Star Spoilers - Juliana on 5/18?

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AS these exclusive STAR photos reveal, the shocking season finale of ER includes a bloody rampage that mirrors last year's tragic Columbine High School shootings.

And sources say filming was so tough that actor Eriq LaSalle, 37, was emotionally exhausted by it.

"Between takes, Eriq stood by a fence looking weary and tense," an eyewitness reveals. "It was as if he was still in character. It was a very dramatic scene and Eriq was obviously affected by the heavy subject matter."

Eriq's character, Dr. Peter Benton, plays a hero in the gripping episode about a mad gunman who goes berserk and starts shooting.

"Children and adults are hit by a rain of bullets and the ER staff acts quickly to save their lives," says an insider. "The sniper is still on the loose, but Dr. Benton risks his own life to rescue a boy.

"Somehow, he manages to save the boy and get him into a helicopter ambulance."

Goran Visnjic, who plays Dr. Luka Kovac, was also involved in the two-day filming at a school in south-central LA, where three blocks were closed off and a real helicopter carried away 75 extras covered in fake blood.

"There was lots of blood on the pavement. It was pretty gory," says the eyewitness. "It was total chaos."

STAR has already previewed the other plot points that will be featured in the NBC drama's season-ender May 18, like the mysterious disappearance of Dr. John Carter (Noah Wylie), and the heart-wrenching goodbye of nurse Carol Hathaway (Julianna Margulies).

But the violent shooting spree segment was the one that clearly moved Eriq.

"He didn't sign any autographs, even though there were dozens of fans waiting on the sidelines," says the eyewitness.

"By the look of it, the real-life school shootings at Columbine that shocked the nation were on everyone's minds that day -- especially Eriq's."

-- Chava (ChavaW68@aol.com), May 16, 2000

Answers

Hmm...well, "The Star" also reported a Doug/Carol wedding and then later reported George Clooney wouldn't return, so I don't know if we can really trust them regarding information on Julianna Margulies returning for the season finale, especially when John Wells said clearly that neither she nor Clooney would return. As much as I love Margulies, Clooney, and the Doug/Carol relationship, I'm more than satisfied with the closing image from "Such Sweet Sorrow," and would rather THAT be the image we're left with. :-)

-- Arianne (CarolRossSusanGreene@yahoo.com), May 16, 2000.

Just in case anyone feels the same way I do, I will ask this. Does anyone else find this plotline in somewhat bad taste? I know that ER handles issues very well, but I worry about any glorification of it; I mean, attention on tv. I don't want them to reach into that kind of tragedy for a drama in a season finale. I don't know- I'll watch it of course, and then see.

-- May (archerl@cadvision.com), May 16, 2000.

I see what you mean, May. Would we want a fictional drama made of the horror of our lives if we were Columbine students? I can't speak for everyone, but that might be a little raw. I know ER handles issues very well (rape, AIDS, abuse) and with sensitivity. But I have to wonder if they're going to pull this one off as gently as others. They would have to be very, very careful... but on the other hand, it would be a very good plot, whether or not it had anything to do with Columbine. I guess we'll find out!

-- Marie (cartersbabe@aol.com), May 16, 2000.

Chava, I saw that too...I thought Carol left without closure for her buddy nurses and such...I hope they at least mention her coming back, scooping up her kids and saying bye to everyone...wouldn't hurt to see it, but I guess it wouldn't be as much as a thrill as "Such Sweet Sorrow."

-- Katie (writegrl@aol.com), May 17, 2000.

In response to the season finale of ER being in bad taste because it's hitting close to home with what happened at Columbine...I'm sure we could give this subject a lot of debate, but this is what is happening in our schools...it's sad, but true. It is reality and ER (for the most part) is a reality-based show. I'm sure like someone else said in another response, that if it had been me or my child had gone through the horror at Columbine, it would be difficult to watch, yes....but if we really want to get into it...I could also say people who have experienced or lost loved ones from stabbings, and other horrific crimes would feel the same way watching ER every week. We all live in the real world and as much as we would like it to be perfect, it isn't...So by watching this week's ER might give us some insight as to what others have gone through. JMHO

-- Joy (joijoy@webtv.net), May 17, 2000.


I think that many of these copycat shootings stem from the intense media attention that the news media seems to lavish on these shooters. I think that ER attention will ever up the ante for those disturbed kids who crave the media attention. Perhaps it will be covered appropriately, but at this point, it seems like any attention, positive or negative, spurs on a copycat attack.

-- 2222 (rachelrr@ivillage.com), May 17, 2000.

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