ER season 5
| ER (season 5) | |
|---|---|
| Season 5 | |
 ER Season 5 DVD cover | |
| No. of episodes | 22 |
| Release | |
| Original network | NBC |
| Original release | September 24, 1998 – May 20, 1999 |
| Season chronology | |
The fifth season of the American fictional drama television series ER first aired on September 24, 1998 and concluded on May 20, 1999. The fifth season consists of 22 episodes.
Plot
Medical student Lucy Knight ( Kellie Martin) begins her studies in the ER. As she spends time learning the layout and staff of the ER, we learn of Dr. Anna Del Amico's departure. Carter is reminded of himself as he watches Knight learn and practice. The two have a large number of conflicts before they find a way to work together. Elizabeth Corday begins her surgical internship all over again in order to keep her job at the hospital, and ends her relationship with fellow surgeon Peter Benton. Benton finds out that his son is hearing impaired, and he considers a cochlear implant. Eventually, he decides against it. Kerry Weaver opts for a full-time chief of emergency medicine post, but the post goes to an East Coast doctor, Amanda Lee. Dr. Lee soon develops a more-than-professional interest in Mark Greene with Lee later revealing to be a fraudulent psychopath who later leaves under cloudy circumstances.
Greene does a paramedic ride-along, and Doug Ross has at last settled down with Carol Hathaway. While on probation after performing a risky procedure during the fourth season, Ross breaks protocol again by informing a mother how to alter the medication given to her disabled son. She uses this information to kill her son, leaving Ross under fire. He resigns and moves to Seattle.
Production
Original executive producers John Wells and Michael Crichton reprised their roles. Lydia Woodward, Carol Flint, and Christopher Chulack all returned as executive producers. Flint left the crew with the close of the fifth season. Co-executive producer Walon Green returned for the fifth season but left the series mid-season. Fourth season producer Neal Baer and fourth season co-producer Jack Orman were promoted to supervising producers for the fifth season. Fourth season producer Penny Adams and co-producers Wendy Spence Rosato, Richard Thorpe, and Michael Salamunovich all returned to their roles. Spence Rosato was promoted to producer mid-season. Fourth season executive story editor Samantha Howard Corbin was promoted to co-producer for the fifth season but left the crew mid-season. She was replaced as co-producer by regular director Jonathan Kaplan.
Producers Wells, Woodward, Flint, Baer, Orman, Corbin, and Greene continued to write episodes. Wells wrote two episodes, Woodward wrote four episodes, and Flint wrote five episodes. Baer wrote two episodes, Orman wrote three episodes, and Corbin and Greene each contributed to one episode before their departure. Regular writer and previous technical advisor Joe Sachs was promoted to story editor for the fifth season and contributed to two episodes. Former producers David Mills and Paul Manning continued to write for the series, Mills contributed to two further episodes, and Manning scripted one more episode. Fourth season writer Linda Gase returned and contributed to two more episodes. New writer Christopher Mack wrote a single episode.
Producers Chulack and Kaplan served as the seasons regular directors. Chulack helmed 5 episodes and Kaplan directed 4. Cinematographer and co-producer Thorpe directed a further episode. Regular directors Lesli Linka Glatter, Félix Enríquez Alcalá, and Rod Holcomb all returned to direct further episodes. Other returning directors include executive producer John Wells, Christopher Misiano, David Nutter, and TR Babu Subramaniam. Cast member Laura Innes made her series directing debut with a fifth season episode. Other new directors were Steve De Jarnatt and Dave Chameides, each with a single episode.
