John Stamos helps give ‘ER’ a booster shot

sarah Tue, Nov 28, 2006 at 08:54 PM EST

I have never seen this show before accept once when i was about 10 but i shall start to watch it since john stamos is on it.

yawn Wed, Nov 22, 2006 at 08:33 AM EST

Stamos is WAY sexier than Clooney!

Dena Tue, Nov 21, 2006 at 06:56 PM EST

LOVE ER!! I have watched it every week from the beginning of time. I thought for sure when Doug left (George Clooney) that I would leave too, but no, they give me Luka, and my heart can go on...he's the real reason I watch now. I just think he's the cutest thing on TV, but John Stamos is a close second. It's like Christmas every Thursday!!

Patricia Tue, Nov 21, 2006 at 06:25 PM EST

I stopped watching when Omar Epps was killed off (although I did tune in one more time for the "very special" episode of Kellie Martin getting killed off). I'm sure the show is still good, but...mehhhh...I can watch Omar Epps on House.

mg Tue, Nov 21, 2006 at 05:38 PM EST

Man, I am so bummed about Men in Trees moving to compete with ER. I don't have DVR, so I will have to flip back and forth. I, too, fell off the ER wagon a few seasons back, but recently jumped back on due to an excellent cast. Mekhi Phifer is amazing.

kcholt68 Tue, Nov 21, 2006 at 03:58 PM EST

>Or is Grey's Anatomy at 9 whetting your appetite for a second hour of hospital theatrics<

You hit the nail on the head here, I think that's exactly why ratings have gone up this year.

diggity Tue, Nov 21, 2006 at 03:36 PM EST

I have watched ER from the beginning. I thought it was over when Dr. Ross left, but it pulled through. Then Dr. Carter left, but it kept going. Luca has been the glue sticking me to this show for years now (i love him) but I will tell you, I find Neela painful to watch- but this season even she has softened up and become likeable, I love Abby, I love Carrie Weaver, Sam, Morris, all of them. It's my 3rd favorite show in TV (1 being SVU and 2 being the Office)

I am loving Uncle Jesse. I wish he wasn't a jerk who is cheating on this wife/ girlfriend whatever she is.

ps in seattle Tue, Nov 21, 2006 at 03:11 PM EST

I have been faithful to ER since Day One. It is realistic and fairly accurate medically, and shows the lives of interns more faithfully than any medical show previously had. And the menfolk have consistently been very appealing, even more so now that John Stamos has joined the cast. By the way, I really miss John Leguizamo, he was fabulous.

Sure, I checked in to Grey's Anatomy -- it's my home town and I like medical shows. But this is not a medical show. It's a very annoying relationship show that happens to be set in a hospital. The "professional" relationships are totally unbelievable, and why oh why are so many men head over heels with Meredith Grey? She is SO unattractive, SO immature, SO whiny and SO completely annoying. She is one of the most unlikeable title characters on TV today.

Give me ER over Grey's ANY day. I'm faithful to this great medical show for the long haul.

Jay Tue, Nov 21, 2006 at 02:53 PM EST

John Stamos has finally filled the void left by George Clooney. The grouchy Croatian dude just never quite cut it for me.

Ceballos Tue, Nov 21, 2006 at 02:46 PM EST

No offense to Uncle Jesse, but I'm pretty sure ER's slight ratings increase has less to do with any change in quality or cast and MORE to do with not getting crushed every week by "Without a Trace".

Silas Bent Tue, Nov 21, 2006 at 02:43 PM EST

I have been bored since they fired Sherry Stringfield (Dr. Lewis) or whatever. I’d even watch if they put back the theme song, damn it! Still the best.

Kat Tue, Nov 21, 2006 at 02:08 PM EST

I checked out of ER when the helicopter fell on whats-his-name. The ridiculous plots just make me laugh now. It is not even close to the show it once was - it totally relies on shock and gimmicks.

