Emergency Room

Emergency Room[1]

Series
Work In Progress
Original Broadcast Date
1988
Cast
Arthur Miller, Tim Jerome, Larry Block, Paul Mantell, Lester Nafzger, Joe Frank
Format
Real People, Panel Discussion, Improv Actors, 1 hour
Preceded by:	To The Bar Life
Followed by:	Stories For Nothing

"You gonna do that for long?."

Emergency Room is the name of a program Joe Frank produced as part of the series Work In Progress. It was originally broadcast in 1988.

Synopsis

Recordings from an emergency room. A man with a shotgun wound is interviewed. Staff talks about what was done when the man arrived. A policeman calls the man's family. Actor panel discussion: a surgeon talks about the advantages of carrying one's organs externally, synthetic organs, leaving the body behind and becoming machines. Monologue: Second person narrative describing surfing, a diabetic killing oneself with a chocolate gun. Emergency room: an angry, drunken man who's been beaten is questioned. Panel discussion: fluid transfusions for couples, cryogenically preserving people by launching them in orbit, zipper suturing, external skeletons, the spirit drug, flattening patients and shining light through them. Monologue: a man who dies while climbing stairs in a blackout has an out of body experience. He travels down a long dark tunnel and emerges into a festive dinner party attended by dead family members. They do the carnival dance. More emergency room audio: an old man is interviewed, ear swabbing, a discussion of the alcoholic regulars. Panel discussion: sterilization techniques, the fairness of triage, the "bakery theory," treating victims and assailants. Joe and actors: the fastest piano player is challenged to a piano-off. Emergency room: a shocking pink psych ward, amazing human resiliency.

Interesting Facts

Shares the fastest piano player interview with other programs.

Commentary

Please see guidelines on commentary and share your personal thoughts in this section.