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ER: The Oral History
The Oral History is a deep dive into the show that began the modern medical drama phenomenon, and it contains new interviews with over 60 people, including John Wells and Noah Wyle (showrunner and star of the original ER, respectively, and executive producers of HBO's The Pitt), Eriq LaSalle, Laura Innes, Ming-Na Wen, Paul McCrane, Rick Rossovich, and Goran Visnjic.
Long before Jurassic Park was the embryo of an idea in Michael Crichton's mind, there was ER. A medical student who dreamt of a career in Hollywood, Crichton did what any aspiring writer he created a script based on time working in a high-octane hospital emergency department. Of course, nobody wanted it. It wasn't until Crichton turned his attention to dinosaurs and his 1990 novel Jurassic Park became a megahit – and a mega-movie franchise – that Steven Spielberg's camp asked the former doctor what other ideas he was kicking around. Producers weren't interested in Crichton's dream to make a hospital film. But, they were looking for new television series programming and thought there might be something even bigger in the concept than a movie. And, thus, ER was born.
Despite some resistance from NBC's top brass, the Warner Bros. Television drama became an overnight hit with its high-adrenaline storylines, realistic dialogue, and bona fide (not to mention hot) stars in the making in the cast, including Julianna Margulies, Noah Wyle, Anthony Edwards, and an actor who didn't end up amounting to much named George Clooney. ER premiered opposite the popular CBS drama Chicago Hope and quickly cannibalized its competition. It would, in its heyday, average 35 million viewers per season (in an era before streaming and DVRs), and was either the number one or number two most watched show on television for six years.
Over the course of its fifteen years on air ER would feature weddings, births, break-ups, death, and medical conundrums in just about every form you could imagine. Although stars like Clooney and Margulies would come and go, ER introduced (or, in some cases, re-introduced) the world to actors like Maura Tierney, Mekhi Phifer, Linda Cardellini, Ming-Na Wen, and Scott Grimes. It won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series and was nominated a staggering 124 times. As popular as Grey's Anatomy is now, there would be no Grey Sloan Memorial without County General.
Long before Jurassic Park was the embryo of an idea in Michael Crichton's mind, there was ER. A medical student who dreamt of a career in Hollywood, Crichton did what any aspiring writer he created a script based on time working in a high-octane hospital emergency department. Of course, nobody wanted it. It wasn't until Crichton turned his attention to dinosaurs and his 1990 novel Jurassic Park became a megahit – and a mega-movie franchise – that Steven Spielberg's camp asked the former doctor what other ideas he was kicking around. Producers weren't interested in Crichton's dream to make a hospital film. But, they were looking for new television series programming and thought there might be something even bigger in the concept than a movie. And, thus, ER was born.
Despite some resistance from NBC's top brass, the Warner Bros. Television drama became an overnight hit with its high-adrenaline storylines, realistic dialogue, and bona fide (not to mention hot) stars in the making in the cast, including Julianna Margulies, Noah Wyle, Anthony Edwards, and an actor who didn't end up amounting to much named George Clooney. ER premiered opposite the popular CBS drama Chicago Hope and quickly cannibalized its competition. It would, in its heyday, average 35 million viewers per season (in an era before streaming and DVRs), and was either the number one or number two most watched show on television for six years.
Over the course of its fifteen years on air ER would feature weddings, births, break-ups, death, and medical conundrums in just about every form you could imagine. Although stars like Clooney and Margulies would come and go, ER introduced (or, in some cases, re-introduced) the world to actors like Maura Tierney, Mekhi Phifer, Linda Cardellini, Ming-Na Wen, and Scott Grimes. It won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series and was nominated a staggering 124 times. As popular as Grey's Anatomy is now, there would be no Grey Sloan Memorial without County General.
317 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 15, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 1, 2026
I definitely don’t watch television as much as I used to. But back in the day, there were so many programs I watched religiously, on many nights of the week. I even had two VCRs for a while so I could record multiple programs.