Miles Tue, Nov 21, 2006 at 12:17 PM EST

Lynnette, you are quite right, After Grey's anatomy, I want more doctors, I don't know what it is, it's just comforting so i turn the tv over to E.R. granted I mostly leave it on in the background while I prep for bed, the last few episodes have been quite different, and have maintained my attention. You don't become a staple of tv and a future classic by being bad. Good Job E.R.

Dave Tue, Nov 21, 2006 at 11:59 AM EST

Another hospital drama also has a cast that is only half white, and that would be none other than Grey's Anatomy.

mark in nyc Tue, Nov 21, 2006 at 11:27 AM EST

I have watched the show since the begining. What I like about it is that the characters actually grow, such as Pratt who started off as a cocky intern but has moved up to a leadership position....you don't really see that on other shows. (Character development that is)
I also think that ER is one of the few shows that showcases minority actors..half the cast is not white! Tell me another show where you see that! An actual true representation of life.

But the real reason I have hung on for the last few years is the amazing and talanted Maura Tierney.

heather Tue, Nov 21, 2006 at 11:16 AM EST

I stopped watching when Noah Wyle left, and the show seemed to be deterimined to make every character miserable. But I've been considering going back to it this season, just haven't had a chance. And I just want to mention, while I totally agree the early seasons/early cast were the best, the show has always been pulling "stunts" for action. I just finished watching episode 5 of Season One where a car drives through the doors.

Brittany Tue, Nov 21, 2006 at 11:12 AM EST

I have watched (and loved) ER from day one. And although I do admit there were a few seasons a while back that were not up to par for me, the past couple have been absolutely awesome. The addition of John Stamos was fabulous and I am looking forward to see his character develop. Other shows have come and gone, but ER has remained...that right there proves what a quality drama this is! My fingers will be crossed for a 15th season!

mrcr Tue, Nov 21, 2006 at 10:35 AM EST

I love ER. It's one of the few shows I look forward to each week. I watch TV for drama, not realism, so it doesn't bother me if it's not realistic. I was 17 when this show started, so it's kind of been a constant thing in my life and I will be sad to see it end.

Faye Tue, Nov 21, 2006 at 10:32 AM EST

I would watch John Stamos watching paint dry

Rahul Tue, Nov 21, 2006 at 10:23 AM EST

I only stopped watching for a year or two, when the cast was going through a revolving door.

Kimmie G Tue, Nov 21, 2006 at 10:18 AM EST

I broke up with ER a few years ago, and, like any good girlfriend who's been done wrong, haven't looked back at my decision to ditch the show. Too many stunts, too many over-the-top tragedies (haven't we seen the bus crash before?), too many episodes away from the emergency room, and too many soap opera turns for the characters (seriously, could any one more thing have happened to Carter?). My Thursday nights are now reserved for Shark.

Jennifer Tue, Nov 21, 2006 at 10:14 AM EST

I have tuned in just to see John Stamos...when I was a teenager he was IT for me. (In the Blackie days) I even waited in line for hours at the Autorama in Detroit when I was 12 just to give him a kiss. Wow -- I thought I was the sh*t! I even have been known to turn on Full House just to see him. Kind of gives me that warm feeling of innocent childhood we all need to go back to one day. I really think he has made a comeback since his divorce!

Lori Tue, Nov 21, 2006 at 10:03 AM EST

I have watched ER from the very beginning. I've been through it all. I even was a little leery about watching Grey's Anatomy at first because I didn't want to betray my beloved ER. :) But now I watch Grey's first and faithfully turn to ER right after. I'm loving all the storylines on ER this season. I think Stamos is a great addition, but I think the cast as whole have done a great job. I love Abby and Luka with the baby and that whole dynamic, I love Pratt and his development into a more mature doctor and person. I love Neela, etc. I think they have a good ensemble cast going and if ER does come back for a 15th season, they need to sign everyone.

AS Tue, Nov 21, 2006 at 09:32 AM EST

Ok, so bear with me, this is NOT intended to be a troll.

