David
2008-07-24 00:54:13 UTC
from the hollywood reporter
Even after the series ends, this 'ER' will stay open
By Barry Garron
TCA -- There are any number of ways to bring a long-running series to
an end. You can call the whole thing a dream ("Newhart"), put the cast
in jail ("Seinfeld") or just fade to black at a possibly crucial
moment ("The Sopranos").
Exec producer John Wells (left) has nothing like that in mind for the
final episode of NBC's "ER," following its 15th season. He's spilled
too much blood (1,360 pints, all of it fake) to see County General
wiped off the face of the map.
"I would hate to give the impression that the difficulties of running
a county hospital and the problems within the system come to an end
because, conveniently, the hospital gets closed for a new one, or
something like that. I think the only way to really do justice to the
show is to continue what has worked on it," he told TV critics
visiting the set at Warner Bros on the last day of the TCA press tour.
"I think we will probably -- we haven't written it yet -- but
certainly my inclination will be to feel as if we've simply walked
away from the hospital with the cameras."
Wells confessed that the longevity of "ER" was something he did not
foresee, mostly because he did not expect the show to replace original
cast members. "When Sherry (Stringfield) was leaving (after the third
season), we thought, 'Here it comes. We'll be gone by Year 5.'
"Noahwyle
But then new faces kept showing up in "ER" and the show continued to
be a hit with viewers. "That's been a successful formula that I didn't
anticipate when we began," Wells said.
Of the original cast, Noah Wyle (right) stayed on the show the longest
-- 11 seasons. Fittingly, he will return to "ER" for the final
episode.
But what about the show's most famous alumnus, George Clooney, who
played Dr. Doug Ross for the first five years? "I'll ask him if he
wants to come back," Wells said. The exec producer said that, given
Clooney's schedule, the most we should hope for is that Clooney will
do some publicity for the finale.
No matter what happens, though, Clooney is a class act, Wells said.
Even when the show took off, Clooney never asked for more money. Nor
did he ever seek to get out of the five-year commitment he made to the
series. "He's a completely standup guy," Wells declared.
Meanwhile, after going through 128,000 pairs of hospital scrubs and
428,400 latex gloves, one other thing surprises Wells. From a
standpoint of providing all Americans with medical care, "we're
actually in worse shape than we were 14 years ago when we started
doing the series."
Even after the series ends, this 'ER' will stay open
By Barry Garron
TCA -- There are any number of ways to bring a long-running series to
an end. You can call the whole thing a dream ("Newhart"), put the cast
in jail ("Seinfeld") or just fade to black at a possibly crucial
moment ("The Sopranos").
Exec producer John Wells (left) has nothing like that in mind for the
final episode of NBC's "ER," following its 15th season. He's spilled
too much blood (1,360 pints, all of it fake) to see County General
wiped off the face of the map.
"I would hate to give the impression that the difficulties of running
a county hospital and the problems within the system come to an end
because, conveniently, the hospital gets closed for a new one, or
something like that. I think the only way to really do justice to the
show is to continue what has worked on it," he told TV critics
visiting the set at Warner Bros on the last day of the TCA press tour.
"I think we will probably -- we haven't written it yet -- but
certainly my inclination will be to feel as if we've simply walked
away from the hospital with the cameras."
Wells confessed that the longevity of "ER" was something he did not
foresee, mostly because he did not expect the show to replace original
cast members. "When Sherry (Stringfield) was leaving (after the third
season), we thought, 'Here it comes. We'll be gone by Year 5.'
"Noahwyle
But then new faces kept showing up in "ER" and the show continued to
be a hit with viewers. "That's been a successful formula that I didn't
anticipate when we began," Wells said.
Of the original cast, Noah Wyle (right) stayed on the show the longest
-- 11 seasons. Fittingly, he will return to "ER" for the final
episode.
But what about the show's most famous alumnus, George Clooney, who
played Dr. Doug Ross for the first five years? "I'll ask him if he
wants to come back," Wells said. The exec producer said that, given
Clooney's schedule, the most we should hope for is that Clooney will
do some publicity for the finale.
No matter what happens, though, Clooney is a class act, Wells said.
Even when the show took off, Clooney never asked for more money. Nor
did he ever seek to get out of the five-year commitment he made to the
series. "He's a completely standup guy," Wells declared.
Meanwhile, after going through 128,000 pairs of hospital scrubs and
428,400 latex gloves, one other thing surprises Wells. From a
standpoint of providing all Americans with medical care, "we're
actually in worse shape than we were 14 years ago when we started
doing the series."