ER (season 2)

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ER: The Complete Second Season
Series ER
Country of origin Flag of the United States United States
Network NBC
Original run September 21, 1995 – May 16, 1996
No. of episodes 22
DVD release date February 23, 2004 (Widescreen, Boxset)
Previous season ER: Season 1
Next season ER: Season 3
For more details on this topic, see List of ER episodes.

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.

Contents

[edit] 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.

[edit] Production

[edit] Cast

[edit] Starring cast

[edit] Supporting cast

Doctors:

Nurses:

Other Staff:

Other:

[edit] 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 wrote a single episode and Kenney contributed to the story of an 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.

[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
1 26 "Welcome Back, Carter!"  John Wells Mimi Leder September 21, 1995
Dr Carter is late for his first day of work. Dr Greene appoints Dr Weaver as Chief Resident.
Nielsen Ratings: 37.5 million viewers.[citation needed] 
2 27 "Summer Run"  Lydia Woodward Eric Laneuville September 28, 1995
Nurse Hathaway goes on a ride-along. Dr Ross deals with a troubled child who sets things on fire to gain attention. 
3 28 "Do One, Teach One, Kill One"  Paul Manning Félix Enríquez Alcalá October 05, 1995
Dr Lewis is left to take care of little Susie. Dr Carter loses his very first patient. 
4 29 "What Life?"  Carol Flint Dean Parisot October 12, 1995
Dr Benton hurts his hand allowing Dr Carter to take his place. Dr Lewis considers adoption and comes to better terms with Dr Weaver. 
5 30 "And Baby Makes Two"  Anne Kenney Lesli Linka Glatter October 19, 1995
Dr Lewis decides to keep little Susie. Dr Ross gets some help from Harper when caring for an AIDS patient. 
6 31 "Days Like This"  Lydia Woodward Mimi Leder November 02, 1995
Dr Ross might lose his job. Harper has a confession to make. Jeannie Boulet starts working in the ER as a Physician's Assistant. 
7 32 "Hell and High Water"  Neal Baer Christopher Chulack November 09, 1995

Dr Ross helps a little boy trapped in a storm drain.

Nielsen Ratings: 42 million viewers (highest rated of season two) 
8 33 "The Secret Sharer"  Paul Manning Thomas Schlamme November 16, 1995
Boulet files for divorce. Dr Ross is considered a hero and gets his fellowship renewed. 
9 34 "Home"  Tracey Stern Donna Deitch December 07, 1995
Dr Greene rushes to Milwaukee after hearing his wife and child were in a car accident only to receive some more surprising news. 
10 35 "A Miracle Happens Here"  Carol Flint Mimi Leder December 14, 1995
Christmas becomes a time for miracles for both patients and the ER staff. Nurse Hathaway hosts the Christmas party and receives a surprising gift. A Holocaust patient awaits news on her granddaughter. 
11 36 "Dead of Winter"  John Wells Whitney Ransick January 04, 1996
Carter gets the chance to control the treatment of a patient without Benton's supervision, Benton gets invited to a formal dinner party, Greene receives the summons for his divorce and twenty-two children locked up in an apartment get sent to County for medical treatment. 
12 37 "True Lies"  Lance Gentile Lesli Linka Glatter January 25, 1996
Carter's relief is short lived when a patient returns to the ER, Benton attends his boss' dinner party, Dr. Morgenstern is admitted to the ER for a fractured leg wearing a kilt. Dr Greene spends the day with his daughter, Rachel, who is unhappy about his separation from his wife. 
13 38 "It's Not Easy Being Greene"  Paul Manning Christopher Chulack February 01, 1996
Dr Greene gets bad news. Dr Carter takes credit for Harper's findings. Dr Benton becomes suspicious of Dr Vucelich's research. 
14 39 "The Right Thing"  Lydia Woodward Richard Thorpe February 08, 1996
Dr Benton learns that the right thing isn't always that easy. Rumors fly that Dr Greene and Lewis are having an affair. 
15 40 "Baby Shower"  Belinda Casas Wells & Carol Flint (story), Carol Flint (teleplay) Barnet Kellman February 15, 1996
The maternity ward experiences some problems and all patients must be treated by the ER staff. 
16 41 "The Healers"  John Wells Mimi Leder February 22, 1996
Nurse Hathaway worries when she learns her paramedic boyfriend, Shep, has run into a burning building to try to save the kids inside. Though it is Shep's partner, Raul, who gets hurt. 
17 42 "The Match Game"  Neal Baer Thomas Schlamme March 28, 1996
Dr Lewis's sister Chloe comes back wanting baby Susie back. Dr Benton feels guilty about his own inability to do the right thing so betrays Dr Ross when he is faced with a similar situation. 
18 43 "A Shift in the Night"  Joe Sachs Lance Gentile April 04, 1996
It is Dr Greene's fourth night on the graveyard shift and things aren't looking too great when it is being overrun with patients. 
19 44 "Fire in the Belly"  Paul Manning Félix Enríquez Alcalá April 25, 1996
Nurse Hathaway notices a dramatic change in Shep. Dr Weaver allows for some people to document the procedures in the ER. 
20 45 "Fevers of Unknown Origin"  Carol Flint Richard Thorpe May 02, 1996
Dr Lewis deals with losing little Susie. Dr Greene comes to friendly terms with his ex wife Jen. 
21 46 "Take These Broken Wings"  Lydia Woodward Anthony Edwards May 09, 1996
Boulet learns something from her ex husband Al. Nurse Hathaway covers up for Shep's increasing violent mood. Dr Weaver makes a deal with Dr Greene in her quest in becoming an ER attending. 
22 47 "John Carter, M.D."  John Wells Christopher Chulack May 16, 1996

Dr Lewis refuses the position as chief resident. Boulet tells Dr Benton he must get tested. Nurse Hathaway quits. Dr Carter misses his degree ceremony.


Nielsen Ratings: 34.3 million viewers 


[edit] Reception

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