ER (season 4)
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| ER: The Complete Fourth Season | |
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| Series | ER |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| Network | NBC |
| Original run | September 25, 1997 – May 14, 1998 |
| No. of episodes | 22 |
| DVD release date | December 20, 2005 (Widescreen, Boxset) |
| Previous season | ER: Season 3 |
| Next season | ER: Season 5 |
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For more details on this topic, see List of ER episodes.
This article contains a summary of the fourth season of the American fictional drama television series ER.
The season first aired on September 25, 1997 and concluded on May 14, 1998. The fourth season has 22 episodes.
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[edit] Plot
Season four starts out with the live episode Ambush, which is filmed twice (once for the east coast, once for the west coast). This episode is seen through documentary cameras, which accounts for the lack of the normal film quality. In this episode, Dr. Morgenstern, head of the ER, has a heart attack, deeply threatening his life. Weaver has agreed to temporarily step in until he recovers. Unfortunately, when Morgenstern does come back, he cannot perform surgery like he used to do because he now knows what it’s like to be a patient. After a surgical accident that takes a man’s life, Morgenstern decides to permanently step down as head of the ER and he leaves the hospital.
Season four also sees two new characters: Dr. Anna Del Amico (who made a three episode cameo at the end of season three) played by Maria Bello and a new British surgeon Dr. Elizabeth Corday, played by Alex Kingston. Corday come to America under the fellowship of Dr. Robert “Rocket” Romano (played by Paul McCrane), but their relationship sours towards the end of the season. After she rejects Romano when he asks her out, he decides not to renew her fellowship. She is forced to choose whether she moves back to England or stays in America as an intern. She chooses to be an intern.
Meanwhile, as Greene copes with his beating, he and Ross take a vacation to Arizona to bury Ross’s dad. While there, Greene visits his own parents, where he finds out that his mother is sick, and his relationship with his dad is estranged, at best. Back in Chicago, he begins to date new ER desk clerk Cynthia Hooper (played by Mariska Hargitay). The relationship is purely physical, and when Greene has to visit his parents again later in the season, she comes along, only to realize that Greene doesn’t love her. After the awkward break up, Cynthia leaves, but Greene stays to better take care of his ailing mother and begin to mend his relationship with his father.
Ross and Hathaway get more serious as the season goes along. Ross surprises Hathaway and proposes to her in front of the ER staff, which she accepts. She later has commitment issues when she kisses a vulnerable paramedic. She tells Ross, and he reacts angrily. After a short time, Ross forgives her and tells her he’ll wait until she’s ready to be married. In addition, Hathaway is able to open a free clinic in the ER with the help of Carter’s Grandmother. Plus, Ross vies for a pediatric attending in the ER.
Benton finds out that his son is hearing impaired. When he finds this out, he seriously considers trying to get it repaired surgically. After meeting with hearing impaired people, he decides against it. In the meantime, a lonely Corday starts a relationship with Benton, which cause friction with Benton’s family and Carla because she’s white.
Weaver attends a Synergix seminar to see how to better manage the ER. She begins to date a Synergix representative, Ellis West, who advises her to fire a physician’s assistant, which happens to be Jeanie Boulet. Jeanie fights for her job, claiming that she is getting fired because of her HIV status, and wins. Weavers begins to see Synergix’s dark side, and breaks up with West because she felt he was using her, effectively cutting off all ties with Synergix. During all of this, Jeanie’s ex husband/current partner Al is forced to reveal his HIV status. This gets him fired and forces him to look to Atlanta for a job, and he asks Jeanie to join him. Jeanie refuses, and Al leaves her. Later in the season, Jeanie cares for Anspaugh’s dying son, because she is the only person able to get through to him. After he dies, Anspaugh feels a lot gratitude and remorse towards Jeanie because he was willing to fire her.
Carter pretends to be poor in order to get in Anna’s good graces, which fails because she finds out he was lying to her. But, the two still become good friends, and she helps Carter help his cousin Chase detoxifies from a heroin addiction. She had experience in the subject, considering her ex boyfriend went through a similar experience. Unfortunately, their efforts were in vain, because Chase started using again, eventually crippling him for life. At the end of the season, Anna’s boyfriend comes to the hospital to access the ER, to see if it is in need of a peds attending. Anna is still in love with him, and she leaves with him between seasons four and five (presumably because actress Maria Bello decided not to come back to the show).
