It’s probably hard for you to believe, but it has nearly been 23 years since the TV series ER first hit the airwaves in 1994. The show had an amazing impact on modern TV culture and it was the inspiration for a number of shows that turned the emergency room into a hot spot for drama. When the show ended in 2009, it was an end to an era, and while there has been ongoing rumors about the show rebooting for another run, there aren’t many people who believe that it would have its same appeal in 2017. Despite the lack of enthusiasm about rebooting the show, there has been talk about a reunion movie.
Let’s talk about why rebooting the TV series would not be a good idea. While the show used an emergency room as a backdrop, it was more about the lives of the doctors in the emergency room. When the show first aired, George Clooney, Noah Wyle and Anthony Edwards were young heart throbs when the show first launched. That was nearly 23 years ago, and while there are many women that still find these men physically attractive, the pull of the show simply is not the same.
Even George Clooney has admitted that he is not sure that the show would have the same appeal in 2017. He actually told a journalist that he personally would not want to see an old Dr. Ross. Even though some fans may be able to project an image and an idea of what Dr. Ross would be like two decades later, it is not certain that the show producers would meet their fan’s expectation.
Some are suggesting a reboot with recasting, but that idea also presents a challenge as well. The show ran for 15 years, and the characters of the show have imprinted in the minds of the diehard fans, and attempting to introduce an entirely different cast would most likely mean that the show would have to build an entirely new fan base.
Now, the rumors of a 2018 ER reunion movie might work. In a movie, the presence of nostalgia can be used to draw in the original fan base for one more go. Building anticipation for a one-time event as with a movie is not as challenging as attempting to generate interest in the show for an entire season.
John Stamos has been reported as saying that it is more likely to see an ER book than it is to see a movie; however, books generally precede TV series and movies, not the other way around.
There is no doubt the ER was once of the most significant TV series during the mid-1990s and the first decade of the millennium, but its remarkable success is actually working against itself now. First, it would be an exceptionally challenging endeavor to match the chemistry and appeal of the original show. Second, the shows that were spawned from this show are so hot right now, that there is simply not much room in the market for another ER-based show. ER made its indelible impression on the world for 15 years, but the chances that it would have the same impact not are almost non-existent.
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