One program I watched from the very start was ER . Even though I really can’t stand the sight of blood (real or fake) and I’m definitely a bit of a hypochondriac, I was hooked on this show. It’s crazy to think what a huge phenomenon it became, and that before the show, George Clooney was just a particularly handsome actor who showed up briefly on a bunch of other television shows.
Lynette Rice has written a comprehensive oral history of the show. She interviewed more than 60 people, including the showrunner, John Wells, many of the producers and directors, and the actors who played both major and recurring characters through the show’s 15-year run.
This book was a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at all aspects of the show. There were so many interesting facts I learned and reading this gave me a deeper appreciation of the passion that drove this show to success. It would, in its heyday, average 35 million viewers per season (in an era before streaming and DVRs), and was either the number one or number two most watched show on television for six years.
I think this would be a good read for both casual and serious fans of the show. As Rice says in the book, as popular as Grey’s Anatomy is now, there would be no Grey Sloan Memorial without County General.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/getbookedwithlarry/.
One program I watched from the very start was ER . Even though I really can’t stand the sight of blood (real or fake) and I’m definitely a bit of a hypochondriac, I was hooked on this show. It’s crazy to think what a huge phenomenon it became, and that before the show, George Clooney was just a particularly handsome actor who showed up briefly on a bunch of other television shows.
Lynette Rice has written a comprehensive oral history of the show. She interviewed more than 60 people, including the showrunner, John Wells, many of the producers and directors, and the actors who played both major and recurring characters through the show’s 15-year run.
This book was a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at all aspects of the show. There were so many interesting facts I learned and reading this gave me a deeper appreciation of the passion that drove this show to success. It would, in its heyday, average 35 million viewers per season (in an era before streaming and DVRs), and was either the number one or number two most watched show on television for six years.
I think this would be a good read for both casual and serious fans of the show. As Rice says in the book, as popular as Grey’s Anatomy is now, there would be no Grey Sloan Memorial without County General.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/getbookedwithlarry/.
October 20, 2026
Lynette Rice's ER: The Oral History offers a deeply nostalgic but uneven trip down memory lane, shining brightest when revealing chaotic behind-the-scenes magic like Noah Wyle practicing sutures on pigs' feet. However, its loose oral-history format stumbles in execution, often reading like a repetitive collection of disparate quotes rather than a tightly woven, definitive retrospective. While die-hard County General fans will enjoy the surface-level gossip, the choppy pacing and lack of deep editorial substance make it a casual coffee table read rather than a gripping, must-read documentary.
September 9, 2026
One of my favorite shows is ER. The Pitt comes so close to filling the hole left all those years ago when ER went off the air. It is one I did a full rewatch of not that long ago that left me feeling nostalgic and missing the greatness that was TV in that era. This book is a perfect look back with a more in depth look at not only the show but everything that went on around the show.
I was too young to really understand the full politics of what ER meant to the TV landscape or the importance of each of the actors that starred in the show. I remember the later years more vividly watching weekly with my family. This look back really told so much of the history on set, the actors and what it took to make the show what it was.
I listened to the audio as I will usually want to do when it comes to non-fiction stories. I knew that there wasn’t going to be the real actors voicing this novel and I think the narrator they did have for this production did a good job. It was a little hard to follow who was talking but the author did a good job of stating the actor and their characters numerous times in the interviews. A lot of the interviews were done through other sources gathered by the author to tell a full story and I thought it was well done.
If you are looking for a trip back to County General this is the perfect book for you. This one is out September 15th!
I was too young to really understand the full politics of what ER meant to the TV landscape or the importance of each of the actors that starred in the show. I remember the later years more vividly watching weekly with my family. This look back really told so much of the history on set, the actors and what it took to make the show what it was.
