Jack Orman Movies
- 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
- 2002
Elizabeth (Alex Kingston) lashes out at Rachel (Hallee Hirsh) for nearly causing baby Ella's death. Greene (Anthony Edwards) worries that his brain tumor has returned. Carter's (Noah Wyle) mother (Mary McDonnell) continues "coping" with the long-ago death of her other son, Bobby, by living her life vicariously through a young leukemia patient. Lewis (Sherry Stringfield) is forced to hold down the ER fort virtually by herself when a bag of bad bagels causes the other staffers to suffer from food poisoning. And Abby (Maura Tierney) is attacked and beaten by her neighbor Brian (Matthew Settle) for offering support to Brian's abused wife. ~ 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
Season nine of ER begins ten minutes after season eight left off, with the County General ER still in lockdown in the face of a possible smallpox epidemic. Though most of the patients and staffers have been evacuated, a handful are quarantined at the ER for two weeks, among them Carter (Noah Wyle), Abby (Maura Tierney), Chen (Ming-Na), and Pratt (Mekhi Phifer), now a full-fledged series regular. In the midst of the chaos and confusion, Carter and Abby have managed to find the opportunity to lock lips, thereby inaugurating a whole new phase in their relationship. Meanwhile, on the roof of the hospital, Romano (Paul McCrane) throws another temper tantrum, with disastrous consequences when, in mid-rant, he backs into the tail rotor of a helicopter. And in faraway London, the newly widowed Elizabeth Corday (Alex Kingston) has joined her father's business -- but may now be too "Americanized" for her family's tastes. ~ 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
The first big blizzard of the year results in an overload of patients at the ER, including members of a family who were building a snowman when they were struck down by a drunk driver. Carter (Noah Wyle) would sooner leave Chicago behind and join Abby (Maura Tierney), who has flown to an Omaha military base to find out the fate of her AWOL brother, Eric (Tom Everett Scott). As for Abby, she finds herself locked in another confrontation with her bipolar mother, Maggie (Sally Field), which gets worse when Maggie reveals a horrible secret about Abby's brother. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
Anxious to get his hands on some Demerol, a frustrated patient pulls a gun in the ER waiting room and threatens dire consequences if he isn't serviced immediately. After this crisis passes, an outraged Carter (Noah Wyle) threatens a staff walkout unless efforts are made to step up security at County General. Meanwhile, Abby's (Maura Tierney) brother Eric (Tom Everett Scott), an Air Force traffic controller, drops in for a visit en route to his new assignment in Omaha. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Abby (Maura Tierney) is forced to leave Chicago to retrieve her bipolar mother, Maggie (Sally Field), who has squirreled herself away in an Oklahoma motel room and has refused to seek out treatment for her mental condition. When Carter (Noah Wyle) offers to accompany Abby on her trip, he inadvertently stokes the flames of jealousy amongst the other ER staffers. Meanwhile, back in Chicago, victims of a college hazing prank gone bad are brought in, and Corday (Alex Kingston) goes into labor. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
The victims of a rampaging gunman are brought into the ER. It soon develops that the man responsible for the shootings is Derek Fosson (Ted Marcoux), the father of the boy whom Greene (Anthony Edwards) treated for abuse in the previous episode. Fosson is out to kill anyone connected with the foster-care facility where his son is currently residing -- meaning that Greene and his family may be the next targets. Elsewhere, Abby (Maura Tierney) discusses her future with a disapproving Kovac (Goran Visnjic). And Weaver (Laura Innes) confronts Romano (Paul McCrane) over the firing of her former lover Legaspi (Elizabeth Mitchell). This final episode of ER's seventh season ends with a cliffhanger involving a grim life-or-death decision in a hospital elevator. ~ 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
An unusually heavy rainstorm brings a inordinate amount of "traffic" into the ER. Outside the doors of the hospital, Weaver (Laura Innes) and a nervous, inexperienced Gallant (Sharif Atkins) risk electrocution from downed power lines to save a pregnant woman and her unborn baby. Inside, Greene (Anthony Edwards) treats a young boy whose brother was swept into a river. Carter's (Noah Wyle) grandmother, brought into the ER after sustaining injuries in a hit-and-run, begins hallucinating. Nicole (Julie Delpy), the troubled young girl befriended by Kovac (Goran Visnjic), may be stealing personal items from the staff. And Benton (Eriq La Salle) gets some disturbing news about his son, Reese (Matthew Watkins). Lisa Vidal makes her first series appearance as feisty firefighter Sandy Lopez. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Originally scheduled for September 27, 2001, this ER episode was moved back to October 4 due to network coverage of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Weaver (Laura Innes) heads to Doc Magoo's on personal business and fails to answer her pager when Chen (Ming-Na) and Malucchi (Erik Palladino) need her. An off-duty Carter (Anthony Edwards) deals with victims of a rock-concert stampede, tries to rectify a fatal error made by Chen and Malucchi in Weaver's absence, and injures his back. Weaver fires Chen for her error. Benton (Eriq La Salle) learns that the mother of his son, Reese (Matthew Watkins), has been killed in an accident. Vondie Curtis-Hall, who guest starred as a transvestite in an earlier ER episode, here replaces Victor Williams in the recurring role of Roger, the man who claims to be the true biological father of Reese. ~ 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
- 2001
Patients brought into the ER include pugnacious retirement-community residents Walter (Tom Bosley) and Earl (Tom Poston), each of whom regards himself as God's gift to women. Elsewhere, Weaver (Laura Innes) and Legaspi (Elizabeth Mitchell) reconfirm their romantic relationship. Back at work, Greene (Anthony Edwards) is obviously having problems related to his brain-tumor operation. Corday (Alex Kingston) must overcome her crippling panic attacks in the operating room. Carter (Noah Wyle) admits his drug problems to his heroin-addict cousin Chase (Jonathan Scarfe). And Kovac's (Goran Visnjic) treatment of a patient working in an illegal sweatshop inadvertently leads to a case of arson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
