly screwing up,
that may have been frustrating.
132
00:05:57,490 --> 00:05:58,701
Uh...
133
00:05:58,725 --> 00:06:01,037
But he kept growing
as I kept growing.
134
00:06:01,061 --> 00:06:05,408
Over the years, Carter faced
addiction and rehab,
135
00:06:05,432 --> 00:06:09,712
was stabbed and recovered,
went to the Congo and returned.
136
00:06:09,736 --> 00:06:12,815
While shooting in Africa,
life imitated art
137
00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:16,552
as actor Noah Wyle was pressed
into real-life medical service.
138
00:06:16,576 --> 00:06:18,588
We were shooting
in the Kalahari Desert.
139
00:06:18,612 --> 00:06:19,922
It was 123 degrees.
140
00:06:19,946 --> 00:06:23,192
Between takes,
the on-set medic passed out.
141
00:06:23,216 --> 00:06:26,662
Wyle grabbed a working IV
and didn't hesitate.
142
00:06:26,686 --> 00:06:29,899
I stuck him with
a 14-gauge needle
143
00:06:29,923 --> 00:06:32,034
and revived him
with a bag of saline,
144
00:06:32,058 --> 00:06:34,203
and then I did
three or four more that day.
145
00:06:34,227 --> 00:06:35,671
And, uh...
146
00:06:35,695 --> 00:06:38,374
You know, there was enough that
we picked up through osmosis
147
00:06:38,398 --> 00:06:40,576
that we could actually
practically be of use
148
00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:41,829
in certain circumstances.
149
00:06:43,737 --> 00:06:45,014
In the early years,
150
00:06:45,038 --> 00:06:47,683
John Carter's mentor
was Dr. Peter Benton,
151
00:06:47,707 --> 00:06:49,218
played by Eriq La Salle.
152
00:06:49,242 --> 00:06:50,853
- John Carter.
- Yes, sir.
153
00:06:50,877 --> 00:06:52,555
In the scene where
he meets Carter,
154
00:06:52,579 --> 00:06:54,056
Benton's confidence is clear,
155
00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:55,291
but for actor La Salle,
156
00:06:55,315 --> 00:06:57,326
this first day on the job
was a challenge.
157
00:06:57,350 --> 00:06:58,761
This is the admitting desk.
158
00:06:58,785 --> 00:07:01,430
If you need someone paged or
a chart called up, do it here.
159
00:07:01,454 --> 00:07:03,799
On the very first day of work,
he had to deliver
160
00:07:03,823 --> 00:07:05,334
what we used to call a "bullet,"
161
00:07:05,358 --> 00:07:07,603
which is a huge, long monologue
of medicalese,
162
00:07:07,627 --> 00:07:10,039
as he gives my character
a tour through the hospital.
163
00:07:10,063 --> 00:07:12,608
Everybody gets an IV the minute
they walk through the door.
164
00:07:12,632 --> 00:07:14,243
Use an angiocath with
a 16 needle.
165
00:07:14,267 --> 00:07:16,345
You need a large bore in case
they're bleeding
166
00:07:16,369 --> 00:07:17,713
and you need to transfuse them.
167
00:07:17,737 --> 00:07:19,815
- Do you know how to start an IV?
- Uh, actually, no.
168
00:07:19,839 --> 00:07:22,385
We're walking, we're talking,
we're going through, you know,
169
00:07:22,409 --> 00:07:24,253
this Steadicam is carrying us
everywhere.
170
00:07:24,277 --> 00:07:26,155
We're going in rooms,
coming out of rooms,
171
00:07:26,179 --> 00:07:27,990
going around in circles,
doing all this.
172
00:07:28,014 --> 00:07:31,727
And if the camera bumped
into somebody,
173
00:07:31,751 --> 00:07:35,131
at the very end of the scene,
we had to start over.
174
00:07:35,155 --> 00:07:36,832
So whenever you can, make sure
175
00:07:36,856 --> 00:07:38,734
you go with the patients
to x-ray.
176
00:07:38,758 --> 00:07:41,370
Don't let them get scared,
don't let them get hurt.
177
00:07:41,394 --> 00:07:44,006
Ah! Here's Dr. Morganstern.
He's the head of ER.
178
00:07:44,030 --> 00:07:46,909
One take led to the next take,
led to the next take,
179
00:07:46,933 --> 00:07:49,512
and finally we got up to about
19 or 20 takes,
180
00:07:49,536 --> 00:07:51,414
and I see the director
and cameraman
181
00:07:51,438 --> 00:07:52,915
started getting really nervous
182
00:07:52,939 --> 00:07:54,817
because we were running
out of film.
183
00:07:54,841 --> 00:07:57,253
Your room will be down here,
that's where you sew people up.
184
00:07:57,277 --> 00:07:58,788
- Do you know how to suture?
- Uh...
185
00:07:58,812 --> 00:08:00,189
No. Okay, I'll teach you.
186
00:08:00,213 --> 00:08:05,294
Not only was it the 22nd take,
they were out of film.
187
00:08:05,318 --> 00:08:08,197
So basically, we either
got it or we didn't.
188
00:08:08,221 --> 00:08:10,032
So everyone is holding
their breath.
189
00:08:10,056 --> 00:08:13,302
And, on the 22nd take...
190
00:08:13,326 --> 00:08:14,704
I nail it.
191
00:08:14,728 --> 00:08:17,506
- Do we have anyone in sew-up?
- How would I know?
192
00:08:17,530 --> 00:08:19,642
You know, I love this great
spirit of camaraderie.
193
00:08:19,666 --> 00:08:21,177
Everyone wants to help,
you know.
194
00:08:21,201 --> 00:08:24,947
George and Noah just look
at me and they do...
195
00:08:24,971 --> 00:08:26,916
And I'm like,
what the hell is that?
196
00:08:26,940 --> 00:08:28,738
And they go, "22."
197
00:08:30,477 --> 00:08:31,787
We'll take her into two.
198
00:08:31,811 --> 00:08:33,856
Doug, take the little girl
into one.
199
00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:37,193
The roving, uninterrupted shots
were a signature of "ER"
200
00:08:37,217 --> 00:08:39,161
and had to be
expertly choreographed
201
00:08:39,185 --> 00:08:41,764
to ensure dialogue, movement,
and medical procedures
202
00:08:41,788 --> 00:08:43,366
all went perfectly.
203
00:08:43,390 --> 00:08:45,634
And 1, 2, 3, go!
204
00:08:45,658 --> 00:08:47,536
Good. Type and cross match
205
00:08:47,560 --> 00:08:50,206
6 units packed cell, CBC,
chem 7.
206
00:08:50,230 --> 00:08:53,075
Let's get moving now.
207
00:08:53,099 --> 00:08:56,645
CHILD, IN DISTANCE:
Mommy!
208
00:08:56,669 --> 00:08:59,515
I need a chest tool tray.
Come on, people, let's move.
209
00:08:59,539 --> 00:09:02,184
This isn't a museum.
Let's go, we've got work to do.
210
00:09:02,208 --> 00:09:04,653
- Who else is on the floor?
- Everybody's working.
211
00:09:04,677 --> 00:09:07,456
Well, call the O.R.,
let's see what they can spare.
212
00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:09,176
Mommy!
213
00:09:13,086 --> 00:09:15,865
Can you cross-match four units?
214
00:09:15,889 --> 00:09:18,200
If you can choreograph things
where the camera's moving
215
00:09:18,224 --> 00:09:20,736
and the actors are moving and
you're revealing what you need,
216
00:09:20,760 --> 00:09:22,838
you can get a lot done
in a single take,
217
00:09:22,862 --> 00:09:24,273
and we called those "oners."
218
00:09:24,297 --> 00:09:26,308
Those long scenes,
those long "oners,"
219
00:09:26,332 --> 00:09:28,944
the one thing that you hoped
wasn't going to happen
220
00:09:28,968 --> 00:09:30,980
was that you would have
the last line.
221
00:09:31,004 --> 00:09:33,716
Because if you had
the last line or the few lines
222
00:09:33,740 --> 00:09:35,785
and you screw it up,
223
00:09:35,809 --> 00:09:37,586
then it's on you.
224
00:09:37,610 --> 00:09:40,489
I felt worse for the actors that
had to make an entrance,
225
00:09:40,513 --> 00:09:42,992
you know, seven minutes
into one take.
226
00:09:44,284 --> 00:09:46,529
Going, "Ahh, I don't want
to drop this tray!"
227
00:09:46,553 --> 00:09:50,866
"ER" won accolades
for its medical accuracy,
228
00:09:50,890 --> 00:09:54,537
but it was the characters that
kept audiences coming back.
229
00:09:54,561 --> 00:09:57,239
None more important than
the head of the ER,
230
00:09:57,263 --> 00:09:59,875
Dr. Mark Greene,
played by Anthony Edwards.
231
00:09:59,899 --> 00:10:04,480
Anthony Edwards was very much
the lead actor on the show
232
00:10:04,504 --> 00:10:07,583
and the public face
of the ensemble.
233
00:10:07,607 --> 00:10:09,452
- Dr. Greene.
- What is it?
234
00:10:09,476 --> 00:10:11,587
6:30, Dr. Greene.
235
00:10:11,611 --> 00:10:14,757
This well-intentioned,
overworked person,
236
00:10:14,781 --> 00:10:17,126
who is always trying
to do the right thing
237
00:10:17,150 --> 00:10:18,594
and loves medicine.
238
00:10:18,618 --> 00:10:20,429
The fact that he loved it
so much
239
00:10:20,453 --> 00:10:22,331
is what really attracted me
to it.
240
00:10:22,355 --> 00:10:25,067
And then realizing and seeing
the storytelling
241
00:10:25,091 --> 00:10:28,871
that then there was going to be
probably every problem
242
00:10:28,895 --> 00:10:31,807
put in front of him that he was
going to have to face.
243
00:10:31,831 --> 00:10:33,697
And that's what
the adventure became.
244
00:10:35,902 --> 00:10:38,447
In season seven,
Anthony Edwards began
245
00:10:38,471 --> 00:10:41,417
the longest death scene
in television history,
246
00:10:41,441 --> 00:10:43,486
two years from the time
Dr. Mark Greene
247
00:10:43,510 --> 00:10:46,155
learned he was terminal,
until he actually passed away
248
00:10:46,179 --> 00:10:48,171
from brain cancer.
249
00:10:53,586 --> 00:10:55,782
I remember.
250
00:11:08,434 --> 00:11:10,412
It was a horrible way to go,
251
00:11:10,436 --> 00:11:11,881
but if you are going to go,
252
00:11:11,905 --> 00:11:16,366
they let Mark Greene go in a way
that was kind of beautiful.
253
00:11:19,012 --> 00:11:22,124
Mark Greene's nice guy persona
was a counterpoint
254
00:11:22,148 --> 00:11:24,693
to the roguish bad boy,
Dr. Doug Ross,
255
00:11:24,717 --> 00:11:26,095
played by George Clooney.
256
00:11:26,119 --> 00:11:27,296
Dr. Ross.
257
00:11:27,320 --> 00:11:30,065
Hi. Tracy Young.
I'm a third-year student.
258
00:11:30,089 --> 00:11:32,234
Well, hello, Tracy Young,
it's nice to meet you.
259
00:11:32,258 --> 00:11:35,004
For the next few days, we're
going to be working closely.
