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May 24, 2013

How ER plans to get George Clooney back

by Kelly Woo, posted Sep 22nd 2008 3:19PM

With this being the final season of ER, the show naturally wants to bring back some of its old stars for cameos. George Clooney is the big fish to land, of course, and producers say they've got a juicy storyline to lure him in.

Showrunner David Zabel told TV Guide, "We have a really good story line for every [major] character from the past to show [the actors] what we want to do."

Anthony Edwards is already on board to appear in flashbacks on the Nov. 13 episode (since his character, Dr. Greene, is dead), along with Paul McCrane (Dr. Romano) and Laura Innes (Dr. Weaver). Noah Wyle will guest star in four episodes, and Alex Kingston may show up as Dr. Corday."It helps a lot that we're doing a great episode with Anthony," Zabel said of convincing holdouts Clooney, Julianna Margulies (Nurse Hathaway) and Eriq La Salle (Dr. Benton) to come back.

One thing Zabel says not to expect is a big finale wedding or gala with all the former ER staffers in attendance. "That might lend itself toward hokiness."

Yeah, 'cause ER never gets hokey.


ER' Photos

    ER Parminder Nagra as Neela Rasgotra stars in the episode "As the Day She Was Born." Airs Thursday, April 17, 2008.

    NBC

    ER Troy Evans as Frank McCabe and Mekhi Phifer as Dr. Gregory Pratt star in the episode "As the Day She Was Born." Airs Thursday, April 17, 2008.

    NBC

    ER Mekhi Phifer as Dr. Gregory Pratt stars in the episode "As the Day She Was Born." Airs Thursday, April 17, 2008.

    NBC

    ER Linda Cardellini as Samantha Taggart stars in the episode "As the Day She Was Born." Airs Thursday, April 17, 2008.

    NBC

    ER Mekhi Phifer as Dr. Gregory Pratt and Linda Cardellini as Samantha Taggart star in the episode "As the Day She Was Born." Airs Thursday, April 17, 2008.

    NBC

    ER Linda Cardellini as Samantha Taggart stars in the episode "As the Day She Was Born." Airs Thursday, April 17, 2008.

    NBC

    ER Linda Cardellini as Samantha Taggart stars in the episode "300 Patients." Airs Thursday, December 5, 2007.

    NBC

    GREY'S ANATOMYT.R. Knight as Dr. George O'Malley, D.B. Woodside and Chandra Wilson as Dr. Miranda Bailey star in the episode "Forever Young" - The ER is filled with teenagers after a school bus crash, Bailey treats a patient who was her high school crush, Derek goes out on a date with a fellow doctor, and Thatcher enters the ER looking for Meredith. Airs Thursday, November 15, 2007.

    ABC

    ER Linda Cardellini as Samantha Taggart stars in the episode "I Don't." Airs Thursday, May 3, 2007.

    NBC Universal, Inc.

    ERShane West as Ray Barnett and Goran Visnjic as Dr. Luka Kovac star in the episode "Lights Out." Airs Thursday, April 26, 2007.

    NBC

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jajski

just DO it George .... *smile*

September 24 2008 at 1:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
purpleslog

I think the final story arc should be a zombie attack by dead characters that all of the living current and former characters must unite to defeat.

Well, either that or the closing of the ER.

September 22 2008 at 6:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
NearFar

I say George owes this to ER fans because it was the gate that gave him his stardom today. If it wasn't for ER he would still be doing television sitcoms.

I think sometimes the life in Hollywood is just dog-eat-dog and not enough principle.

September 22 2008 at 5:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to NearFar's comment
Dorv

I don't know if Clooney really owes them anything. I think that him coming back to do the episode with Margulies was pretty cool of him to do.

Would I like to see him come back? Yeah. I think ER's longevity is pretty cool, and affords them a neat opportunity to do some things, as long as they are, like has been mentioned, 'compelling storylines.'

September 22 2008 at 7:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Gina

I would love to see George back on ER. I know it will take a lot to hook him, but if they can get Julianna to come back, they might be able to snag him too. Or vice versa. I think Romano died as well, so I'm curious to see how all these faces are coming back.

http://celebritytoday.today.com

September 22 2008 at 5:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Cincinnati Mike

After reading this, and the TVGuide story, it looks like the foolproof plan is to "write a compelling story."

Lex Luthor couldn't devise a more diabolical scheme!

September 22 2008 at 3:46 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Cincinnati Mike's comment
StillBash

Reverse logic gives you some insight into the fact that this means all the stories for other guest stars are in fact non compelling und absolutely hokey.

I think Batman & Robin should be the last trainwreck after ER that Clooney starred in.

September 22 2008 at 4:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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