Update on Clooney

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On Later Today this morning they did a story about George Clooney and Fail Safe. They then said they asked him if he will be making an appearance on ER. He said he has not been approached by anyone to do it and that it is "highly unlikely" that he will appear. Our only hope is that they are trying to keep this quiet...Do you think that could be the case? I hope so!!

-- amanda (amanda.rehm@home.com), April 04, 2000

Answers

I read in my local paper this morning a blurb that stated Clooney said he "would consider" returning for JM's last episode if he had been asked, which he says he hasn't been. When asked if he missed the show, he said "not a bit," because the story lines bored him.

-- Jennifer M. (jenbird@earthlink.net), April 04, 2000.

In the April 8-14 edition of TV Guide (with George on the cover) he stated that he wouldn't mind going back to ER for an episode or to if he had been asked, but he said that he hadn't, and as filming for this season is almost over it is high doubtful that he will return for Julianna Margulies exit (which supports other reports). However, perhaps Clooney and the writers of ER have come to some secret agreement about his return, but are they are all stating that he won't be back....okay at least I can dream :)

-- Emma (webbef@hotmail.com), April 04, 2000.

If George Clooney did say that the storylines were "boring", he better examine his status right away. ER put him on the map, the "Facts of Life" and "Roseanne" sure didn't. He wouldn't be where he is today (and making Fail Safe) without ER, so I should think he would appear a little more grateful. He may be bitter if he truly wasn't asked to be in the series finale, but still....

For the record I think George Clooney is fine in general (I promise I'm not bashing him), but I am the only one out there who really doesn't care one way or the other if he is in the finale? It would be nice for the die-hard Clooney fans, but I can take it or leave it. I guess that's because Carol and Doug were never my favorites on the show. Who else is watching the finale for reasons other than Carol's leaving?

-- Jane (LC19@swt.edu), April 04, 2000.


i found this on my people newsletter that i get in my email: CLOONEY BACK ON 'ER'?: George Clooney says he would consider an encore appearance on "ER," but no one has asked him. Clooney tells TV Guide he would be open to joining his old cast mates for Julianna Margulies' final performance. She is leaving in May after six seasons. Variety says Margulies is close to joining Jason Robards on Broadway in "Ten Unknowns," a new play about a painter who fails to live up to his early promise and a young scientist who becomes his lover and his inspiration. Margulies turned down an offer of $27 million to stay on "ER" for two more seasons.

-- Alexis (lexicat1@webtv.net), April 04, 2000.

Clooney didn't say he left because the show was 'boring." What he said was that the quality of the writing has gone down and the storylines have become too predictable. I think he's right. The reason I watch the show is not so much to see the medical cases, but for the characters. Watching the whole Doug story evolve was like peeling through the layers of an onion with subtle changes and nuances revealed over the course of 4 years. Now it seems like the characters are archtypes who fill a certain role in the ensemble and don't vary much from that role. Just my opinion!

-- Christy (christy.steele@mindspring.com), April 04, 2000.


Thank you Jane! Someone finally said what's been on my mind. I like Clooney also, but if he doesn't make an appearance, so what!! I never liked the Doug/Carol storyline. They don't seem believeable as a couple to me. It was too forced. Anyway, several months ago when it was first announced that JM would be leaving, I saw an interview with her. She was asked if Clooney would be back, and all she would say was that it will be a happy ending. I think that all the hype about him not being approached to come back is BS and meant to throw everyone off. I could be wrong, but it just looks obvious that that's what they're up too. I guess we'll know in a few weeks.

-- ellen (dbspunky61@hotmail.com), April 04, 2000.

I guess I would agree that he does not HAVE to come back. But IF they write out Carol by making her and Doug get together then I want to see him there. IF she is written out some other then who cares if he's there right?

-- amanda (amanda.rehm@home.com), April 04, 2000.

I am a HUGE George Clooney fan, so what I'm about to say upsets me. Saying that: Maybe Clooney had a taste of sour grapes. Yes he's a big star and yes, he was important in ER, but No, the show didn't deteriorate without him. It's still the #1 rated drama and is still winning awards. Along with those sour grapes, Clooney might add a piece of humble pie...Sorry George...

-- Carin (cdenisehaze@usa.net), April 04, 2000.

Why does he keep saying no one has contacted him when i keep reading that Julianna is calling him everyday, begging him to do the finale?

-- Danielle (dns6127@garnet.acns.fsu.edu), April 04, 2000.

Because you can't believe everything you read. Either he's being blatantly honest, or it's a smokescreen. We'll know soon enough.

-- Phyl (erfan@flash.net), April 04, 2000.


You're exactly right Ellen. All the George stories strike me as nothing but manipulative BS as well. I'm not emotionally invested in Doug and Carol either but think they owe fans of this couple decent closure. To not do that after leaving everything about them up in the air when George left would be seen as nothing less than complete betrayal by their fans IMHO.

-- JLD (jld@whoever.com), April 04, 2000.