Cast
Main cast
- Anthony Edwards as Dr. Mark Greene - Attending Physician
- George Clooney as Dr. Doug Ross - Attending Emergency Pediatric Physician
- Noah Wyle as Dr. John Carter - Second Year Resident
- Julianna Margulies as Carol Hathaway - Nurse Manager
- Gloria Reuben as Jeanie Boulet - Physician Assistant
- Laura Innes as Dr. Kerry Weaver - Acting Chief of Emergency Medicine
- Alex Kingston as Dr. Elizabeth Corday - Surgical Intern
- Kellie Martin as Lucy Knight - Third Year Medical Student
- Eriq La Salle as Dr. Peter Benton - Sixth Year Surgical Resident
Supporting cast
- Doctors and Medical students
- Mare Winningham as Amanda Lee - Chief of Emergency Medicine
- Sam Anderson as Dr. Jack Kayson - Chief of Cardiology
- Amy Aquino as Dr. Janet Coburn - Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology
- John Aylward as Dr. Donald Anspaugh - Chief of Staff
- Paul McCrane as Dr. Robert Romano - Chief of Surgery
- Jorja Fox as Dr. Maggie Doyle - Third Year Resident
- John Doman as Dr. Carl DeRaad - Chief of Psychiatry
- David Brisbin as Dr. Alexander Babcock - Anesthesiologist
- Michael Buchman Silver as Dr. Paul Meyers - Psychiatrist
- Matthew Glave as Dr. Dale Edson - Third Year Surgical Resident
- Tom Gallop as Dr. Roger Julian - Chief of Genetics
- 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
- Abraham Benrubi as Desk Clerk Jerry Markovic
- Kristin Minter as Desk Clerk Miranda "Randi" Fronczak
- Erica Gimpel as Social Worker Adele Newman
- Mike Genovese as Officer Al Grabarsky
- Cress Williams as Officer Reggie Moore
- Emily Wagner as Paramedic Doris Pickman
- Monté Russell as Paramedic Dwight Zadro
- Lyn Alicia Henderson as Paramedic Pamela Olbes
- Brian Lester as Paramedic Brian Dumar
Episodes
"Series #" refers to the episode's number in the overall series, whereas "Season #" refers to the episode's number in this particular season.
| Series # | Season # | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 92 | 1 | "Day For Knight" | Christopher Chulack | Lydia Woodward | September 24, 1998 |
| 93 | 2 | "Split Second" | Christopher Misiano | Carol Flint | October 1, 1998 |
| 94 | 3 | "They Treat Horses, Don't They?" | TR Babu Subramaniam | Walon Green | October 8, 1998 |
| 95 | 4 | "Vanishing Act" | Lesli Linka Glatter | Jack Orman | October 15, 1998 |
| 96 | 5 | "Masquerade" | Steve De Jarnatt | Teleplay: Samantha Howard Corbin Story: Joe Sachs & Samantha Howard Corbin | October 29, 1998 |
| 97 | 6 | "Stuck on You" | David Nutter | Teleplay: Neal Baer Story: Neal Baer & Linda Gase | November 5, 1998 |
| 98 | 7 | "Hazed and Confused" | Jonathan Kaplan | Teleplay: David Mills Story: David Mills & Carol Flint | November 12, 1998 |
| 99 | 8 | "The Good Fight" | Christopher Chulack | Jack Orman | November 19, 1998 |
| 100 | 9 | "Good Luck, Ruth Johnson" | Rod Holcomb | Lydia Woodward | December 10, 1998 |
| 101 | 10 | "The Miracle Worker" | Lesli Linka Glatter | Paul Manning | December 17, 1998 |
| 102 | 11 | "Nobody Doesn't Like Amanda Lee" | Richard Thorpe | Linda Gase | January 7, 1999 |
| 103 | 12 | "Double Blind" | Dave Chameides | Carol Flint | January 21, 1999 |
| 104 | 13 | "Choosing Joi" | Christopher Chulack | Lydia Woodward | February 4, 1999 |
| 105 | 14 | "The Storm: Part I" | John Wells | John Wells | February 11, 1999 |
| 106 | 15 | "The Storm: Part II" | Christopher Chulack | John Wells | February 18, 1999 |
| 107 | 16 | "Middle of Nowhere" | Jonathan Kaplan | Carol Flint & Neal Baer | February 25, 1999 |
| 108 | 17 | "Sticks and Stones" | Félix Enríquez Alcalá | Joe Sachs | March 25, 1999 |
| 109 | 18 | "Point of Origin" | Christopher Misiano | Christopher Mack | April 8, 1999 |
| 110 | 19 | "Rites of Spring" | Jonathan Kaplan | David Mills | April 29, 1999 |
| 111 | 20 | "Power" | Laura Innes | Carol Flint | May 6, 1999 |
| 112 | 21 | "Responsible Parties" | Christopher Chulack | Jack Orman | May 13, 1999 |
| 113 | 22 | "Getting to Know You" | Jonathan Kaplan | Lydia Woodward | May 20, 1999 |