Yvette Freeman
- 2003
Weaver (Laura Innes) again does a secret favor for "closeted" Chicago politician John Bright (Bruce Weitz) -- this time with disastrous results and calamitous consequences. Elsewhere, Kovac (Goran Visnjic) uses unorthodox methods to get a grip on his personal problems. And the romance between Carter (Noah Wyle) and Abby (Maura Tierney) may be on the rocks. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2003
A tormented Kovac (Goran Visnjic) precipitates a barroom brawl and later lobbies unsuccessfully to operate on an ailing Croatian child. Demoted from surgery, Romano (Paul McCrane) becomes more irksome than ever before when he is placed in charge of the ER. A mother-to-be must choose between giving birth to her child or undergoing life-saving chemotherapy. Chen's (Ming-Na) birthday is spoiled by Pratt's (Mekhi Phifer) ill-advised gift. And the staffers get their first look at Lewis' (Sherry Stringfield) brand-new husband. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2003
This 200th episode of ER (actually the 201st in the syndicated package) occurs during a solar eclipse, with the action alternating between the day and night shifts at County General. Holding down the day shift is a bone-weary Carter (Noah Wyle), who must contend with the victims of a cult mass suicide, among many other trying cases. And during the night shift, Pratt (Mekhi Phifer), ostensibly making his final round as a resident, is "redeemed" as he treats a woman whose unborn child was viciously cut from her womb. In other developments, Corday (Alex Kingston) tries to ease the mind of Romano (Paul McCrane) as he prepares to have his injured hand and forearm amputated; and the ER receives an urgent phone call from Kovac (Goran Visnjic) in Africa. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2003
Was Abby's (Maura Tierney) bipolar brother piloting the plane that has plunged into Lake Michigan? As Abby agonizes over this possibility, other dramas play themselves out at the ER. A teenaged driver who may have deliberately run down her taunting classmates is brought in; Chen (Ming-Na) reveals a hidden chapter of her past; and the disabled Romano (Paul McCrane) reacts violently to some bad news about his future as a surgeon. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2003
Kovacs' (Goran Visnjic) car accident and disastrous misdiagnosis has left a patient with profound brain damage. While Weaver (Laura Innes) suffers from the side effects of her "secret" pregnancy, Abby (Maura Tierney) covers for her at the ER. The heightened security measures at County General ensnare Pratt (Mekhi Phifer), who is packing a gun -- thereby placing Carter (Noah Wyle) in an unenviable position. Gallant (Sharif Atkins) squares off against the mercenary young bride (Sofia Milos) of an elderly patient (Patrick Cranshaw). And Lewis (Sherry Stringfield) keeps a suicide watch on a self-admitted child molester. Edward Asner makes the first of several appearances as Dr. James McNulty, the crusty head of a storefront clinic. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
The nurses' petition against Kovac (Goran Visnjic) leads to heightened tensions and a personnel shortage at the ER. Abby (Maura Tierney) has her doubts when her brother Eric (Tom Everett Scott) claims to be on leave from the Air Force. Pratt (Mekhi Phifer) offers comfort to Chen (Ming-Na), who hasn't quite gotten over being held at gunpoint by a disgruntled patient. And Corday (Alex Kingston) and Nathan (Don Cheadle) argue over a seriously ill patient (Nora Zimmett) who refuses to be resuscitated by "heroic measures." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
Nathan's (Don Cheadle) bedside manner -- or lack of same -- alienates him from his fellow doctors. Kovac's (Goran Visnjic) personal problems again spill over into his work. Abby (Maura Tierney) finds out that her missing brother, Eric, is in big trouble with the Air Force. And Weaver (Laura Innes) is on cloud nine after receiving some good news -- which she dares not reveal to anyone. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
Forced by Romano (Paul McCrane) to work a few shifts in the ER, Elizabeth (Alex Kingston) has a run-in with Lewis (Sherry Stringfield) -- and learns for the first time about Greene's (Anthony Edwards) inoperable tumor. Elsewhere, two girls involved in a campus stabbing incident are brought into the ER. Chen (Ming-Na) handles a victim of severe trauma. And when Weaver (Laura Innes) tries to find out if her girlfriend, Sandy Lopez (Lisa Vidal), has been injured in a fire, she is in for a big surprise. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
It has been two months since the smallpox lockdown at County General. The Emergency Room is now swamped with patients due to the wholesale closings of many other ERs in Cook County. Likewise, there is huge influx of new med students, among them the outspoken Erin Harkins (Leslie Bibb), who is tired of waiting for her first orientation. Elsewhere, Corday (Alex Kingston) has returned to Chicago, only to be immediately unnerved by the bizarre behavior of Weaver (Laura Innes). Romano's (Paul McCrane) severed arm has been re-attached, but he's not out of danger yet. And Pratt (Mekhi Phifer) performs what amounts to a medical miracle. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
