The second season of the American fictional drama television series ER first aired on NBC from September 21, 1995, to May 16, 1996. The second season consists of 22 episodes.
Plot Greene's attempts at balancing his work and family after moving to Milwaukee comes to an abrupt end when his wife is caught cheating on him with a colleague, the divorce becomes final and he starts dating again. At work, he is promoted, becoming an attending physician. He locks horns with close friend Dr. Doug 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, his father returns, and while attempting to bond his father again walks out on him. While tracking him down Doug becomes embroiled in a relationship with his father's girlfriend.
Lewis is left holding the baby when her sister, Chloe, skips town, leaving daughter Suzie in Susan's care. She struggles to find time to care for the child and complete her residency. She considers having Suzie 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 Suzie 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 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, the woman's condition deteriorates and Carter is overwhelmed by the husband's constant needs. The woman's subsequent death results in tremendous personal guilt, but Carter still manages to win a place as a surgical intern despite the fierce competition. Hathaway becomes involved with paramedic Ray "Shep" Shepard. 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 rescue 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 separates.
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 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 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 four 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 adviser Joe Sachs reprised his role and also 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 Félix Enríquez Alcalá 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 directors new to the series include Eric Laneuville, Dean Parisot, Whitney Ransick, and Barnet Kellman.
Cast
Main cast Anthony Edwards as Dr. Mark Greene – Attending Emergency Physician George Clooney as Dr. Doug Ross – Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellow Sherry Stringfield as Dr. Susan Lewis – Third-year ER Resident Noah Wyle as John Carter – Fourth-year Rotating Medical Student Julianna Margulies as Nurse Carol Hathaway – RN and Nurse Manager Gloria Reuben as Jeanie Boulet – Physician Assistant (PA-C, ER) (main: episodes 6−22; recurring: episodes 1−3) Eriq La Salle as Dr. Peter Benton – Third-year Surgical Resident
Supporting cast
Doctors and medical students William H. Macy as Dr. David Morgenstern – Chief of Surgery and Emergency MedicineEpisodes 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 18, 20, 22. Amy Aquino as Dr. Janet Coburn – Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology CCH Pounder as Dr. Angela Hicks – Surgical Attending PhysicianEpisodes 3, 4, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 20. Laura Innes as Dr. Kerry Weaver – Chief Resident Ron Rifkin as Dr. Carl Vucelich – Cardiothoracic SurgeonEpisodes 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 22. Scott Jaeck as Dr. Steve Flint – Chief of Radiology Christine Elise as Harper Tracy – Third-year Medical StudentEpisodes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20. Matthew Glave as Dale Edson – Fourth-year Medical StudentEpisode 19. Michael Buchman Silver as Dr. Paul Meyers – Psychiatric ResidentEpisodes 2, 9. Megan Cole as Dr. Alice Upton – Pathologist Perry Anzilotti as Dr. Ed – Anesthesiologist Michael Bryan French as Dr. MacGruder Pierre Epstein as Dr. Bradley – Chief of Staff David Spielberg as Dr. Neil Bernstein – Chief of Pediatrics Richard Minchenberg as Dr. P.K. Simon
Nurses Ellen Crawford as Nurse Lydia Wright Conni Marie Brazelton as Nurse Conni Oligario Deezer D as Nurse Malik McGrath Laura Cerón as Nurse Chuny Marquez Yvette Freeman as Nurse Haleh Adams Lily Mariye as Nurse Lily Jarvik Vanessa Marquez as Nurse Wendy Goldman Suzanne Carney as OR Nurse Janet
Staff, paramedics and officers Abraham Benrubi as Desk Clerk Jerry MarkovicEpisodes 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22. Kristin Minter as Desk Clerk Miranda "Randi" FronczakEpisodes 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 16, 18, 20. Charles Noland as Desk Clerk E. Ray (E-Ray) BozmanEpisodes 12, 22. Rolando Molina as Desk Clerk Rolando Ron Eldard as Paramedic Ray "Shep" ShepardEpisodes 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22. Carlos Gomez as Paramedic Raul MelendezEpisodes 1, 2, 3, 4, 11, 16. Małgorzata Gebel as ER aide (Dr.) Bogdana 'Bob' Romansky Emily Wagner as Paramedic Doris Pickman Montae Russell as Paramedic Dwight Zadro Lyn Alicia Henderson as Paramedic Pamela Olbes Scott Michael Campbell as EMT Reilley Brown Lee Sellars as Chopper EMTEpisode 1. Mike Genovese as Officer Al Grabarsky Chad McKnight as Officer Wilson
Family Christine Harnos as Jennifer "Jenn" GreeneEpisodes 3, 9, 12, 20, 22. Yvonne Zima as Rachel GreeneEpisodes 9, 12. Kathleen Wilhoite as Chloe LewisEpisodes 1, 2, 3, ??, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. Paul Dooley as Harry LewisEpisodes 5, 8, 19. Valerie Perrine as Cookie Lewis Michael Mahon as Joe (Chloe's Boyfriend) Michael Beach as Al BouletEpisodes 2, 11, 21, 22. Khandi Alexander as Jackie Robbins Ving Rhames as Walter RobbinsEpisode 14. James Farentino as Ray RossEpisodes 14, 15, 16. Piper Laurie as Sarah RossEpisode 9, 21.
Notable guest stars
Mary Mara as Loretta SweetEpisodes 1, 2, 5, 11, 14, 18, 20, 21, 22. Jake Lloyd as Jimmy Sweet Andrea Parker as Linda FerrellEpisode 4. Lucy Liu as Mei-SunEpisodes 3, 4, 5. Joan Pringle as HyamsEpisode 5. Red Buttons as Mr. RubadouxEpisodes 10, 11, 12, 14. Also, Season 11. Ja'net Du Bois as Macy ChamberlainEpisode 10. Lindsay Crouse as Dr. Anna CastiglioniEpisode 15. Scottie Pippen as himself Richard Schiff as Mr. BartoliEpisode 18. Joanna Gleason as IrisEpisode 17, 19, 21. Marg Helgenberger as Karen HinesEpisodes 16, 19, 20, 21, 22. Robert Picardo as Mr ZimbleEpisode 6 Adam Goldberg as Joshua ShemEpisode 9 Guillermo Díaz as Jorge Carol Ann Susi as Pregnant Alien-Abductee Episode 15. Bradley Whitford as Sean O'Brien Michael Cudlitz as Firefighter LangEpisode 16.
Episodes
Reception ER second season proved to be popular and it became the number 1 show in the US. Nielsen Viewer ratings and viewers were also exceedingly high, especially for "Hell and High Water".
British magazine Empire found the best ER episode was the seventh titled "Hell And High Water" where Doug Ross (George Clooney) saves a young boy from drowning during a flood."
DVD features Region 1 DVDs have subtitles available in English, French and Spanish.
Audio commentaries are available for episodes 1 and 16, with Mimi Leder, editor Randy Jon Morgan, and Laura Innes).ER, Season 2 DVD box booklet.
References
External links