Grey’s Anatomyhas earned a special spot in TV history and especially among medical dramas, but before its title of longest-running medical drama, this 15-season masterpiece held that title. Created by Shonda Rhimes,Grey’s Anatomypremiered on ABC in 2005, and it’s currently preparing for its 22nd season, showing no signs of stopping soon.
Thanks to this,Grey’s Anatomyhas become the longest-running medical drama. Despite its quality decreasing over the years and even its title character leaving,Grey’s Anatomycontinues to be quite popular. BeforeGrey’s Anatomybecame the longest-running medical drama, that title belonged to one ofthe best TV shows of all time, which made it to 15 seasons.
ER Was TV’s Longest-Running Medical Drama Until Grey’s Anatomy Season 16
ER Ran From 1994 To 2009
In 1994, the medical dramaERpremiered on NBC. Created by Michael Crichton,ERtook the audience into the emergency room of Cook County General Hospital, a fictionalized version of the real Cook County Hospital in Chicago. There, it followed the ups and downs in the personal and professional lives of the hospital’s team.
87%
7.9
84%
72%
7.6
Throughout its 15 seasons,ERsaw many characters come and go– some moved on in their careers, others, sadly, passed away – but its original cast will always be remembered: Dr. Mark Greene (Anthony Edwards), Dr. Doug Ross (George Clooney), Dr. Susan Lewis (Sherry Stringfield), John Carter (Noah Wyle), and Dr. Peter Benton (Eriq La Salle).
George Clooney and Noah Wyle made a one-episode appearance inFriendsas doctors, but not as theirERcharacters.
ERwas a huge success, becoming the highest-awarded medical drama and one of the most influential TV shows of all time.Up until 2019,ERwas also the longest-running primetime medical drama in American TV history, but whenGrey’s Anatomywas renewed for its 16th season,ERdropped to second place.
How ER’s Success Shaped The Future Of Medical Dramas
Many Medical Dramas Owe Everything To ER
ERwasn’t the first medical drama to hit TV screens (in fact, there was a sitcom titledE/Rthat aired from 1984 to 1985), but it was key in developing the genre and establishing the blueprint for future shows.ERranks among the best TV shows of all time and, of course, is one of the best medical dramas of all time.
The show gave its characters the space they needed and deserved to properly develop them, bringing complex and memorable characters.
ERpopularized medical fiction, giving it a realistic and sometimes dark tonethanks to its complex medical cases and the emotional charge of these (adding to the personal struggles of the doctors, nurses, etc.).ERwas also fast-paced, which added to its realism, as working in the emergency room surely isn’t calm, or at least not all the time.
Although the medical cases were obviously a key part ofER, the show gave its characters the space they needed and deserved to properly develop them, bringing complex and memorable characters.Grey’s Anatomyand many other medical dramas probably wouldn’t have happened withoutER, or they would have been completely different.
