After 15 seasons, the last episode of "ER" is set to air 10 p.m. Thursday. In this thorough piece, the LA Times explains why the show was more than just a hit:
Expanding on the realism of such groundbreaking 1980s dramas as "Hill Street Blues" and "St. Elsewhere," "ER" in turn started a creative movement toward lifelike authenticity in specialized settings that has deeply influenced later hits such as the forensics-themed whodunit "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and the White House drama "The West Wing." In real life, "ER" even inspired more students to study emergency medicine, and at least one study found it helped educate consumers about healthcare.
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