260
00:11:35,028 --> 00:11:38,040
Not that closely, Dr. Ross, but
I'll do my best to help you out.
261
00:11:38,064 --> 00:11:39,708
Tell me what to do,
I'll get started.
262
00:11:39,732 --> 00:11:41,010
Just trying to be friendly.
263
00:11:41,034 --> 00:11:43,546
I've got all the friends
I need, thanks.
264
00:11:43,570 --> 00:11:45,266
Shall we get started?
265
00:11:47,574 --> 00:11:49,185
George Clooney had starred
266
00:11:49,209 --> 00:11:51,554
in a long list of shows
before "ER",
267
00:11:51,578 --> 00:11:53,389
but it was this series
that would launch him
268
00:11:53,413 --> 00:11:54,823
to the next level.
269
00:11:54,847 --> 00:11:59,228
We were shooting in
Chicago and it was lunchtime
270
00:11:59,252 --> 00:12:02,698
and George and I were on our way
to grab something to eat.
271
00:12:02,722 --> 00:12:05,401
We passed by an office building
272
00:12:05,425 --> 00:12:07,736
and there were a lot of women.
273
00:12:07,760 --> 00:12:12,708
These women literally came out
and started running after us.
274
00:12:12,732 --> 00:12:16,912
And George and I are like,
you know...
275
00:12:16,936 --> 00:12:19,648
And they're like, "Ahhh!"
And we're like...
276
00:12:19,672 --> 00:12:22,251
And we're running
and we're trying to...
277
00:12:22,275 --> 00:12:24,386
And we...
I know it sounds...
278
00:12:24,410 --> 00:12:25,754
We ducked into an alley.
279
00:12:25,778 --> 00:12:27,756
Literally,
it was like a cartoon.
280
00:12:27,780 --> 00:12:31,427
We ducked into an alley,
and this herd of women went by.
281
00:12:31,451 --> 00:12:33,963
And we're in the alley,
and we just look at each other,
282
00:12:33,987 --> 00:12:35,464
and we're like, what the...?
283
00:12:35,488 --> 00:12:36,932
And...
and it was the beginning.
284
00:12:36,956 --> 00:12:39,001
He's relatively attractive.
285
00:12:41,027 --> 00:12:42,705
So, I think...
286
00:12:42,729 --> 00:12:44,373
you know, it's not so bad.
287
00:12:44,397 --> 00:12:47,076
Uh, so I think that...
288
00:12:47,100 --> 00:12:50,145
Women love him.
Guys want to be his friend.
289
00:12:50,169 --> 00:12:54,383
George Clooney was much more
than a pretty face.
290
00:12:54,407 --> 00:12:56,952
He was a leader on the set
and willing to stand up
291
00:12:56,976 --> 00:12:59,121
for his co-stars
when they were wronged.
292
00:12:59,145 --> 00:13:02,758
For example, TV Guide
repeatedly featured
293
00:13:02,782 --> 00:13:05,928
"ER" 's white actors
on its covers.
294
00:13:05,952 --> 00:13:08,297
But the show's
African American stars
295
00:13:08,321 --> 00:13:10,566
did not receive equal treatment.
296
00:13:10,590 --> 00:13:12,768
So George Clooney stepped in.
297
00:13:12,792 --> 00:13:15,437
George had actually
mounted a campaign.
298
00:13:15,461 --> 00:13:18,674
He'd done a lot of research
and he'd found out,
299
00:13:18,698 --> 00:13:22,011
for instance, with TV Guide,
at that time,
300
00:13:22,035 --> 00:13:23,679
that, historically, they had
301
00:13:23,703 --> 00:13:25,814
more cartoon characters
on their cover
302
00:13:25,838 --> 00:13:27,850
than they had had
African Americans.
303
00:13:27,874 --> 00:13:29,184
And that the only time
304
00:13:29,208 --> 00:13:31,854
they ever put African Americans
on the cover
305
00:13:31,878 --> 00:13:33,455
was for the February month,
306
00:13:33,479 --> 00:13:36,492
which is the shortest month
and Black History Month.
307
00:13:36,516 --> 00:13:40,696
It caused enough of a stink
that Eriq got his cover
308
00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:43,332
and we all learned
the power of George's pen.
309
00:13:43,356 --> 00:13:45,120
He writes a very good letter.
310
00:13:46,893 --> 00:13:49,538
Early in "ER" 's run,
George Clooney began
311
00:13:49,562 --> 00:13:52,464
to get offers for major movies,
like "Batman."
312
00:13:56,235 --> 00:13:59,648
Hi, Freeze.
I'm Batman.
313
00:13:59,672 --> 00:14:04,153
For a time, Clooney was
shooting "ER" during the day
314
00:14:04,177 --> 00:14:05,621
and movies at night.
315
00:14:05,645 --> 00:14:08,290
But he found clever ways
to manage the workload.
316
00:14:08,314 --> 00:14:09,892
And so he developed a technique
317
00:14:09,916 --> 00:14:12,628
where he'd write the lines
on a patient's bed sheet,
318
00:14:12,652 --> 00:14:15,464
so he could just sort of
look down and read.
319
00:14:16,989 --> 00:14:20,369
We have a 5-year-old with known
coarctation of the aorta.
320
00:14:20,393 --> 00:14:23,672
She had a sudden onset of severe
respiratory distress
321
00:14:23,696 --> 00:14:25,007
about an hour ago.
322
00:14:25,031 --> 00:14:27,209
Are you worried about
congestive heart failure?
323
00:14:27,233 --> 00:14:28,877
Resp's 40, BP's 80 over 100.
324
00:14:28,901 --> 00:14:30,346
She's tachycardic,
her rate is 180.
325
00:14:30,370 --> 00:14:31,780
- Did you get blood gases?
- Mm-hmm.
326
00:14:31,804 --> 00:14:33,148
- Chest film?
- Yeah.
327
00:14:33,172 --> 00:14:36,118
Or he'd write his lines inside
the medical clipboards,
328
00:14:36,142 --> 00:14:39,254
so he could say, "Well, it looks
like you're going to need
329
00:14:39,278 --> 00:14:42,057
a CBC chem-7 cross-table
C-spine...
330
00:14:42,081 --> 00:14:45,894
And we're gonna get that
for you as soon as we can."
331
00:14:45,918 --> 00:14:48,530
He could have left earlier, too,
but he stayed
332
00:14:48,554 --> 00:14:50,899
and did what he said
he was going to do.
333
00:14:50,923 --> 00:14:53,035
You know, if there's anything
George is
334
00:14:53,059 --> 00:14:54,391
is he's true to his word.
335
00:14:56,229 --> 00:14:59,041
George Clooney's first
love interest on "ER"
336
00:14:59,065 --> 00:15:02,111
was Carol Hathaway,
played by Julianna Margulies.
337
00:15:02,135 --> 00:15:05,581
Carol, are you sure that you
don't have
338
00:15:05,605 --> 00:15:07,549
a PKU card tucked away
339
00:15:07,573 --> 00:15:10,566
in that special stash of yours?
340
00:15:12,412 --> 00:15:13,989
Like this?
341
00:15:14,013 --> 00:15:16,425
I can always count on you.
342
00:15:16,449 --> 00:15:18,827
Even if you do prefer
football players.
343
00:15:18,851 --> 00:15:20,295
Had your chance.
344
00:15:20,319 --> 00:15:22,765
Oh! I was young.
I was a fool.
345
00:15:22,789 --> 00:15:24,566
You're still a fool.
346
00:15:24,590 --> 00:15:28,036
Originally, the writers planned
to kill off
347
00:15:28,060 --> 00:15:30,939
Margulies' character
in the pilot.
348
00:15:30,963 --> 00:15:33,308
But viewers
wouldn't let that happen.
349
00:15:33,332 --> 00:15:35,110
The reaction of test audiences
350
00:15:35,134 --> 00:15:37,379
persuaded producers
to keep her on.
351
00:15:37,403 --> 00:15:40,315
As she lay on her death bed,
352
00:15:40,339 --> 00:15:43,552
the looks and the energy
that everybody else conveyed
353
00:15:43,576 --> 00:15:45,654
about their feeling towards her
354
00:15:45,678 --> 00:15:47,990
was so powerful that,
when they tested the pilot,
355
00:15:48,014 --> 00:15:50,074
her character tested
way through the roof.
356
00:15:52,418 --> 00:15:53,681
Let's go.
357
00:15:57,023 --> 00:15:59,802
Call respiratory.
We may need to intubate.
358
00:15:59,826 --> 00:16:01,236
You know what she took?
359
00:16:01,260 --> 00:16:03,472
I don't know, she just went
into the medicine cabinet.
360
00:16:03,496 --> 00:16:04,907
We've got a lot of stuff around.
361
00:16:04,931 --> 00:16:06,775
The near-death
of Margulies' character
362
00:16:06,799 --> 00:16:10,479
was a rare opportunity for
"ER" 's cast to show emotion.
363
00:16:10,503 --> 00:16:12,681
- Why did she do it?
- Doesn't matter why she did it.
364
00:16:12,705 --> 00:16:14,583
We don't ask that about
any other OD
365
00:16:14,607 --> 00:16:17,619
that comes through these doors,
we don't ask it about this one.
366
00:16:17,643 --> 00:16:20,289
Most of the time, the actors
tried to withhold
367
00:16:20,313 --> 00:16:23,125
their character's feelings,
like a real doctor would.
368
00:16:23,149 --> 00:16:26,695
A policy that was enforced
in weekly meetings.
369
00:16:26,719 --> 00:16:28,030
Every night we aired,
370
00:16:28,054 --> 00:16:30,833
we would get together
and watch that show as a cast.
371
00:16:30,857 --> 00:16:33,769
I don't know what the rest of
them say about that experience,
372
00:16:33,793 --> 00:16:36,171
but for my mind, we were pretty
merciless on each other.
373
00:16:36,195 --> 00:16:39,975
If there was a moment,
like an extra emotional moment,
374
00:16:39,999 --> 00:16:43,278
your job was
to walk away from it.
375
00:16:43,302 --> 00:16:45,981
If any character, any actor,
took a moment to themselves
376
00:16:46,005 --> 00:16:49,351
and sort of sighed
or rubbed their neck or...
377
00:16:49,375 --> 00:16:51,687
took a little kind of
character moment,
378
00:16:51,711 --> 00:16:54,590
we would be merciless,
we would fire on that person
379
00:16:54,614 --> 00:16:56,158
and tease them mercilessly.
380
00:16:56,182 --> 00:16:58,827
'Cause doctors don't stop
and think about
381
00:16:58,851 --> 00:17:01,296
or emotionally take that time
of like,
382
00:17:01,320 --> 00:17:03,332
"That was the toughest patient
of the day,
383
00:17:03,356 --> 00:17:05,100
and I'm gonna hold
for commercial."
384
00:17:05,124 --> 00:17:07,736
You know, you just don't
do that.
385
00:17:07,760 --> 00:17:09,204
Because we wanted it
to seem like,
386
00:17:09,228 --> 00:17:11,206
no matter what, there's
another patient to treat.
387
00:17:11,230 --> 00:17:13,075
No matter what,
you're needed someplace else.
388
00:17:13,099 --> 00:17:14,743
The directors would get
very frustrated
389
00:17:14,767 --> 00:17:16,945
because they'd be like,
"Please, stay a little longer."
