NBC considering more 'ER'

That pesky, stubborn "ER." The medical drama, once a lion of primetime, has declined in the ratings year after year. NBC finally decides to conclude the show and orders a shortened run of 19 episodes.

So what does "ER" do?

Starts winning its time period.

The past two weeks, "ER" has trounced heavily promoted newcomers "Life on Mars" and "Eleventh Hour" on competitive Thursday nights despite having a weaker lead-in than either show. That "ER"  has been on the air for 14 years makes this all the more remarkable.

Now sources say NBC has been talking to producer Warner Bros. about, um, maybe, uh, how about a few more episodes? Such a move would bring the final season's total to the standard 22. Nothing is official, mind you. This is just conversation. A verdict is likely to be made by the end of the month to prevent any disruption of production.

But really, NBC Universal wouldn't want to give up a longtime asset that keeps winning its time period.

That would just be nutty … right?

Comments

[Bill G]

Bravo on the linking in the last line James!

[entertainmenttodayandbeyond]

Last thursday's episode titled THE BOOK OF ABBY was a terrific piece of television! They should keep the show going. If ER were bought out by ABC and moved to the same timeslot with Grey's Anatomy as its lead in, it would be pulling in 13 mil viewers a week!

[Kayla Reynolds]

Everyone in my high school watches this show now. We had never heard of it before but the new docs are total babes and the boys seem to like the nurses too! It's like Degrassi: The Next Generation!

[Kayla Reynolds]

Everyone in my high school watches this show now. We had never heard of it before but the new docs are total babes and the boys seem to like the nurses too! It's like Degrassi: The Next Generation!

[Kayla Reynolds]

Everyone in my high school watches this show now. We had never heard of it before but the new docs are total babes and the boys seem to like the nurses too! It's like Degrassi: The Next Generation!

[Joe Bua]

I don't believe for a second that "Kayla Reynolds" is a high school student or that all her friends are watching the show.

But it's nice to see the ol' warhorse still has some uumph left in her, huh?

The most disappointing thing about Life on Mars has been that they revealed too much too fast, instead of the slow burn the original did on the major questions regarding the show.

And there are no two other actors besides Patrick Stewart and Ashley Jensen for the leads in Eleventh Hour. I prefer the original there, too.

[bob]

Do you think George Clooney will come back?

The new Chief is HORRIBLE! I have watched ER from the beginning and she is the worst actress in the history of the show. Well, she might be the worst actress of all time!!!