ER: The Episodes We Could Live Without (article)

ER: The episodes we could live without
Posted: January 22, 2009, 4:01 PM by Sarah Millar
Good news ER fans! NBC announced last week that ER would air an additional three final episodes, meaning the show will not end until Apr. 3.

The network said the move was done so that producer John Wells could end the show the way he wanted. My guess? George Clooney finally said yes to a guest spot and they had to squeeze him in.

Last week we here at the Ampersand counted down our Top 5 favourite episodes. This week we're counting down the five worst episodes.

5. Fathers and Sons
Original Air Date Nov. 13, 1997

The show is called ER because it takes place in an ER. This is the first time that everything happens outside of the ER and set the show on a very slippery slope (the overabundance to come of Carter/Luka/Carter-and-Luka/Pratt in Africa episodes). While this episode is far from ER's best, it's not its worst either. We see a glimpse into where Greene comes from and what made him the man he is. But it's just too much. The saving grace is that Doug went along for the ride, so at least there was something to look at for the episode.

4. Lockdown
Original Air Date May 16, 2002

Guess what the ER is locked down. Again. And Carter's right in the middle of it. Again. Yawn. This storyline has been done and done and done. If a real hospital had been locked down as many times as county general has, something tells me it wouldn't be long before it's closed down completely. Yes, this was a season finale which is why it's not higher on the list, we needed the cliffhanger for the summer. And yes, it set up the whole Abby-Carter relationship, so it had a plot point as well. However, we can't say the same about:

3. Secrets and Lies
Original Air Date March 7, 2002

The doctors attend a sexual harassment seminar as punishment for going through the bag of a professional dominatrix (the plot line doesn't even make sense). At the seminar, the doctors learn more about one another and it's all very after-school special. It was about this time, ER began to really lose its luster, and grasp for cutesy stories instead of heart-pounding ones. Dawson's Creek taking on the Breakfast Club I can take. ER doing the same? Uh no. Especially when Mark Greene is in the middle of dying of cancer people.

2. I Don't
Original Air Date May 10, 2007

Yes, Luka and Abby's nuptials were touching. Neela telling pretty much every man at the wedding she's not interested in them and doesn't want to sleep with them was not. Was there any man at County General in 2007 who didn't want Dr. Rasgrotra? Oh and to top it all off, it finally looks as though we are heading toward a Neela-Ray pairing when he gets hit by a bus. And loses his legs. Thanks for that.
1. Freefall
Original Air Date: Nov. 20, 2003

Three words: Helicopter kills Romano. 'Nuff said.

Runners up: The Africa episodes. The first few were interesting, but by the time Pratt went, enough was enough.

What are your worst ER episodes? Leave a comment and check back to the Ampersand in two weeks for our Top 10 favourite ER characters.


http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/theampersand/archive/2009/01/22/er-the-episodes-we-could-live-without.aspx

Here's another very similar article:

ER, NBC's perennial hospital drama, is a classic example of why a good show can get wrecked if it stays on the air for too long. While the early days of ER were filled with memorable moments -- like Doug Ross rescuing that boy from the storm drain, and Mark Greene running after the train to proclaim his love for Susan Lewis -- the latter days were marked with excessive melodrama and some truly pathetic scenes. Here are some of the worst moments in ER history.

Abby's Brother Falls Into Carter's Grandmother's Grave
After being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, Abby's brother Eric somehow managed to show up at the funeral of Carter's grandmother and fall into her grave. This rip-off of a bad scene from The Simpsons (when Homer fell into Maud Flanders' grave) marked the end of Abby and Carter's relationship, and the end of many viewers' patience with the unravelling show.

Ray Loses His Legs
Poor Ray Barnett joined ER long after the series was past its prime, so he never had a chance. Out of nowhere, the show decided that Ray was secretly in love with Neela, and tried to duplicate the previously successful Abby-Carter-Luka love triangle with Ray, Neela, and Tony. Although Neela dumped Tony, Ray never knew because he was wandering around in a drunk and lovelorn state, and managed to get himself run over by a truck. Happily, Ray -- minus his legs -- left the show before his character could be subjected to more soap-opera-reject plots.

Archie's Sperm Bank Kids
Poor Archie Morris started on the show as kind of a joke, but after various doctors died horribly (see below), Archie somehow became one of the last ER docs standing. Archie-related plots have always been a little pathetic, but the worse involved a group of multiracial children arriving at the ER and declaring that Archie was their daddy, thanks to his past sperm bank donations.

