ER, when it's working right, is like a Dickens novel--lots of great characters interacting with each other in surprising ways, moments of broad humor, moments which break your heart, huge coincidences, true details which are beautifully observed, big plot holes, great storytelling. The bad stuff is sort part of the good stuff in the fabric of the piece for me, if you see what I mean. The show has had whole bad seasons, but when it's cooking, it's wonderful.

I don't know whether to laugh or to be appalled.

I'm wondering if I should buy one and bring it to the New Orleans f2f where skilled voodoo practitioners will be within walking distance.

I cooked a buffalo burger at the office today. V. tasty, but the smell of the meat cooking will keep me from ever buying more patties to grill at home.

I guess I don't get your point.

Is the episode where Kellie is killed too unrealistic? And that's why it didn't get good buzz? Or is the lack of sufficient continued reaction to it what meant it didn't get the Emmy?

Hell and High Water (the episode with Ross and the storm drain) got huge ratings, Emmy noms, and was a big old stunt.

I don't see the consistency of your angle.

I've been in an ER and seen things get pretty dramatic. When my dad was in the hospital for his first seizures (we were on vacation in Eureka Springs), I was in the ER waiting room when they brought in a guy whose arm had been ripped off by a thresher. His buddy in bloodstained overalls ran in having hysterics and very noisily barfed as soon as he got the restroom door open.

According to my SiL, who is an ER nurse, the main feature of life in the ER is lots and lots of bodliy fluids where they shouldn't be.

But there was long term consequences to Kellie Martin's character's death -- the whole John Carter becomes a drug addict arc was founded on that incident.

According to my SiL, who is an ER nurse, the main feature of life on the lots and lots of bodliy fluids where they shouldn't be.

The main stories I heard of note from friends who worked in ERs were about objects lodged in places they had no business being.

I was in the ER waiting room when they brought in a guy whose arm had been ripped off by a thresher.

But given that we don't get to see the fun part, how dramatic is that? It sure sounds shocking and urgent, but doesn't drama, drama for public consumption require more notes than that? Especially to last more than a couple seasons?

Don't get me wrong. I got problems with ER. They jacked with Luka (during his pimp period), Carter is more often deathworthy than not, and who-the-fuck-ever does their promos should be exterminated retroactively. They're often cheap, but every now and again do something either simple or touching or jarring that stays with me.

Injecting random not-real-world drama? It's just TV.

The main stories I heard of note from friends who worked in ERs was objects lodged in places they had no business being.

Yeah, I heard those stories too. Of course, she was a nurse in a San Francisco hospital so there was a bit more of that. The most wince inducing was the guy who had a long flourescent lightbulb protruding from his person. The trick being how to remove it without it shattering.

The main stories I heard of note from friends who worked in ERs were about objects lodged in places they had no business being.

So, if we take GWB to an ER, they could get his head out of his ass?