I watched every single episode of ER for about 10 seasons. It killed me when Carter got all into Africa and the action really shifted from the ER. Looking back, it started going downhill when Eriq Lasalle went to Mississippi (or where ever it was) years before.

ER is a great premise, but the plotline is driven by huge things happening, and after a while, you stop buying it. I long for realism. The ER is rarely slow, there's always some major event like a bomb, or a virus, or - God help us - a helicopter accident (um... twice!)

As for Grey's, my fiance loves it so I watch it with her every week, but I have to say: it sucks. It's so unrealistic and just painful to watch event after event of inconsistent and unlikely happenings. Interns hanging out with Attendings? Everyone sleeping with everyone? An intern controlling the surgery board? How about interns running complex surgeries like Cristina? All working the same shift all the time - and conveniently - always in the daytime? Sorry, don't buy it.

Liza Tue, Nov 21, 2006 at 09:28 AM EST

I have watched all 13 seasons of ER. I thought it would be over for me when Clooney left, but Goran Vinjic kept me going. Man! I love him. Though I think Stamos is great, if Visnic leaves, I'm gone.

Ora Tue, Nov 21, 2006 at 09:16 AM EST

After ER lost most of the original cast, the show went through a revolving list of actors (so much so that they had to alternate every other episode), had fantastical stories (e.g. a tank driving through Chicago), and the cast lost much of their chemistry. I don't give the credit to John Stamos, but he certainly doesn't hurt the great energy that has developed this season. Visnjic and Tierney are finally in a position to lead, Phifer and Nagra are particularly strong, and Cardellini and Innes are great a support and anchor.

Dave Tue, Nov 21, 2006 at 09:12 AM EST

stamos has been great on er. i just wish they would get rid of morris. i can't stand him!

Gretchen Weiners Tue, Nov 21, 2006 at 09:02 AM EST

I've been watching ER forever and I even broke up with it before the season started. I must say, however, that I am enjoying it now more than ever. Stamos is a great addition and I really love that the show is taking risks with the characters and allowing the viewers to see more of them - like Kerry with the TV news stuff, and Morris with the DID patient. Love it. And I can't wait to see what happens with the stalking!!

Steffany Tue, Nov 21, 2006 at 08:34 AM EST

Way, way back when I was in middle school and George Clooney was still there, I loved ER. It only took a few episodes of Julianna Margulies's departure for me to start forgetting that it was even on. Occassionally over the past few years I've found myself watching it (Like the episode with John Mahoney!), and the next thing I knew, Abby was pregnant, and (I thought) it was Kovac's, but he seemed to be in a relationship with the blonde woman who has a kid.
I just can't go back to ER.

Garry Tue, Nov 21, 2006 at 08:32 AM EST

As a longtime fan of the show, I'm enjoying ER now more than ever. The characters that drove me crazy and almost ruined it for me (especially Romano)are gone, and I actually like everyone now, each for a different reason--the addition of John Stamos was a great choice. But my absolute favorite is the underrated Maura Tierney. I find myself waiting for her scenes every week.

jj Tue, Nov 21, 2006 at 08:04 AM EST

actually ER is one of the best and most sophisticated dramas on tv. It is the only show that dealt with the Darfur crisis by having two doctors facing life and death with doctors without borders, and having Mekhi Pfifer, an urban black doctor, go to Africa to volunteer in Darfur, made him into a real man. It has also had another black doctor in the reserves go to Iraq and correspond with his wife and friends before being tragically killed, and his wife feeling guilt as well as grief. I've never liked John Stamos but he has great chemistry with Nila and Mekhi Pfifer...

Simon Tue, Nov 21, 2006 at 07:51 AM EST

I am not checking out ER because of John Stamos. Gates and Neela - yuck.

There are enough good tv on Thursday - Ugly Betty, CSI Shark and Grey's Anatomy - who needs ER?