“ER” co-creator Michael Crichton’s least favorite episode of the long-running hit medical drama was a Season 1 episode directed by Quentin Tarantino.
According to the new book, “ER: The Oral History” by Lynette Rice — which is out now — Crichton “got all bent out of shape about it.”
“The only time I know we heard from Michael Crichton was when Quentin Tarantino directed the fantastic episode,” former writer Neal Baer recalls of the episode, which was titled “Motherhood.”
He claims that the late “Jurassic Park” author — who died from lymphoma at 66 in 2008 — didn’t like Tarantino’s directing on “ER” for “reasons I don’t know why.”
Baer, however, defends the episode, saying he thought it was “great.”
Originally airing on May 11, 1995, “Motherhood” followed the medical team as they dealt with a mother’s death, and a birth. The episode drew a staggering 33.3 million viewers.
At the time, “ER” was popular, but still new. Tarantino, meanwhile, was at the top of his career, having directed “Reservoir Dogs” in 1992 and “Pulp Fiction” in 1994.
Although the famed filmmaker is known for his work on the big screen, in addition to “ER,” he also once directed two episodes of “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” in the show’s fifth season, airing in 2005.
“ER” ran on NBC for 15 seasons and 331 episodes from 1994 to 2009, originally starring George Clooney, Noah Wyle, Julianna Margulies, Eriq La Salle and Anthony Edwards.
Tarantino was a “big fan” of “ER,” Margulies says, and he personally requested to direct an episode.
Then-NBC exec Warren Littlefield recalls that when he initially heard that the “Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood” director wanted to come on their show, he said, “You’re kidding me. Fantastic. Do it.”
Former “ER” director/ producer Christopher Chulak says Tarantino was “like a kid, he just loved it. He showed up on the first or second day wearing scrubs.”
Lydia Woodward, who wrote the episode, adds that the “Inglourious Basterds” director was “quite possibly the easiest director to work with in my entire career.”
She notes, “He literally only added one thing.”
Tarantino’s one requested change was a scene in which Susan (Sherry Stringfield) was rushing to drive her pregnant sister to the hospital.
As Susan was rummaging around for her car keys, Tarantino wanted her to use a piece of technology called “the clapper,” a sound activation tool that helped someone locate their keys.
“Quentin only wanted that funny little tidbit of a thing,” Woodward explains.
Tarantino is just the latest “ER” figure to run afoul of Crichton, even after the late author’s death. Crichton’s estate has also been embroiled in a legal battle with Wyle over the actor’s current medical drama, “The Pitt.”
“ER: The Oral History” is now available in bookstores.
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