390
00:17:16,969 --> 00:17:18,447
We're like,
"No, I got work to do."
391
00:17:18,471 --> 00:17:20,167
And we'd pick up a chart
and keep going.
392
00:17:22,108 --> 00:17:24,486
"ER" storylines often
ventured far
393
00:17:24,510 --> 00:17:26,788
from standard medical show fare,
394
00:17:26,812 --> 00:17:28,790
addressing the genocide
in Darfur
395
00:17:28,814 --> 00:17:31,493
or the ravages of Alzheimer's.
396
00:17:31,517 --> 00:17:34,830
And the series shed
new light on HIV
397
00:17:34,854 --> 00:17:36,832
through the character
of Jeannie Boulet,
398
00:17:36,856 --> 00:17:38,033
played by Gloria Reuben.
399
00:17:38,057 --> 00:17:41,870
There was someone
very close to me
400
00:17:41,894 --> 00:17:43,805
who was HIV-positive.
401
00:17:43,829 --> 00:17:47,209
And, uh...
402
00:17:47,233 --> 00:17:51,213
this story of Jeannie Boulet
germinated from...
403
00:17:51,237 --> 00:17:53,315
this person's story.
404
00:17:53,339 --> 00:17:58,453
So, how this particular person
was living his life
405
00:17:58,477 --> 00:18:00,756
with a great deal of dignity...
406
00:18:00,780 --> 00:18:01,957
You here for testing?
407
00:18:01,981 --> 00:18:03,225
No.
408
00:18:03,249 --> 00:18:05,294
You are HIV-positive?
409
00:18:05,318 --> 00:18:07,162
- Yes.
- When did you find out?
410
00:18:07,186 --> 00:18:09,932
Yesterday.
I'll come back later, all right?
411
00:18:09,956 --> 00:18:11,400
Wait. You're already here.
412
00:18:11,424 --> 00:18:13,969
Why don't you fill out a form
and I'll make sure you get in
413
00:18:13,993 --> 00:18:15,504
to see somebody, okay?
414
00:18:15,528 --> 00:18:19,541
Top form is general information.
Next few pages for insurance.
415
00:18:19,565 --> 00:18:21,543
Thanks.
416
00:18:21,567 --> 00:18:25,147
Without hitting somebody
over the head with it,
417
00:18:25,171 --> 00:18:27,282
you know, without
preaching about it,
418
00:18:27,306 --> 00:18:32,020
if one can display a certain way
of being in the world,
419
00:18:32,044 --> 00:18:33,388
even though dealing with
420
00:18:33,412 --> 00:18:35,691
extremely difficult
personal challenges,
421
00:18:35,715 --> 00:18:37,274
I think that's a good thing.
422
00:18:39,118 --> 00:18:42,698
In "ER" 's sixth season,
Gloria Reuben left the show,
423
00:18:42,722 --> 00:18:44,499
a path eventually taken
424
00:18:44,523 --> 00:18:47,603
by every member
of the original cast.
425
00:18:47,627 --> 00:18:51,773
By the time the series reached
its final episode in 2009,
426
00:18:51,797 --> 00:18:54,610
the faces were all different.
427
00:18:54,634 --> 00:18:57,813
But the ER was the same.
428
00:18:59,639 --> 00:19:02,184
Check for singed nasal hair
from smoke inhalation.
429
00:19:02,208 --> 00:19:03,574
Set up for intubation!
430
00:19:07,847 --> 00:19:12,160
As innovative as "ER" was,
it did have a forerunner,
431
00:19:12,184 --> 00:19:14,830
a series that prototyped many
of the ideas
432
00:19:14,854 --> 00:19:16,498
that "ER" would build on...
433
00:19:16,522 --> 00:19:19,701
The long, roving shots,
the interwoven storylines,
434
00:19:19,725 --> 00:19:22,471
the doctors with
very human frailties.
435
00:19:22,495 --> 00:19:24,206
I mean, we killed
a lot of people.
436
00:19:24,230 --> 00:19:26,375
We should have saved
maybe a few more people.
437
00:19:26,399 --> 00:19:28,610
He's flatlined.
438
00:19:28,634 --> 00:19:32,981
No!
439
00:19:33,005 --> 00:19:34,483
Give it up.
440
00:19:34,507 --> 00:19:36,318
4... 5...
441
00:19:36,342 --> 00:19:38,720
I'll inform the family.
442
00:19:38,744 --> 00:19:41,123
My hands are numb.
443
00:19:41,147 --> 00:19:43,692
And I was proud that it was real
444
00:19:43,716 --> 00:19:48,017
and that it wasn't all glossy
and made-up and romanticized.
445
00:19:53,826 --> 00:19:58,140
Designed as television's first
realistic medical show,
446
00:19:58,164 --> 00:20:01,191
"St. Elsewhere" began filming
in mid-1982.
447
00:20:03,202 --> 00:20:07,949
But after a few days,
production was abruptly halted.
448
00:20:07,973 --> 00:20:13,321
And half-way through the pilot,
449
00:20:13,345 --> 00:20:16,558
Bruce Paltrow,
who was the producer,
450
00:20:16,582 --> 00:20:18,660
stopped
451
00:20:18,684 --> 00:20:21,363
and said,
"It's going the wrong way."
452
00:20:21,387 --> 00:20:25,667
Overnight, several key actors
were replaced.
453
00:20:25,691 --> 00:20:27,869
Among the newcomers
was a performer
454
00:20:27,893 --> 00:20:30,272
who'd never acted before.
455
00:20:30,296 --> 00:20:33,408
His only show-biz experience
was doing this...
456
00:20:41,006 --> 00:20:43,952
If you look at my early stuff,
I didn't have an act.
457
00:20:43,976 --> 00:20:46,354
Why are you laughing?
458
00:20:46,378 --> 00:20:48,623
Does it look...
No, does it look stupid?
459
00:20:48,647 --> 00:20:51,226
And then I started going,
"What? What? Tell me what?"
460
00:20:51,250 --> 00:20:52,894
And that became my catchphrase.
461
00:20:52,918 --> 00:20:54,429
What, what, what, what?
462
00:20:54,453 --> 00:20:55,864
No, tell me.
463
00:20:55,888 --> 00:20:57,933
And I didn't have anything to do
and I have OCD
464
00:20:57,957 --> 00:20:59,868
and I had gloves with me,
and out of a lack
465
00:20:59,892 --> 00:21:02,370
of anything else to do, I pulled
a rubber glove on my head,
466
00:21:02,394 --> 00:21:04,539
and that became
a signature piece.
467
00:21:04,563 --> 00:21:07,876
Okay, how many fingers
am I holding up?
468
00:21:09,668 --> 00:21:13,849
Howie Mandel had always hoped
to land a sitcom.
469
00:21:13,873 --> 00:21:16,184
And that's what he thought
he was reading for
470
00:21:16,208 --> 00:21:18,120
when a call came in
for an audition.
471
00:21:18,144 --> 00:21:20,555
I went home, and I remember
telling my wife,
472
00:21:20,579 --> 00:21:21,957
she goes, "How did it go?"
473
00:21:21,981 --> 00:21:24,493
And I went, "I don't think
it went real well."
474
00:21:24,517 --> 00:21:25,727
She goes, "Do you feel bad?"
475
00:21:25,751 --> 00:21:27,829
And I said, "You know,
I don't feel terrible."
476
00:21:27,853 --> 00:21:29,231
She goes, "Why?"
477
00:21:29,255 --> 00:21:31,399
I go, "Because it wasn't funny."
478
00:21:31,423 --> 00:21:33,635
I had no idea what I was
reading for,
479
00:21:33,659 --> 00:21:35,270
and it just wasn't funny.
480
00:21:35,294 --> 00:21:38,373
This is the worst sitcom
I had read in my life.
481
00:21:38,397 --> 00:21:40,675
This torturous,
not-funny sitcom.
482
00:21:40,699 --> 00:21:42,310
It doesn't even make sense
to me.
483
00:21:42,334 --> 00:21:44,146
I'm going, "D5,
lactated ringers, colloids,
484
00:21:44,170 --> 00:21:45,814
O-negative blood,
and intubation tray."
485
00:21:45,838 --> 00:21:48,984
"Congratulations, you got it."
What?
486
00:21:49,008 --> 00:21:51,186
And there was a show
called "St. Elsewhere."
487
00:21:51,210 --> 00:21:54,756
You got x-rays... C-spine,
chest, abdomen?
488
00:21:54,780 --> 00:21:56,391
Yes. She's in sinus tach.
489
00:21:56,415 --> 00:22:00,529
Give me a thoracotomy tray.
Chest tube, 28 French.
490
00:22:00,553 --> 00:22:02,998
I'll get stat lytes, type
and cross 4 units whole blood.
491
00:22:03,022 --> 00:22:06,268
Howie Mandel wasn't
the only comic
492
00:22:06,292 --> 00:22:08,937
destined for "St. Elsewhere."
493
00:22:08,961 --> 00:22:11,773
After years in standup,
Ed Begley, Jr.
494
00:22:11,797 --> 00:22:14,409
Landed the role
of Victor Ehrlich,
495
00:22:14,433 --> 00:22:17,479
perhaps the most annoying
doctor ever on television.
496
00:22:17,503 --> 00:22:19,681
Ehrlich was
a highly flawed individual.
497
00:22:19,705 --> 00:22:21,349
Ahh!
498
00:22:22,775 --> 00:22:24,252
The hours, oh, the hours.
499
00:22:24,276 --> 00:22:26,955
I used to fantasize about sex,
now all I dream about is sleep.
500
00:22:26,979 --> 00:22:28,290
I'm losing my rabbit impulses.
501
00:22:28,314 --> 00:22:29,424
He's one of those guys
502
00:22:29,448 --> 00:22:31,526
that thought he was funnier
than he was.
503
00:22:31,550 --> 00:22:34,863
You know, trying to be
the hospital class clown
504
00:22:34,887 --> 00:22:36,698
and not really succeeding.
505
00:22:36,722 --> 00:22:40,101
I wish I had a dollar for every
metastasized cell in his liver.
506
00:22:40,125 --> 00:22:41,269
How long you give him?
507
00:22:41,293 --> 00:22:43,538
Six months,
a year on the outside.
508
00:22:43,562 --> 00:22:45,907
Ah, 20 bucks says he won't
make it past May Day.
509
00:22:45,931 --> 00:22:48,628
- You're on.
- Hey, why don't we start a pool?
510
00:22:50,369 --> 00:22:51,580
That's disgusting.
511
00:22:51,604 --> 00:22:53,381
You ought to be ashamed
of yourself, Ehrlich.
512
00:22:53,405 --> 00:22:54,816
Why?
513
00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:59,554
And they discovered this
thing with Bill Daniels and I.
514
00:22:59,578 --> 00:23:01,489
I was this tall,
kind of goofy guy
515
00:23:01,513 --> 00:23:04,192
that was very nervous
around him and what have you,
516
00:23:04,216 --> 00:23:07,362
and there was this Mutt and Jeff
thing that they found was...
517
00:23:07,386 --> 00:23:09,731
you know, that was good
to write for.
518
00:23:09,755 --> 00:23:12,734
Ed Begley, Jr...
519
00:23:12,758 --> 00:23:14,736
and Billy Daniels
520
00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:18,607
had one of the greatest moments
in the history of art...
