NBC announces the end of ER

The long-running medical drama "ER" will come to an end on March 12, NBC announced today.

One of TV's most honored shows, "ER" has won 22 Emmys and has the most Emmy nominations of any other show on television. It will say goodbye with a two-hour episode.

The announcement was part of a news release NBC issued about its midseason schedule, which included the following:

— "The Office" will have the coveted post-Super Bowl slot on Feb. 1.

— The new drama "Kings," starring Ian McShane, will premiere on Thursdays, beginning March 19.

— "Celebrity Apprentice" will premiere on March 1 and will be expanded to two-hour episodes.

— "Medium" will return to the lineup on Feb. 2, the same night that "Heroes" kicks off its new volume and "Chuck" returns with a 3-D episode.

— The miniseries "XIII" will air on Feb. 8 and 15.

—Maria Elena Fernandez

(Photo: Maura Tierney as Abby Lockhart, Scott Grimes as Dr. Archie Morris, courtesy Joel Warren / NBC)

Comments

[Bill T]

It has long since been time to pull the plug.

I was ready for it to go when John Carter finally left. The cycle was complete, the bodies come and go, and the doctors do too.

I struggled through two more painful seasons of (badly) recycled plot and weak ideas. I finally left, and hoped NBC would have the decency to stop feeding off the rotting corpse and bury it. Finally, at long last, they make yet another (but-maybe-this-time-they-mean-it) announcement that the show will end this season. Please let it be true.

I took my Thursdays back and it has been nice. Life On Mars - see it. Or just read a book.