[edit] Production
[edit] Cast
[edit] Starring cast
- Anthony Edwards as Dr. Mark Greene
- George Clooney as Dr. Doug Ross
- Noah Wyle as Dr. John Carter
- Julianna Margulies as Nurse Carol Hathaway
- Gloria Reuben as PA Jeanie Boulet
- Laura Innes as Dr. Kerry Weaver
- Maria Bello as Dr. Anna Del Amico
- Alex Kingston as Dr. Elizabeth Corday
- Eriq La Salle as Dr. Peter Benton
[edit] Supporting cast
Doctors:
- William H. Macy as Dr. David Morgenstern
- John Aylward as Dr. Anspaugh
- CCH Pounder as Dr. Angela Hicks
- Paul McCrane as Dr. Robert Romano
- Clancy Brown as Dr. Ellis West
- James LeGros as Dr. Max Rosher
- Dennis Boutsikaris as Dr. Kotlowitz
- Jorja Fox as Dr. Maggie Doyle
- Matthew Glave as Dr. Dale Edson
- Sam Anderson as Dr. Jack Kayson
- Michael Buchman Silver as Dr. Paul Meyers
- Amy Aquino as Dr. Janet Coburn
- Iqbal Theba as Dr. Zagerby
- David Brisban as Dr. Alexander Babcock
- John Doman as as Dr. Carl DeRaad
Nurses:
- Ellen Crawford as Nurse Lydia Wright
- Deezer D as Nurse Malik McGrath
- Yvette Freeman as Nurse Haleh Adams
- Conni Marie Brazelton as Nurse Conni Oligario
- Lily Mariye as Nurse Lily Jarvik
- Laura Cerón as Nurse Chuny Marquez
- Vanessa Marquez as Student nurse Wendy Goldman
- Gedde Watanabe as Yosh Takata
- Lucy Rodriguez as Nurse Bjerke
- Kyle Richards as Nurse Dori
- Bellina Logan as Nurse Kit
- Dinah Lenney as Nurse Shirley
Other Staff:
- Abraham Benrubi as desk clerk Jerry Markovic
- Kristin Minter as desk clerk Miranda "Randi" Fronczak
- Mariska Hargitay as desk clerk Cynthia Hooper
- Chad Lowe as George Henry
- George Eads as Dean Powell
- Monté Russell as Paramedic Dwight Zadro
- Emily Wagner as Paramedic Doris Pickman
- Lyn Alicia Henderson as Paramedic Pamela Obles
- Claudine Claudio as Paramdeic Silva
- Mike Genovese as Officer Al Grabarsky
- Erica Gimpel as social worker Adele Neuman
Other:
- Christine Harnos as Jennifer "Jenn" Greene
- Yvonne Zima as Rachel Greene
- Bonnie Bartlett as Ruth Greene
- John Cullum as David Greene
- Joe Torry as Chris Law
- Jonathan Scarfe as Chase Carter
- Frances Sternhagen as Millicent Carter
- Michael Beach as Al Boulet
- Khandi Alexander as Jackie Benton-Robbins
- Lisa Nicole Carson as Carla Reese
- Victor Williams as Roger McGrath
- Mathew Watkins as Reese Benton
[edit] Episodes
- See also: List of ER episodes
"Series #" refers to the episode's number in the overall series, whereas "Season #" refers to the episode's number in this particular season.
