Apr
2
ER: The end
April 2, 2009 | 5 Comments
So it looks like ER’s series finale takes place tonight. I for one am ecstatic, as it means we will no longer be subjected to the “tonight’s episode is the most dramatic event in the history of human civilization” spots during The Office.
I watched most of ER’s first ten seasons, though I really began losing interest when the last likeable character – Dr. Green (Anthony Edwards) – died. I hung on for a couple of torturous seasons of Crabby Abby, Dr. Save the World (American verion played by Noah Wylie), and Dr. Save the World (Croation version played by I don’t know his name and don’t feel like looking it up). Hell, Dr. Romano had more charm than the annoying blowhards who sucked the joy out of any occasion.
I could be tempted to watch tonight out of a feeling of pure nostalgia, but those tears won’t be tears of sadness.
Anyway, on a related note, Armchair Commentary goes through the list of the best (and worst) series finales ever. Of the best, I’ve only seen MASH and Cheers, and really, they were not much better than the Seinfeld finale, which I think gets a little too much abus heaped upon it. It wasn’t great, but it wasn’t nearly as atrocious as people make it out to be.
In fact, I really can’t think of too many shows that really went out in any meaningful style, although Newhart comes to mind. And of course WCW Nitro ending on a dualing McMahon promo and ad for Wrestlemania was pretty surreal.
Comments
5 Comments so far
I was in the hospital, just having had the Bear (our eldest), when I watched the episode when Mark Greene died. That was the last ep of “ER” I watched, because he was the last character I gave a crap about. I’d tune in just for nostalgia’s sake, but…eh.
The series finale of “Newhart” is, without a doubt, the best and most memorable ever. I’m not sure it can be topped.
I liked the series finale of “Battlestar Galactica”, although – with a few exceptions -it was fairly predictable.
And I thought last night’s series finale of “Life on Mars” was pretty interesting.
Okay, Cranky, we’re gonna have words…
I have watched ER from the very beginning,(though the last several seasons my viewing has been sporadic at best) and I was sad as I watched the finale. I agree that the original characters were the best. After Mark Greene’s death,and then Carol Hathaway’s departure I was at least consoled to still have Dr. Carter. Sorry, but he was my favorite! Watching him lose his baby was gut-wrenching stuff. I could have done without all the Africa storylines. Then when Carter left the show, it was hard to find reasons to watch.
I didn’t want to see all the lesbian stuff going on with Kerry Weaver, and I was really peeved when they wrote Abby into a cheating drunk while Luka was away. Very lame.
I think my favorite part last night was the pure nostalgia of hearing the original theme song played, along with all the old images of the original actors…I admit, that got me. Best theme song in TV history, and it took me right back to ER’s glory days.
It wasn’t a perfect finale (they left too many unanswered questions regarding Carter and Kem… what’s up with her anyway?) Still, it was like saying goodbye to old friends. I didn’t actually cry, but it was an emotional farewell. Call me corny if you want.
In the end I did watch the final 20 minutes or so. As someone who was a fan of the show for most of its history, I felt compelled to see how it went out. It was nice to see the old cast – as I told my wife, “See, characters I actually cared about.” It was a good way to go out.
This will date me, but the finest series finale ever was The Fugitive where Dr. Richard Kimble ended four years on the run by capturing the one-armed man who had slain his wife. I believe over 70% of all tvs in the country were tunded to that episode in 1967, and it was riveting to 10 year old me.