 |
| "The Show Must Go On" | |
|---|---|
| ER episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 11 Episode 22 |
| Directed by | John Wells |
| Written by | David Zabel |
| Original air date | May 19, 2005 |
"The Show Must Go On" is the 22nd and final episode of the eleventh season, and the 245th episode overall, of the American television series ER . Written by David Zabel and directed by John Wells, the episode originally aired on NBC on May 19, 2005.
Dr. John Carter is back in the States to wrap up his affairs. He purchases half a dozen pizzas for the ER staff, as well as some refreshments. He also treats a patient who has injured her wrist.
Ray is dealing with whether he wants to go into his residency as a doctor. Dr. Archie Morris and Dr. Ray Barnett leave for another party. This party is held on several floors in the back of an apartment building on the balconies at each level. Morris promptly becomes intoxicated, and begins vomiting. Barnett goes to help him. Suddenly the porches collapse, one on top of each other.
Carter then leaves with Dr. Kovač for his "surprise" farewell party, where most of the attending doctors and his friends are waiting for him. County General then stops accepting trauma patients after further problems with the sewer pipes in the hospital leaves them with only one operating room, coupled with the fact that the majority of the ER staff is at Carter's party.
Six people are killed in the porch collapse, and some are not hurt too badly. Five more are critically injured in the accident. Barnett surprises his friends with his handling of the situation. The paramedics on the scene tell Barnett that they are going to take the critically injured to St. Rafe's Hospital because County is closed. County is the only Chicago hospital that has Level I Trauma Status in the show, making it the first choice for such situations. Barnett uses the radio to call County and demands that Abby reopen the ER, otherwise the five critical patients would probably not make it to the hospital. Dr. Lockhart initially refuses, as there are no attending physicians and only one OR, but when one of the critical patients dies, she relents.
Unable to reach Dr. Kovač by pager, they send a student over to fetch him. The party immediately evaporates, as everyone runs back to the ER to help the victims of the porch collapse. A surprised Carter returns from the restroom to empty tables. They spend some time watching a slideshow of his time at County. The presentation features past ER doctors, including Dr. Doug Ross (George Clooney), Dr. Mark Greene (Anthony Edwards), and Dr. Peter Benton (Eriq La Salle). Eventually Dr. Susan Lewis brings Carter back to the ER.
Carter treats one last patient before leaving County General. He is surprised to learn that he delivered the young girl with the broken wrist 11 years ago in Season 1.
Before he leaves he stops by to see Ray, Neela and Abby and shares the letter he wrote to himself as an intern under Dr. Greene, that had sat in his locker until this point. As Carter is leaving the hospital for the last time, Dr. Greene and Dr. Benton (his primary mentors) and Nurse Carol Hathaway are heard in voice-overs. Outside, he finds a fatigued and partially sober Morris crouching outside. Carter repeats the advice that was given to Dr. Greene by Dr. Morgenstern to the new chief resident: "You set the tone."
The porch collapse featured in this episode is based on the true story of the 2003 Chicago balcony collapse.
This is the final episode with Noah Wyle (who plays Dr. John Carter) as a regular cast member, although he has several guest appearances in later episodes.
This is Scott Grimes' final episode before becoming a regular cast member in season 12, playing character Archie Morris.
Mark Greene, M.D. is a fictional character from the American medical drama series ER, portrayed by actor Anthony Edwards. He first appears in the series' pilot episode and subsequently appeared as one of the principal characters until the end of the eighth season. Edwards later returned to make a guest appearance in the fifteenth season episode "Heal Thyself".
John Truman Carter III, M.D. is a fictional character from the NBC television series ER. He was portrayed by Noah Wyle and appeared as one of the series' principal characters from the pilot episode until the eleventh-season finale. Carter's career path is one of the main story arcs of the series, beginning as a third-year medical student, becoming a resident, first in surgery and then in emergency medicine, before being promoted to an attending physician.
Abigail Marjorie Lockhart, M.D. is a fictional character from the NBC medical drama series ER, portrayed by Maura Tierney. Usually referred to as simply Abby, she first appears as a guest star in the first half of the sixth season, before becoming a main character later that season, appearing until the beginning of the fifteenth season. Tierney returned to make one final guest appearance later in season fifteen.
Peter Benton, M.D. is a fictional character from the NBC medical drama series ER, portrayed by actor Eriq La Salle, appearing as a primary character from the pilot episode until part way through the eighth season.