| Season # | Series # | Title | Writer(s) | Director | Original airdate |
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| 1 | 70 | "Ambush (Live episode)" | Carol Flint | Thomas Schlamme | September 25, 1997 |
| A PBS camera crew invades the ER to film a documentary. A new British surgeon, Elizabeth Corday, uses unfamiliar medical tems. Dr. Morgenstern suffers from a heart attack. Nielsen Ratings: 42.7 million viewers (highest rated episode of season four) | |||||
| 2 | 71 | "Something New" | Lydia Woodward | Christopher Chulack | October 02, 1997 |
| Still suffering emotionally from his beating, Greene misdiagnoses his cases. Benton and Carla finally name their son, who is recovering from his premature birth. Hathaway and Ross continue their secret affair. Carter deals with the loss of his seniority due to his move to the ER. | |||||
| 3 | 72 | "Friendly Fire" | Walon Green | Félix Enríquez Alcalá | October 09, 1997 |
| Jeanie's ex-husband is forced to reveal his HIV-positive status to his employer. Weaver is named the temporary replacement for Morganstern, and informs Ross he may lose his fellowship. Carter is jealous with somebody about Del Amico. Benton's son is circumsized against his wishes. Greene has a date with a water polo player, but has difficulties. The arrival of an arms-dealer couple as patients leads to mayhem. | |||||
| 4 | 73 | "When the Bough Breaks" | Jack Orman | Richard Thorpe | October 16, 1997 |
| The after-effects of Greene's beating threaten his visitation rights with his daughter. Carter and Del Amico work with new med students. Both Jeanie and her ex-husband have job difficulties due to their HIV-positive status. Weaver suggests that Ross find a research grant to keep his job. Carter and Benton come to blows over Carter's switch to emergency medicine. | |||||
| 5 | 74 | "Good Touch, Bad Touch" | David Mills | Jonathan Kaplan | October 30, 1997 |
| Hathaway comes up with the idea of a pediatric clinic for the ER, and starts looking for funding. Ross and Del Amico have a puzzling case involving a young athlete. Greene is deposed in a malpractice suit. Benton is having trouble juggling work and parenthood. | |||||
| 6 | 75 | "Ground Zero" | Samantha Howard Corbin | Darnell Martin | November 06, 1997 |
| Anspaugh asks Benton to work with a new surgeon, Dr. Romano, who works with surgical robotics. Greene confides in Cynthia, the temporary receptionist, as his life continues to go downhill. After conferring with Synergix, a firm that helps streamline hospital operating costs, Weaver fires Jeanie. Hathaway meets with Carter's rich grandmother, Millicent "Gamma" Carter, about funding her clinic. | |||||
| 7 | 76 | "Fathers and Sons" | John Wells | Christopher Chulack | November 13, 1997 |
| Greene and Ross travel to California to claim Doug's deceased father's belongings. Along the way the two visit the home of Greene's parents, and receive a surprise visitor. | |||||
| 8 | 77 | "Freak Show" | Neal Baer | Darnell Martin | November 20, 1997 |
| Maggie Doyle helps Jeanie get assistance to get her job back. Romano, Benton and Corday operate on a boy with reversed organs, a unique case. Hathaway's clinic is forced open early when Cynthia sends the advertisement for it too soon. One of Carter's former students returns to redo his clerkship, and ends up being a patient. | |||||
| 9 | 78 | "Obstruction of Justice" | Lance Gentile | Richard Thorpe | December 11, 1997 |
| Synergix starts setting up shop at County General. Defending a patient he suspects is abused, Carter is arrested for refusing to cooperate with a cop. Weaver agrees to give Jeanie her job back. Cynthia rubs Greene's ex-wife the wrong way concerning Rachel. Greene's lawyer tours the ER and ends up saving a life himself. Corday operates to save the leg of Alison Beaumont, a firefighter, and the patient goes into a coma, causing Corday to question her own ambitions. | |||||
| 10 | 79 | "Do You See What I See?" | Linda Gase (story), Jack Orman (teleplay) | Sarah Pia Anderson | December 18, 1997 |
| On Christmas Eve, Benton and Del Amico develop a weird following after he apparently causes a blind man to see with his touch. Greene deals with an elderly rape victim. Corday continues her soulsearching regarding Alison's coma, but Romano helps her. Greene finds out that Cynthia has a child of her own, and finally puts his trauma in the past. Weaver develops a camaraderie with the Synergix representative, Dr. Ellis West. Gamma Carter tours the clinic with Hathaway and Jeanie, and grants extra funding. Dr. Carter discovers that his cousin, Chase, has a heroin problem. | |||||
| 11 | 80 | "Think Warm Thoughts" | David Mills | Charles Haid | January 08, 1998 |