521
00:23:19,865 --> 00:23:21,209
on "St. Elsewhere."
522
00:23:21,233 --> 00:23:22,744
What's the mean flow?
523
00:23:22,768 --> 00:23:24,669
Flow meter.
524
00:23:26,405 --> 00:23:29,584
Ed Begley can't keep
his mouth shut.
525
00:23:29,608 --> 00:23:32,854
He's talking all through it
as his assistant.
526
00:23:32,878 --> 00:23:35,991
And at one point,
they lean over the body
527
00:23:36,015 --> 00:23:37,626
and...
528
00:23:37,650 --> 00:23:39,294
Ed Begley says something.
529
00:23:39,318 --> 00:23:41,796
Uh, 60 to 65.
530
00:23:41,820 --> 00:23:44,833
Thought you'd get me
a better vein than that.
531
00:23:44,857 --> 00:23:46,568
Let's try it again.
532
00:23:46,592 --> 00:23:49,371
Uh, yeah, 68.
533
00:23:49,395 --> 00:23:50,772
Give me that.
534
00:23:50,796 --> 00:23:54,743
And Billy can't take it anymore,
and he bumps!
535
00:23:54,767 --> 00:23:57,746
They're on the body,
and he bumps his head
536
00:23:57,770 --> 00:23:59,614
against Ed Begley's head...
537
00:23:59,638 --> 00:24:01,038
by way of reprimand.
538
00:24:02,174 --> 00:24:04,152
78!
539
00:24:04,176 --> 00:24:05,887
Moron.
540
00:24:05,911 --> 00:24:09,791
I thought that was the greatest
moment I'd ever seen.
541
00:24:11,850 --> 00:24:15,664
The cast of "St. Elsewhere"
remains an unequaled mix
542
00:24:15,688 --> 00:24:19,067
of experienced actors
and up-and-coming stars.
543
00:24:19,091 --> 00:24:22,170
Including Mark Harmon,
Denzel Washington,
544
00:24:22,194 --> 00:24:25,540
Ed Flanders,
David Morse, Alfre Woodard,
545
00:24:25,564 --> 00:24:28,243
Norman Lloyd,
and Christina Pickles.
546
00:24:28,267 --> 00:24:31,780
One of the memories I have
was this very sweet scene
547
00:24:31,804 --> 00:24:35,884
where I was massaging
Denzel Washington's shoulders,
548
00:24:35,908 --> 00:24:37,419
'cause he was having a hard time
549
00:24:37,443 --> 00:24:39,354
and I was helping him
through a hard time.
550
00:24:39,378 --> 00:24:41,856
Being chosen Chief Resident
is important to you.
551
00:24:41,880 --> 00:24:44,359
The only reason I became
a doctor
552
00:24:44,383 --> 00:24:46,361
was because my father pushed.
553
00:24:46,385 --> 00:24:48,463
He was a terrific actor
to work with.
554
00:24:48,487 --> 00:24:49,864
He was very present.
555
00:24:49,888 --> 00:24:54,235
But at Brooklyn Jewish, I got
a taste of administrating.
556
00:24:54,259 --> 00:24:56,438
Leading other residents.
557
00:24:56,462 --> 00:25:00,408
Finally found myself enjoying
medicine for the first time.
558
00:25:00,432 --> 00:25:01,710
Even today, I will get a call.
559
00:25:01,734 --> 00:25:03,545
I don't care if it's 2:00
in the morning.
560
00:25:03,569 --> 00:25:05,547
Denzel will call me
from a movie set and say,
561
00:25:05,571 --> 00:25:07,082
"Howie, how would you
play this?"
562
00:25:07,106 --> 00:25:08,583
And I'm more than happy
563
00:25:08,607 --> 00:25:10,852
to help him and be there
for him.
564
00:25:15,347 --> 00:25:17,492
In an era when
most medical dramas
565
00:25:17,516 --> 00:25:20,095
featured just two or three
main characters,
566
00:25:20,119 --> 00:25:22,497
"St. Elsewhere" had
more than a dozen.
567
00:25:22,521 --> 00:25:23,999
But the innovations didn't end
568
00:25:24,023 --> 00:25:26,067
with the unusually large
ensemble cast.
569
00:25:26,091 --> 00:25:29,237
Even more groundbreaking was
the production technique
570
00:25:29,261 --> 00:25:32,073
designed to mimic the look
of a gritty documentary.
571
00:25:32,097 --> 00:25:33,875
The camera roved the corridors,
572
00:25:33,899 --> 00:25:36,111
moving from conversation
to conversation,
573
00:25:36,135 --> 00:25:37,679
without edits.
574
00:25:37,703 --> 00:25:41,683
That meant extremely long takes
that were not easily repeated.
575
00:25:41,707 --> 00:25:43,418
I think we were the first show
576
00:25:43,442 --> 00:25:45,353
to do these long,
meandering shots,
577
00:25:45,377 --> 00:25:47,655
where we would do like
six pages of dialogue
578
00:25:47,679 --> 00:25:49,375
all in one shot without a cut.
579
00:25:53,352 --> 00:25:55,130
Are we doing rounds or what?
580
00:25:55,154 --> 00:25:57,232
Don't tell me nobody ordered
a Kosher plate.
581
00:25:57,256 --> 00:25:59,134
We need a D.I. consult,
419, fast.
582
00:25:59,158 --> 00:26:01,736
- I put her chart right there.
- Big mistake.
583
00:26:01,760 --> 00:26:03,338
And then we walked down
that hall
584
00:26:03,362 --> 00:26:04,906
and we'd go to
a nurse's station,
585
00:26:04,930 --> 00:26:07,375
or another pair of characters,
and then they would go...
586
00:26:07,399 --> 00:26:09,277
And then you'd come out
of the room,
587
00:26:09,301 --> 00:26:11,379
you'd be the last one
in the sixth page,
588
00:26:11,403 --> 00:26:12,814
with two lines.
589
00:26:12,838 --> 00:26:16,317
If you got one word wrong,
they'd go, "Cut! From the top."
590
00:26:16,341 --> 00:26:18,486
And everybody had to go back
to the top.
591
00:26:18,510 --> 00:26:23,691
So, the pressure to be perfect
was so incredible.
592
00:26:23,715 --> 00:26:25,226
It's all got to work just right.
593
00:26:25,250 --> 00:26:26,895
The crash cart has to go
over here.
594
00:26:26,919 --> 00:26:28,830
The amber bag has
to come on there.
595
00:26:28,854 --> 00:26:31,366
Ed Flanders comes in
at this point, what have you.
596
00:26:31,390 --> 00:26:32,901
The only time it gets difficult
597
00:26:32,925 --> 00:26:35,804
is when you blow it or you drop
the clipboard or something,
598
00:26:35,828 --> 00:26:37,739
and everybody, the rest of
the actors,
599
00:26:37,763 --> 00:26:40,175
"Come on, get it right,
for God's sake, would you?"
600
00:26:40,199 --> 00:26:43,178
I got to talk to a doctor.
I feel woozy.
601
00:26:43,202 --> 00:26:44,979
Maybe it's chicken pox.
602
00:26:45,003 --> 00:26:47,449
No, this ain't the chicken pox,
I had the chicken pox.
603
00:26:47,473 --> 00:26:49,584
It's a lot worse
than the stupid chicken pox.
604
00:26:49,608 --> 00:26:51,453
It's in good condition, huh?
605
00:26:51,477 --> 00:26:52,987
Good condition?
Mint condition.
606
00:26:53,011 --> 00:26:55,190
I'm really not in the market
for a car, Mark.
607
00:26:55,214 --> 00:26:56,324
Not a car, a classic!
608
00:26:56,348 --> 00:26:57,759
You did Lamaze, didn't you?
609
00:26:57,783 --> 00:26:59,494
Yeah. It was all right
the first time.
610
00:26:59,518 --> 00:27:00,795
What do you mean?
611
00:27:00,819 --> 00:27:02,530
By the time you get to
your second kid,
612
00:27:02,554 --> 00:27:05,066
you're gonna wish that the stork
dropped it down the chimney.
613
00:27:05,090 --> 00:27:07,669
It's all right: they don't start
Lamaze till the seventh month.
614
00:27:07,693 --> 00:27:10,939
The scariest thing was,
two characters would meet,
615
00:27:10,963 --> 00:27:12,607
then one would go off
into the elevator
616
00:27:12,631 --> 00:27:14,209
and then they'd go
into the elevator
617
00:27:14,233 --> 00:27:16,177
and two people would be
talking in the elevator
618
00:27:16,201 --> 00:27:17,846
while the crew was changing
the outside
619
00:27:17,870 --> 00:27:20,381
from second floor to third floor
and the colors on the outside,
620
00:27:20,405 --> 00:27:22,650
so when we walked out, it looked
like a different floor.
621
00:27:22,674 --> 00:27:26,054
I spent a lot of time
studying my lines.
622
00:27:26,078 --> 00:27:29,457
Because I was afraid to mess up.
623
00:27:29,481 --> 00:27:33,495
And also because it was often
unfamiliar sentences.
624
00:27:33,519 --> 00:27:35,163
The name's Francine Delgado.
625
00:27:35,187 --> 00:27:38,199
She, seven days ago, had
a mitral valve replacement.
626
00:27:38,223 --> 00:27:40,768
Well, what's her post-op course
been like?
627
00:27:40,792 --> 00:27:42,837
It was excellent till about
24 hours ago.
628
00:27:42,861 --> 00:27:45,140
She started vomiting,
started having diarrhea,
629
00:27:45,164 --> 00:27:46,908
temperature went through
the roof,
630
00:27:46,932 --> 00:27:48,143
and in the last few hours,
631
00:27:48,167 --> 00:27:50,145
she's been coughing
without sputum production.
632
00:27:50,169 --> 00:27:51,846
That style was favorable
633
00:27:51,870 --> 00:27:54,816
to those of us who came
from the theater.
634
00:27:54,840 --> 00:27:57,418
Because in the long takes,
635
00:27:57,442 --> 00:28:00,155
you got a sense of what you
would do in the theater...
636
00:28:00,179 --> 00:28:02,023
You would be playing
a long scene.
637
00:28:02,047 --> 00:28:03,992
No one on "St. Elsewhere"
638
00:28:04,016 --> 00:28:09,297
knew more about acting for
the theater than Norman Lloyd.
639
00:28:09,321 --> 00:28:11,232
With a resume that includes
performing
640
00:28:11,256 --> 00:28:12,634
in the famed Mercury Theatre
641
00:28:12,658 --> 00:28:14,469
with John Houseman
and Orson Welles,
642
00:28:14,493 --> 00:28:18,306
in the years before Welles
created "Citizen Kane."
643
00:28:18,330 --> 00:28:20,909
The best work Orson ever did
was with Jack Houseman.
644
00:28:20,933 --> 00:28:25,513
He needed that other voice
that pushed him on.
645
00:28:25,537 --> 00:28:26,714
They would get
646
00:28:26,738 --> 00:28:29,717
in the most terrible arguments
at rehearsals,
647
00:28:29,741 --> 00:28:31,920
when we were at the Mercury.
648
00:28:31,944 --> 00:28:34,088
They'd start screaming
at each other.
649
00:28:34,112 --> 00:28:35,657
I don't know over what.
