Is there anything that can be done to breathe life into NBC’s long-running — and desperately weary — medical drama? Can the sad-sack “ER” characters attain dramatic salvation before the May 19 season finale?
We ask because many former fans believe the 11-year-old show has been dead for years, and yet the network has renewed the series for two more seasons. Sounds like two seasons too many to us.
When the series debuted in September 1994, the focus was on Anthony Edwards’ noble Dr. Mark Green, with George Clooney’s hunky Dr. Doug Ross, Juliana Margulies’ nurse Carol Hathaway, Eriq LaSalle’s Dr. Peter Benton and Noah Wyle’s impressionable intern John Carter sharing the limelight.
As the original top dogs departed — Dr. Green’s brain tumor being the longest, mopiest goodbye of all — Wyle (now head resident) became the show’s centerpiece.
Sagging ratings
The series’ ratings have sagged along with its creative sparkle, but “ER” remains NBC’s most-watched drama. Given the Peacock’s season, that’s not saying much. The show is no longer the overall top-rated drama. That title now belongs to “CSI,” and “ER” loses its Thursday time period to CBS’ “Without a Trace.”
Still, other shows have sagged and then returned to their former glory. “NYPD Blue” had a couple of bad years before going out with a bang this season, and “The West Wing” is having one of its best seasons in years, on the heels of a particularly dull one last year.
“ER” is suffering from extreme exhaustion and, frankly, we’re not sure anything can be done to save it. But in TV as in life, there’s (almost) always hope.
Carter (Wyle), the lone remaining original character, will leave the show at the end of this season, though he will appear in four episodes for each of the remaining two seasons. Apparently the writers realize they’ve run Carter into the ground. They plan to send him away from Chicago and reunite him with his lost love in Africa in May. That’s a relief.
Abby Lockhart (Maura Tierney) — the saddest sack of all — battled her mother’s and her late brother’s manic depression while struggling with her own insecurities and alcoholism. And, to make herself look even more grim, she smokes like an old lawnmower.
Give this woman some self-esteem, for crying out loud. She has worked herself up from nurse to doctor and deserves some happiness for a change.
Since she’s had dismal luck in relationships, maybe it’s time to look for happiness at work. How about more responsibilities and some professional success to help her blossom? If all else fails, get her a puppy. At this point, we’ll settle for anything that makes her smile.
Kerry Weaver (Laura Innes), whose disability has miraculously improved enough that sometimes she barely uses her cane, lost her lesbian lover in a tragic accident and then had to go to court for custody of their son. Plus, she is universally loathed in the ER
Luka Kovac (Goran Visnjic), the brooding Croatian immigrant, lost his entire family to war back home and still battles demons of sorrow and self-destruction. He needs a new family to love — or a red-hot romance. We vote for the latter.
Neela Rasgorta (Parminder Nagra), a relatively recent and often refreshingly comedic addition to the cast, isn’t sure she wants to be a doctor, to the consternation of her stern British-Indian parents.
“ER” needs to see more of Neela. Her character combines humor and drama better than anyone since the late Dr. Green, in his pre-tumor years. Neela’s dealings with her parents, who are appalled that she isn’t zooming ahead with her career, are priceless, and her relationship with Dr. Michael Gallant (Sharif Atkins), who is serving overseas in Iraq, is really sweet. Bring him back.
Less emphasis on medicine
In its glory years, “ER” was famous for its heart-stopping suspense and excitement. Patients arrived with poles poking out of their chests and foreign objects lodged in their heads.
For the past several years, we’ve been inundated with the doctors’ personal tragedies and disasters, and medical stories have suffered.
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Let’s swing the stories back to the emergency room. Bring back the fascinating folk — such as Bob Newhart, playing a man going blind who befriended Dr. Lewis and then killed himself — who come into the ER for a short time and make a big impact.
Luka and Samantha (Linda Cardellini) should be the ER’s supercouple and indulge in a window-fogging tryst in an (unused) operating room. A little spice is just what the doctor ordered.
Dr. Lewis, now in charge of the ER, has become increasingly tough in her management style. She’s frustrated and feels the staff doesn’t take her as seriously as it did Kerry. A fiery feud could develop between Dr. Lewis and Abby. Clashing egos are a good thing in a weary old show such as this.