Former ER executive producer John Wells opened up about battling with network executives over some of the medical drama's hard-hitting story lines.

"I really appreciate not dealing with Standards and Practices on a daily basis anymore," Wells, 69, admitted to The Hollywood Reporter in an interview published on Thursday, August 7. "It's fear-based and doesn't respect the audience's intelligence and sophistication."

NBC's Peabody Award-winning medical drama earned a reputation for pushing the boundaries of what could be shown on prime time TV in the 1990s. Memorable episodes dealt with sensitive subjects like sexual harassment and abortion, as well traumatic medical complications during pregnancy. ( ER aired for 15 seasons between September 1994 and April 2009.)

However, Wells

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