In the shattering conclusion of a two-part story, Carter (Noah Wyle) finds Lucy (Kellie Martin) lying in a pool of blood, stabbed and near death. No sooner has this sunk in than Carter is himself attacked and stabbed by Lucy's patient, delusional lawyer Paul Sobricki (David Krumholtz). Both victims are rushed to the operating room -- but only one will emerge alive. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Abby's mentally disturbed mother, Maggie (Sally Field), thinks she's healthy enough to interview for a job -- but she's wrong. Greene (Anthony Edwards) reacts to the news that he has a brain tumor. Kynesha (Toy Connor), the girlfriend of Benton's (Eriq La Salle) murdered nephew Jesse, is herself targeted for extermination. Corday (Alex Kingston) bends the facts during the deposition for Mr. Patterson's lawsuit. And Abby (Maura Tierney) has company when she awakens in a hotel room. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
The ER is the site of several personal crises: the parents of a premature infant implore the staff to save the child, a gay woman (Rosemary Forsyth) is prevented by legal red tape from getting treatment for her comatose life partner, and a homeless patient who refuses to show up for dialysis sparks a quarrel between Benton (Eriq La Salle) and Romano (Paul McCrane). In another development, Carter (Noah Wyle) attends his first AA meeting, where another of his ER colleagues agrees to be his sponsor. And Greene (Anthony Edwards) pops the question to Elizabeth Corday (Alex Kingston). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
The premiere episode of ER's seventh season gets under way by solving the mystery surrounding Carter (Noah Wyle), Benton (Eriq La Salle), and that plane flight to Atlanta. Returning to Chicago after undergoing rehab, Carter finds that things are as hectic as usual at the ER; a group of teenagers are brought in after a riot at a football game, and the custodians have gone on strike. Elsewhere, Chen (Ming-Na) finds out she is pregnant, Abby (Maura Tierney) is prevented from attending medical school when her ex-husband fails to pay her tuition, and Greene (Anthony Edwards) develops a rather embarrassing case of poison ivy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Carter's (Noah Wyle) ongoing personal problems -- including unauthorized injections of pain medication -- culminate in a tense confrontation with the ER staff. Elsewhere, Benton (Eriq La Salle) and Kovac (Goran Visnjic) are helicopter-dropped into a deadly shooting incident at a school, where they are forced into a tough decision as to which shooting victim should be treated first. This final episode of ER's sixth season culminates in a cliffhanger involving a plane flight to Atlanta and two of the aforementioned characters. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
The ER staffers treat three teenagers injured in a fiery car crash while on their way to their prom. An AIDs patient and her son are flown into County General after a fishing mishap. Greene (Anthony Edwards) and Corday (Alex Kingston) grow closer, while Benton (Eriq La Salle) awaits word about the Trauma Fellowship. And amidst all this confusion, the hospital is besieged by obstreperous FBI agents who demand immediate and preferential medical treatment for a wounded stripper -- but is this incredible scenario too "good" to be true? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Romano (Paul McCrane) surprises everyone when he promotes his longtime nemesis Elizabeth Corday (Alex Kingston) to associate chief of surgery. Returning from his mother's funeral, Greene (Anthony Edwards) is plunged into an argument with Weaver (Laura Innes) over a patient who is to be resuscitated. New second-year resident Malucchi (aka "Dr. Dave," played by Erik Palladino), manages to rub the entire staff the wrong way, especially Carter (Noah Wyle) during a medical crisis at a construction site. And can it be that Benton (Eriq La Salle) is not truly the biological father of little Reese (Matthew Watkins)? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Going into labor just before Thanksgiving, Carol (Julianna Margulies) gives birth to twins, with OB nurse Abby Lockhart (Maura Tierney, in her first series appearance) and Kovac (Goran Visnjic) in attendance. At first, things go relatively smoothly, but complication quickly set in, forcing Carol's Lamaze coach, Greene (Anthony Edwards), to skip Elizabeth Corday's special Thanksgiving dinner. As a result, poor Corday (Alex Kingston) is left alone to entertain Greene's irascible father (John Cullum) and surly daughter (Yvonne Zima). And back at the ER, Dr. Dave (Erik Palladino) collaborates with Carter (Noah Wyle) on a difficult diagnosis. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
Carol Hathaway (Julianna Margulies) and Lynette Evans (Penny Johnson Jerald) try to dissuade a wounded street-gang member (Jermaine Montell) from escaping the ER to seek out vengeance. On a more personal note, Carol thinks she may be pregnant with Ross' (George Clooney) baby. Elsewhere, the apparently clueless Lucy (Kellie Martin) again incurs the wrath of Carter (Noah Wyle). Corday (Alex Kingston) has second thoughts about interning when she is ordered around by Romano (Paul McCrane). And Weaver (Laura Innes) is a candidate for the office of emergency-medicine chief. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
This ER episode eschews the usual "multiple-subplot" format to focus on a single plot line involving little Corinna (Nicolette Little), a seven-year-old victim of a car accident. Inasmuch as the girl has an extremely rare blood type, it is necessary to locate her missing father -- a task that falls to Carter (Noah Wyle) and Lucy (Kellie Martin), who embark upon an odyssey through Chicago that takes them from Wrigley Field to a forbidding back alley. As time runs out for Corinna, Benton (Eriq La Salle) is forced into an unorthodox surgical procedure. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