Don Cheadle makes his first series appearance as Paul Nathan, an overaged med student who chose to enter school only after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. During his first shift, Nathan plunges in to help the other staffers treat the victims of a Halloween party fire -- whereupon his colleagues notice that he doesn't react all that well to intense pressure. In other developments, Corday (Alex Kingston) and Romano (Paul McCrane) battle over a patient who may be facing an amputation; despite her recent erratic behavior, Weaver (Laura Innes) tries to save a baby who was all but killed in a home birth gone awry; and the romance between Chuny (Laura Ceron) and Kovac (Goran Visnjic) is sabotaged by his insatiable addiction to sex. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
This is the first episode of a two-part "crossover," to be concluded on ER's sister series Third Watch on April 29, 2002. After getting a disturbing phone call from her sister, Chloe (Kathleen Wilhoite), Susan Lewis (Sherry Stringfield) flies to New York, desperately hoping to locate both Chloe and Chloe's daughter, Suzie. Lewis enlist the aid of several Third Watch regulars, including police officers Faith Yokas (Molly Price) and "Bosco" Boscorelli (Jason Wiles), and paramedics Alex Taylor (Amy Carlson) and Kim Zambrano (Kim Raver). Back in Chicago, Abby (Maura Tierney) starts drinking again; Pratt (Mekhi Phifer) tries to make time with Chen (Ming-Na); and Elizabeth (Alex Kingston) considers staying with Greene (Anthony Edwards) during his final days. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
With this episode, recurring actor Sharif Atkins becomes a regular in the role of med student Michael Gallant, while former regular Eriq La Salle makes a brief encore appearance as Peter Benton. Greene (Anthony Edwards) tries to keep the return of his brain tumor -- and his subsequent treatment -- a secret from his wife, Elizabeth (Alex Kingston), with disastrous consequences. Chen (Ming-Na) deals with a comatose patient who has somehow become pregnant. Abby (Maura Tierney) avoids her attacker, Brian (Matthew Settle), by briefly moving in with Kovac (Goran Visnjic). And a fistfight breaks out between two of the staffers in the ER admitting room. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
Rachel (Hallee Hirsh) accidentally causes Elizabeth's (Alex Kingston) infant daughter, Ella, to OD on Ecstasy. Abby (Maura Tierney) gives shelter to the battered Joyce (Christina Hendricks), incurring the terrible wrath of Joyce's husband, Brian (Matthew Settle). Carter's mother (Mary McDonnell) tries to make belated amends for the death of her other son, Bobby, by lavishing care on young leukemia patient Mickey (Colton James). Victims of a letter bomb are brought into the ER. Gallant (Sharif Atkins) treats a blind man, despite being allergic to the man's dog. And Romano (Paul McCrane) angers Weaver (Laura Innes) by apparently giving preferential treatment to Lewis (Sherry Stringfield). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
A letter confirming the death of Mark Greene is delivered to the ER. While the tragic news sinks in, a grieving Carter (Noah Wyle) confronts Abby (Maura Tierney), and Weaver (Laura Innes) begins to worry about her own health -- and her future life outside of medicine. And having resolved the problems with Chloe and Suzy in New York, Lewis (Sherry Stringfield) prepares to return to Chicago. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
Abby (Maura Tierney) "celebrates" her birthday with one setback after another, beginning with an ominous run-in with her quarreling new neighbors, Brian (Matthew Settle) and Joyce (Christina Hendricks). Kovac (Goran Visnjic) prepares to go to Bosnia as part of the Doctors Without Borders program. Carter (Noah Wyle) continues to have issues with his estranged mother (Mary McDonnell). Chen (Ming-Na) claims to have evidence of Weaver's negligence, while Sandy (Lisa Vidal) is not happy that Weaver (Laura Innes) is reluctant to "out" herself. And Greene (Anthony Edwards) makes an unpleasant discovery in the room of his daughter Rachel (Hallee Hirsh). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
Mekhi Phifer makes his first series appearance as Gregory Pratt, a remarkably self-confident intern who is supervised by Greene (Anthony Edwards) during the latter's last day with the ER. Pratt's zealous eagerness prompts the terminally ill Greene to rethink how he will spend his final days on earth; and later on, he has a poignant reunion with his ex-wife, Jenn (Christine Harnos). Elsewhere, Abby (Maura Tierney) finally feels safe enough to return to her own home. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
An already hectic day at the ER is made even more so when two children are brought in exhibiting symptoms of smallpox. With Weaver (Laura Innes) temporarily unavailable, Carter (Noah Wyle) orders a lockdown at County General to avoid an epidemic -- and avert a nationwide panic. Meanwhile, Lewis (Sherry Stringfield) encounters major problems while trying to get information about a smallpox vaccine from CDC; both Chen (Ming-Na) and Pratt (Mekhi Phifer) appear to have come down with the disease themselves; and a patient riot breaks out, one which may cause the epidemic to spread to the rest of Chicago. This final episode of ER's eighth season ends with a cliffhanger, the ingredients of which include a startling development in the relationship between Carter and Abby (Maura Tierney). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
A major crisis arises for Pratt (Mekhi Phifer) and Harkins (Leslie Bibb) as they care for an injured teenager who is harboring a secret from her father. Kovac (Goran Visnjic) has an eye-opening encounter with an elderly female patient. Chen (Ming-Na) reacts strangely when an abandoned baby turns up in the ER. And Abby (Maura Tierney) is shocked to discover that her bipolar mother, Maggie (Sally Field), wants to stop treatment for Abby's similarly bipolar brother, Eric (Tom Everett Scott). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
