ER season 3
ER | |
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Season 3 | |
Starring | |
No. of episodes | 22 |
Release | |
Original network | NBC |
Original release | September 26, 1996 – May 15, 1997 |
Season chronology | |
The third season of the American fictional drama television series ER first aired on September 26, 1996 and concluded on May 15, 1997. The third season consists of 22 episodes.
Plot
Early in the season, Susan Lewis leaves for Phoenix to live with her sister and niece. Before she leaves, Greene realizes his feelings for her and races against time to declare them. He makes it to Union Station just as she is boarding the train. He stops her and declares his love, begging her to stay. Susan leaves anyway, but not before kissing Mark and declaring, as the train pulls out of the station, that she loves him too. In the aftermath of her departure, Mark begins to fall into depression, develops a meaner attitude, and starts sleeping with County General nurse Chuny Marquez, although they soon break up. Towards the end of the season, he is viciously attacked in the ER bathroom, and the thug is never caught. Although some suspicions arise over former patients and families, his beating was no more than a random act of violence. He becomes increasingly paranoid about his personal safety and distances himself from friends and family.
Meanwhile, Doug and Carol draw closer, culminating in a kiss at the end of the season. Doug is said to be attending therapy throughout the season, although this is never shown on-screen. This is possibly due to one of his one night stands dying in the hospital just after they were together, and Doug questioning his actions. Carol considers going to medical school, but eventually decides that she loves her work as a nurse too much to change.
Carter, now an intern, continues to lock horns with Benton, especially over Benton's treatment of surgical intern Dennis Gant. This eventually results in Gant dying by suicide by throwing himself in front of a train and despite the ER staff's best efforts, Gant eventually dies from his injuries, devastating Carter who begins blaming himself and Benton for not doing more to prevent Gant's suicide.
Benton also starts dating Carla Reece, who becomes pregnant and gives premature birth to his son at the end of the season. Weaver supports Jeanie, who is forced to reveal her HIV-status early in the season, when Mark gains unauthorized access to her medical records. While Jeanie struggles with her condition, she becomes involved with a doctor from the Infectious Diseases department, before reuniting with her ex-husband, Al.
Production
Original executive producers John Wells and Michael Crichton reprised their roles. Lydia Woodward joined them as a third executive producer having previously served as a co-executive producer since the first season. Mimi Leder did not return as a co-executive producer having moved into directing feature films. Carol Flint returned as a co-executive producer. Christopher Chulack returned to his role as director and producer and was promoted mid-season to fill Leder's position as director and co-executive producer. Paul Manning returned to his supervising producer post. Long-term crew member Wendy Spence Rosato returned as a co-producer. Neal Baer and Lance Gentile were promoted from their second season positions as executive story editors to co-producers for the third season. Gentile continued to act as the series medical consultant. Penny Adams joined the series as a co-producer mid-season. Finally Michael Hissrich joined the production team in the junior role of associate producer.
Wells, Woodward, Flint, and Manning continued to regularly write episodes, with each contributing to 10 or more episodes this season. Baer and Gentile also continued to regularly write episodes contributing to 8 and 4 episodes respectively. Joe Sachs returned as technical adviser and wrote a further episode. Regular writer Tracey Stern also returned and contributed a further two episodes. Second season writer Belinda Casas Wells also returned and wrote a further two episodes. They were joined on the writing staff by Samantha Howard Corbin and Jason Cahill with three episodes each. Anne Kenney contributed to the story for a single episode. Barbara Hall wrote the teleplay for a single episode.
Chulack continued to regularly direct episodes and helmed a further four episodes in the third season. Richard Thorpe, Félix Enríquez Alcalá, and Rod Holcomb were all returning directors for the third season. Thorpe continued to act as a cinematographer on some episodes in addition to directing. Jonathan Kaplan joined the directing team as a regular and contributed three episodes to the season. Tom Moore and Paris Barclay also made their series debuts and directed two episodes each. The other new single episode directors were David Nutter, series editor Jacque Elaine Toberen, Perry Lang, Davis Guggenheim, and Michael Katleman.
