I’m a skeptic at heart. I wasn’t born that way (my first words weren’t, “No way did I come out of that place!”); rather, I’ve been burned too many times in the past that I had to adopt that position in order to prevent myself from being scammed any further. This skepticism has come in handy in a number of places.
One of these is while watching television. Particularly the “Next week on…” previews for TV shows. My ‘Skeptic Sense’ goes absolutely crazy now that the networks have taken over these little preview clips from the production companies that produce the programs. This is especially true with ER, who has given us viewers many false previews over the last few seasons. The latest one is for next week’s episode, which supposedly reunites a number of original cast members at Dr. John Carter’s bedside as his fate lies in the balance.
Don’t believe that for a second!
If you carefully watch the preview scenes and listen to the narration you get a sense that Eriq LaSalle, Julianna Margulies, and an un-mentioned George Clooney (who they must be saving for a surprise that everyone knows about) will never cross paths during the episode. Nor will they all hang out with Carter as he waits for a new kidney. Right now, it looks like they will be involved in two separate storylines.
The only one I can see joining Carter is LaSalle’s Dr. Benton. This is the most logical since Pete Benton was John’s teacher and mentor as he began his career as a wet behind the ears, third year medical student. Having Peter return once again to support Carter seems fitting as ER comes to an end. Carol Hathaway and Doug Ross? Well, even though they may be in the Chicagoland area (assisting guest star Susan Sarandon) it doesn’t seem like they’ll be stopping by Carter’s room with a bouquet of flowers.
Even the show blurb for this week’s episode gives us a hint that Benton, Hathaway and Ross won’t be sharing a drink after all is said and done. Here is a snippet from the blurb, direct from the NBC media website: “Dr. Carter (guest star Noah Wyle) gets a surprise visit from an old friend (guest star Eriq LaSalle) while waiting for his kidney transplant.” If the network isn’t even mentioning the reunion of this quartet of doctors how can we, the fans who ache for such a thing, really believe them?
Oh, I could be wrong of course. Benton, Hathaway and Ross could all get together at one point or another. Hell, they may even dig up Mark Greene’s body to make it a real, yet slightly disturbing, party. I just feel that it’s not going to happen. While it’ll be nice to see them all on screen again, having them in separate storylines won’t have the same impact as it would if they were all in the same room together. We’ll just have to wait and see, won’t we?
Clacked by Richard Keller 
on Mar 10, 2009 @ 15:00 EST5EDT
I don’t know if its a by product of knowing spoilers or not, but I didn’t get that impression from the promo at all.
But, the NBC Promo department always went overboard with ER :)
As far as I could tell by both last week’s episode and the previews for this week’s, it sounds like Neela and Sam are heading to Seattle to pick up a heart for that woman from the last few episodes and, as it will turn out, a kidney for Carter as well.
Carter is heading to another hospital (as we saw last week) and I would guess Dr. Benton is on the staff there.
My guess as to what will happen will be that Neela and Sam will come across Carol, who apparently is in some higher position in Seattle (remember, that is where she ran to to meet Doug Ross again), comforting the wife of the donor (Susan Sarandon). It will be a trying day for Carol and she will head home where Doug will be there waiting to comfort her.
Just a guess. I just hope also that, if things play out that way, we have an added bonus — Carol and Doug, we will also find out, have a son, and his name is Mark; I think that would be fitting, no?
I would be disappointed if Carol and Doug don’t end up in Cook County General.
I hadn’t caught the Seattle connection, but feel pretty silly now that I missed it.
IIRC, yes, when Peter left County, he did go to Northwestern. But, the wiki page which doesn’t specify where he went.
All and all, I’ve been really happy with the way they have done these returns. I’ve really enjoyed this final season (save, obviously, for Banfield and Brenner, two needless additions).
I think CMart is right on. They do go to Seattle and they have said since it was announced that this was the last season that Carter wanted Northwestern – where Peter Benton went – and not County to get his transplant.
Also, Sherry Stringfield, who twice played Dr. Susan Lewis, is coming back so maybe she is the surprise visitor?
I also read that all of the characters were supposed to be on the two-hour finale somehow. Not sure but I love how the old characters – even Rocket Romano but i hated his comment to Dr Greene – have been brought back