ER (season 2)

infobox tvseason
season_name = ER: The Complete Second Season
show_name = "ER"


caption =
dvd_release_date = February 23, 2004
dvd_format = Widescreen, Boxset
country = USA
network = NBC
first_aired = September 21, 1995
last_aired = May 16, 1996
num_episodes = 22
next_season = ""
prev_season = ""|

This article contains a summary of the second season of the American fictional drama television series "ER".

The season first aired on September 21, 1995 and concluded on May 16, 1996. The second season has 22 episodes.

Plot

Greene's divorce becomes final and he starts dating again. At work, he is promoted, becoming an Attending. He locks horns with close friend Dr. Ross, whose reckless professional behavior is called into question by the hospital authorities, and new Chief Resident, Dr. Kerry Weaver. Ross breaks protocol to treat an HIV-positive child and is about to be fired. He has already accepted a job at another medical facility when he heroically saves a child, trapped in a sewer in the landmark episode "Hell and High Water". His heroism creates a media sensation and the hospital reconsiders its decision when Dr. Ross receives an award for outstanding community service. Later in the season, he becomes embroiled in a relationship with his father's girlfriend. Lewis is left holding the baby when her sister, Chloe, skips town, leaving daughter Susie in Susan's care. She struggles to find time to care for the child and complete her residency. She considers having Susie adopted, but at the last minute decides to keep her. Just as Susan starts to become attached to the baby, Chloe returns, a changed woman, and a short custody battle ensues. Eventually, Susan hands Susie over to Chloe and is left devastated when her sister and her new husband move to Phoenix, taking the baby with them. Carter, now a fourth-year medical student, starts a relationship with medical student Harper Tracy. He becomes involved in the treatment of an elderly patient and her husband ( played by famous American comic Red Buttons) in order to secure his place in developing a new heart procedure study and a spot in the surgical program. After the surgery is complete, Carter grows increasingly cold toward the couple until the woman's death, resulting in tremendous personal guilt, but still manages to win a place as a surgical intern despite the fierce competition. Hathaway becomes involved with paramedic Shep. Their relationship develops quickly and they move in together. However, things go wrong when Shep's partner, Raul, suffers third degree burns to over 85% of his body during a fire rescure and dies shortly afterward, resulting in emotional crisis and guilt for Shep. Shep grows volatile and violent, and after he refuses Carol's recommendation that he see a psychiatrist, the couple separate.

At the start of the season, Dr. Benton is in a relationship with Jeanie Boulet. She ends the relationship in a bid to save her marriage, but soon starts working as a Physician's Assistant at County General. Benton is frosty towards her and is angry when he finds out about her divorce from her husband. At the end of the season, Jeanie finds out that she may be HIV-positive after her ex-husband, Al, is diagnosed. She informs a dismayed Peter and suggests that he too be tested. Benton also struggles to decide whether to lodge a formal complaint against his mentor Dr. Vucelich, when he discovers irregularities in his research method.

Production

Cast

tarring cast

* Anthony Edwards as Dr. Mark Greene - Attending Physician
* George Clooney as Dr. Doug Ross - ER Pediatric Fellow
* Sherry Stringfield as Dr. Susan Lewis - ER Resident
* Noah Wyle as Dr. John Carter - Fourth-year Medical Student/Surgical Sub-Intern
* Julianna Margulies as Carol Hathaway - Nurse Manager
* Gloria Reuben as Jeanie Boulet - Physician Assistant
* Eriq La Salle as Dr. Peter Benton - Surgical Resident

upporting cast

Doctors:
*William H. Macy as Dr. David Morgenstern
*CCH Pounder as Dr. Angela Hicks
*Laura Innes as Dr. Kerry Weaver
*Ron Rifkin as Dr. Carl Vucelich
*Sam Anderson as Dr. Jack Kayson
*Amy Aquino as Dr. Janet Coburn
*Megan Cole as Dr. Upton
*Scott Jaeck as Dr. Steve Flint

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
*Charles Noland as trainee nurse & desk clerk E-Ray Bozman
*Dinah Lenney as Nurse Shirley

Other Staff:
*Abraham Benrubi as desk clerk Jerry Markovic
*Christine Elise as Medical Student Harper Tracy
*Ron Eldard as Paramedic Ray "Shep" Shepard
*Carlos Gómez as Paramedic Raul Melendez
*Matthew Glave as Medical Student Dale Edson
*Kristin Minter as desk clerk Miranda "Randi" Fronczak
*Scott Michael Campbell as Paramedic Riley Brown
*Monté Russell as Paramedic Dwight Zadro
*Emily Wagner as Paramedic Doris Pickman
*Lyn Alicia Henderson as Paramedic Pamela Olbes
*Kurt Naebig as Paramedic
*Malgoscha Gebel as Bogdanilivestsky 'Bob' Romansky
*Mike Genovese as Officer Al Grabarsky
*Rolando Molina as desk clerk Rolando

Other:
*Christine Harnos as Jennifer "Jenn" Greene
*Yvonne Zima/Hallee Hirsh as Rachel Greene
*Bruce Nozick as Craig Simon
*James Farentino as Ray Ross
*Piper Laurie as Sarah Ross
*Marg Helgenberger as Karen Hines
*Kathleen Wilhoite as Chloe Lewis
*Michael Beach as Al Boulet
*Khandi Alexander as Jackie Benton-Robbins

Crew

First season executive producers John Wells and Michael Crichton reprised their roles. Wells continued to serve as the series head writer and showrunner. Lydia Woodward and Mimi Leder returned as co-executive producers. New producer Carol Flint filled the third co-executive producer position following the departure of Robert Nathan. Christopher Chulack continued to act as the episodic producer. Paul Manning and Wendy Spence-Rosato also continued in their first season roles as producer and associate producer respectively. Several changes occurred with the production team mid-season - Leder left the crew, Manning was promoted to Supervising Producer, and Spence-Rosato was promoted to co-producer.

Wells, Woodward, Flint and Manning continued to regularly write episodes, with each contributing to 4 episodes this season. First season regular writers Neal Baer and Lance Gentile became story editors for the second season and continued to write episodes. Baer contributed to two episodes while Gentile continued to act as the series medical consultant and wrote a further episode. Both were promoted to executive story editors by the close of the season. First season writer Tracey Stern also returned and contributed a further episode. First season technical advisor Joe Sachs made his television writing debut on the second season. The series other new writers were Belinda Casas Wells and Anne Kenney; Casas Wells contributed to the story of an episode and Kenney wrote a single episode.

Leder and Chulack continued to regularly direct episodes. Returning first season directors Felix Enriquez Alcala and Donna Deitch each directed further episodes in the second season. New directors Thomas Schlamme and Lesli Linka Glatter each contributed two episodes this season. Crew members Lance Gentile and Director of Photography Richard Thorpe both made their episode directing debuts this season. Cast member Anthony Edwards also directed his first episode. Other new directors include Eric Laneuville, Dean Parisot, Whitney Ransick, and Barnett Kellman.

Episodes

"Series #" refers to the episode's number in the overall series, whereas "Season #" refers to the episode's number in this particular season.

Reception

References