Luka Kovač is a fictional character from the NBC television series ER. The role was portrayed by Goran Višnjić from the sixth season episode, "Leave It to Weaver", which aired on September 30, 1999 until the thirteenth season episode, "The Honeymoon Is Over", which aired on May 17, 2007.
Kerry Weaver is a fictional character, a physician, from the NBC television series ER. The role was portrayed by Laura Innes, who debuted as a recurring character in the second-season episode "Welcome Back, Carter!", which aired on September 21, 1995. Innes was promoted to the role of series regular as of the third-season episode "Dr. Carter, I Presume", which aired on September 26, 1996, and made her last regular appearance in the thirteenth-season episode "A House Divided", which aired on January 11, 2007.
Samantha "Sam" Taggart is a fictional character on the NBC television drama ER. She is played by actress Linda Cardellini. Linda Cardellini's addition into the main cast opening credits was in the fifth episode of season 10.
Gregory Pratt, M.D. is a fictional character from the medical drama series ER, portrayed by Mekhi Phifer. He first appears as a recurring character towards the end of the eight season, becoming a main character from the start of the ninth season until the start of the fifteenth season.
Dr. Neela Rasgotra is a fictional character portrayed by Parminder Nagra on the television show ER. Parminder Nagra's addition into the main cast opening credits was in the 3rd episode of season 10.
Carol Hathaway is a fictional character from the NBC medical drama series ER, portrayed by actress Julianna Margulies. She is the nurse manager in the ER. She regularly appeared throughout the series from the pilot episode to her penultimate episode of the show’s sixth season. She was mentioned throughout the series and made her final appearance in season fifteen, the show’s last season, when she is revealed to have a new career as a transplant coordinator.
Dr. Anthony Gates is a fictional character on the television series ER portrayed by actor John Stamos. Dr. Gates was first introduced in Season 12 before becoming a series regular in Seasons 13-15.
Jing-MeiChen, M.D. is a fictional character from the medical drama series ER, portrayed by Ming-Na Wen. The character first appears in the first season as a recurring guest character, going by the name Debra "Deb" Chen. She departs the series towards the end of the first season, before returning as a main cast member part way through the sixth season, remaining until the middle of the eleventh season.
Dr. Dave Malucci is a fictional character on the NBC prime time drama ER. He was portrayed by Erik Palladino.
Cleo Finch is a fictional character from the NBC television series ER. She was portrayed by Michael Michele and appeared on the show from the sixth season's episode, "Leave It to Weaver," which aired on September 30, 1999, until the eighth season episode, "I'll Be Home for Christmas," which aired on December 13, 2001. Michele also made a guest appearance in the episode "On the Beach," aired on May 9, 2002.
"Twenty-One Guns" is the 22nd episode of the 12th season of American television series ER. The episode, which serves as the 267th episode overall, aired on May 18, 2006 on NBC.
The fifteenth and final season of the American fictional drama television series ER premiered on September 25, 2008, and concluded on April 2, 2009, in a two-hour episode preceded by a one-hour retrospective special. It consists of 22 episodes. Because actors Mekhi Phifer, Goran Visnjic, and Maura Tierney had been told the 14th season would be the last one, they had no plans or interest in returning for S15. The producers agreed to film two S15 episodes at the very end of the Season 14 production cycle so that all three actors could finish their time on the show and move on to other projects. Tierney would make a one-scene guest appearance in an episode near the end of Season 15.
"And in the End..." is the series finale of the American medical drama television series ER. The two-hour episode, which serves as the 22nd episode of the fifteenth season and the 331st episode overall, was written by John Wells and directed by Rod Holcomb and aired on NBC on April 2, 2009. It was preceded by a one-hour retrospective special.
ER is an American drama series that aired on NBC from September 19, 1994, until April 2, 2009. The series featured a large ensemble cast that changed dramatically over its long run. The main cast was augmented by a wealth of recurring characters and award-winning guest stars.
Robert "Rocket" Romano, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a fictional character in the medical drama ER, portrayed by American actor Paul McCrane. He was introduced in the fourth season as a recurring character. He evolves from being a surgical attending physician to Chief of Staff at Chicago's County General Hospital, with McCrane being promoted to series regular from the sixth season until his death in the tenth season.
"24 Hours" is the pilot episode of the medical drama series ER. It first aired on NBC in the United States on September 19, 1994. The episode was written by Michael Crichton, adapted from a screenplay he originally wrote in 1974, and directed by Rod Holcomb. The episode was a critical and commercial success, received both high rating and very favorable critics reactions.