ER
NBC ’s Graeco-Roman health check dramaERwas on the air travel for 15 season , but the first season almost never made it to aerate . After time of year 1 was shot , there was still a strong possibility ofERbeing canceled before the pilot episode was even shown on television . Given the show ’s ultimate succeeder and acclaim , it might storm many thatERalmost never saw the light of day .
ERfollows the events of a Chicago pinch room and tells the story of the doctors at a fictional Cook County General Hospital . It start to transmit in 1994 and became the sixth - long medical play in the globe , with 15 season aggregate . The show receive critical acclaim and won 23 Emmy Awards during its runtime . Originally , ERwas pitched as a movie toSteven Spielberg and his collaborator at Amblin Entertainment , who sold it to NBC as a TV show . The show ’s decisive success is a stark dividing line to NBC ’s initial doubts about the show .
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Why NBC Executives Thought ER Wouldn’t Work
NBC Executives were initially cheeseparing to pulling the plug on season one altogether . The behind - the - scenes documentaryThe news report Behind ERexplains the reasonableness behind the executives ' doubt . The chief problem was that they did n’t think audiences would follow the many storylines of the show . " I think part of it was the unrelenting stride … No one had ever seen anything like this on television , " aver Spielberg . " There was no precedent " for a show likeERthat administrator could take care to for reassurance .
ER Worked For The Exact Reasons Execs Were Worried About It
During the firsttest viewing of theERpilot , audience like the show and give it unco high ratings . ERthen went on air and became a huge success for NBC . The show work exactly because of the ground that executive doubted it — alternatively of being confusing and overwhelming , the many storylines and persona engaged the audience and keep them ascertain .
ERwas extremely successful because it built a suspenseful world of interesting characters in a eminent - stakes environment . It goes to show that audiences should not be underestimate and that , in the remainder , the interview determines what ’s on the airwave . Executives should take heed to their audience ’s test lashings and feedback as they ultimately make up one’s mind what stay on the air with their viewership phone number . fortunately , the NBC executives mind to their audience , andERbecame the hitting show it was .
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