| On a particularly cold night, the ER is swamped with freezing homeless people. Weaver pushes hard for Synergix to take over ER management. Corday earns Romano's ire while continuing to work with Alison, who now has a problem with her voice. Benton and Carter make a presentation to med students. Ross and Hathaway consider marriage. | |||||
| 12 | 81 | "Sharp Relief" | Samantha Howard Corbin | Christopher Chulack | January 15, 1998 |
| Weaver questions Synergix's management practices as Ellis' budget cuts go too far. Another elderly rape victim is found by Hathaway during a paramedic ridealong, prompting an alert for a serial rapist. Jeanie works with Dr. Anspaugh's son, Scott, who is battling cancer. Tension grows between Benton, Corday and Romano. Carter and Del Amico work together to deal with Chase. | |||||
| 13 | 82 | "Carter's Choice" | John Wells | John Wells | January 29, 1998 |
| The serial rapist is finally caught but needs treatment. A mentally challenged woman gives birth. Benton's son may be placed in day care, and he comes to terms with it with Corday's help. Ross and Hathaway, and Greene and Cynthia, have relationship problems. | |||||
| 14 | 83 | "Family Practice" | Carol Flint | Charles Haid | February 05, 1998 |
| Greene returns to San Diego to help when his mother is injured, prompting Cynthia to follow him. When his father gets ill as well, Greene finds himself assisting in a military hospital ER after a helicopter crash. Greene and Cynthia are forced to re-evaluate their relationship, while Greene and his father become closer. | |||||
| 15 | 84 | "Exodus" | Walon Green and Joe Sachs | Christopher Chulack | February 26, 1998 |
| While Greene is gone, Carter has to take control when a nearby chemical spill sends the ER into chaos and knocks Weaver out of action. Ross and Hathaway take risks to save a sick girl. Corday risks her own life to save a man trapped in a collapsed warehouse. | |||||
| 16 | 85 | "My Brother's Keeper" | Jack Orman | Jaque Toberen | March 05, 1998 |
| Weaver accuses Ross of presenting a flawed research study. Greene searches for Cynthia. Carter comes to his grandparents for advice about Chase's drug addiction, but it comes too late as Chase overdoses. Corday receives her first performance review from Romano. Scott and Jeanie continue their friendship. | |||||
| 17 | 86 | "A Bloody Mess" | Linda Gase | Richard Thorpe | April 09, 1998 |
| Benton, Corday and Reese are involved in a car accident. Scott's cancer returns, bringing him back to Jeanie's care. Morgenstern returns, but is having difficulties after his heart attack. Chase is left with severe brain damage after his overdose, and Carter watches over him. Hathaway works on animal rights activists after a protest gone awry. | |||||
| 18 | 87 | "Gut Reaction" | Neal Baer | TR Babu Subramaniam | April 16, 1998 |
| Benton and Morganstern clash after a surgery is botched. Scott, with Jeanie's help, makes a choice about his cancer treatment. Carter helps Del Amico when she is found to be a potential bone marrow donor for a patient. Dr. Ross protects an ill child. Greene organizes the annual ER banquet. Gamma Carter may cut funding to Hathaway's clinic, forcing Dr. Carter to make a difficult decision. | |||||
| 19 | 88 | "Shades of Grey" | Samantha Howard Corbin | Lance Gentile | April 23, 1998 |
| Benton and Corday's growing closeness causes problems with Benton's career. Alison Beaumont is back after being injured in a fire. Carter deals with life without his family's financial support. Jeanie helps Dr. Anspaugh through a difficult day. Benton is forced to take the blame for the botched surgery until Morganstern makes a shock revelation. Ross counsels a family about their daughter's treatment. | |||||
| 20 | 89 | "Of Past Regret and Future Fear" | Jack Orman | Anthony Edwards | April 30, 1998 |
| Romano makes an offer that Corday refuses. Reese Benton is baptised. Ross and Hathaway have to make difficult ethical choices concerning a baby addicted to methadone. | |||||
| 21 | 90 | "Suffer the Little Children" | Walon Green | Christopher Misiano | May 07, 1998 |
| Del Amico's old boyfriend's conducts a study at the hospital. A televangelist uses the E.R. to obtain money. Ross and Hathaway risk their jobs with the methadone-addicted baby. Jeanie turns to Weaver for help with some personal problems. | |||||
| 22 | 91 | "A Hole in the Heart" | Lydia Woodward | Lesli Linka Glatter | May 14, 1998 |
| As Josh, the methadone-addicted baby, recovers from an ultra-rapid detox, Ross' personal and professional relationships suffer. Hathaway has suspicions about a patient that attempted suicide. Corday's problems with Romano become critical. Carter's jealousy over Del Amico and her ex-boyfriend reaches a breaking point. Something is wrong with Benton's son. | |||||
[edit] Reception
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[edit] References
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