When I wasn’t trying to be around my television on Thursday nights, something was up. When CSI started demolishing it in ratings, I knew things were bad. When Dr. Greene was killed off, I was barely hanging on. But when Dr. Carter left for Africa, I said that I probably wasn’t going to watch it anymore. After watching the season premiere of ER (time to take Noah Wyle off the graphic, guys), the first season sans Wyle, I confirmed my prediction.
ER is no longer programmed to be recorded by my DVR.
It was a long time coming, though. Hell, the show has been on for 10+ years now and it hasn’t made a time slot jump yet. Impressive as that is, it’s far past time that I spend an hour a week caring for the doctors at County and their personal lives.
So why now? For me it’s as I stated above: no more Wyle. He was the glue of that show for me. As much as I like Maura Tierney (Abby), Mekhi Phifer (Pratt) and Goran Visnjic (Kovac), Noah Wyle was the one reason I kept watching week after week.
I won’t miss the switching of actors for different family members in Linda Cardellini’s (Sam) life – both her ex-husband and son have now been replaced. I won’t miss the silly lesbian storyline for Laura Innes (Weaver). I won’t miss the typecasting of Shane West (Ray) and the thought of having a “wild rock star” doctor. And as much as I liked Wyle, I won’t miss his crummy storyline of all the on-again off-again girls in his life – why couldn’t he and Abby just have worked out? Ultimately, I definitely won’t miss Alex Kingston (Dr. Corday), she just sucked.
But ER has been good to me over the years. Favorite moments include the stabbing arc with Kellie Martin (Lucy) and Wyle. The helicopter slicing Paul McCrane’s (Dr. Romano) arm off – and then over a year later, another helicopter finishing the job. Those were the two that really stood out to me. Good tv, fun tv.
All in all, I find it strange to start removing shows from my DVR, I feel like I’ve turned my back on a friend. Sure I’ve removed shows here and there, but those were shows that were cancelled (or just over for good). To actually take a show out of rotation simply because you’re done with it is very strange.
I’m scared that The West Wing might be the next to go.
+ original post date: September 25, 2005 11:34 AM
+ categories: Television
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I'm almost right there with you. I haven't watched this season's premire yet (but I will in just a few minutes), but Noah Wyle really was the heart and soul of the show. And you also nailed it with the two most memorable moments.
If you're interested in another medical drama (and sometimes comedy) show, you might want to check out Grey's Anatomy. Season 2 starts tonight at like 9pm on ABC. It's not ER of old, but it's different and (so far) good enough in its own right.
I'm scared for the West Wing as well - especially with their new time slot. We'll find out tonight, tho.
+ author: John Heltsley
+ posted: September 25, 2005 11:47 AM
Though you're pretty brutal on 24, I agree with ER. I started watching it once I got married (which was post Clooney). Once Goose died, it lost a bit of flare. Now that Noah's gone, I'm out. I watched the season premiere, and it was pretty darn boring. ER has had it's time...move over bacon, there's something better (it's called LOST).
+ author: Nelson
+ posted: September 25, 2005 10:28 PM
Holy crap... I had no idea "ER" was even still on the air! I thought that show went off YEARS ago.
+ author: ScooterJ
+ posted: September 26, 2005 10:16 AM
Check out Grey's Anatomy. You'll like it. It sort of reminds me of an early ER.
+ author: Ele
+ posted: September 30, 2005 04:09 PM
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