ER season 6

ER: The Complete Sixth Season
Season 6
No. of episodes	22
Release
Original network	NBC
Original release	September 30, 1999 – May 18, 2000
Season chronology

Further information: List of ER episodes

The sixth season of the American fictional drama television series ER first aired on September 30, 1999 and concluded on May 18, 2000. The sixth season consists of 22 episodes.

Production

Cast

Starring cast

• Anthony Edwards as Dr. Mark Greene - Senior Attending Physician
• Noah Wyle as Dr. John Carter - Third Year Resident
• Julianna Margulies as Nurse Manager Carol Hathaway¹
• Gloria Reuben as Jeanie Boulet - Physician Assistant²
• Laura Innes as Dr. Kerry Weaver - Chief of Emergency Medicine
• Alex Kingston as Dr. Elizabeth Corday - Associate Chief of Surgery
• Kellie Martin as Lucy Knight - Fourth Year Medical Student³
• Paul McCrane as Dr. Robert Romano - Chief of Staff & Surgery
• Goran Visnjic as Dr. Luka Kovac - Attending Physician
• Maura Tierney as Abby Lockhart - Third Year Medical student⁴
• Michael Michele as Dr. Cleo Finch - Second Year Paediatric Resident
• Erik Palladino as Dr. Dave Malucci - Second Year Resident⁵
• Ming-Na as Dr. Jing-Mei Chen - Second Year Resident⁶
• Eriq La Salle as Dr. Peter Benton - Surgical Trauma Fellow

¹ Julianna Margulies was main billed until she left the show an episode before the finale in the episode "Such Sweet Sorrow."
² Gloria Reuben was main billed until she left the show six episodes into the season in the episode "The Peace of Wild Things."
³ Kellie Martin was main billed until midway through the series when she left the series in the episode "All In The Family."
⁴ Maura Tierney appeared in one episode as guest star before becoming main billed several episodes later in the episode "Abby Road."
⁵ Erik Palladino was a recurring character during the beginning of the season before becoming main billed in the episode "Humpty Dumpty."
⁶ After being a recurring character in season 1, Ming-Na returned to the show main billed in the middle of the season in the episode "Family Matters."

Supporting cast

Doctors and Medical Students:
Alan Alda as Dr. Gabriel Lawrence - Senior Attending Physician
Sam Anderson as Dr. Jack Kayson - Chief of Cardiology
Amy Aquino as Dr. Janet Coburn - Chief of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
John Aylward as Dr. Donald Anspaugh - Surgeon Attending Physician & Hospital Board Member
John Doman as Dr. Carl DeRaad - Chief of Psychiatry
Scott Jaeck as Dr. Steven Flint - Chief of Radiology
David Brisbin as Dr. Alexander Babcock - Anesthesiologist

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
Gedde Watanabe as Nurse Yosh Takata
Dinah Lenney as Nurse Shirley
Bellina Logan as Nurse Kit

Staff and Paramedics:
Troy Evans as Desk Clerk Frank Martin
Erica Gimpel as Social Worker Adele Newman
Kristin Minter as Desk Clerk Miranda "Randi" Fronczak
Andrew Bowen as Desk Clerk Andrew
Emily Wagner as Paramedic Doris Pickman
Monté Russell as Paramedic Dwight Zadro
Lynn A. Henderson as Paramedic Pamela Olbes
Demetrius Navarro as Paramedic Morales
Brian Lester as Paramedic Brian Dumar
Michelle Bonilla as Paramedic Christine Harms
Pamela Sinha as Desk Clerk Amira

Other:
Khandi Alexander as Jackie Robbins
Lisa Nicole Carson as Carla Reece
John Cullum as David Greene
Judy Parfitt as Isabelle Corday
Frances Sternhagen as Millicent Carter
Cress Williams as Officer Reggie Moore
Yvonne Zima as Rachel Greene

