Former ER star Noah Wyle (Dr. John Carter) is starring in the Ava DuVernay (Selma) produced TV series The Red Line on CBS. Like ER, The Red Line set in the city of Chicago. In the series premiere, “We Must All Care; We Are Each Other’s Harvest,” three very different families are followed as they heal after a tragedy that “causes them all to consider how race and racial biases affect their live.” Wyle plays husband, father, teacher Daniel Calder, who’s unarmed black husband doctor has been fatally shot by a white cop on the South Side.
During interviews to promote The Red Line, Wyle is often asked about his days on ER. (All 15 seasons of ER were recently made available for streaming Hulu, which is generating a new fanbase for the medical drama.) During a lengthy interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Wyle said he had “a chip on my shoulder” when actor Goran Visnjic (who played Luca) came on ER. He admits, “I had a chip on my shoulder with anybody that came on that show. I’ve systematically gone to and apologized to everybody over the years about being the person that I was.” Wyle says he realized that Visnjic “was a way better actor than I was” and “I hated him because I always felt like I was losing a scene to him.” When asked if he misses the role of Carter, Wyle says no, and adds, “I’ve learned a lot since those days and I’m glad to have earned my scars and my grey hairs.” Hey, give the guy a break. That was ten years ago! The Red Line premieres Sunday, April 28 at 8 pm on CBS.
