Hey, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab.
I don't think I can watch this. One of the few emotional attachments I still have to this show is the fate of Mark Greene, the character Anthony Edwards has been playing since the show's beginning. If something terrible is in store for him, I think I may stop watching now and just save myself the grief. Shame, too. There was a time when I considered this to be the pinnacle of TV drama, week in, week out. Now it may be well told, but it's not a story I want to hear anymore. HERCULES THE STRONG, on the other hand, is digging it much, and I'll let him tell you why...
ER 7.8 FAQ
WHAT’S IT CALLED?
“The Dance We Do.”
WHY?
Abby uses these words to describe her relationship with her bipolar mom (still played by award-winning actress Sally Field).
WHO’S RESPONSIBLE?
Teleplay is credited to Jack Orman.
ANY GOOD?
Prepare to hear your chin smack the floor.
IS IT LETTERBOXED?
It is! Even though I thought I read an NBC press release saying Thanksgiving’s episode was the last to be letterboxed! When this letterboxing will end (if ever) is now anyone’s guess!
IS THE CONTINUED LETTERBOXING THE REASON YOUR CHIN HIT THE FLOOR?
It is not.
THEN WHY?
You will NOT BELIEVE the severity of Mark Greene’s condition.
WHAT? GREENE’S CATSCANS ON THE THANKSGIVING EPISODE WERE NOT A RED HERRING?
They were not. Mark Greene is in very big trouble. Very big.
WHEN DO WE LEARN GREENE’S PROGNOSIS?
About 14 minutes in.
ANY NEWS ON CARTER?
He becomes to first to learn of Greene’s terrible news.
ANY WORD ON BENTON?
He gets to confront his nephew’s girlfriend, the one he blames for his nephew’s gang-related death. She winds up in the ER after she is thrown from a speeding auto.
DOES KERRY GO ALL LESBO THIS WEEK?
She does not. Dr. Weaver sits out this episode. But her fetching Thanksgiving dinner date puts in an appearance.
AND ROMANO?
Also absent. Which makes this pretty much a villain-free installment.
AND CHEN?
Another no-show.
IS LUKA AT LEAST IN THIS ONE?
He is, but his role is largely relegated to sleeping with Abby Lockhart.
WHAT ELSE HAPPENS?
Corday gives her deposition on the mishap for which she’s being sued. It is in these scenes that the show trots out most of its weekly parcel of top-notch guest stars. Zeljko Ivanek (TV’s “Homicide”) plays her tormentor, Matt Craven (“Crimson Tide”) her counsel.
HOW DOES IT END?
Mark tells Elizabeth the bad news, and Abby, in her jammies, has a good cry.
HERC’S RATING FOR “ER” 7.8?
****
The Hercules T. Strong Rating System:
**** better than most motion pictures
*** actually worth your valuable time
** as horrible as most stuff on TV
* makes you quietly pray for bulletins
See you at Numb-A-Thon, Ya Little Wiener Dogs There!
