I dont know about all of you but as tonights episode started I was still reeling from last weeks gut-wrenching exploration of Abbys dark night of the soul So when I saw Luka come around that corner I practically cried tears of joy But my happiness like Abbys was short-lived as it became obvious that the repercussions of her drunken mistake have yet to fully play out I agree with those of you who continue to post about Maura Tierneys amazing consistently compelling performance After watching her give another bravura turn tonight under the direction of ER vet Laura Innes I have to say that it would be criminal for her to be overlooked again come awards time Unfortunately it seems that the shows buzz-worthiness has long since worn off a fact that keeps it off the radar of most Emmy voters Though it should be noted guest stars are regularly rewarded for their ER efforts so it appears someone is taking notice Back to the ac
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Julianna Margulies and George Clooney courtesy Warner Bros.
There's no series finale written and producers and cast aren't yet ready to sign off for good but if, as many predict, ER's County General closes its doors at the end of its upcoming 14th season, the NBC drama wants to lure back as many of its cast as it can. Noah Wyle (Dr. John Carter), who's popped in and out of the show for a number of years, is returning for multiple episodes, and there will be no running around in Africa this time. "He'll be in Chicago in the ER, interacting with all our people," executive producer David Zabel tells TVGuide.com. The doc is back to check out the Joshua Carter Center, a gift from his big-bucks family, as well as for a medical concern. In turn, ER is hoping to bring back Thandie Newton, who plays Carter's wife Kem. Zabel says they've also talked to Gloria Reuben (as Jeannie Boulet) and Julianna Margulies (Carol Hathaway) about returns. "Julianna's doing a show now (midseason's Canterbury's Law), but we can always write a story that can shoot in a ...
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Laura Innes, ER
Question: I was shocked to see Dr. Weaver leave ER this month. Does this mean that Laura Innes has left the series altogether, or is this simply a story line? One would think that for months ahead of time NBC would have hyped this exit of one of the show's last original characters, as they did when Clooney, Edwards, Margulies and Stringfield left the series. An unrelated question: after snubs from both the Golden Globes and SAG, is it possible for Brothers & Sisters to get even a few Emmy nominations? A cast that includes Oscar winner Sally Field, multiple-Emmy nominees Calista Flockhart, Rachel Griffiths, Ron Rifkin and Rob Lowe, as well as Emmy winner Patricia Wettig should be destined for Emmy love. Is this a lost cause?
Answer: What was shocking was how well ER kept Laura Innes' departure a secret (more or less — there were signs this was coming), but to me it's a big plus that NBC didn't make a huge deal out of it, overpromoting it the way,
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Laura Innes, ER
It's goodbye to the last remaining — well, almost — original ER cast member. Tonight Kerry Weaver hangs up her scrubs and leaves Chicago's County General for warmer climes (Florida) to deliver medical news for a prestigious TV station. Laura Innes, who has played the irascibly endearing doc for 11 and a half seasons, gives us the dish on why she needs an abrupt exit, her years on the long-running hit show, and what she's up to next.
TVGuide.com: Say it ain't so! After nearly 12 years, Dr. Kerry Weaver's leaving County General for good?Laura Innes: Yeah. There's some talk of her coming back a little bit next year, but we'll see.
TVGuide.com: In what way?Innes: There's an idea about integrating her new job on the medical show into a story line. Part of that thinking had t
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Since my earlier post suffered at the hands of the Technical Difficulty gods I'm re-submitting. Here's hoping the second time's a charm?I'm no fan of the rat but the opening scene on tonight's show was just gross. I'm not usually squeamish but I had just finished dinner. Was it really necessary to see Ezra Powell (Joel Grey) cut into a live animal and then later learn that the remaining rodents had gnawed on him? Despite that, I liked this episode directed by Laura Innes of ER (and might I add that I am anxiously awaiting that hospital show's premiere on Thursday).This week, famed Dr. Powell, the man who wrote the medical textbook, is the team's patient and he is suffering what he knows will be an incurable affliction. His wish? To die. So, why come to Dr. House, a physician known for going to incredible lengths the cure his patients? Because as House knows, people may accept death but no one really wants to experience it. With this in mind and up against a self-imposed diagnosis...
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I'm no fan of the rat, but the opening scene on tonight's show was just gross. I'm not usually squeamish but I had just finished dinner. Was it really necessary to see Ezra Powell (Joel Grey) cut into a live animal and then later learn that the remaining rodents had gnawed on him? Despite that, I liked this episode directed by Laura Innes of ER (and might I add that I am anxiously awaiting that hospital show's premiere on Thursday).[Editor's Note: Due to a technical difficulty the rest of this column is currently unavailable. Please check back later. Thank you for your patience.]
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John Stamos, ER
Question: I admit to being one of those who, for the last season or two, watched ER solely out of habit. However, I am psyched at the prospect of John Stamos being a regular cast member next season, and I am eagerly awaiting next season. Do you expect that the casting of John will pull the show out of its "funk" and re-entice some of the viewers who think it's jumped the shark?
Answer: It can't hurt. I know I was sorely disappointed when ABC's inexplicable renewal (to little effect) of Jake in Progress kept him off the show during a season that could have really used him. I just hope he doesn't succumb to the same ailment that has befallen so many promising actors (Linda Cardellini, Parminder Nagra, Shane West, Kristen Johnston) who join the cast and are almost immediately sapped of appealing personality traits.
Coming to ER's defense is Phil S., who writes: "I'm tired of people bashing shows just because they've been on the air for a while. If anybody actually sat down and watched ER
...
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ER Laura Innes sure does a fine job directing, as she did tonight, but I sure do wish she'd get back on screen. OK, enough whining. Glad they had Neela say goodbye to Ray as a roommate, especially since her in-laws came to town. What bad timing on Ray's part: Now was not the time to be thinking of getting it on with his roomie. 'Twas very classy of him to say to her "You're the best friend I ever had" right before she drove away in the cab. Great scene between Parminder Nagra and guest star Sheryl Lee Ralph (Moesha's step-mama needs to do more TV dramas) — the last thing Neela thought she'd hear from her mother-in-law is that she was separating from her husband. I loved that she told
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ERHow nice to finally see the episode that was supposed to be on last Thursday. Was it worth the wait? Yes, and I'll, of course, tell you why. Laura Innes as Kerry Weaver has been one of my favorite actresses and characters ever since she began on this show. Kerry can indeed be a bitch, but we're often able to see her other layers, like tonight with those tender moments of true friendship between Kerry and Abby. But Kerry's appearances have been few and far between the last few seasons, so I was really gearing up for this episode. I was so glad she finally decided to go ahead with the hip-replacement surgery, especially after she said, "I'm a disabled person. What else would I have left?" What an effective way to end the hour by having her count down from 100 after receivi
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ERI remember this episode as the one where Luka and Abby started to spend more screen time together, and I recall being very happy about it. Little did we know at the time that they'd be getting back together soon and were on the verge of having a baby together. I also remember that I was glad to see Amy Aquino back on the show. She's one of those actresses who, no matter what part she plays, pretty much always plays the same type of character. We let it slide each time, however, since Amy is just so good at playing a tough cookie. Remember her as the nemesis to Ray Romano in several episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond? Boy did Ray hate her, which just made me love to hate her. Anyway, I hope we get to see more of Amy, along with more of Danny Glover as Pratt's fath
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