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Post by loopyallie on Mar 31, 2009 16:48:24 GMT 10
'ER' flatlines: NBC gives County General Hospital a 3-hour sendoff
Mekeisha Madden Toby
After 15 heart-wrenching seasons, "ER" is pulling the plug. NBC is sending the show off with a three-hour goodbye starting at 8 p.m. Thursday on Channel 4.
But don't wait until then. Join us as we walk down television lane and celebrate all the things that made "ER" an iconic piece of small-screen brilliance over the years. From death to love and plagues, we're recalling the most memorable and absurd moments the hospital drama had to offer.
Memorable deaths
No death proved sadder or more unforgettable than when Dr. Mark Greene (Anthony Edwards) lost his life to a brain tumor in season eight. Other notable deaths include Dr. Robert Romano (Paul McCrane), who died when a helicopter fell on him in season 10, and Dr. Gregory Pratt (Mekhi Phifer), who expired due to injuries he sustained in an explosion in season 15. As for surgical intern Dennis Gant (Omar Epps), he jumped in front of a train and committed suicide in the third season.
Hookups
The stress levels seemed to only enhance these libidinous docs. Not to be confused with lasting relationships, hookups occur all the time on "ER," including Abby (Maura Tierney), who once got friendly with Dr. Carter (Noah Wyle); then after marrying Dr. Kovac (Goran Visnjic), she had an affair with Dr. Moretti (Stanley Tucci). Dr. Corday (Alex Kingston) had a thing with Dr. Benton (Eriq La Salle), but she married Dr. Greene (Anthony Edwards).
Guest stars
This series is known for its A-list guest stars. In turn, both Sally Field and Ray Liotta have won Emmy Awards for their guest-starring parts. Other memorable guest stars include James Woods, Stanley Tucci, Rosemary Clooney, Forest Whitaker and Don Cheadle.
Ratings
The largest audience "ER" ever attracted was 47. 8 million viewers, and that's when it aired after the series finale of "Seinfeld." Over the years, the show has gone up and down Nielsen's charts like that squiggly heart-monitor line. At its best, the show was No. 1 in earlier seasons, but in recent years, it has fallen as low as 49th place. Despite this, the show has remained in the Top 10 in Metro Detroit, and George Clooney's return earlier this month did give the drama a boost with 10.7 million, 2 million more than usual.
Shows that died against it
CBS' emergency-room drama "Chicago Hope" (1994-2000) was no match for "ER," but it did manage to survive six seasons. ABC's "Wonderland" (2000), not as lucky, only lasted one.
Heartthrobs
No one on "ER" has been lusted after as much as movie star and former cast member George Clooney. That said, casting directors have not disappointed us with the eye candy. Notable hotties include Goran Visnjic, Omar Epps, John Stamos, Shane West and Mekhi Phifer.
Plagues and attacks
Just about everything has compromised the emergency room of County General and its staff, including a smallpox scare (seasons eight and nine), a threat via an Army tank (season 10), a shooting spree (seasons seven and 12) and a hostage situation (seasons 12 and 13). And there has been at least one explosion and car crash every other season.
On location
Sometimes storylines traveled beyond Chicago city limits. Dr. Ross and Greene went to California (season four), while Dr. Carter (Noah Wyle) and Dr. Pratt (Mekhi Phifer) went to Darfur (season 12), and Dr. Luka Kovac (Goran Visnjic) traveled between Chicago and Croatia all the time.
Returns
No one has returned to Chicago's County General Hospital more than Dr. John Carter (Noah Wyle). George Clooney has returned a couple times, as have Eriq La Salle and Julianne Margulies. Not even death can stop returns on this show. For instance, Anthony Edwards' and Paul McCrane's characters are deceased, but they both came back in flashbacks this season.
Casting
When George Clooney left, critics and fans alike thought the show was a goner. But casting directors proved that they knew better, adding some pretty impressive and diverse names to the mix, including John Leguizamo, Parminder Nagra, Michael Michelle, Ming-Na Wen and Angela Bassett.
Family matters
When the doctors weren't battling their own illnesses, they had to tackle their families' injuries and deaths. For instance, Dr. Mark Greene's (Anthony Edwards) daughter Rachel had a lot of issues. She was in a car accident (season two), a soccer mishap (season five), and after Dr. Greene died, Rachel came looking for morning-after pills (season 10). There was Doug Ross' (George Clooney) estranged dad, who died in a car accident (season four), and Abby Lockhart (Maura Tierney) and her bipolar mom (guest-star Sally Field).
Freak accidents
Dr. Romano's (Paul McCrane) death was freaky, but one season before a helicopter fell on him (season 10), another one chopped off one of his arms . A few seasons later, Dr. Ray Barnett (Shane West) lost his legs when he drunkenly wandered into traffic and got hit by a car (season 13).
Marriages
Drs. Mark Greene (Anthony Edwards) and Elizabeth Corday (Alex Kingston) had an eventful wedding surrounded by bad weather and squabbling in-laws (season seven). A few seasons later, Luka (Goran Visnjic) had to trick Abby (Maura Tierney) into tying the knot by forcing the staff into a mandatory department meeting that turned out to be their wedding (season 13).
Awards
"ER" has won 10 Emmys, including one for Outstanding Drama Series; three Screen Actors Guild and Director's Guild of America awards; and one Golden Globe.
Resuscitated seasons
There were those who thought "ER" was dead after George Clooney left in season five. Another death sentence was issued when Anthony Edwards departed in season eight. Low ratings during seasons 12 through 14 had everyone declaring a DOA, but "ER" has lasted 15 seasons, through the good and the bad.
www.detnews.com/article/20090331/OPINION03/903310310
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