ER (season 5)
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 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 applies 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 being revealed 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 T.R. 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 – Pediatric Attending Physician
- Noah Wyle as Dr. John Carter – Resident PGY-3
- Julianna Margulies as Carol Hathaway – Nurse Manager
- Gloria Reuben as Jeanie Boulet – Physician Assistant
- Laura Innes as Dr. Kerry Weaver – Attending Physician
- Alex Kingston as Dr. Elizabeth Corday – Surgical Intern
- Kellie Martin as Lucy Knight – Third-year Medical Student
- Eriq La Salle as Dr. Peter Benton – Surgical Resident PGY-6
Supporting cast
- Mare Winningham as Amanda Lee – Chief of Emergency Medicine
- Sam Anderson as Dr. Jack Kayson – Chief of Cardiology
- John Aylward as Dr. Donald Anspaugh – Chief of Staff
- Paul McCrane as Dr. Robert Romano – Chief of Surgery
- Jorja Fox as Dr. Maggie Doyle – Resident PGY-3
- 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
- Michael Buchman Silver as Dr. Paul Meyers – Psychiatrist
- Matthew Glave as Dr. Dale Edson – Resident PGY-3
- Tom Gallop as Dr. Roger Julian – Chief of Genetics
- Ted Rooney as Dr. Tabash – Neonatologist
- Perry Anzilotti as Dr. Ed – Anesthesiologist
- Kenneth Alan Williams as Dr. Thomas Gabriel
- Carl Lumbly as Dr. Graham Baker
- Stephanie Dunnam as Dr. McLucas
- Phyllis Frelich as Dr. Lisa Parks
- Dennis Boutsikaris as Dr. David Kotlowitz
- 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
- Penny Johnson as Nurse Practitioner Lynette Evans
- Dinah Lenney as Nurse Shirley
- Bellina Logan as Nurse Kit
- Suzanne Carney as OR Nurse Janet
- Janni Brenn as Nurse Kass
- Abraham Benrubi as Desk Clerk Jerry Markovic
- Kristin Minter as Desk Clerk Miranda "Randi" Fronczak
- Christine Healy as Hospital Administrator Harriet Spooner
- Jeff Cahill as Transport Dispatcher Tony Fig
- Emily Wagner as Paramedic Doris Pickman
- Montae Russell as Paramedic Dwight Zadro
- as Paramedic Pamela Olbes
- Brian Lester as Paramedic Brian Dumar
- Michelle C. Bonilla as Paramedic Christine Harms
- Demetrius Navarro as Paramedic Morales
- J. P. Hubbell as Paramedic Lars Audia
- Meg Thalken as Chopper EMT Dee McManus
- Ed Lauter as Fire Captain Dannaker
- Cress Williams as Officer Reggie Moore
- Mike Genovese as Officer Al Grabarsky
- Chad McKnight as Officer Wilson
- Christine Harnos as Jennifer "Jenn" Greene
- Yvonne Zima as Rachel Greene
- Khandi Alexander as Jackie Robbins
- Lisa Nicole Carson as Carla Reece
- Matthew Watkins as Reese Benton
- Victor Williams as Roger McGrath
- Paul Freeman as Dr. Charles Corday
- Rose Gregorio as Helen Hathaway
Notable guest stars
- Keiko Agena as Mrs. Shimahara
- Xander Berkeley as Detective Wilson
- Julie Bowen as Roxanne Please
- Akosua Busia as Kobe Ikabo
- Jessica Capshaw as Sally McKenna
- Mike Doyle as Michael McKenna
- Teri Garr as Celinda Randlett
- Jenette Goldstein as Judy Stiles
- Anna Gunn as Ekabo's Lawyer
- Taraji P. Henson as Elan
- Djimon Hounsou as Mobalage Ikabo
- Harvey Korman as Stan Levy
- Maggie Lawson as Shannon Mitchell
- Valerie Mahaffey as Joi Abbott
- Marlee Matlin as Sign Language Instructor
- Eric Christian Olsen as Travis Mitchell
- Octavia Spencer as Maria Jones
- Holland Taylor as Phyllis Farr
- Terri J. Vaughn as Mrs. Gleason
- Sheila Kelley as Coco Robbins
Episodes