Julianna Margulies
and George Clooney
courtesy Warner
Bros.There's no
series finale
written and
producers and cast
aren't yet ready
to sign off for
good but if, as
many predict, ER's
County General
closes its doors
at the end of its
upcoming 14th
season, the NBC
drama wants to
lure back as many
of its cast as it
can. Noah Wyle
(Dr. John Carter),
who's popped in
and out of the
show for a number
of years, is
returning for
multiple episodes,
and there will be
no running around
in Africa this
time. "He'll be in
Chicago in the ER,
interacting with
all our people,"
executive producer
David Zabel tells
TVGuide.com. The
doc is back to
check out the
Joshua Carter
Center, a gift
from his big-bucks
family, as well as
for a medical
concern. In turn,
ER is hoping to
bring back Thandie
Newton, who plays
Carter's wife Kem.
Zabel says they've
also talked to
Gloria Reuben (as
Jeannie Boulet)
and Julianna
Margulies (Carol
Hathaway) about
returns. "Julianna's
doing a show now
(midseason's
Canterbury's Law),
but we can always
write a story that
can shoot in a
couple of days,"
the exec says.
Also on their
dream list and in
the mix of story
ideas being
discussed: Eriq La
Salle (Peter
Benton), William
H. Macy (David
Morgenstern), and
Sally Field and
Danny Glover, who
have had runs as
Abby's mom and
Pratt's dad. Fans
might also expect
visits from more
recent exiles
Laura Innes
(Weaver) and Shane
West (Ray).
But what about the
most successful ER
alum of all?
"We're always
thinking of ways
to bring Dr. Ross
back on the show,"
says Zabel with a
laugh. "And now
might be a good
time, because I
hear George
[Clooney] needs
the work."