Dr. Greene Returns From The Dead

If you happened to catch last night's episode of ER about half-way through, you might have been tricked into thinking that NBC was just fucking around and airing a rerun. But no, it was a brand-new episode. And why might you think it was a rerun? Because it starred Anthony Edwards, whose character, Dr. Mark Greene, died six years ago.

Actually, the show was a half flashback, half real-time show. Other actors from the past, like Laura Innes, Abe Benrubi, and Paul McCrane made appearances as well. Admittedly, it was pretty cool to see characters that have been off the show for years reappear. And Edwards' appearance was some particularly soap opera-type shit, like when Roger Thorpe on Guiding Light returned from the dead after nine years. (Paul McCrane's character died on the show, too, but I don't think anyone remembers he was on it anyway.)

I did wonder why they didn't have more "period" characters on, like Dr. Carter or Dr. Lewis, who were on the show around that time. It must have been their days off. Maybe they'll turn up in the finale.

By the way, Eriq La Salle, who eulogized Michael Crichton, the show's creator, at the start of the episode, looks like hell. Apparently, not doing anything since leaving the show really wears a man down.