I listened to the audio as I will usually want to do when it comes to non-fiction stories. I knew that there wasn’t going to be the real actors voicing this novel and I think the narrator they did have for this production did a good job. It was a little hard to follow who was talking but the author did a good job of stating the actor and their characters numerous times in the interviews. A lot of the interviews were done through other sources gathered by the author to tell a full story and I thought it was well done.
If you are looking for a trip back to County General this is the perfect book for you. This one is out September 15th!
September 18, 2026
I love oral histories and this one is great. Hits all the high points, the on set and behind the scene stories. All the major players are there.
i wish they had been able to connect with some that were not in the book. I think some of those had issues on the set.
All in all, a great, quick read.
i wish they had been able to connect with some that were not in the book. I think some of those had issues on the set.
All in all, a great, quick read.
September 16, 2026
Review of advanced copy from Goodreads giveaway!
I have been a fan of ER since 2023 and when I found out this book was coming out I had to read it. Love the facts from the cast about the show and trivia! Some of which I did not know. If you’re an ER fan definitely read this book!
I have been a fan of ER since 2023 and when I found out this book was coming out I had to read it. Love the facts from the cast about the show and trivia! Some of which I did not know. If you’re an ER fan definitely read this book!
October 11, 2026
As a loyal ER (and now The Pitt) fan, I learned a lot about the background makings of this show. I remember having “Friends and ER parties” during my years of college and nursing school. Our floor was so quiet during 7pm-7:30 and 9pm-10pm on Thursday nights! This show was part of the reason I am an ED nurse today.
Glad to listen to it on audio book as there were many different people contributing memories. Each person was a different voice and listening helped keep them separate in my mind.
Glad to listen to it on audio book as there were many different people contributing memories. Each person was a different voice and listening helped keep them separate in my mind.
October 5, 2026
Thank you @stmartinpress for sending me a copy of ER: The Oral History by Lynette Rice.
“ER the book is a deep dive into the show that began the modern medical drama phenomenon, and contains new and original interviews with over 60 people.”
I was so excited to get this book! ER is one of my all-time favourite shows, and I’ve done more rewatches than I care to admit.
This is such a fun behind-the-scenes look at the show, with interviews from many of the actors, productors, writers, and people who helped make ER what it was. I especially loved hearing the actors talk about how they experienced some of the show’s biggest moments and what it was like to be part of such an iconic series.
I ended up listening to the audiobook, which I’m not sure was the best way to experience this particular book. With so many people being interviewed (and narrators reading it instead of the actual actors), it could sometimes be hard to keep track of who was speaking. That said, I didn’t feel like I was missing anything by listening rather than reading.
I particularly enjoyed the deep dives into specific episodes and the discussion of how ER helped pave the way for The Pitt, which happens to be one of my current favourite shows (no surprise).
I think there could have been more about the later seasons but I also get it. The golden age of ER really ended when Noah Wyle left, so there’s only so much later-era material I need.
If you’re an ER fan and, like me, love behind-the-scenes stories, interviews, and all the little details about how your favourite show comes together, I’d definitely recommend picking this one up.
“ER the book is a deep dive into the show that began the modern medical drama phenomenon, and contains new and original interviews with over 60 people.”
I was so excited to get this book! ER is one of my all-time favourite shows, and I’ve done more rewatches than I care to admit.
This is such a fun behind-the-scenes look at the show, with interviews from many of the actors, productors, writers, and people who helped make ER what it was. I especially loved hearing the actors talk about how they experienced some of the show’s biggest moments and what it was like to be part of such an iconic series.
I ended up listening to the audiobook, which I’m not sure was the best way to experience this particular book. With so many people being interviewed (and narrators reading it instead of the actual actors), it could sometimes be hard to keep track of who was speaking. That said, I didn’t feel like I was missing anything by listening rather than reading.
I particularly enjoyed the deep dives into specific episodes and the discussion of how ER helped pave the way for The Pitt, which happens to be one of my current favourite shows (no surprise).
I think there could have been more about the later seasons but I also get it. The golden age of ER really ended when Noah Wyle left, so there’s only so much later-era material I need.