650
00:28:35,681 --> 00:28:37,158
Norman Lloyd also starred
651
00:28:37,182 --> 00:28:38,426
in iconic films like
652
00:28:38,450 --> 00:28:40,161
Alfred Hitchcock's "Saboteur."
653
00:28:40,185 --> 00:28:43,765
Come on, quit stalling.
Who are you?
654
00:28:43,789 --> 00:28:46,668
I think I told you.
A working girl on her day off.
655
00:28:46,692 --> 00:28:48,217
Don't kid me!
656
00:28:50,429 --> 00:28:51,940
What are you doing here?
657
00:28:51,964 --> 00:28:54,542
The great thing about Hitch
was, for example,
658
00:28:54,566 --> 00:28:56,411
my scene on the Statue
of Liberty.
659
00:28:56,435 --> 00:28:58,836
Come on, Frye!
660
00:29:04,443 --> 00:29:07,155
He expected you,
as the character,
661
00:29:07,179 --> 00:29:08,790
to bring the richness
662
00:29:08,814 --> 00:29:15,930
and the personality and whatever
the character was doing...
663
00:29:15,954 --> 00:29:19,601
That's you
as a professional actor.
664
00:29:19,625 --> 00:29:21,202
He didn't go into any
665
00:29:21,226 --> 00:29:22,904
deep, reasoning things,
666
00:29:22,928 --> 00:29:26,307
which some directors took on.
667
00:29:26,331 --> 00:29:30,445
On the set of "St. Elsewhere,"
Norman Lloyd regaled the cast
668
00:29:30,469 --> 00:29:33,147
with his stories
of old Hollywood.
669
00:29:33,171 --> 00:29:36,417
I remember sitting around with
Norman Lloyd and just, you know,
670
00:29:36,441 --> 00:29:41,456
like with my jaw
just dropped open,
671
00:29:41,480 --> 00:29:44,092
just hearing the stories of,
you know,
672
00:29:44,116 --> 00:29:46,694
Charlie Chaplin
and Alfred Hitchcock.
673
00:29:46,718 --> 00:29:48,796
I remember him
saying things like,
674
00:29:48,820 --> 00:29:51,466
"My dear, I was playing tennis
with Charlie,"
675
00:29:51,490 --> 00:29:52,700
meaning Chaplin.
676
00:29:52,724 --> 00:29:56,004
You will be amused to know that
when I was making
677
00:29:56,028 --> 00:29:57,805
"Limelight" with Chaplin...
678
00:29:59,665 --> 00:30:02,110
I overheard him...
679
00:30:02,134 --> 00:30:04,679
talking to the cameraman.
680
00:30:04,703 --> 00:30:07,048
And he asked Chaplin,
681
00:30:07,072 --> 00:30:11,953
he said, "What do you want me
to do in the scene, Charlie?"
682
00:30:11,977 --> 00:30:14,522
And Chaplin said,
683
00:30:14,546 --> 00:30:17,992
"Get me in the crosshairs
and just stay with me."
684
00:30:20,085 --> 00:30:23,765
So, he really knew how
to shoot a picture.
685
00:30:23,789 --> 00:30:25,967
Terri. I was just about
to leave a note
686
00:30:25,991 --> 00:30:27,835
and you're right about Palvera.
687
00:30:27,859 --> 00:30:29,337
Have him see me in my office
688
00:30:29,361 --> 00:30:31,706
in the morning before
your audition, 9:30.
689
00:30:31,730 --> 00:30:33,441
- He's all set for the part.
- Wonderful!
690
00:30:33,465 --> 00:30:35,877
You can't tell a story about
Norman Lloyd
691
00:30:35,901 --> 00:30:38,346
without becoming Norman,
with his cadence.
692
00:30:38,370 --> 00:30:40,748
"My dear, how are you."
693
00:30:40,772 --> 00:30:43,251
And he's so sweet
and he's so real.
694
00:30:43,275 --> 00:30:46,587
He's not phony in any way,
but you just become him
695
00:30:46,611 --> 00:30:49,057
because it is so distinct.
696
00:30:49,081 --> 00:30:53,828
Norman Lloyd's Dr. Auschlander
had liver cancer...
697
00:30:53,852 --> 00:30:56,030
and originally just
a four-episode arc.
698
00:30:56,054 --> 00:31:00,735
I can face the pain that goes
with the injections,
699
00:31:00,759 --> 00:31:03,471
the fever, the nausea,
the diarrhea
700
00:31:03,495 --> 00:31:06,174
that goes along with
chemotherapy.
701
00:31:06,198 --> 00:31:12,213
But what I hate is that, as the
chemotherapy kills the cancer...
702
00:31:12,237 --> 00:31:14,248
I will grow weaker and weaker.
703
00:31:14,272 --> 00:31:16,751
But the producers kept him on,
704
00:31:16,775 --> 00:31:20,388
creating television's
first-ever cancer survivor.
705
00:31:20,412 --> 00:31:23,157
It was just one of a long list
of firsts
706
00:31:23,181 --> 00:31:26,060
that "St. Elsewhere" brought
to television.
707
00:31:26,084 --> 00:31:27,829
We were the first
in a lot of things,
708
00:31:27,853 --> 00:31:30,064
but I think at the time
we didn't even realize it.
709
00:31:30,088 --> 00:31:31,532
We were just doing it.
710
00:31:31,556 --> 00:31:34,669
Christina Pickles' character,
Nurse Helen Rosenthal,
711
00:31:34,693 --> 00:31:37,372
was television's first
medical professional
712
00:31:37,396 --> 00:31:38,806
with a drug addiction.
713
00:31:38,830 --> 00:31:42,076
Mark Harmon's Dr. Caldwell was
the first lead character
714
00:31:42,100 --> 00:31:43,211
to contract AIDS.
715
00:31:43,235 --> 00:31:44,726
And you haven't noticed
anything?
716
00:31:49,207 --> 00:31:52,920
I thought it was an infection.
717
00:31:52,944 --> 00:31:55,345
Kaposi's Sarcoma?
718
00:31:59,184 --> 00:32:01,095
I've got AIDS?
719
00:32:01,119 --> 00:32:04,932
Tommy Westfall was the first
character with autism.
720
00:32:04,956 --> 00:32:06,968
And the series was decades
ahead of its time
721
00:32:06,992 --> 00:32:08,803
in addressing the cost
of health care.
722
00:32:08,827 --> 00:32:10,304
They went at
723
00:32:10,328 --> 00:32:13,541
the cost of certain treatments
and the inability
724
00:32:13,565 --> 00:32:17,078
to get those treatments if you
didn't have the money.
725
00:32:17,102 --> 00:32:24,252
So, they attacked these social
problems of medical aid head on.
726
00:32:24,276 --> 00:32:27,021
"St. Elsewhere" was the first
show that really got it right
727
00:32:27,045 --> 00:32:30,191
about medical procedures,
the way doctors lived...
728
00:32:30,215 --> 00:32:31,926
The way they went through
divorces
729
00:32:31,950 --> 00:32:34,328
and cheated on their spouses
and did all that stuff
730
00:32:34,352 --> 00:32:37,298
and did drugs
and were highly flawed.
731
00:32:37,322 --> 00:32:40,468
Medical professionals praised
all aspects
732
00:32:40,492 --> 00:32:42,503
of "St. Elsewhere" 's realism
733
00:32:42,527 --> 00:32:46,340
and often wanted to give input
to the show's actors.
734
00:32:46,364 --> 00:32:50,845
I had my first child in the
midst of the "St. Elsewhere" run
735
00:32:50,869 --> 00:32:54,515
and every doctor in the hospital
wanted to come in
736
00:32:54,539 --> 00:32:57,785
and share war stories
or their favorite episode.
737
00:32:57,809 --> 00:33:00,054
But they didn't just want
to walk into the room
738
00:33:00,078 --> 00:33:02,857
while my wife was in labor just
to say that they were a fan,
739
00:33:02,881 --> 00:33:04,459
so they wanted to seem useful.
740
00:33:04,483 --> 00:33:06,794
So every doctor
would walk in, put a glove on,
741
00:33:06,818 --> 00:33:09,096
and while they were asking me
about episodes,
742
00:33:09,120 --> 00:33:11,332
would tell me how many,
how dilated she was.
743
00:33:11,356 --> 00:33:13,701
You know,
after the fifth doctor,
744
00:33:13,725 --> 00:33:15,970
it's like my wife was a puppet.
745
00:33:15,994 --> 00:33:19,273
"St Elsewhere" 's most
controversial moments
746
00:33:19,297 --> 00:33:22,009
came in its final episode
in 1989.
747
00:33:22,033 --> 00:33:24,111
How's he been?
He giving you any trouble?
748
00:33:24,135 --> 00:33:25,847
In "St. Elsewhere" 's
final scene,
749
00:33:25,871 --> 00:33:28,216
the autistic Tommy Westfall
stares at a snow globe
750
00:33:28,240 --> 00:33:30,284
and it's implied that
the entire series
751
00:33:30,308 --> 00:33:32,453
was simply the product
of his imagination.
752
00:33:32,477 --> 00:33:36,023
Be careful with that, son.
753
00:33:36,047 --> 00:33:37,845
Remember what I told you?
754
00:33:41,753 --> 00:33:44,232
I don't understand
this autism thing, pop.
755
00:33:44,256 --> 00:33:45,833
He's my son.
756
00:33:45,857 --> 00:33:48,503
I talk to him but I don't even
know if he can hear me.
757
00:33:48,527 --> 00:33:51,439
You go six years and you come up
and say,
758
00:33:51,463 --> 00:33:54,308
"Well, it's all in
a little boy's mind."
759
00:33:54,332 --> 00:33:59,747
I thought that was a cheat.
760
00:33:59,771 --> 00:34:04,151
I thought it should have been
a real experience of people.
761
00:34:04,175 --> 00:34:06,420
I have no idea what it meant.
762
00:34:07,913 --> 00:34:11,993
Now there are people say,
"What a great idea!"
763
00:34:12,017 --> 00:34:15,029
It's a cheat. It's a trick.
764
00:34:15,053 --> 00:34:18,499
The show was above that,
in my view,
765
00:34:18,523 --> 00:34:24,438
and I think I was a minority
of one.
766
00:34:26,698 --> 00:34:29,510
So, I'm sorry,
but that's the way I felt.
767
00:34:29,534 --> 00:34:32,613
I thought it was great, and
I think what was so great was
768
00:34:32,637 --> 00:34:34,348
you can decide what you think.
769
00:34:34,372 --> 00:34:36,517
Everybody can have their own
opinion,
770
00:34:36,541 --> 00:34:38,085
that was the genius of that.
771
00:34:38,109 --> 00:34:40,588
I think we really hit
772
00:34:40,612 --> 00:34:42,423
the right note
773
00:34:42,447 --> 00:34:48,296
between very serious
and very funny and very real.
774
00:34:48,320 --> 00:34:50,097
Because life is pretty funny
sometimes.
775
00:34:50,121 --> 00:34:52,934
Go home.
It's finished.
776
00:34:52,958 --> 00:34:56,771
The year's over,
your residency's over.
777
00:34:56,795 --> 00:34:59,607
No, sir.
778
00:34:59,631 --> 00:35:01,909
It ain't over till
the fat lady sings.
