"Dr. Carter returns to 'ER' in season debut on Thursday'
by Dave Mason
Scripps Howard News Service
October 8, 2000
Going to hell and back will make John Carter a better doctor.
That's the story from Jack Orman, one of the executive producers of
"ER." The NBC drama - and television's highest-rated series for several
years - begins its seventh season at 10 p.m. Thursday (Oct. 12).
This week, Carter is getting help in a detox center. But soon, the
doctor, played by Noah Wyle, will be back practicing medicine in the
emergency room at County General, Orman said in a phone interview from
Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank.
In last season's cliffhanger, Dr. Peter Benton (Eriq La Salle) took
Carter to Atlanta for a drug-rehab program. Benton returned immediately
to Chicago and didn't stay with Carter, Orman said.
"He (Carter) has to go to rehab; we have to play out his journey back to
the hospital," Orman said. "He has to regain the trust of his
colleagues.
"He thinks because he has gone through rehab, it's over," Orman said.
But when he returns to Chicago, Carter will have to spend time in a
12-step program and a support group for recovering drug addicts."
Carter will learn from his rough ride, Orman said. "It will give him a
little more empathy for patients he sees. He's been there."
Last season, Carter - the nicest guy in Chicago - got a heavy dose of
reality when he and medical student Lucy (Kellie Martin) were stabbed by
a crazed patient. Lucy died, allowing an exit for Martin, who wanted to
return to Yale University. In dealing with Lucy's death and his own
trauma of being attacked, Carter became addicted to prescription
medicine. The season ended with a case of tough love - Carter's mentors
ordered him to get help
"A doctor with an addiction was a storyline we had up there that we
wanted to do someday," Orman said. And here was an opportunity to take
Carter to a darker Place. Besides, Carter was a logical choice. Orman
said. "He has a family history of addiction with his cousin."
Last winter Wyle, who grew up on Ojai, Calif., and now has a home in
Santa Barbara, stood in an "ER" hall and told me he was looking forward
to his charater going through life-changing trauma during February
sweeps.
"He got very excited about it," Orman said. "Noah's such a fabulous
actor. He gave us the opprtunity to write in some nonverbal scenes."
Even before the trauma, Carter had grown from the wide-eyed medical
student he played in the first season, Orman said. "He's more mature.
He's certainly met and overcome adversity."
Besides the Carter story, "ER" Will offer new insights into its other
characters, Orman said. There will be more time to do so this season
because, unlike last year, no stars are coming onto the show or
leaving. Julianna Margulies, who played head nurse Carol Hathaway, left
at the end of the season. Orman said the remaining actresses are very
talented and can fill the void. He added there are no plans for
Margulies or George Clooney (Dr. Doug Ross) to come back as gueststars
this season.
After the success of Alan Alda's guest appearance last fall as attending
physician Gabe Lawrence, "ER" is turning to another veteran television
and movie star. Sally Field was on teh "ER" set recently for the
filming of November sweeps episodes as Maggie Wyczenski, the mother of
medical student Abby Lockhart (Maura Tierney). The mother-daughter
relationship will give viewers a chance to learn more about Abby, Orman
said. "There are some unresolved conflicts between them."
Field will appear on "ER" on Nov. 16 and 23 and Dec. 7. She will return
later in the season.
"I was excited about Alan Alda because of how the story folded into
interaction with every one of our characters," Orman said. "I think the
Sally Field story will be more focused (on Abby), but Sally will
interact with the other regulars.
"She (Field) has just been tremendously enthusiastic and friendly.
She's a TV veteran; she's familiar with sets, she seems to like ours."
Orman noted "ER" producers and writers depend on advice from five
doctors to keep the show medically accurate. "A lot of people get their
medical information through 'ER,'" he said. "We feel a great sense of
responsibility."
"ER," meanwhile, goes beyond medicine to explore the characters'
personal lives.
This season will feature more relationship problems for Benton, who will
begin to learn he can't be an island and must connect with others.
Dr. Mark Greene (Anthony Edwards) will be changed because of his
father's death last season. "He realizes the importance of family and
spending time with the people you love," Orman said.
Dr. Kerry Weaver (Laura Innes), will remain assertive in running the ER,
Orman said. "But we'll endeavor to show her human component this
season."
There's a gay relationship ahead for Weaver, according to Entertainment
Weekly, which quoted unnamed insiders on its Web site. When I asked
Orman about that, he said, "It's too premature to comment on a
storyline." An Entertainment Weekly spokeswoman said the magazine
stands by the accuracy of its story, first reported on EW.com and later
published in the Oct. 6 issue.
Orman decline to say too much about the characters or the plots.
Surprising viewers remains part of the appeal of "ER."
"ER" will continue to remain unpredictable because, Orman said, anyone
can come hurrying through those swinging doors.