Notable guest stars

• George Clooney as Dr. Doug Ross (2000, uncredited)
• Rebecca De Mornay as Elaine Nichols (1999)
• Emile Hirsch as Chad Kottmeier (1999)
• David Krumholtz as Paul Sobriki (2000)
• Shia LaBeouf as Darnel Smith (2000)

Crew

Original executive producers John Wells and Michael Crichton reprised their roles. Lydia Woodward also returned as an executive producer but left the crew with the close of the season. Longstanding crew member and fifth season executive producer Christopher Chulack moved on to executive produce Wells production's new series Third Watch but remained a consulting producer for ER. Fifth season supervising producers Jack Orman and Neal Baer were promoted to co-executive producers for the sixth season. R. Scott Gemmill joined the crew as a supervising producer and writer. Fifth season producers Penny Adams and Wendy Spence-Rosato returned for the sixth season. Fifth season co-producers Richard Thorpe and Jonathan Kaplan were promoted to producers for the sixth season. They were joined by new producers Doug Palau and Patrick Harbinson. Palau left the crew mid-season and Adams and Harbinson left at the end of the season. Michael Salmunovich returned as a co-producer and Teresa Salamunovich joined the crew, initially as a production co-ordinator but was promoted to associate producer mid-season. She was joined by new associate producer Vicki Voltarel who was on staff for the second half of the season only.

Wells and Woodward continued to write episodes and Wells contributed two episodes while Woodward wrote three. Orman wrote four episodes and Baer, Harbinson and Gemmill each wrote three. Series medical expert and fifth season story editor Joe Sachs was promoted to executive story editor for the sixth season and he wrote a further two episodes. Regular writer Linda Gase replaced him as story editor and contributed a further episode. New writer Sandy Kroopf wrote a single episode.

Producers Kaplan and Thorpe served as the seasons regular directors; Kaplan directed five episodes and Thorpe helmed three. Cast members Laura Innes and Anthony Edwards each directed a further episode. Returning directors were Lesli Linka Glatter, Felix Enriquez Alcala, Christopher Misiano, David Nutter, and Steve De Jarnatt. New directors include Ken Kwapis, Marita Grabiak, medical consultant Fred Einesman, Kevin Hooks, and Peter Markle.