No One Knows How to Use Birth Control
Here's one of the most unlikely problems with ER, even in its good days: just about every baby born on the show was an "oops." With a cast full of medical professionals, one would figure the surprise pregnancy rate would be low. However, the only planned pregnancy on the history of ER belonged to Kerry's partner Sandy. In contrast, the pregnancies of Carol Hathaway (with twins), Peter Benton's girlfriend Carla, Jing-Mei Chen, Elizabeth Corday, Susan Lewis, John Carter's girlfriend Kem, and Abby Lockhart were accidental.

Dr. Romano Gets Squished By a Helicopter
The best way to tell that a show is falling apart is when actors start to evacuate -- and to explain their absence, the show kills them off in random and bizarre ways. The most bizarre death was fated to Dr. Robert Romano, who was squished by a crashing helicopter outside the hospital a season after another helicopter chopped off his arm. Stranger still was the reaction of the other ER employees, most of whom could care less. Although Romano was truly the boss from hell, it seems unlikely that anyone with a heart wouldn't be upset if a coworker got squished by a helicopter.

Everyone Else Dies Horribly Too
For most people in the working world, the violent death of one coworker is pretty traumatic. By the 15th season of ER, though, this had become the norm. First it was was the violent stabbing death of Lucy Knight in season 6, followed by the endlessly long brain tumor death of Mark Greene in season 8. Then, as the show deteriorated, violent deaths skyrocketed: Romano was squished by a helicopter, Kerry's partner Sandy was squashed by a roof, Sam shot her rapist ex-husband, Carter's baby was stillborn, Michael Gallant was blown up in Iraq, and Greg Pratt was blown up in the parking lot. Plus Luka was almost killed an assortment of times in Africa, and by an accomplice of Sam's kidnapper, and by a deranged patient -- and his baby almost died too.

Rest in peace, ER characters-- and you too, ER! TV producers, take note: when a once magnificent program goes on life support and is begging for a DNR, it's time to pull the plug.



The copyright of the article Worst Moments in ER History in Prime Time Dramas is owned by Naomi Rockler-Gladen. Permission to republish Worst Moments in ER History in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

http://prime-time-dramas.suite101.com/article.cfm/worst_moments_in_er_history

I disagree with the out of nowhere scenario in the 2nd article, but eh, it was a little fast--

I hate stupid opinions like that on ER, if you got nothing nice to say, keep your damn mouth shut, especially FOR ER FANS thank you

Ouch - these people don't mince their words - although I would agree with the whole Abby-Carter fiasco, I was never a Carby shipper but it drove me up the wall regardless!

Ray fell in love with Neela over two years, it didnt come from nowhere that's for sure - what came out the blue was Gates and Brenner!

Yeah, I was surprised with the "out of nowhere" comment as well - I mean, the foundation for their relationship was laid when they moved in together in Season 11. Then it took TWO YEARS for them to get into a love triangle. Out of nowhere? Sna????

I'm sure the writers thought - hey, let's have these two move in together and see what happens - they are like night and day. And then chemistry happened. That stuff is definitely plotted out - not like it's thought of five minutes before the plot's due. It was too much of a storyline not to be given some thought.

Oh - and this was the article that convinced me that Neela's baby WASN'T going to be Brenner's. I was shocked when I read exactly how many babies were unplanned. Seriously, if they go here again it's not exactly new, and man, it just demonstrates how TV is very free with the baby making.

So, it just can't be Brenner's.

But don't you love how much everyone loves Ray?!!! It's awesome - I still can't believe they got rid of his character in season 13. I wasn't around for the uproar, but I'm sure it was BIG.

Cool article, yeah, we could have lived with a Ray-with-legs...

And no, Ray didnt suddenly fall for Neela!

Ray and Neela lived together for a little over a year and became very close friends. Even before they lived together there was some subtle flirting going on, their feelings for each other did not come out of nowhere. It was gradual, and actually not that surprising.

For me personally, I think 16-18 were the crowning eps in Season 12. I wish we had seen more build up before she actually moved out, but ah well...

Yeah, that was what was so shocking - the immediate move out - would have liked to see more sexual/romantic tension. But I guess they had to cram that in for Michael dying and making that make sense.