Now Things Are Getting NASA-ty

“Chicago Hope” and “ER” are in a space jam.

Producers of CBS’ “Chicago Hope,” who have been steadily building a story line that will put former chief of surgery Kate Austin (Christine Lahti) into space as a shuttle payload specialist by the end of the season, are seeing stars over a similar plot line that has suddenly popped up on NBC’s “ER.”

In last week’s “ER” installment, attending physician Mark Greene (Anthony Edwards) learned of NASA’s interest in him as a payload specialist on an upcoming shuttle flight.

Producers and others at “Chicago Hope” say it appears that there is now a space race to see which of the two medical dramas can put a doctor into orbit first.

“We’re pretty dismayed over here that all of a sudden they come up with the same story line,” said one “Chicago Hope” insider. “A lot of us were outraged.”

Bill D’Elia, one of the executive producers for “Chicago Hope,” conceded he was taken aback by the similarities.

“[It’s] amusing and surprising that of all the stories in the universe, that we could share something that is so out there as an idea in the first place,” D’Elia said.

Sources at the show said they heard that “ER” had been consulting with NASA executives, as well as legendary astronaut John Glenn.

However, D’Elia and others stopped short of accusing “ER” of co-opting the astronaut idea. “I don’t believe anyone from ‘ER’ is watching our show and saying, ‘Hey, that’s a good idea, let’s do that.’ I can’t believe that, and I won’t allow myself to believe it. Something is going on, but I don’t think anyone is copying anyone.”

Noting that “ER” is TV’s most popular series, D’Elia added: “It’s not like they need our help. We’re a hit, but they get huge ratings.”

If Greene, who is one of “ER’s” anchors, is getting ready to blast off, those associated with the show are keeping mum. “ER” producers refused to even address the similarity, declining any comment. A spokesman for Warner Bros. Television, which produces the series, downplayed the significance of any parallels between the two stories.

There are indications that while “Chicago Hope’s” Austin will make the NASA team, Greene will most likely stay earthbound, at least for now, according to some observers.

The shows have often been talked about in the same breath, despite their numerous differences. The comparisons began when they premiered on the same night at the same time--10 p.m.--in 1994. Both are set in Chicago hospitals, and are populated with characters ranging from sympathetic and considerate to combative and abrasive.

The two shows have at times shared plot lines. “Chicago Hope” insiders recalled episodes, which aired close together in early 1996, that involved physicians being held hostage in grocery stores by gunmen.

Said D’Elia: “It really doesn’t surprise me when the two shows have similar medical or emergency stories. It’s always within the realm of possibility that we will share some story ideas. But [the NASA story arc] was pretty baffling.”

Co-producer Jan Oxenberg came up with the concept of Austin going into space when the “Chicago Hope” writers and producers convened last June to come up with ideas for the new season. The groundwork was laid in an Oct. 7 episode in which Austin treated former astronaut Gordon Mays (Chris Sarandon), who was suffering an irregularity in his heart.

In later episodes, Mays, who was scheduled to go back into space, suffered a heart attack and was told he could no longer travel on the shuttle. He was instructed by NASA to name his replacement. Austin, seeking a new challenge and taken by Mays’ descriptions of his adventures in space, asked him to nominate her. Her decision prompted anger from hospital management, who demoted her.

On “ER” last week, Greene told his colleagues that he had applied for the space program during his second year of residency, and made the first cut. He tried to defer because his then-wife was just entering law school and his daughter was still in diapers. The issue is expected to come up again in future episodes.

D’Elia called the similarity between the two story lines just one example of a strange Hollywood phenomenon.

“It just makes you wonder: How can movies like ‘Armageddon’ and ‘Deep Impact’ show up at the same time?” he said. “I went to the movies the other day and saw a trailer for this film called ‘Analyze This’ about a mobster seeing a shrink. It sounds just like ‘The Sopranos’ “--the new HBO series about a mobster.

“Chicago Hope” co-executive producer Nicole Yorkin said there is a silver lining to the coincidence.

“A couple of weeks ago, me and fellow co-executive producer Dawn Prestwich were defending the ‘Austin Space’ story to a TV critic who told us that ‘ER’ would never do a story line that ridiculous,” Yorkin said. “After last week’s ‘ER,’ we had to fight the urge to call him and say, ‘Uh, did you catch “ER” last night?’ ”

* “Chicago Hope” airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on CBS. The network has rated it TV-14 (may be unsuitable for children under 14). “ER” airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. on NBC. The network has rated it TV-PG (may be unsuitable for children under 14).