An Entertainment Weekly article I read this past weekend makes me want to give ER a return to season pass status when they come back for their final run this fall.
Because of the shortened strike season, networks have less developed pilots and new shows on their hands, hence they are more eager to bring back current series for another go. This is the reason why Scrubs could end up continued for another year, even if it’s on ABC and not NBC.
ER was intended to be over this year, but now that NBC has renewed them for a 15th and final season, the producers have decided to go out with a bang.
At this moment, the plan is to bring George Clooney, Julianna Margulies and Noah Wyle back for final appearances to close out the series. Wyle is already a guarantee, having signed on to reprise his role as Dr. Carter for four episodes.
“We want to revisit characters that have existed on the show over the years and say where they are now,” says executive producer David Zabel. “We’ve love to get them all back in some way, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to. But we’re gonna try.”
This is fantastic news I must say. I used to be an ER devotee, but after 9,10,11 years…it started to get a bit old. Even so, I’ve found myself drawn back to it once or twice over the last few years, just to see what’s going on. But now with this final season to be seen off by returning characters, I’m going to have to watch it.
Would be awesome if we also saw Dr. Benton as well. I’m sure there are countless others that I’ve forgotten over the years, but hopefully the producers round up a few more.
Do you still watch ER? Will you watch the final season?
I haven’t watched for a few years now, but used to love it. I heard they may bring back some of the old cast members, but I don’t think Dr. Green can make it back – that character died of brain cancer several seasons ago.
Also, I can’t remember where I read it, but I think George Clooney is not going to make an appearance, but I could be wrong.
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Dang Steven, I totally forgot about Dr. Green, thanks for that correction.
No problem. It’s been about six years since his final episode aired, so I’m sure you aren’t the only one who forgot about that. Then again, maybe it was wishful thinking – I hated that Dr. Green was killed off.
Steven’s last blog post..Top 100 Movies: An Alien, an Unlikely Hero, and a Classic
Yeah, Dr. Green died of brain cancer, but the producers are saying they could bring him back in flashbacks or a sort of “lost” episode that would presumably involve all the actors who would have been in it the year it supposedly happened.
Clooney has said publicly that he isn’t necessarily opposed to the idea since his office is only like 20 feet from where they shoot the show. He still maintains contact with most of the people there. He doesn’t know how he could do it or how he could fit it in exactly, but didn’t dismiss it as a possibility.
I pretty much stopped watching it this past year, but I think I’d be pretty interested if they started working in stories involving the old characters. Of course, it would have to make some kind of sense.
Most of the people who left the show wanting to do bigger and better things haven’t done anything much since leaving. Everyone say Clooney become this huge star and thought they could do the same. It didn’t work out for most of them.
Haven’t kept up with this show for the past several seasons but revisiting some of the old favorite characters would be a neat way to cap off the show.
Clooney was on Extra and said he wouldnt be back, not even for guest appearances…
That sucks…wonder why…too low for him to sink?
He’s proly above it all… he didnt elaborate… I think Margulise (sp?) passed as well…
If she did it’s just because she’s still under the mistaken impression that her new show actually has a chance of surviving.
Zing!
If they only a get one or two old characters back, I don’t know if that will be enough for me to watch. They would have to pull in some of the big names (i.e. Clooney). Mostly because… have you guys ever watched the 90210 finale, they only brought back Tiffany Amber-Theissen and Andrea… and it just ended up feeling cheap. If you can’t really do it, then maybe you should just let the idea go. My two cents – for you.
Comparing 90210 to ER is pretty sad, lol
Tiffany Amber-Theissen sucked even when she was on, of course she would when she came back
I mean that it sucked that they only brought a few fringe characters back and marketed it like the whole gang is back together again… like we don’t remember that there were actually better characters than TAT!
Mike, why you gotta be dumpin’ on TA-T?
Some of us still love you, Kelly Kapowski!
I think this proves my point about the new Juliana Margulies show:
“Canterbury’s Law” (7.7 million, 1.7/5) was Fox’s lowest-rated premiere on record in the 8 p.m. Monday time period. The time change may have been a factor in the small viewer turnout for the show, but “Law” fared worse than its competition in the hour, finishing fourth among the major broadcast networks.
I heard that Greene was being brought back for a flash back special just so he could be in it! Don’t know if this is accurate info but i read it on the web! I want Benton, Greene, Carter, Hathaway, Kovac and Lockhart back! A simialr character set-up to that of series 6, 7 and 8!
Cant bring Romano back, he also dies
I hope so too Gina
So…how exactly do you make a dead (really dead, not soap opera/body never found dead) character like Mark Greene come back to life? Executive producer David Zabel says that they’ve kicked around the idea of airing a so-called “lost episode” from 1996 featuring Edwards and Noah Wyle, who has agreed to come back to the show for several episodes next season. I guess the other choices are flashbacks, Greene’s twin brother, or appearing as a ghost.
Posted Mar 13th 2008 9:08AM by Bob Sassone
This was my source! Nothing comfirmed but hoping he will!
I’m still hunting around for more info – i’ve been not so impressed with this current series, especially when Kovac goes! 11 was also a bit rubbish but they brought it back a bit with 12 and 13. I hope ER goes out on a high and not a low!
So amazing that this show has been around for that long.
I know and that they were able to keep it good for so long, i mean admitedly 10 and 11 were a low point, and i haven’t watched much of 14 so i cant pass too much judgement! I wish it wasn’t ending but if they kept it going it really would get rubbish so best to end it now i think. Have you watched much of the current season?