'ER' is coming back

"ER," one of television’s most honored programs, refused once again to go quietly into that good night and was officially picked up for a 15th and final season, NBC officials announced today.

Despite steadily declining ratings in recent years, the show will air 19 more episodes and return in the fall with the finale, now scheduled for February. The show will continue to air at 10 p.m. Thursdays, which it has occupied since the show premiered in 1994.

"We really wanted to give ‘ER’ the proper platform and the proper respect for being the most nominated show in television history," said NBC co-chairman Ben Silverman during a press event in New York City, where the network unveiled its programming plans for the next season.

Perhaps it's that time, time for "ER" to close its doors, and not just temporarily for a paint job.

Last night's episode was somewhat engaging, but only in the way that the same plot we've seen in other incarnations was being lobbed back at us. We began with foreshadowing on Luka (Goran Visnjic) and Abby's (Maura Tierney) relationship as Luka was suddenly called away to Croatia, by himself. Most of us know that this is Visnjicâ's last season on "ER" and clumsy allusions to terrorism early in the episode created a "wonder how they'll make this happen" feeling of non-tension.

As happens at least once a season, a promising new doctor has been introduced (Stanley Tucci) who, despite his acting chops and threats to force the ER to straighten up and fly right, will not be able to stir the pot enough to freshen the show after so many years.

So, Luka (Goran Visnjic) and Abby (Maura Tierney) finally tied the knot on “ER.”  But “finally,” though, really means “thank goodness by law these two can’t break up again, at least without some difficulty” and not so much “Yay! They’re husband and wife!” because the original appeal of Luka and Abby was their combined torturedness when they began their first incarnation as a couple so many years ago.  Watching them be blissfully married is kind of like a happy Elvis Costello song: it’s nice but it’s not the same without that bite of bitterness. 

Once again, being a loyal fan didn’t seem to pay off for viewers of “ER.”  Those of us who have watched since the beginning know that both Abby and Luka had been married before—and in Luka’s case, to a the mother of his children, all of whom were killed in war.  You’d think he’d have at least some sort of flashback or pause to consider that or even say something to Abby about it.

'ER': Are we there yet?

Perhaps it's that time, time for "ER" to close its doors, and not just temporarily for a paint job.

Last night's episode was somewhat engaging, but only in the way that the same plot we've seen in other incarnations was being lobbed back at us. We began with foreshadowing on Luka (Goran Visnjic) and Abby's (Maura Tierney) relationship as Luka was suddenly called away to Croatia, by himself. Most of us know that this is Visnjicâ's last season on "ER" and clumsy allusions to terrorism early in the episode created a "wonder how they'll make this happen" feeling of non-tension.

As happens at least once a season, a promising new doctor has been introduced (Stanley Tucci) who, despite his acting chops and threats to force the ER to straighten up and fly right, will not be able to stir the pot enough to freshen the show after so many years.

So, Luka (Goran Visnjic) and Abby (Maura Tierney) finally tied the knot on “ER.”  But “finally,” though, really means “thank goodness by law these two can’t break up again, at least without some difficulty” and not so much “Yay! They’re husband and wife!” because the original appeal of Luka and Abby was their combined torturedness when they began their first incarnation as a couple so many years ago.  Watching them be blissfully married is kind of like a happy Elvis Costello song: it’s nice but it’s not the same without that bite of bitterness. 

Once again, being a loyal fan didn’t seem to pay off for viewers of “ER.”  Those of us who have watched since the beginning know that both Abby and Luka had been married before—and in Luka’s case, to a the mother of his children, all of whom were killed in war.  You’d think he’d have at least some sort of flashback or pause to consider that or even say something to Abby about it.

'ER': Married? Yeah, married!

So, Luka (Goran Visnjic) and Abby (Maura Tierney) finally tied the knot on “ER.”  But “finally,” though, really means “thank goodness by law these two can’t break up again, at least without some difficulty” and not so much “Yay! They’re husband and wife!” because the original appeal of Luka and Abby was their combined torturedness when they began their first incarnation as a couple so many years ago.  Watching them be blissfully married is kind of like a happy Elvis Costello song: it’s nice but it’s not the same without that bite of bitterness. 

Once again, being a loyal fan didn’t seem to pay off for viewers of “ER.”  Those of us who have watched since the beginning know that both Abby and Luka had been married before—and in Luka’s case, to a the mother of his children, all of whom were killed in war.  You’d think he’d have at least some sort of flashback or pause to consider that or even say something to Abby about it.