Saturday, April 04, 2009

The end of "ER"



The cast of "ER" will be missed. Thursday nights at 10 p.m. will never be the same again. Photo by NBC.com

Before I launch into my ode to "ER" let me say, I'm sorry to be away for so long. It's been a hectic few months and to be honest, there's not been a lot to blog on. No show this fall has been hitting it out of the park for me. Very few shows have been MUST see TV and to be honest I've cut back on TV viewing.

That being said, let me write about a show that used to be appointment TV for me: "ER."

I remember when I worked in Colorado Springs waaaay back in 1994, some co-workers and I worked nights but would sneak to look at the TV when we had a chance to watch the show. It was always on my VCR when I got home and I would watch at 1 a.m. when I left my job. The show was nothing like I had ever seen before.

The heart of the show was Dr. Mark Greene (Anthony Edwards) who was head of the ER. With him was good looking Romeo Dr. Ross (George Clooney) and his long suffering girlfriend Carol Hathaway (Juliana Margulies). Mark had a unrequired love with Dr. Susan Lewis (Sherry Stringfield). Young Dr. Carter (Noah Wyle) was the innocence of the viewers as we grew with him to watch the goings-on of the ER. Dr. Benton was the resident jerk (Eriq LaSalle) but had a heart of gold.

Over the years, a lot of our beloved castmembers left the show only to be replaced with new blood. And while some people hung on to the bitter end, I left the show about five years ago. When I heard this was the last season, I tried to watch but other things kept getting in the way.

But there was NO way I was going to miss the finale. And I'm so glad I didn't. The show was pitch perfect and reminded me of classic "ER." I'm so glad we caught up with some of our old favorites (kinda like a class reunion) and the last scene had me crying.

I never knew how much this show meant to me, and now that it's gone, I feel empty.

The highlights of the finale: A teen with alcohol poisoning rattles the ER.
Lydia (who I understand hasn't been on this show in a good five years) wakes the current ER chief the same way she did in the pilot.

Susan, Carter, Benton, Kerry Weaver and Elizabeth all return for the opening of Carter's new hospital. The biggest surprise was the return of Rachel Greene who now is a doctor herself.

The final scene had the ER dealing with patients from a massive explosion and everyone scurrying around. Carter looks at Rachel and asks "You coming Dr. Green?" which is what Dr. Green said in the pilot to Dr. Carter and it was there our "ER" journey began.

So long "ER" I will miss you.