If you’re an ER fan and, like me, love behind-the-scenes stories, interviews, and all the little details about how your favourite show comes together, I’d definitely recommend picking this one up.
October 31, 2026
I saw this at the library and even though I hadn’t watched er since like 1998, picked it up bc the cover looked so cool. And it got me to go onto Hulu and watch some episodes, settling for now on Alan Aldas arc (season 6, 1999) 😂. The book did bring back many memories for me, and from 95-98 I was in Pharmacy School and everyone watched it, and on Friday morning, everyone would be talking about how the show got the drugs wrong or right haha.
Anyway, I think it’s a must read for anyone who is a bigger fan than me. I don’t like oral history books (each paragraph is a portion of an interview answer with a person), but I did like the book. Seems like every actor I could think of participated, and it was all positive. There is a lot of business talk with producers and the like, but at the beginning it is good bc it gives you an idea of the conception of the show. Obviously they also discuss like a dozen episodes, storylines, or characters in focus too, and I think super fans will love that. There’s some inside stories too.
Personally, I have wondered for almost 30 years what Romano signed to Dr Benton’s son behind his back. When the episode aired, there was no ai, and surprisingly I couldn’t find a good message board on aol. I was always intrigued with this bc Romano was so mean, but no one would be mean enough to say something to a baby behind his dads back lol. This book reveals it. He said “take care of your dad” ha.
Anyway, I think it’s a must read for anyone who is a bigger fan than me. I don’t like oral history books (each paragraph is a portion of an interview answer with a person), but I did like the book. Seems like every actor I could think of participated, and it was all positive. There is a lot of business talk with producers and the like, but at the beginning it is good bc it gives you an idea of the conception of the show. Obviously they also discuss like a dozen episodes, storylines, or characters in focus too, and I think super fans will love that. There’s some inside stories too.
Personally, I have wondered for almost 30 years what Romano signed to Dr Benton’s son behind his back. When the episode aired, there was no ai, and surprisingly I couldn’t find a good message board on aol. I was always intrigued with this bc Romano was so mean, but no one would be mean enough to say something to a baby behind his dads back lol. This book reveals it. He said “take care of your dad” ha.
September 16, 2026
Thank you St. Martin’s Press for sending me a free copy!
The day ER: The Oral History arrived in my mailbox, I immediately started reading it because I needed a nostalgia fix to lift my spirits. I was a high school freshman when this hospital drama hit the scene and it was a juggernaut right out of the gate. NBC’s Must See Tv had us all staying at home on Thursday nights. Appointment television for sure with ER closing out the night. At its peak 30 million people were tuning in to see Doug, Carol, Carter, Benton and the rest of the gang.
Alright, so the book is a behind the scenes look at the popular show. It contains new interviews with about 60 people connected to the show as well as some older quotes taken from articles and other interviews during the heyday of the show. So basically you are getting everyone’s thoughts and memories about the show and what’s been said over the years. I’m a pop culture junkie so I was familiar with many of the stories but there was some brand new to me info especially about the later seasons. It provides a good overview of the series and was a fun, blast from the past type read.
If you are fan of show and enjoy insider look reads, it’s worth checking out.
The day ER: The Oral History arrived in my mailbox, I immediately started reading it because I needed a nostalgia fix to lift my spirits. I was a high school freshman when this hospital drama hit the scene and it was a juggernaut right out of the gate. NBC’s Must See Tv had us all staying at home on Thursday nights. Appointment television for sure with ER closing out the night. At its peak 30 million people were tuning in to see Doug, Carol, Carter, Benton and the rest of the gang.
Alright, so the book is a behind the scenes look at the popular show. It contains new interviews with about 60 people connected to the show as well as some older quotes taken from articles and other interviews during the heyday of the show. So basically you are getting everyone’s thoughts and memories about the show and what’s been said over the years. I’m a pop culture junkie so I was familiar with many of the stories but there was some brand new to me info especially about the later seasons. It provides a good overview of the series and was a fun, blast from the past type read.