After a five-year absence, Sherry Stringfield returns to ER in the role of Dr. Susan Lewis -- the same week that series regular Erik Palladino makes his farewell appearance as Dr. Dave Malucci. In Chicago to interview for a job at another hospital, Lewis drops into County General to see her former "crush" Greene (Anthony Edwards) -- and is offered a position in County's ER when Weaver (Laura Innes) fires one employee and kicks another one "downstairs." Naturally, Lewis welcomes the chance to come home -- but what will Greene's current spouse, Elizabeth (Alex Kingston), think? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Kovac (Goran Visnjic) again treats the stubborn Bishop Stewart (John Cromwell). Sixteen-year-old cardiac patient Nick Stevens (Josh Peck) balks at having another heart transplant. Another patient, a gay man named Jeff (Robert Beitzel), refuses to use contraceptives, and indeed seems eager and willing to contract the AIDs virus. Greene's (Anthony Edwards) erratic behavior increases. And Carter (Noah Wyle) asks Abby (Maura Tierney) to be his date at a gala charity function -- leading to an uncomfortable "reunion" for Abby. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Lourdes Benedicto makes her first series appearance as new pediatrics intern Rena Trujillo. The episode's pre-eminent crisis occurs at the site of a commuter-train accident, where Carter (Noah Wyle) and Kovac (Goran Visnjic) are forced to extreme measures to save the life of trapped firefighter Larkin (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). The doctors also try to rescue a woman (Stacy Haiduk) who, though impaled by a shard of medal, is more concerned about the health of her son. Likewise at the scene of the accident, Corday (Alex Kingston) begins to go into contractions; and even psychiatrist Legaspi (Elizabeth Mitchell) makes an appearance when the person who caused the crash is located. Finally, an ongoing story arc is wrapped up as the dying Bishop Stewart (John Cromwell) tries to assuage Kovac's (Goran Visnjic) guilt over "deserting" his family during the Balkan wars. Advertised as ER's 150th episode, "The Crossing" is number 151 in the current syndication package. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
No sooner has Lewis (Sherry Stringfield) returned to County General than she clashes with Weaver (Laura Innes) over the treatment of a pregnant teenager in danger of being deported. Elsewhere, Weaver nervously prepares to contact her long-lost birth mother. Elizabeth (Alex Kingston) is investigated after losing a fourth patient to infection in post-op. Benton's (Eriq La Salle) son, Reese (Matthew Watkins), disappears. And Carter's (Noah Wyle) grandmother Millicent (Frances Sternhagen), injured in a fall, is brought into the ER. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Sharif Atkins joins the series as Michael Gallant, a new medical student assigned to Carter (Noah Wyle). While making the rounds with Gallant, Carter learns to his chagrin that his grandmother (Frances Sternhagen) is now a "high-risk" patient who may die at any moment; he also helps Lewis (Sherry Stringfield) treat another med student who has been cutting herself. Elsewhere, a mall security guard is driven to desperate measures after accidentally injuring a skateboarder; Elizabeth (Alex Kingston) tries to determine the identity of the person responsible for euthanizing four of her patients in post-op; and, claiming to be Reese's (Matthew Watkins) biological father, Roger (Vondie Curtis-Hall) demands custody of the boy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
This episode marks the final regular ER appearances of Eriq La Salle and Michael Michele. After resorting to desperate measures to retain custody of his son, Reese (Matthew Watkins), Peter Benton (La Salle) realizes that he must make a choice between the boy and his overloaded ER schedule. He opts to take a less demanding job at a clinic in the Chicago suburbs, where his current love, Cleo Finch (Michele), is already working. In other developments, a boy accidentally shot by his mom on Christmas Eve is a cause of great concern amongst the ER staffers; Abby (Maura Tierney) sees Nicole (Julie Delpy) where she didn't expect to see her; the relationship between Weaver (Laura Innes) and Lopez (Lisa Vidal) enters a new phase; and Carter (Noah Wyle) receives startling but not unexpected news about his parents. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Originally slated to air on September 20, 2001, the eighth-season opener of ER was bumped to September 27 due to ongoing network coverage of the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C. This inaugural episode hopscotches through time, presenting its events from several sharply differing points of view. First off, several loose ends from the end of season seven are wrapped up, notably the aftermath of Greene's (Anthony Edwards) decision to "terminate" a man who had killed several people before being shot himself, and the aftereffects of the treatment given to Cleo Finch (Michael Michele) when she cut her hand on a vial of HIV-infected blood. In new developments, the ER staff treats the victims of a TV talk show brawl; Abby (Maura Tierney) and Carter (Noah Wyle) attend his grandfather's funeral, where Carter is brought into a confrontation with his estranged parents (Michael Gross, Mary McDonnell); Benton (Eriq La Salle) helps his sister Jackie (Khandi Alexander) cope with the death of her son; returning from vacation, Weaver (Laura Innes) worries that she has been "outed" by Romano (Paul McCrane); and Chen (Ming-Na) is appointed chief resident. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