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	114	"Leave It to Weaver"	Lydia Woodward	Jonathan Kaplan	September 30, 1999
Greene and Weaver agree to go out on a limb to oppose Romano's appointment as chief of staff. Soon Greene finds he's out there and alone, while Kerry reaps immediate benefits for her treachery. Plus: Luka Kovac is an able, yet untrusted, physician from Croatia; Dr. Carter's interested in a romance with his cousin's ex-wife; and Carol adjusts to being pregnant by herself. Note: Nielsen Ratings: 31.5 million viewers
2	115	"Last Rites"	Jack Orman	Félix Enríquez Alcalá	October 7, 1999
Who's the boss? Weaver may be head of the ER, but Greene has his own ideas about how to handle situations and after his mother's death the two of them have their worst conflict on the job yet. Boulet says "yes" to Reggie, and Corday accepts Romano's surprise job offer. A brash new resident arrives and manages to annoy just about everyone. Carla confronts Benton about his not allowing her to leave the country with their son. Carter/Elaine's relationship continues.
3	116	"Greene with Envy"	Patrick Harbinson	Peter Markle	October 14, 1999
Newly appointed attending physician Gabriel Lawrence is savvy, personable and, in Greene's jealous opinion, unsuitable for County. Jeanie and Reggie marry, but not under the circumstances they expected. Romano makes Corday show a rude reporter around the ER, where she witnesses a shootout. Carter tries to be supportive as Elaine undergoes her mastectomy. Mark and Elizabeth spend their first night together.
4	117	"Sins of the Fathers"	Doug Palau	Ken Kwapis	October 21, 1999
Long-distance MD: Via phone. Greene deals with fallout from his dad's car accident. Lawrence suspects a teen's suicide attempt is the fallout from father-son strife, but he's wrong. Finch misdiagnoses a child's behavior before an iron overdose overtakes her. Carol tries to help a pregnant teenager get a job at the hospital, and Dr. Dave Malucci is a jerk again. Carter makes plans to meet with Elaine.
5	118	"Truth & Consequences"	R. Scott Gemmill	Steve De Jarnatt	November 4, 1999
A high school science experiment/prank gone-wrong lands students and teacher in the ER - and the stress of multiple emergencies pushes Lawrence over the edge. Mark defends a patient from a violent parent and ends up being castigated for it. Lucy Knight helps counsel one of the injured students. Carol learns the pregnant teen she wanted to help is using drugs. Elaine tells Carter that she intends to go to Europe for a couple of months.
6	119	"The Peace of Wild Things"	John Wells	Richard Thorpe	November 11, 1999
Endings. Boulet resigns to be a full-time mother. An elderly woman bids farewell to her dying husband, and Lawrence admits he's in the early stages of Alzheimer's, and that his distinguished career is over. Carol takes action regarding the pregnant teen case. An explosion rocks the ER, and Benton tells Carla why he's fighting to stay in his son's life.
7	120	"Humpty Dumpty"	Neal Baer	Jonathan Kaplan	November 18, 1999
Lawrence departs (but not before saving a life), and Kovac comes aboard full time after earning Kerry's respect. Corday discovers her new trauma patient is a rapist and takes extreme measures to find his latest victim. Carol and the drug-using teen have a confrontation. Carter angles for more responsibility inside the ER. Greene's father was due to fly into Chicago but doesn't show up for hours after his scheduled arrival time. And the Bright Star Gospel Choir is rushed to the ER.
8	121	"Great Expectations"	Jack Orman	Christopher Misiano	November 25, 1999
It's Thanksgiving, and Hathaway has two more reasons to give thanks after overcoming complication and delivering twins Tess and Kate. Greene's family celebration comes with its own complications. Dr. Malucci stuns the staff by actually having a valid idea to treat a patient that works.
9	122	"How the Finch Stole Christmas"	Linda Gase	Fred Einesman	December 16, 1999
Lucy Knight risks Romano's wrath (and her career) to arrange a heart operation for a patient. Carter gives gifts to inner city kids in exchange for their guns. Finch uses her authority to put a teen binge drinker into rehab. Benton and Carla's custody battle comes to an abrupt end that works out in his favor. Kerry befriends a group of Santas and works on County's Y2K preparation.
10	123	"Family Matters"	Patrick Harbinson	Anthony Edwards	January 6, 2000
New name, same person: Deb Chen returns to the ER as Jing-Mei Chen and immediately shows off her great memory to Carter's annoyance. Kovac's strong sense of family involves him in the fate of brothers facing separation. Greene invites his dad to reside with him in Chicago. Dr. Malucci fixes Kerry's car and learns a young patient has a fatal disease. Goofball students arrive in the ER to do a scavenger hunt. Benton doesn't agree with Cleo's approach to an overstressed young high school athlete.
11	124	"The Domino Heart"	Joe Sachs	Lesli Linka Glatter	January 13, 2000
Try, try again. A precious donor heart becomes available when a patient who recently received it dies, devastating Lucy Knight. Malucci gathers evidence to shut down a backroom clinic. Carter and Chen disagree on when to follow rules and when to break them. Dr. Greene learns a man is being abused by his boyfriend.
12	125	"Abby Road"	R. Scott Gemmill	Richard Thorpe	February 3, 2000
A new road: Abby Lockhart, the part-time OB nurse who cared for Hathaway during "Great Expectations", reports to the ER for her third-year med-student rotation. Hathaway has a hunch that a young patient's health problems come from his mother. Carter and Cleo try to help a sick boy and the unpopular student he fought with. Kerry leaves the ER due to the flu, while Dave Malucci works in spite of it and Benton angles Romano's illness into some help for a young girl who was mauled by a dog.
13	126	"Be Still My Heart"	Lydia Woodward	Laura Innes	February 10, 2000
A tense Valentine's Day includes an operation on Romano's dog, a car crash that leaves two children orphaned and Carter and Lucy lying in pools of blood after they're attacked by a schizophrenic patient.
14	127	"All in the Family"	Jack Orman	Jonathan Kaplan	February 17, 2000
Weaver finds Carter and Knight, and the grief-stricken ER crew work feverishly to save their grievously wounded colleagues. Then the deranged assailant is brought in, the victim of a car accident. Cleo's forced into a surgical role when Benton won't leave Carter, and Corday and Romano desperately try to save Lucy's life. Note: Nielsen Ratings: 39.4 millon viewers (highest rated of the season)
15	128	"Be Patient"	Sandy Kroopf	Ken Kwapis	February 24, 2000
Tough times. Carter struggles with rehab and knowledge of Lucy's fate, a child is injured in a hit and run in front of Dr. Kovac (and the driver later turns up in the ER) and a teen has cervical cancer after too much sex. Dr. Malucci Even a happy event, a romance between Isabelle and David, turns sad when Greene learns his dad is terminally ill.
16	129	"Under Control"	Neal Baer & Joe Sachs	Christopher Misiano	March 23, 2000
"We can handle this." This, it turns out, involves a Gila monster, toxic breast milk, a deadly error and much more as Greene oversees a particularly hectic shift. Carter, despite his pain, returns to work. Jing-Mei is attracted to a male nurse.
17	130	"Viable Options"	Patrick Harbinson	Marita Grabiak	April 6, 2000
Many candidates. One kidney. Kovac and Corday must select a recipient while the organ is still viable. Weaver defies Romano on treating a poorly-insured patient and is suspended. Benton's careless penmanship results in a patient taking the wrong drugs, and he sells out Finch, though she still has sex with him later on. Chen wants to tell a patient about her father's diagnosis of Huntington's Disease but Mark puts the brakes on that, while Mark has his own conflict with both his father and Corday over his dad's desire to check into a medical hostel.
18	131	"Match Made in Heaven"	R. Scott Gemmill	Jonathan Kaplan	April 13, 2000
A notice of Knight's acceptance into psych residency deepens Carter's remorse. Greene cares for his dad. Hathaway has news from Ross. And an overwhelmed mother tries to induce a miscarriage before getting help from Abby.
19	132	"The Fastest Year"	Lydia Woodward	Richard Thorpe	April 27, 2000
Memories. After his father reminisces about his Navy days, Greene takes him on a final boat ride on Lake Michigan. Meanwhile, Carter is haunted by terrifying thoughts of the attack that almost killed him. And Abby goes too far when trying to arrange for a bone-marrow transplant.
20	133	"Loose Ends"	Neal Baer	Kevin Hooks	May 4, 2000
Malucci treats a little girl who was molested by her father. Hathaway's birthday is anything but happy. Benton and Kovac clash over follow-up care. Carter seems reinvigorated but also ignores the orders of his supervisors. And Greene and his dad manage to express their love just before the older man dies.
21	134	"Such Sweet Sorrow"	John Wells	John Wells	May 11, 2000
Do open arms still await her in Seattle? Touched by a family tragedy at the ER, Hathaway realizes she must see Ross. Chen notices Carter's increasing unreliability and mood swings. Abby is supervised by Malucci on a case that leads Elizabeth to tell Dr. Dave that no one at County thinks he's any good at his job.
22	135	"May Day"	Jack Orman	Jonathan Kaplan	May 18, 2000
Kovac and Benton rush to the scene of a playground shooting, leading to a confrontation over the most critical patient. The team plan an intervention when Carter's addiction forces them to act. And the ultimate price could be his patient's - or his own - life. Kovac's sense of right and wrong impacts a pair of difficult cases. Note: Nielsen Ratings: 34.6 million viewers

Reception

A slight drop in popularity and rise in criticism was visible again in this season, like Season five, though the acting and the characters were still well received overall, in critics' opinions, though the storylines faced harsh criticism for lack of realism.