Cast
Main cast
Supporting cast
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Guest stars
- Ewan McGregor as Duncan Stewart (Episode 15)
- Joe Torry as Chris Law
- Kirsten Dunst as Charlie Chiemingo
- Joe Lisi as Mr. Gunther[1]
- Veronica Cartwright as Norma Houston
Episodes
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code | US viewers (millions) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
48 | 1 | "Dr. Carter, I Presume" | Christopher Chulack | John Wells | September 26, 1996 | 465401 | 34.9[citation needed] |
49 | 2 | "Let the Games Begin" | Tom Moore | Lydia Woodward | October 3, 1996 | 465402 | 30.5[citation needed] |
50 | 3 | "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" | Perry Lang | Story by : Paul Manning & Jason Cahill Teleplay by : Jason Cahill | October 10, 1996 | 465403 | 30.0[citation needed] |
51 | 4 | "Last Call" | Rod Holcomb | Story by : Samantha Howard Corbin & Carol Flint Teleplay by : Samantha Howard Corbin | October 17, 1996 | 465404 | 32.9[citation needed] |
52 | 5 | "Ghosts" | Richard Thorpe | Neal Baer | October 31, 1996 | 465405 | 31.1[citation needed] |
53 | 6 | "Fear of Flying" | Christopher Chulack | Lance Gentile | November 7, 1996 | 465406 | 36.7[citation needed] |
54 | 7 | "No Brain, No Gain" | David Nutter | Paul Manning | November 14, 1996 | 465407 | 37.4[citation needed] |
55 | 8 | "Union Station" | Tom Moore | Carol Flint | November 21, 1996 | 465408 | 37.0[citation needed] |
56 | 9 | "Ask Me No Questions, I'll Tell You No Lies" | Paris Barclay | Story by : Neal Baer & Lydia Woodward Teleplay by : Barbara Hall | December 12, 1996 | 465409 | 32.9[citation needed] |
57 | 10 | "Homeless for the Holidays" | Davis Guggenheim | Samantha Howard Corbin | December 19, 1996 | 465410 | 30.5[citation needed] |
58 | 11 | "Night Shift" | Jonathan Kaplan | Paul Manning | January 16, 1997 | 465411 | 35.9[citation needed] |
59 | 12 | "Post-Mortem" | Jacque Elaine Toberen | Carol Flint | January 23, 1997 | 465412 | 35.1[citation needed] |
60 | 13 | "Fortune's Fools" | Michael Katleman | Jason Cahill | January 30, 1997 | 465413 | 33.6[citation needed] |
61 | 14 | "Whose Appy Now?" | Félix Enríquez Alcalá | Neal Baer | February 6, 1997 | 465414 | 33.3[citation needed] |
62 | 15 | "The Long Way Around" | Christopher Chulack | Lydia Woodward | February 13, 1997 | 465415 | 35.9[citation needed] |
63 | 16 | "Faith" | Jonathan Kaplan | John Wells | February 20, 1997 | 465416 | 33.8[citation needed] |
64 | 17 | "Tribes" | Richard Thorpe | Lance Gentile | April 10, 1997 | 465417 | 34.2[citation needed] |
65 | 18 | "You Bet Your Life" | Christopher Chulack | Paul Manning | April 17, 1997 | 465418 | 32.1[citation needed] |
66 | 19 | "Calling Dr. Hathaway" | Paris Barclay | Story by : Neal Baer Teleplay by : Jason Cahill & Samantha Howard Corbin | April 24, 1997 | 465419 | 33.6[citation needed] |
67 | 20 | "Random Acts" | Jonathan Kaplan | Carol Flint | May 1, 1997 | 465420 | 31.5[citation needed] |
68 | 21 | "Make A Wish" | Richard Thorpe | Story by : Joe Sachs Teleplay by : Lydia Woodward | May 8, 1997 | 465421 | 34.8[citation needed] |
69 | 22 | "One More for the Road" | Christopher Chulack | John Wells | May 15, 1997 | 465422 | 34.9[citation needed] |
References
- ^ Episode 20. Also, Season 8.