779
00:35:01,933 --> 00:35:04,612
♪ Ahhh... ♪
780
00:35:04,636 --> 00:35:10,598
♪ Ah-ah-ah-ahhhh! ♪
781
00:35:13,345 --> 00:35:15,156
Regardless of its ending,
782
00:35:15,180 --> 00:35:17,558
"St. Elsewhere"...
And later "ER"...
783
00:35:17,582 --> 00:35:19,627
Changed medical dramas forever,
784
00:35:19,651 --> 00:35:21,963
introducing ensemble casts...
785
00:35:21,987 --> 00:35:24,732
frenetic pacing,
and gritty realism.
786
00:35:24,756 --> 00:35:27,835
It's a stark contrast
to earlier medical dramas
787
00:35:27,859 --> 00:35:30,037
that portrayed god-like heroes
788
00:35:30,061 --> 00:35:31,906
who could heal every patient.
789
00:35:31,930 --> 00:35:33,841
Heroes like Dr. Kildare.
790
00:35:33,865 --> 00:35:37,111
In 1961, NBC made plans
to launch
791
00:35:37,135 --> 00:35:39,847
TV's first major medical drama,
792
00:35:39,871 --> 00:35:41,749
"Dr Kildare."
793
00:35:41,773 --> 00:35:44,418
In the lead role, they cast
William Shatner.
794
00:35:44,442 --> 00:35:47,021
But Shatner didn't want
to commit
795
00:35:47,045 --> 00:35:50,858
to the 16-hour-a-day rigor
of a regular weekly series.
796
00:35:50,882 --> 00:35:54,428
What isn't fun on a series
is the isolation,
797
00:35:54,452 --> 00:35:57,498
the eventual isolation of just
you and the people
798
00:35:57,522 --> 00:36:00,635
struggling to get through it,
which is what it is.
799
00:36:00,659 --> 00:36:04,639
The hours are so demanding.
800
00:36:04,663 --> 00:36:07,041
When Shatner turned down
the role,
801
00:36:07,065 --> 00:36:10,277
the producers turned to
a less experienced actor,
802
00:36:10,301 --> 00:36:11,679
Richard Chamberlain.
803
00:36:11,703 --> 00:36:14,815
In the first rehearsals,
Chamberlain was shaky.
804
00:36:14,839 --> 00:36:16,817
I'm no good at cold readings,
805
00:36:16,841 --> 00:36:20,021
because it takes me time to find
the character
806
00:36:20,045 --> 00:36:22,957
and I always feel
like I start from zero.
807
00:36:22,981 --> 00:36:27,561
The series' more-experienced
co-star, Raymond Massey,
808
00:36:27,585 --> 00:36:29,597
had reserved the right
to fire Chamberlain
809
00:36:29,621 --> 00:36:32,066
if he felt the young actor
wasn't right for the role.
810
00:36:32,090 --> 00:36:34,702
So, as their first
scene together approached,
811
00:36:34,726 --> 00:36:36,003
the producers worried.
812
00:36:36,027 --> 00:36:37,505
But when the film rolled,
813
00:36:37,529 --> 00:36:39,707
everything clicked
for "Dr. Kildare."
814
00:36:39,731 --> 00:36:41,909
And we liked each other
815
00:36:41,933 --> 00:36:44,478
right off the bat,
816
00:36:44,502 --> 00:36:47,448
and he became a kind
of surrogate father for me.
817
00:36:47,472 --> 00:36:50,885
I didn't happen to get along
very well with my own father,
818
00:36:50,909 --> 00:36:54,021
and Ray was so, the opposite
of my father.
819
00:36:54,045 --> 00:36:56,290
He was so supportive
and so interested
820
00:36:56,314 --> 00:36:58,192
and so kind of non-judgmental.
821
00:36:58,216 --> 00:37:01,195
I just don't know what kind
of a future they can have.
822
00:37:01,219 --> 00:37:03,831
I'll tell you a secret, doctor.
They'll be all right.
823
00:37:03,855 --> 00:37:06,534
When the time comes for
Lucky Alcott to change his life,
824
00:37:06,558 --> 00:37:09,303
he'll change it and he'll make
the right decision because
825
00:37:09,327 --> 00:37:11,906
instinctively he knows what is
right for himself
826
00:37:11,930 --> 00:37:13,174
and for those he loves.
827
00:37:13,198 --> 00:37:15,309
It's rare to find a man who has
828
00:37:15,333 --> 00:37:17,812
his own special kind of
maturity,
829
00:37:17,836 --> 00:37:20,281
who knows who he is
and where he belongs.
830
00:37:20,305 --> 00:37:22,316
I don't think a man like that
can be beaten.
831
00:37:22,340 --> 00:37:24,185
Even when I would screw up...
832
00:37:24,209 --> 00:37:28,522
Especially in the early weeks,
because I was so green...
833
00:37:28,546 --> 00:37:30,191
He never twitched.
834
00:37:30,215 --> 00:37:34,295
He never looked impatient,
he just was with me.
835
00:37:34,319 --> 00:37:37,565
And I will always remember that.
836
00:37:37,589 --> 00:37:40,568
With Massey in his camp,
837
00:37:40,592 --> 00:37:42,937
Richard Chamberlain
pressed forward,
838
00:37:42,961 --> 00:37:44,205
but it wasn't easy.
839
00:37:44,229 --> 00:37:46,707
Medical dramas deal with life
and death,
840
00:37:46,731 --> 00:37:49,610
requiring a wide emotional
range for the actors.
841
00:37:49,634 --> 00:37:52,446
I had a couple
of emotional scenes
842
00:37:52,470 --> 00:37:55,516
and I found that, at that point
in my life,
843
00:37:55,540 --> 00:37:58,486
I was very
out of touch with my feelings.
844
00:37:58,510 --> 00:38:02,256
If I had to cry or something
or get very angry in a scene,
845
00:38:02,280 --> 00:38:04,825
it took me a lot of building up,
846
00:38:04,849 --> 00:38:07,027
a lot of roaming the,
847
00:38:07,051 --> 00:38:09,630
whatever part of the set was not
being used,
848
00:38:09,654 --> 00:38:13,000
going, "Oh god!
What if my dog died?!"
849
00:38:13,024 --> 00:38:16,003
You know, and things like that
to try to work up the emotion.
850
00:38:16,027 --> 00:38:18,472
When we get people around here
like you, Mrs. Drussard,
851
00:38:18,496 --> 00:38:20,674
we put them in restraints
and we call the police
852
00:38:20,698 --> 00:38:23,010
and have them removed
to the hospital at City Jail.
853
00:38:23,034 --> 00:38:27,448
Now, put that gown on
and behave yourself.
854
00:38:27,472 --> 00:38:30,818
"Dr. Kildare" was a big hit
almost immediately,
855
00:38:30,842 --> 00:38:33,788
largely because of
Richard Chamberlain's
856
00:38:33,812 --> 00:38:35,189
heartthrob appeal.
857
00:38:35,213 --> 00:38:38,793
Meanwhile CBS had launched
its own medical drama,
858
00:38:38,817 --> 00:38:41,095
"Ben Casey," starring
Vince Edwards...
859
00:38:41,119 --> 00:38:43,111
Who had an appeal of his own.
860
00:38:47,425 --> 00:38:48,636
Casey?
861
00:38:48,660 --> 00:38:50,219
Casey!
862
00:38:57,068 --> 00:38:58,279
Hold me!
863
00:38:58,303 --> 00:39:00,848
Hold me!
Hold me.
864
00:39:00,872 --> 00:39:04,251
Women especially had a favorite
865
00:39:04,275 --> 00:39:06,187
in one camp or the other.
866
00:39:06,211 --> 00:39:08,155
Vince was a very different type.
867
00:39:08,179 --> 00:39:10,457
He was dark and surly
and hairy chested
868
00:39:10,481 --> 00:39:13,694
and he'd have this thing...
a lot of chest hair and stuff.
869
00:39:13,718 --> 00:39:16,063
It was a darker show,
I think, than ours.
870
00:39:16,087 --> 00:39:17,932
And I was this '50s kid,
you know,
871
00:39:17,956 --> 00:39:19,133
all scrubbed and clean.
872
00:39:19,157 --> 00:39:21,168
Both stars were so popular
873
00:39:21,192 --> 00:39:24,572
that the merchandising machines
kicked in,
874
00:39:24,596 --> 00:39:27,808
selling Ben Casey board games,
Dr. Kildare comic books,
875
00:39:27,832 --> 00:39:31,312
and countless magazine covers.
876
00:39:31,336 --> 00:39:33,647
Fans could even buy pillow cases
877
00:39:33,671 --> 00:39:36,884
with a life-size image
of Edwards or Chamberlain.
878
00:39:36,908 --> 00:39:39,186
Ben Casey,
of course, was opposite us
879
00:39:39,210 --> 00:39:41,922
and we were neck and neck
all the time, very competitive.
880
00:39:41,946 --> 00:39:43,357
Enrollment in medical schools,
881
00:39:43,381 --> 00:39:45,960
which had been going down,
after our two shows were on,
882
00:39:45,984 --> 00:39:48,395
it started to go up because
all these young people
883
00:39:48,419 --> 00:39:50,965
thought they were going to have
these glamorous lives.
884
00:39:50,989 --> 00:39:54,768
Real-life doctors and nurses
both loved and hated
885
00:39:54,792 --> 00:39:57,538
this first wave
of medical shows.
886
00:39:57,562 --> 00:40:01,141
On the plus side, the series
often increased awareness
887
00:40:01,165 --> 00:40:03,010
of important medical issues.
888
00:40:03,034 --> 00:40:04,345
But many viewers assumed
889
00:40:04,369 --> 00:40:06,480
what they saw on television
was real,
890
00:40:06,504 --> 00:40:09,216
creating a false expectation
of the medical profession.
891
00:40:09,240 --> 00:40:11,318
Some of these shows where
the doctor
892
00:40:11,342 --> 00:40:13,554
would come knocking
at a person's door.
893
00:40:13,578 --> 00:40:16,423
"You didn't make your
appointment on Monday, Fred.
894
00:40:16,447 --> 00:40:17,958
Are you feeling all right?"
895
00:40:17,982 --> 00:40:20,027
And I don't remember a doctor
ever knocking on my door
896
00:40:20,051 --> 00:40:21,528
because I didn't make
an appointment.
897
00:40:21,552 --> 00:40:23,097
It was, you know,
those kinds of shows.
898
00:40:23,121 --> 00:40:25,599
The public's perception
of doctors
899
00:40:25,623 --> 00:40:29,169
was so influenced by television
that many fans assumed
900
00:40:29,193 --> 00:40:31,672
the actors actually knew
medicine.
901
00:40:31,696 --> 00:40:34,041
Ray would get into
trouble with that sometime.
902
00:40:34,065 --> 00:40:35,943
He was having dinner
at Chasin's once
903
00:40:35,967 --> 00:40:38,579
and somebody in a neighboring
booth had a heart attack,
904
00:40:38,603 --> 00:40:41,181
and people were very angry
with him for not jumping in
905
00:40:41,205 --> 00:40:43,751
and helping this guy,
but Ray didn't know what to do.
906
00:40:45,176 --> 00:40:48,689
Actor Raymond Massey didn't
want people to think
907
00:40:48,713 --> 00:40:50,691
he had medical expertise...