If you are fan of show and enjoy insider look reads, it’s worth checking out.
October 16, 2026
When I was laid off in March 2025, I needed a show to take my mind off things and then came ER. It truly changed my brain for the better because this show became my entire personality from the minute I started to the last minute of the final episode. I even got my husband to watch with me and it was what we looked forward to watching every night.
WITH THAT BEING SAID - this book was a delight. Reading how it all began with tidbits and fun facts from the actors and writers truly made me smile the entire time. It even went into depth on few of the most talked about episodes, which of course made me want to do a rewatch.
I’m thankful for this show and wished I watched it when it was on (however I was a little too young lol) because I probably would’ve gone into the medical field. Thank you Noah and team!!!
WITH THAT BEING SAID - this book was a delight. Reading how it all began with tidbits and fun facts from the actors and writers truly made me smile the entire time. It even went into depth on few of the most talked about episodes, which of course made me want to do a rewatch.
I’m thankful for this show and wished I watched it when it was on (however I was a little too young lol) because I probably would’ve gone into the medical field. Thank you Noah and team!!!
September 21, 2026
What a wonderful book for any fan of ER. I’ve read quite a few random interviews from this set of actors reminiscing about their ER days, but to have this amount condensed into a book was absolutely something.
The Medical Minutes chapters where they poured into the filming and prep for various episodes were a favourite part of this book. Also the descriptions of how the designers and actors worked their ‘medical magic’ with the props and prosthetics was an interesting addition; obviously we know it’s all fake, but the amount of work they had to put into the production of a surgery is fantastic.
If you’ve watched ER and enjoy it enough to even read this review, read the book. It’s worth your time.
The Medical Minutes chapters where they poured into the filming and prep for various episodes were a favourite part of this book. Also the descriptions of how the designers and actors worked their ‘medical magic’ with the props and prosthetics was an interesting addition; obviously we know it’s all fake, but the amount of work they had to put into the production of a surgery is fantastic.
If you’ve watched ER and enjoy it enough to even read this review, read the book. It’s worth your time.
September 29, 2026
ER is one of those water cooler shows when it aired. Even though I was younger, I remember where I was when big moments happened when I watched. As its gained a new audience with streaming, its been fun to talk about those moments with friends. This oral history was informative, but it left me wanting more. It just scratched the surface of what an oral history about a 15 season show could do.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I started streaming ER on HBO Max in August so I was super excited to receive this giveaway. The book includes trivia on how the show started that I had not known. Snippets of interviews with the actors, directors and producers. The format is well organized and an easy read.
October 24, 2026
This felt very superficial and repetitive. There was a lack of organization to it as well. You would be talking about the third season and then suddenly it would jump to something that happened in season ten. Overall, some interesting facts but superficial and lacking in editing.
October 29, 2026
This was an enjoyable oral history of the TV series ER. ER is one of my all-time favorite TV shows. There are lots of interesting behind the scenes stories from all the main actors and crew members. I particularly liked the chapters that highlighted some of the most famous episodes.
November 4, 2026
ER is my all-time favorite TV show, one that I regularly dip into to watch and never grow tired of. This was a first person account of the years of its production, through the words of the actual stars and people behind it. Very, very interesting.
September 16, 2026
Pretty awesome read (or listen in my case). Loved learning more about the behind the scenes of one of my favourite shows.
September 17, 2026
3.5 stars. A good insight into the show, but I just thought it was fine. Some good behind the scenes stories and I liked hearing from the actors.
October 1, 2026
Really fun book.
October 9, 2026
Like going back and hanging out with your friends from the 90’s. Might start to rewatch the series. Only goy through season 8-9 the first time.
October 12, 2026
ER will always be one of my absolute favorite shows, but the oral history format isn't necessarily my thing.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews