Time of death: April 2, 2009
The final episode of ER aired tonight, and I didn’t watch it. This is in keeping with my “No, I Don’t Watch ER” life motto that I’ve had in place since about, oh, 1997.
But I do have questions. Was Eriq LaSalle in it? Were they able to remove that annoying ‘q’ from his name and, after seven hours of wrist-wringing surgery, transform it into a viable acting carer? No? Because Eriq was pretty clear about it in his contract.
ER was a big part of my life during the first few seasons. They can be sincerely credited with pioneering the fast-paced medical drama where the hospital work is at the core and the relationships move around it. It’s been copied so often by now that it’s easy to forget that we had none of this until the late Michael Crichton pitched a show based loosely on his experiences in med school, and ER was born.
I betcha if you pulled George Clooney aside during an interview and asked him to name three major story points from his first season on ER he would be stumped. As would I.
Anywhoooooo, if you watched the finale last night and you wanna talk about it, this is your thread. I’m looking specifically for essays regarding how ER impacted television, film and the US healthcare system. I will annoint a winner later. Go.
ER made me want to be an optometrist.
That is a lie. ER had nothing to do with that and that dream died about four months ago when I decided to be a math teacher- which will also die in three months.
But I love ER and will watch the finale on NBC.com when I find the time. also know as never.
that was me.
“also know as never.”
Good thing you decided to be a MATH teacher.
STFU troll.
First and foremost I would to assert my confusion as to who the hell those people are in that photo and where the hell is the original cast? It stopped being ER when they all left….I don’t even know ER anymore…so the break-up was mutual.
I’m going to really, really, REALLY miss E.R.
I think the show was great. I’ve been watching it practically since the beginning with the original cast but I think everyone who worked there did a great job. However, thanks to this show, I have absolutely no desire to become a doctor :D
I had to watch ER one semester in nursing school for an ethics class. Evidently all the cool medical professions do this. I honestly enjoyed the show, but I didn’t watch it before this, and I haven’t watched since.
ER has contributed to our culture in significant ways, by bringing emergency-sounding words and phrases into the common vernacular (e.g. ‘stat’, ‘BP 90 over 60’, ‘bag him’ and ‘aortic rupture’. Oh and ‘defib’.)
In later years, CSI similarly made ‘epithelials’ and ‘blood splatter trajectory’ household names.
Personally I have performed many medical procedures without any training whatsoever – other than watching ER – e.g. ‘sutures’, ‘lancing’ and ‘over-medicating’. In this way television is highly educational and I have also learned from Law & Order to ‘lawyer up’ asap, don’t believe them when they say the other guy’s squealed and never let the cops in your house without a warrant.
Other than that ER also launched George Clooney onto the world stage with his trademark bobbing his head on one side in a simultaneously quizzical / flirtatious way. This has been emulated by actors such as Courtney-Thorne Smith, with less success.
ER will also be remembered for its groundbreaking portrayal of a disabled lesbian as both disabled and also lesbian. This gives hope to disabled lesbians everywhere.
Anthony Edwards is another one who has renewed hope, knowing that many people, if not all, will now remember him as Dr Mark Green, and not Goose from Top Gun. Top Gun in retrospect is incredibly camp and a film which anyone (who is not a gay scientologist) would want to distance themselves from.
I stopped watching ER when John Carter left. Everyone has their limits – and that was mine. My favourite episode was the one where Dr Romano got his arm chopped off by the helicopter – I only wish it had been his sad little ranga head. Perhaps one day the same helicopter will fly into Seattle Grace and chop off something of Meredith Grey’s.. we can only hope.
In conclusion then, I must say that ER was a kind of logical sythesis of St Elsewhere and Hill St Blues, but it outstayed its welcome by about 6 years. RIP, ER and please let’s not have a spin off.
….and that would be McBiscuit for the win. LOLOL
I’m extremely impressed you sat here and wrote this out, or maybe sorry that you had nothing better to do with your time.
either way, pretty dead on.
“This gives hope to disabled lesbians everywhere.”
ROTFL!
Win.
ER outlived Michael Crichton, it’s creator… who would have seen that coming?
And Eriq LaSalle is forever known to me as the King of SoulGlo from Coming To America! Whenever I see him I think of a grease stain on the couch from his hair.
LMAO, I never put that connection together. I love that movie. I actually went to IMDB to make sure they were one in the same. I will never look at him the same again. lol
I have never seen an episode of ER in my life. I would, however, like to add to an above comment. Just let yourr sooulll gloooowwww.
Where did Luca go?
I thought Luka and Abby moved to Boston to work in a hospital…
Luka and Abby moved to Boston to work in a hospital there… (or here since I am in Boston)
I found the hour long recap that aired earlier to be more interesting than the finale. I have to say, Noah Wyle has never looked better. Eriq LaSalle and Anthony Edwards’ age made me a little sad. Until I sung the SoulGlo song followed by the Revenge of the Nerds talent show song to myself and I felt better. Anthony will always be Gilbert Lowe to me.
For someone who didn’t watch it until it was in its 8th season, (thanks to TNT, we know drama, I was able to catch up on the seasons I missed) I think it was an incredibly acted show for the most part.
There was of course some beyond believable parts / stories, but in all it was far more enjoyable than it could have been.
Some of the best episodes, Dr. Greene in Hawaii, the Africa visits by Luka and Carter. The deaths of Pratt, Romano and Gallant, although I think EVERYONE saw that coming…
The GREAT guest stars on the show, Sally Field, James Cromwell, and so many others…
Ahhh, first my Fridays go downhill after the loss of the Scifi channel shows, and now my Thursdays are going to be freer…
They better not touch my Mondays or I will go on a warpath….
I loved ER but I can’t say the finale was anything special and it ended with everyone in the parking lot unloading vicitms of an explosion from the ambulences..the camera pans out and scene…totally forgettable.
I actually loved ER from the early years until the end. As for the final show, I liked the way it ended. It wasn’t all dramatic and over the top. It was just another day in the ER as life goes on. Loved it!
ER used to be a family event for us. I couldn’t watch it after Dr. Green died. It was so poignant and final that I couldn’t imagine the show having any further… depth.