Here are articles from The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, and Entertainment Weekly about ER next season:
From The Hollywood Reporter
A 15th season of "ER" is within reach, sources said. The NBC medical drama has been casting two recurring characters, at least one of which is eyed to continue in the fall.
"The Sopranos" alumna Aida Turturro has been tapped for one of the roles, a car accident victim; Australian David Lyons is in talks for the other part, a handsome new doctor who lacks conscience, sources said. In another sign that "ER" is coming back, talent agents have been told that the show plans to go directly into shooting four episodes for next season after wrapping its six-episode post-strike order.
NBC and series producer Warner Bros. TV, which have been negotiating an "ER" renewal for the past few months, declined comment.
From Variety
...Peacock and the studio are said to be close to an agreement in which a reduction on "ER's" license fee could keep the show going for a 15th season... "ER" is delivering between four and six more segs this season. But rather than end on such a short note, NBC may now want to make some noise by bringing "ER" back for one final farewell season... Still unclear: how many episodes NBC may license next season.
From Entertainment Weekly
We might just have the writers' strike to thank for bringing George Clooney back to the ER! Yep, you read that right; NBC, facing a shortened development season brought on by the 100-day labor dispute, is in the final stages of renewing ER for a 15th season next fall. The reprieve has prompted executive producers John Wells and David Zabel to make ambitious plans for what (finally) appears to be the drama's last season. "We want to revisit characters that have existed on the show over the years and say where they are now," says Zabel of stars like Clooney (Doug) and Julianna Margulies (Carol). "We'd love to get them all back in some way, but that doesn't mean we're going to. But we're gonna try."
He's already guaranteed a visit by at least one alumnus: Noah Wyle will reprise his role as Dr. Carter for four episodes next season. Maura Tierney (Abby) and Goran Visnjic (Kovac) are also expected to make a return engagement. "The toughest will be getting Tony Edwards because his character is dead," says Zabel, laughing. That's a little tricky, but there are ways to do it that we've thought about. Even if it were like a lost episode from 1996 featuring him and Wyle."
In the meantime, Zabel will keep the ER buzzing for the remaining six outings this season by bringing on Aida Turturro (The Sopranos) for a three-week stint as a patient and adding a hot new doc (possibly an unknown actor from Australia) who's supposed to make Dr. Gates (John Stamos) look like a plain white-coat. "He'll be a sexy rake, a devil you can't resist," explains Zabel, adding, "A dynamic new character has the ability to motivate everybody, though it's easy to get excited about next season considering it will be the last."
Should've been ended this year. Its not like it will do all that well, even in a finale anymore. People have forgotten about it, but this is NBC, so who let em keep it. I'm not losing any sleep over what will be another record breaking low rated season.
Originally posted by mushu_jj: Should've been ended this year. Its not like it will do all that well, even in a finale anymore. People have forgotten about it, but this is NBC, so who let em keep it. I'm not losing any sleep over what will be another record breaking low rated season.
If they are able to bring back some or all of those characters, the ratings would probably see a nice spike.
I think if NBC advertises the series as its final season, then the ratings will probably go up (at least a little bit); and NBC (IMO) does do a good job at advertising. And if they bring back older characters and have special guest stars, then I think the ratings will see a perk from this season.
I could definitely see them having a two-hour finale with a one hour retrospect special with old and new cast members.
