Deb Podowski Movies
Lopez (Lisa Vidal) tries to force Weaver (Laura Innes) out of the closet with a startling public display of affection. Romano (Paul McCrane) rehires Chen (Ming-Na), who has a long memory when it comes to getting even with Weaver. Abby (Maura Tierney) offers help to her new neighbor Joyce (Christina Hendricks), whose husband, Brian (Matthew Settle), is obviously beating her -- and who is in a severe state of denial. Carter (Noah Wyle) is trapped in the middle of his parents' acrimonious divorce. And should Lewis (Sherry Stringfield) attempt to save the life of a death-row inmate? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
An infant left in the care of nurse Abby Lockhart (Maura Tierney) is kidnapped from the hospital. A young patient taking steroids is more worried about his father's wrath than his illness. The results of Greene's (Anthony Edwards) competency test are in. The relationship between Weaver (Laura Innes) and Legaspi (Elizabeth Mitchell) reaches an impasse. And Carter (Noah Wyle) makes a surprising discovery about new pediatrics intern Rena (Lourdes Benedicto). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
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
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