908
00:40:50,715 --> 00:40:54,528
but Robert Young
had no such reservations.
909
00:40:54,552 --> 00:40:57,531
His willingness to blur the
line between actor and doctor
910
00:40:57,555 --> 00:40:59,199
would help make him television's
911
00:40:59,223 --> 00:41:00,901
all-time best known physician...
912
00:41:00,925 --> 00:41:02,136
Marcus Welby.
913
00:41:02,160 --> 00:41:03,470
The psychiatry we know
914
00:41:03,494 --> 00:41:05,039
is practiced sitting down.
915
00:41:05,063 --> 00:41:06,240
Dermatologists don't
916
00:41:06,264 --> 00:41:07,408
make house calls.
917
00:41:07,432 --> 00:41:11,111
General practice is
performed standing up,
918
00:41:11,135 --> 00:41:14,982
sitting down, outdoors, indoors,
wherever there's illness,
919
00:41:15,006 --> 00:41:17,017
and that means everywhere.
920
00:41:17,041 --> 00:41:20,554
Because, gentlemen,
we don't treat fingers
921
00:41:20,578 --> 00:41:23,757
or skins or bones or skulls
or lungs.
922
00:41:23,781 --> 00:41:25,326
We treat people.
923
00:41:25,350 --> 00:41:28,562
Robert Young so relished
playing a doctor,
924
00:41:28,586 --> 00:41:32,299
he regularly gave speeches
at medical conventions,
925
00:41:32,323 --> 00:41:35,903
and offered health tips
to cast and crew.
926
00:41:35,927 --> 00:41:38,739
He was so enthusiastic
with scalpels and needles,
927
00:41:38,763 --> 00:41:40,941
he accidentally cut
a fellow actor.
928
00:41:40,965 --> 00:41:46,313
He got so carried away with
the part, he cut him open.
929
00:41:46,337 --> 00:41:50,050
There was blood all over
the place.
930
00:41:50,074 --> 00:41:53,053
Yes, Robert really did
get into it.
931
00:41:53,077 --> 00:41:57,157
For Robert Young,
playing a wise doctor
932
00:41:57,181 --> 00:41:59,893
helped him deal with his
own personal insecurities.
933
00:41:59,917 --> 00:42:03,230
Suffering from depression
and alcoholism,
934
00:42:03,254 --> 00:42:06,667
just getting through the day
was sometimes a challenge.
935
00:42:06,691 --> 00:42:08,669
He had his hangups.
936
00:42:08,693 --> 00:42:12,806
If he had his problems,
they were with alcohol,
937
00:42:12,830 --> 00:42:14,441
probably at home,
938
00:42:14,465 --> 00:42:20,247
but he never came on the set
smelling of alcohol.
939
00:42:20,271 --> 00:42:24,985
Ironically, in Robert Young's
first big role on television,
940
00:42:25,009 --> 00:42:28,155
he played one of the happiest
people on TV...
941
00:42:28,179 --> 00:42:29,857
The father
on "Father Knows Best."
942
00:42:29,881 --> 00:42:32,359
- Hi, brother!
- I don't see why...
943
00:42:32,383 --> 00:42:34,061
- Kathy.
- Hello, Bud.
944
00:42:34,085 --> 00:42:36,663
What did I do?
945
00:42:36,687 --> 00:42:38,999
We're just glad to see you, son.
946
00:42:39,023 --> 00:42:41,322
- Would you like some ice cream?
- Or some milk?
947
00:42:42,927 --> 00:42:44,471
After "Father Knows Best,"
948
00:42:44,495 --> 00:42:46,840
Robert Young reached
his lowest point
949
00:42:46,864 --> 00:42:49,209
and finally sought
professional help.
950
00:42:49,233 --> 00:42:53,347
After a hospital stay and
joining Alcoholics Anonymous,
951
00:42:53,371 --> 00:42:55,949
he began to rebuild his life.
952
00:42:55,973 --> 00:42:58,752
For Young, landing the role
of Dr. Welby
953
00:42:58,776 --> 00:43:01,422
would be the key step
in his personal
954
00:43:01,446 --> 00:43:03,190
and public rehabilitation.
955
00:43:03,214 --> 00:43:06,660
But ABC didn't want him
for the part.
956
00:43:06,684 --> 00:43:09,563
Young pressed, even paying
for his own screen test.
957
00:43:09,587 --> 00:43:14,601
Finally, ABC agreed, and from
the very first episode,
958
00:43:14,625 --> 00:43:17,438
Marcus Welby became
America's favorite doctor.
959
00:43:17,462 --> 00:43:19,339
The part of Tina
that wants to believe that
960
00:43:19,363 --> 00:43:21,675
the best thing for her husband
would be to commit him.
961
00:43:21,699 --> 00:43:23,577
But there's another part...
Her conscience.
962
00:43:23,601 --> 00:43:24,878
You can't read it on a meter...
963
00:43:24,902 --> 00:43:26,980
But you know what
her conscience is telling her?
964
00:43:27,004 --> 00:43:29,349
I'm her doctor, too.
965
00:43:29,373 --> 00:43:31,919
Why do you think she wants
my signature, not yours?
966
00:43:31,943 --> 00:43:33,954
She doesn't want permission,
she wants absolution.
967
00:43:33,978 --> 00:43:35,122
Which you won't give.
968
00:43:35,146 --> 00:43:37,324
Not until I've done
everything I possibly can
969
00:43:37,348 --> 00:43:39,393
for my patient's interests...
As I see it!
970
00:43:39,417 --> 00:43:42,429
And even then, only medical
permission, not absolution.
971
00:43:42,453 --> 00:43:43,964
I'm a doctor, not a priest.
972
00:43:43,988 --> 00:43:46,900
Many medical professionals
were not happy
973
00:43:46,924 --> 00:43:49,303
with the "Marcus Welby" program,
974
00:43:49,327 --> 00:43:51,738
thinking the portrayal
was unrealistic.
975
00:43:51,762 --> 00:43:54,475
Welby would sit with patients
all night long,
976
00:43:54,499 --> 00:43:56,510
invite them to dinner
at his home,
977
00:43:56,534 --> 00:43:58,912
drive them home
from the hospital.
978
00:43:58,936 --> 00:44:00,481
What are you prescribing?
979
00:44:00,505 --> 00:44:03,050
Vitamins.
980
00:44:03,074 --> 00:44:07,121
Also, I want you in my office
next Monday morning at 11:00.
981
00:44:07,145 --> 00:44:10,023
Robert Young didn't see
the problem
982
00:44:10,047 --> 00:44:12,860
and encouraged real doctors
to be more like Welby...
983
00:44:12,884 --> 00:44:15,762
and even offered medical advice
in interviews.
984
00:44:15,786 --> 00:44:20,100
Elena Verdugo, who starred
as Welby's nurse,
985
00:44:20,124 --> 00:44:22,769
was more responsive to
the medical community...
986
00:44:22,793 --> 00:44:26,540
and made sure her character
stopped doing the one thing
987
00:44:26,564 --> 00:44:27,674
that annoyed many nurses.
988
00:44:27,698 --> 00:44:29,543
Coffee's hot.
Want some?
989
00:44:29,567 --> 00:44:31,612
Yes, ma'am.
I'll take some black.
990
00:44:31,636 --> 00:44:33,981
Thank you, Consuelo.
991
00:44:34,005 --> 00:44:37,818
"Will you stop getting him
coffee in the morning?"
992
00:44:37,842 --> 00:44:40,087
- Here you are.
- Thank you, ma'am.
993
00:44:40,111 --> 00:44:41,588
"We're sick of it.
994
00:44:41,612 --> 00:44:45,125
Now all of our doctors want us
to get a cup of coffee for them
995
00:44:45,149 --> 00:44:46,960
first thing in the morning."
996
00:44:46,984 --> 00:44:50,531
And I said, "I got it, I got it.
I will cut it down."
997
00:44:50,555 --> 00:44:52,599
Elena Verdugo's Consuelo Lopez
998
00:44:52,623 --> 00:44:55,802
was the first Latina character
on television
999
00:44:55,826 --> 00:44:57,871
to have a professional career.
1000
00:44:57,895 --> 00:45:00,774
They were looking for
a Mexican girl,
1001
00:45:00,798 --> 00:45:02,543
and I said, "Well, forget it.
1002
00:45:02,567 --> 00:45:07,414
I'm not playing maids
and housekeepers, you know."
1003
00:45:07,438 --> 00:45:09,483
That's all that they were
showing.
1004
00:45:09,507 --> 00:45:12,319
Once she learned Consuelo
was a nurse,
1005
00:45:12,343 --> 00:45:13,987
Elena took the role...
1006
00:45:14,011 --> 00:45:17,124
adding one more chapter
to a family history
1007
00:45:17,148 --> 00:45:20,761
in Southern California
that dated back to the 1700s,
1008
00:45:20,785 --> 00:45:23,130
when the Verdugo family owned
all of what is now
1009
00:45:23,154 --> 00:45:24,831
Burbank and Glendale.
1010
00:45:24,855 --> 00:45:28,451
I'd say, "You're on my land...
Off!"
1011
00:45:32,263 --> 00:45:34,341
It wasn't funny at the time,
either.
1012
00:45:34,365 --> 00:45:38,245
Verdugo got her start
on television in a sitcom
1013
00:45:38,269 --> 00:45:40,614
as the lead in "Meet Millie."
1014
00:45:40,638 --> 00:45:44,751
Oh, sweetie, what kind of
problems have you got?
1015
00:45:44,775 --> 00:45:47,754
Well, how to cope with
man's inhumanity to man.
1016
00:45:47,778 --> 00:45:50,023
How to achieve
everlasting peace.
1017
00:45:50,047 --> 00:45:52,125
How to keep from falling off
the roof.
1018
00:45:52,149 --> 00:45:53,694
Are you sure you didn't?
1019
00:45:53,718 --> 00:45:57,231
Verdugo brought her skill
for comedy to "Marcus Welby,"
1020
00:45:57,255 --> 00:45:59,566
adding a lighter touch to a show
1021
00:45:59,590 --> 00:46:01,435
that could be overly serious.
1022
00:46:01,459 --> 00:46:03,670
Soon, she became a fan
favorite...
1023
00:46:03,694 --> 00:46:05,539
and America's best-known nurse.
1024
00:46:05,563 --> 00:46:06,974
Why didn't you tell me?
1025
00:46:06,998 --> 00:46:09,910
Doctor, if I told you everything
that goes on in the office...
1026
00:46:09,934 --> 00:46:12,546
If it concerns a patient,
I want to know!
1027
00:46:12,570 --> 00:46:15,382
Yes, sir.
1028
00:46:15,406 --> 00:46:19,419
Mr. Whitehead came in and read
his girlie magazine again.
1029
00:46:19,443 --> 00:46:21,054
Well, what do I care?
1030
00:46:21,078 --> 00:46:23,957
You just said that you wanted
to know everything that goes on.
1031
00:46:23,981 --> 00:46:26,951
- Out!
- You just said that you...
1032
00:46:29,153 --> 00:46:32,899
She was as American
as apple pie.
1033
00:46:32,923 --> 00:46:35,769
But she had this Mexican...
1034
00:46:35,793 --> 00:46:39,059
a little bit of a fire
underneath it all.
