May Remakes & Reboots - Day 1 - E/R (1984) - ER (1994)

Remakes were always a thing, even going back to the early days of movies. They’d remake a silent movie when talkies came out, etc. But the further we go, the more they remake. In todays world DVDs, Blu Rays, and five billion streaming channels, we feel there is less and less need for them. Most of them are pretty easy to find if you are interested in watching them. But Hollywood insists on rebranding and making a new version, trying to improve upon the original. “Psycho”? You can’t improve it. You can’t change it. You made the same movie again. Why? They are useless. Occasionally they get it right. Not all of these are winners though. Its a mixed bag. Some good, some bad, some just out of the box.

Day 1 - E/R (1984) - ER (1994) - Melanie

I am not sure how many people remember that there was E/R before there was ER! It used to be one of mine and my dad's favorite shows, and we watched every week without fail. It only ran for one season almost a decade before the far more successful ER started.  The biggest difference is that the original was a comedy, well I guess now they would call it a "Dramady", but it wasn't the norm for hospital shows, and well maybe there's a reason for that but I LOVED it. 

As you will see in the trailer there were a LOT of big names from the time involved in the show, and funnily enough George Clooney doesn't get a look in but he was in it. He played a tech (I added an extra clip so you can see him in action). Who would have imagined that a decade later he would go on to star in a drama by the same name that really made his career!

As for the remake (if you can really call it that) - well I loved that too. They were different, and the new version obviously went on to become a huge hit but the original holds a special place in my heart.

Dave Says - Now, I don't do hospital dramas. They seem to have to been done to death and no end in sight. More and more are being made. And the current ones don't seem to want to die. But back in 1984 there was a comedy called “E/R”. Elliot Gould and a young George Clooney starred. Clooney probably has the unique, distinct honor of being the only actor to star in 2 shows with the same name (well, practically the same name).

Have you seen them? What did you think?

​Original, Remake, or Neither? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!