Carin, sorry, should have responded to this earlier. Please do not take every quote you read as being accurate or complete. George has said, numerous times, that not only does he owe "everything" to ER, but that he felt by his leaving, the show could improve and has improved. What he's said about the writing is very true. It's stagnant, and substandard from what we were used to. He, however, is most generally gracious and loves the people at ER, loved working there, and felt that it was time to move on. I agree. And I think, frankly, Julianna is moving on at the right time. Well, almost the right time. Too bad she couldn't have left with him. Then we wouldn't have the crap-for-a-storyline for Carol that we do now.

-- Phyl (erfan@flash.net), April 04, 2000.

Phyl, you're right about Carol's storyline being crap. I love Julianna but see her last seasons plot line as a cheap ploy to keep Clooney fans tuned in. If they don't close out Doug and Carol properly it will backfire big time, and then they'll have no one but themselves to blame IMHO.

-- JLD (jld@whoever.com), April 04, 2000.

First, I don't see how they would make his return natural. He hasn't been there for his girls, including Carol, for more than a year. Second, if he is coming back, maybe NBC just isn't shouting it out. They want to keep us guessing, which they are. Knowing that Kellie Martin was leaving kept me expecting something to happen to Lucy, same with Julianna. Maybe they just don't want to tell all.

-- Joanne (bucklind@hotmail.com), April 04, 2000.

Obviously, I am a huge George Clooney fan, but his statement bothered me. I guess I would just have to hear it in context and the way he said it. I completely agree with what he said, the only great storylines this year have been the stabbing and Kerry's teacher. I like JM too, but her storylines have been either boring or sad, because she is raising her twins alone when just one year ago she had a loyal fiancee. I have no doubt that GC is grateful to ER, but for some reason I wish he had refrained from commenting on ER's recent lack of excitement, it doesn't sound good coming from him. I believe that for whatever odd reason, the writers honestly have not asked GC back, and despite that JM has been asking him back, it's not totally up to her. Noah Wyle is working with him too right now, and he can't just ask him back either. I think it would be a huge shame to let their relationship just die out like this. But unfortunately, right now I don't know how they could realistically bring him back into the picture. I am really disappointed, because ER is becoming less of a show of commeradery and stuff, and the shows have been kind of sad.

-- Elaine (mrsclooney78@hotmail.com), April 04, 2000.


I wonder how much notice George Clooney would need to come back. If he were to be in the finale I am sure it would be more of a cameo appearance than anything else. So maybe there have been no talks because, obviously, he is very busy with Fail Safe. They surely have a few more weeks of filming. Just a thought.

-- amanda (amanda.rehm@home.com), April 04, 2000.

I feel better knowing that the quotes about George Clooney were taken out of context. After "The Facts of Life", "Roseanne" and "The Golden Girls", George must have been grateful to ER for giving him the break he needed to branch out into other directions of his career. Waitress, please take away the pie and grapes--they're not needed here.

-- Carin (cdenisehaze@usa.net), April 05, 2000.

I bought the tv guide with the GC interview today, and while he said that he felt the quality of the writing had deteriorated around the time of his departure, he feels the problem has been rectified now. Maybe he was just trying to cover his ass, although it doesn't seem like he did a very good job.

-- Carly (Butrcup583@aol.com), April 05, 2000.

Y'all have missed the really funny part of the interview w/Clooney. He referred to an early episode wehre a guy walks in with an arrow through his head and asks for admitting... the staff points him that way, and the patient is never seen again.

Clooney says if that happened now, the staff would get together to talk about their feelings over it, and JM would cry a little because her parents were attacked by Indians or something.

HAHAHAHAHA

-- Just Me (dont@email.com), April 05, 2000.


What!? What is this interview everyone is talking about? On a show, or in the TV Guide? This is specifically to "Just Me" (the person with the don't email email)...where did you hear this?

-- Elaine (mrsclooney78@hotmail.com), April 05, 2000.

If TPTB don't bring GC back for the season finale, it will be a huge letdown to the characters and to the fans. I can't understand how TPTB can't get it through their skulls that a Clooney no-show would backfire, since their own cast understands this.

They could bring him back believably because D&C tend to be rather rash and spontanious, and the terrific chemistry between GC&JM would certainly make me believe the storyline, no matter how outrages.

-- Arianne (CarolRossSusanGreene@yahoo.com), April 05, 2000.


I have to say that I watched the earliest episodes of ER which I had never seen before, and if Clooney thinks the writing was noticeably better then, he's kidding himself. At least on ER now, you don't have two characters smooching in the trauma room after the patient has gone up to OR, having gotten all hot and bothered by their perfect synchronization during the treatment. I thought that was pretty cheesy and VERY VERY standard TV drama fare. So was Susan's sister throwing a tantrum in the middle of the hall.

-- debbie (riccardoiii@aol.com), April 05, 2000.

I got the latest issue of TV Guide with George Clooney on the cover, but I haven't been able to tear my eyes away from his gorgeous face to open the thing and read the interview. I've saved each TV Guide cover that dealt with ER or actors (past or present) from ER. This one is going on my wall next to my autographed copy of George Clooney.

-- Carin (cdenisehaze@usa.net), April 05, 2000.

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