1035
00:46:39,730 --> 00:46:43,223
"Marcus Welby M.D."
premiered on NBC
1036
00:46:43,301 --> 00:46:45,879
on September 23, 1969.
1037
00:46:45,903 --> 00:46:49,483
The very next day, CBS launched
its own doctor series...
1038
00:46:49,507 --> 00:46:52,185
"Medical Center",
starring Chad Everett
1039
00:46:52,209 --> 00:46:53,687
as surgeon Joe Gannon.
1040
00:46:53,711 --> 00:46:56,857
Have you ever had shortness
of breath?
1041
00:46:56,881 --> 00:46:58,091
Nope.
1042
00:46:58,115 --> 00:47:00,327
Blurred vision?
1043
00:47:00,351 --> 00:47:01,995
Nope.
1044
00:47:02,019 --> 00:47:03,797
Nose bleeds as a kid?
1045
00:47:03,821 --> 00:47:04,880
Never.
1046
00:47:07,558 --> 00:47:08,969
But you have them now.
1047
00:47:08,993 --> 00:47:11,438
Mm-hmm.
1048
00:47:11,462 --> 00:47:12,973
We were a different cup of tea.
1049
00:47:12,997 --> 00:47:14,374
Scalpel.
1050
00:47:14,398 --> 00:47:16,376
We were medically correct.
1051
00:47:16,400 --> 00:47:20,269
We were required viewing for
a lot of schools of nursing.
1052
00:47:22,673 --> 00:47:24,801
Exploring the left adrenal.
1053
00:47:28,713 --> 00:47:31,325
I find nothing.
1054
00:47:31,349 --> 00:47:32,759
Never did I not have
1055
00:47:32,783 --> 00:47:35,662
at least one technical advisor
on the set,
1056
00:47:35,686 --> 00:47:38,098
or usually two or three,
depending on the equipment
1057
00:47:38,122 --> 00:47:40,634
we were using on the procedures
we were involved with.
1058
00:47:40,658 --> 00:47:43,036
- Blood pressure.
- 80 over 40.
1059
00:47:43,060 --> 00:47:45,539
Better pump the blood in.
1060
00:47:45,563 --> 00:47:47,708
We used to have
a laugh a minute watching
1061
00:47:47,732 --> 00:47:51,311
some of our peers
in medical shows.
1062
00:47:51,335 --> 00:47:53,547
The guy would come in,
he's all scrubbed,
1063
00:47:53,571 --> 00:47:56,350
he's gowned, he's masked,
he's scrubbed, he's gloved.
1064
00:47:56,374 --> 00:48:00,320
And there is the patient's head.
1065
00:48:00,344 --> 00:48:02,089
Getting the shot?
1066
00:48:02,113 --> 00:48:04,825
And he goes, "Mrs. Brown,
you're going to be fine.
1067
00:48:04,849 --> 00:48:06,026
Don't you worry now."
1068
00:48:06,050 --> 00:48:08,428
Pats her on the head
and calls for a scalpel.
1069
00:48:08,452 --> 00:48:10,897
Staph infection! I mean
it's a staph infection!
1070
00:48:10,921 --> 00:48:13,867
Despite the quest for accuracy,
1071
00:48:13,891 --> 00:48:17,237
this wasn't a show about
operating procedures.
1072
00:48:17,261 --> 00:48:18,905
The producers
of "Medical Center"
1073
00:48:18,929 --> 00:48:20,507
located the series in a hospital
1074
00:48:20,531 --> 00:48:22,442
mainly because it was the ideal
starting point
1075
00:48:22,466 --> 00:48:23,944
for weekly
life-and-death stories.
1076
00:48:23,968 --> 00:48:27,247
For the first year and half,
Dr. Joe Gannon
1077
00:48:27,271 --> 00:48:30,283
valiantly kept
all his patients alive.
1078
00:48:30,307 --> 00:48:32,786
Chad Everett wasn't satisfied.
1079
00:48:32,810 --> 00:48:35,722
I said, "Let me lose a patient.
1080
00:48:35,746 --> 00:48:38,425
That's where the drama is;
I've got to lose a patient."
1081
00:48:38,449 --> 00:48:40,994
The producers agreed,
but the writers
1082
00:48:41,018 --> 00:48:44,097
couldn't come up with
a scenario Everett liked.
1083
00:48:44,121 --> 00:48:47,534
Don Green, our set decorator,
comes up.
1084
00:48:47,558 --> 00:48:51,037
He sits down next to me, he
says, "What's your specialty?"
1085
00:48:51,061 --> 00:48:53,340
And I said,
"Well, open heart surgery.
1086
00:48:53,364 --> 00:48:54,775
I'm a thoracic surgeon."
1087
00:48:54,799 --> 00:48:56,392
Stand clear.
1088
00:49:06,477 --> 00:49:10,023
He said, "Why don't you crack
her right there in a room
1089
00:49:10,047 --> 00:49:11,825
and do open heart massage?"
1090
00:49:11,849 --> 00:49:14,995
I went, "That is soooo good!"
1091
00:49:15,019 --> 00:49:18,421
Give me a scalpel.
1092
00:49:29,934 --> 00:49:33,447
She dies with her heart
in my hand.
1093
00:49:33,471 --> 00:49:36,930
Joe. She won't come back.
1094
00:49:49,220 --> 00:49:52,098
"Medical Center" 's creators
wanted to do more
1095
00:49:52,122 --> 00:49:55,168
than just entertain,
they wanted to take a stand
1096
00:49:55,192 --> 00:49:56,536
on important issues.
1097
00:49:56,560 --> 00:49:58,605
When they learned that a woman
1098
00:49:58,629 --> 00:50:02,209
could be fired from her job
for having a mastectomy,
1099
00:50:02,233 --> 00:50:04,945
they created an episode
designed to help push through
1100
00:50:04,969 --> 00:50:06,980
a bill
in the California legislature.
1101
00:50:07,004 --> 00:50:08,715
We did it in conjunction
1102
00:50:08,739 --> 00:50:10,750
with an Assemblyman named
Albert Siegler.
1103
00:50:10,774 --> 00:50:12,953
Bill 1194.
1104
00:50:12,977 --> 00:50:16,923
Prior to that, in 1975...
Nationwide...
1105
00:50:16,947 --> 00:50:21,228
It was lawful for an employer
to discriminate
1106
00:50:21,252 --> 00:50:24,264
against a person
for their medical history.
1107
00:50:24,288 --> 00:50:27,334
Since 1975 in California
it's not.
1108
00:50:27,358 --> 00:50:29,603
And that's spread across
the country.
1109
00:50:29,627 --> 00:50:31,304
All across United States now,
1110
00:50:31,328 --> 00:50:33,627
it is not lawful to do that.
1111
00:50:35,466 --> 00:50:37,444
Like "Dr. Kildare"
and "Ben Casey,"
1112
00:50:37,468 --> 00:50:39,579
part of the appeal
of "Medical Center"
1113
00:50:39,603 --> 00:50:42,082
was the handsomeness of
its star, Chad Everett.
1114
00:50:42,106 --> 00:50:45,785
When the producers wanted
to add a second leading man,
1115
00:50:45,809 --> 00:50:47,587
Everett politely objected.
1116
00:50:47,611 --> 00:50:50,824
So I went up to the producers
and sat down with them and said,
1117
00:50:50,848 --> 00:50:54,127
"Gentlemen, there's only room
for one stud in the barn."
1118
00:50:57,154 --> 00:51:00,233
Chad Everett's popularity
points to a common thread
1119
00:51:00,257 --> 00:51:01,701
in all medical shows...
1120
00:51:01,725 --> 00:51:03,870
Viewers love doctors and nurses.
1121
00:51:03,894 --> 00:51:06,873
From Richard Chamberlain
to George Clooney,
1122
00:51:06,897 --> 00:51:09,609
television's medical
professionals portray
1123
00:51:09,633 --> 00:51:11,077
a goal to aspire to...
1124
00:51:11,101 --> 00:51:13,947
A model of knowledge, skill,
and success...
1125
00:51:13,971 --> 00:51:18,184
an ideal that keeps viewers
tuning in every week.
1126
00:51:18,208 --> 00:51:20,754
It's that primal thing
that I think
1127
00:51:20,778 --> 00:51:24,057
draws people to medical shows.
1128
00:51:24,081 --> 00:51:26,960
I think we're here
to show diversity.
1129
00:51:26,984 --> 00:51:30,931
This show is
the forefront of that.
1130
00:51:30,955 --> 00:51:33,466
There'll always be medical shows
'cause it's a great way
1131
00:51:33,490 --> 00:51:34,868
to move a lot of stories along.
1132
00:51:34,892 --> 00:51:36,770
But ultimately, it's got to be
about the people,
1133
00:51:36,794 --> 00:51:38,838
about the human stories,
or you don't care about it.
1134
00:51:38,862 --> 00:51:41,608
Everybody ends up coming in
the world in the hospital
1135
00:51:41,632 --> 00:51:44,110
and going out in a hospital,
for the most part.
1136
00:51:44,134 --> 00:51:47,847
What an amazing discipline
and training ground that was
1137
00:51:47,871 --> 00:51:50,650
for any of us who had
anything to do
1138
00:51:50,674 --> 00:51:51,918
with "St. Elsewhere."
1139
00:51:51,942 --> 00:51:54,087
It's life and death.
1140
00:51:54,111 --> 00:51:56,990
I mean, uh...
1141
00:51:57,014 --> 00:52:00,727
while we're in it,
we're about elongating it,
1142
00:52:00,751 --> 00:52:04,397
and then we all know we're gonna
exit sooner or later.
1143
00:52:04,421 --> 00:52:07,601
Together they entertained us
1144
00:52:07,625 --> 00:52:11,338
and helped define
our view of medicine.
1145
00:52:11,362 --> 00:52:14,389
They are the pioneers
of television.
1146
00:54:18,956 --> 00:54:21,668
Then I get this phone call
at my apartment one night.
1147
00:54:21,692 --> 00:54:24,437
It's Eriq, he says, "What are
you doing this summer?"
1148
00:54:24,461 --> 00:54:26,339
Because we had two or three
months to wait
1149
00:54:26,363 --> 00:54:28,408
to see if the show was
going to get picked up.
1150
00:54:28,432 --> 00:54:30,343
I said, "I don't know.
What are you doing?"
1151
00:54:30,367 --> 00:54:32,979
"I'm thinking about going
to Spain; do you want to go?"
1152
00:54:33,003 --> 00:54:35,081
And I called George Clooney up
and I said,
1153
00:54:35,105 --> 00:54:36,950
"Eriq just invited me
to go to Spain."
1154
00:54:36,974 --> 00:54:39,552
He goes, "Don't go! Don't go!
Here's what's gonna happen.
1155
00:54:39,576 --> 00:54:41,855
You're gonna fight,
you're gonna hate each other,
1156
00:54:41,879 --> 00:54:43,590
have to come back
and work together
1157
00:54:43,614 --> 00:54:45,792
every day for the next
five years... don't go!"
1158
00:54:45,816 --> 00:54:48,149
I said, "Wanna come with us?"
He goes, "Yeah."
1159
00:54:52,055 --> 00:54:55,168
For more insider features
about your favorite TV stars,
1160
00:54:55,192 --> 00:54:57,570
stories you won't hear
anywhere else,
1161
00:54:57,594 --> 00:54:59,995
visit pbs.org.