Preparing to leave the 'ER'




I stopped watching the megahit ER some years ago. It just seemed to be more and more of the same illnesses, accidents and that ridiculous revolving bedroom door. But I was intrigued at the promos heralding the return of many of the actors who've departed as the show wraps up its long run.

Speaking of departed, I didn't mean it in the sense of the dearly departed, but if you're familiar with the show you'll know that the writers managed to kill off at least five of the main characters over the years, rather high odds, considering that most of the unfortunates were in their thirties. I understand they this pesky little detail didn't stop them from bringing back Anthony Edwards' character of Dr. Mark Greene, in a flashback episode I didn't see but I understand was tied in to the development of Angela Bassett's character.

But I caught the latter two-thirds of last week's show, curious to see where the characters are today. I was pleasantly surprised to see that a number of established relationships are continuing. I'm not sure what's up with John Carter (Noah Wyle) and his African wife (Thandie Newton), who wasn't at his side when he needed a kidney transplant, but he certainly gave me the impression that he's still in love, and as I said I missed part of the episode.


Peter Benton (Eriq LaSalle), sporting a wedding ring, told Carter that his son was "home with Cleo," meaning that he and Cleo Finch (the unseen Michael Michele) are still together and likely married (with the onscreen deaths of Michael Gallant [Sharif Atkins] and Greg Pratt [Mekhi Phifer] and the offscreen death of Al Boulet [Michael Beach], Benton may well be the show's sole surviving black male character).

Another still-happy couple are Carol Hathaway and Doug Ross (Juliana Marguiles, George Clooney), although I didn't see their twin girls.

It gave me the warm fuzzies to see that these relationships are continuing. I wanted to see more, but last night's show had no familiar faces. I did learn that the long, tumultuous relationship of Abby Lockhart and Luka Kovac (Maura Tierney, Goran Visnjic), now married, walked off into the sunset together on an earlier episode with their little boy. So at least four couples on the show are living the happily ever after.

Ah, love. Isn't it just . . . lovely.

Do you watch the show? Have you been a viewer since the beginning, or, like me, did you stop watching somewhere along the way?

I'll leave you with a little medical humor. I was transcribing a consult on a comatose, non-responsive patient the other day, and the doctor concluded with, "Thank you for asking me to participate in the care of this very pleasant patient." Duh . . . I know this is the standard line, but the patient is in a coma, Doc! How can they possibly be pleasant?

Have a great weekend!