TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Is This The Night Clooney Will Return To 'ER'?

ADVERTISEMENT

By WALT BELCHER wbelcher

@tampatrib.com

Published: March 12, 2009

Does he or doesn't he? The big question tonight surrounds the return of George Clooney to "ER."

The producers have been coy about Clooney coming back to the medical drama that launched his film career.

Executive Producer John Wells has said, "If you're a fan of 'ER,' you won't want to miss this one," without saying that Clooney is involved.

And you would think that if Clooney is on tonight's episode, NBC would be promoting it during every commercial break.

The plot synopsis has no mention of Clooney's Dr. Doug Ross, the handsome emergency room hunk who left Chicago County General Hospital nine years ago.

The story tonight marks the return of Eriq La Salle's Dr. Peter Benton. La Salle appeared in 169 episodes before leaving in 2002 to pursue a directorial career.

Dr. Benton returns in a story line involving Noah Wyle's character, Dr. John Carter, who is battling kidney failure.

La Salle also will make a guest appearance in "ER's" April 2 finale, alongside Sherry Stringfield, who played Dr. Susan Lewis, and Laura Innes, who played Dr. Kerry Weaver.

And April 2 is when Clooney is almost certain to appear. According to Julianna Margulies, she reprises her role as Dr. Ross' love interest Carol Hathaway in the finale. Nurse Hathaway and Dr. Ross have twin daughters. She says that she and Clooney worked for two days on the "ER" set.

Part of the confusion could be that tonight's episode was initially listed as the finale but Wells managed to squeeze out three more episodes.

All of these characters are coming back to pay respects because "ER" is coming to an end after 15 seasons. It's NBC's second longest running series behind "Law & Order."

Created by late novelist Michael Crichton, it began as a movie script based on the author's experiences as resident medical student at a busy hospital.

It's been nominated six times for best drama and won the Emmy in 1996. Wells says he thought the series might end by the eighth season but it kept on going.

He says that over the 15-year run there have been 26 regular cast members. Many have come and gone.

"They were and have been just an extraordinary group of actors that we've gotten to work with," he says. "Viewers were tied into the world and the characters, and we were able to introduce characters slowly so that we didn't have to have actors who came in and had to replace someone."

He adds that viewers accepted cast changes because "it's the way a real workplace works ... people come and you care about them: They're friends, they leave, then people replace them, and become your friends."

Wells praises Clooney for being a friend and being faithful to the show.

"He was wonderful on the show and was great to us in his success," Wells told TV critics who were visiting the set. "He never asked, as the show and his career took off, to make a dime more than he was paid at the beginning and he completely fulfilled his contractual obligations to us over five years, stayed committed, did publicity, worked hard, and was just a completely standup guy."

SPRINGER SINGERS: Jerry Springer is holding a "Springer Singer Search."

The talk show host is looking for viewers to create an original show that pays tribute to "The Jerry Springer Show."

Make a video and post it on www .jerryspringertv.com or mail it to: "The Jerry Springer Show/Springer Singer Search," 454 N. Columbus Drive, Chicago, Ill., 60611. Entries will be judged on originality, knowledge of the show, creativity and musical talent. Three finalists will appear on the show and the winner gets $5,000.

TUNE IN TONIGHT

"Smallville," 8 p.m., The CW

Tori Spelling guest stars as unscrupulous reporter Linda Lake. She tries to blackmail Clark Kent, who reveals his super powers to Lois Lane.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT