I am - Hercules!!

”Orion in the Sky”

Almsot a decade later, America can’t stop watching. Years after the departure of Doug and Carol, new episodes of “ER” continue to dominate the Nielsens; the show has already aired longer than “Hill Street Blues,” “L.A. Law” or any other drama we can remember NBC scheduling for Thursdays at 10.

Here’s “Dmann” with a look at Mark’s last day on the job:

Heres what TV GUIDE has to say: Training a zealous intern (Mekhi Phifer) leads Greene to a life-altering realization about the future of his own medical care---and his ability to provide it to others. Elsewhere, a junkie gets a lesson in life's hardships after she goes into premature labor; a museum worker displays signs of a legendary ailment usually attributed to the undead; and Corday is forced to give in to a terminal patient's demands to die with dignity.

They aren’t telling us that it's more than the zealous intern, or the terminal patient, or anything that pushes Dr.Green into retirement, it's his own ablility to actually do the work. In short, he’s getting worse. Dr. Weaver, fresh off her big mushy lesbian romance episode last week, is back in form as the resident hard ass, pulling Greene off the trauma room floor.

They also don’t tell us of the welcome and appropriate return of Christine Harnos, playing Jenn Greene, the ex wife! I’ve missed her weepy eyes . Jenn is really having trouble believing that Dr. Greene is dying, and her scene ends too quickly.

There’s also cameos galore. We have Lori Petty as the junkie in labor, Wilson Cruz (Ricky from my so called life!!!) Greene especially lays into the junkie having a baby. Of course, there is also the aforementioned Mekhi Phifer is a whole lot of attitude…he’s Malucci, Erik LaSalle and Omar Epps rolled into one med student. Relax Mekhi, it’s ER, you made the cut. The patient they treat together, an old homeless man who is a “regular”, is a big part of why Dr. Greene stops his chemotherapy. The other guest stars are, as most of the recognizable faces this season, just been quick hits. No one is really being given the “guest” role that makes everyone want to stand up and cheer “EMMYPLEASE!” They are just sort of there, which is good, I hate the over written “very special” guest stars.

TV Guide also doesn’t tell us of the welcome and appropriate return of Christine Harnos, playing Jenn Greene, the ex wife! I’ve missed her weepy eyes . Jenn is really having trouble believing that Dr. Greene is dying, and her scene ends too quickly. This is typical of the episode, which has a lot less with Greene accepting that his life is about to end, and more to do with the people around him dealing with it. It's on the face of Jenn, his current wife Dr. Corday, Dr. Carter, and everyone else, including Phifer’s character, who becomes overwhelmed when he has to tell a patient that his urinary tract infection is in fact, advanced prostate cancer.

Greene is at ease with his imminent mortatilty, choosing to not leave with a big, weepy goodbye, in fact, this is one of the most understated good byes of any of the original cast members. He just….leaves. We know he is going to die, but the producers spare us a big Jimmy Smits-NYPD Blue death scene, instead, giving the final moments a certain dignity. The story lines with Dr. Corday, who as far as I know won’t be leaving the show still haven’t been resolved, so hopefully, we get some resolution before the end of season 9, but who knows.

We still have no word on who the guy in the black leather was, Jerry, or the other guy? Inquiring minds MUST know!!!

All in all, a very nice little goodbye episode, quiet, understated, and yet, very very nice.

“I have an inoperable brain tumor… I win.”

Dmann’s rating for “ER” 9.21?

***1/2

The Hercules T. Strong Rating System:

• ***** better than we deserve
• **** better than most motion pictures
• *** actually worth your valuable time
• ** as horrible as most stuff on TV
• * makes you quietly pray for bulletins

DMANN OUT!!!

To order coffee mugs and boxer shorts adorned with the image of a green, handicapable “Buffy” fanatic, click here.