ER (season 4)
Encyclopedia
The fourth season of the American fictional drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...

 television series ER
ER (TV series)
ER is an American medical drama television series created by novelist Michael Crichton that aired on NBC from September 19, 1994 to April 2, 2009. It was produced by Constant c Productions and Amblin Entertainment, in association with Warner Bros. Television...

first aired on September 25, 1997 and concluded on May 14, 1998. The fourth season consists of 22 episodes.

Plot

Season four opens with the live episode "Ambush", performed twice (once for the east coast, once for the west coast). Dr. Morgenstern, head of the ER, has a heart attack, threatening his life. Weaver agrees to temporarily step in until he recovers. Unfortunately, when Morgenstern does come back, he cannot perform surgery like he used to do because he now knows what it is like to be a patient. After a surgical accident that takes a man's life, Morgenstern decides to permanently step down as head of the ER and he leaves the hospital.

Two new physicians join the ER: Dr. Anna Del Amico, played by Maria Bello
Maria Bello
Maria Elena Bello is an American actress and singer known for her appearances in the movies Coyote Ugly, The Jane Austen Book Club, Permanent Midnight, Thank You for Smoking, A History of Violence, Payback, and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. For television she is known for her role as Dr...

 and a new British surgeon Dr. Elizabeth Corday, played by Alex Kingston
Alex Kingston
Alexandra Elizabeth "Alex" Kingston is an English actress. She is most widely known for her roles as Dr. Elizabeth Corday on the NBC medical drama ER and as River Song in Doctor Who.-Early life and education:...

. Corday came to America under the fellowship of Dr. Robert "Rocket" Romano (played by Paul McCrane), but their relationship sours towards the end of the season. After she rejects Romano when he asks her out, he decides not to renew her fellowship. She is forced to choose whether she moves back to England or stays in America as an intern.

Meanwhile, as Greene copes with his beating, he and Ross take a vacation to Arizona to bury Ross' dad. While there, Greene visits his own parents, where he finds out that his mother is sick, and his relationship with his dad is estranged, at best. Back in Chicago, he begins to date new ER desk clerk Cynthia Hooper (played by Mariska Hargitay
Mariska Hargitay
Mariska Hargitay is an American actress, best known for her role as New York City sex crimes Detective Olivia Benson on the NBC television drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, a role that has earned her multiple awards and nominations, including an Emmy and Golden Globe.The daughter of actress...

). The relationship is purely physical, and when Greene has to visit his parents again later in the season, she comes along, only to realize that Greene does not love her. After the awkward breakup, Cynthia leaves, but Greene stays to better take care of his ailing mother and begin to mend his relationship with his father.

Ross and Hathaway get more serious when Ross surprises Hathaway and proposes to her in front of the ER staff, which she accepts. She later has commitment issues when she kisses a vulnerable paramedic. She tells Ross, and he reacts angrily. After a short time, Ross forgives her and tells her he will wait until she is ready to be married. In addition, Hathaway is able to open a free clinic in the ER with the help of Carter's grandmother. Ross vies for a pediatric attending position in the ER.

A lonely Corday starts a relationship with Benton, which causes friction with Benton's family because she is white.

Weaver attends a Synergix seminar to see how to better manage the ER. She begins to date a Synergix representative, Ellis West, who advises her to fire a physician's assistant, which happens to be Jeanie Boulet. Jeanie fights for her job, claiming that she is getting fired because of her HIV status, and wins. Weaver begins to see Synergix's dark side, and breaks up with West because she feels he is using her, effectively cutting off all ties with Synergix. During all of this, Jeanie's ex-husband/current partner Al is forced to reveal his HIV status. This gets him fired and forces him to look to Atlanta for a job, and he asks Jeanie to join him. Jeanie refuses, and Al leaves her. Later in the season, Jeanie cares for Anspaugh's dying son, because she is the only person able to get through to him. After he dies, Anspaugh feels much gratitude and remorse towards Jeanie because he was willing to fire her.

Carter pretends to be poor in order to get in Anna's good graces, which fails because she finds out he was lying to her. But, the two still become good friends, and she helps Carter help his cousin Chase detoxify from a heroin addiction. She had experience in the subject, considering her ex boyfriend went through a similar experience. Unfortunately, their efforts were in vain, because Chase started using again, eventually crippling him for life. At the end of the season, Anna's ex-boyfriend comes to the hospital to see if the ER is in need of a Paeds attending. Anna is still in love with him, and faces a decision about her future in the ER.

Main cast

  • Anthony Edwards
    Anthony Edwards
    Anthony Charles Edwards is an American actor and director. He has appeared in various movies and television shows, including Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Top Gun, Zodiac, Revenge of the Nerds, Northern Exposure and ER.-Early life:Edwards was born in Santa Barbara, California, the son of Erika...

     as Dr. Mark Greene
    Mark Greene
    Dr. Mark Greene was a fictional medical doctor from the television series ER, portrayed by the actor Anthony Edwards. For most of his time on the series, Greene's role was that of a mediator and occasional authority figure, and he was considered the main character of the series for the first eight...

     - Attending Physician
  • George Clooney
    George Clooney
    George Timothy Clooney is an American actor, film director, producer, and screenwriter. For his work as an actor, he has received two Golden Globe Awards and an Academy Award...

     as Dr. Doug Ross
    Doug Ross
    Dr. Douglas "Doug" Ross is a fictional character from the television series ER, portrayed by George Clooney. George Clooney's removal from the main cast opening credits was in the 16th episode of season 5.-Plot details:...

     - Pediatric Fellow
  • Noah Wyle
    Noah Wyle
    Noah Strausser Speer Wyle is an American film, television and theatre actor. He is best known for his role as Dr. John Truman Carter III in the Medical drama ER. He has also played Steve Jobs in the 1999 docudrama Pirates of Silicon Valley and Flynn Carsen in The Librarian franchise...

     as Dr. John Carter
    John Carter (ER)
    Dr. John Truman Carter III, portrayed by Noah Wyle, is a fictional character from the television series ER. The character, called simply "Carter" by most other characters, was introduced in the pilot episode and appeared for eleven consecutive seasons. Wyle decided to leave the show as a regular...

     - ER Intern
  • Julianna Margulies
    Julianna Margulies
    Julianna Luisa Margulies is an American actress and producer.After several small television roles, Margulies achieved success in her regular role as Nurse Carol Hathaway on NBC's long-running medical drama ER, for which she won an Emmy Award...

     as Carol Hathaway
    Carol Hathaway
    Nurse Carol Ross is a fictional character on the popular television show ER, portrayed by Julianna Margulies from 1994 to 2000. Julianna Margulies' removal from the main cast opening credits was in the final episode of season 6....

     - Nurse Manager
  • Gloria Reuben
    Gloria Reuben
    Gloria Reuben is a Canadian singer and actress of film and television, known for her role as Jeanie Boulet on the popular medical drama ER and for her role of Rosalind Whitman in the TV show Raising the Bar.-Life and career:...

     as Jeanie Boulet
    Jeanie Boulet
    Jeanie Boulet is a fictional character from the television series ER. She was portrayed by Gloria Reuben as a recurring character midway in the first season, then as a regular from season 2 onwards. Reuben left the serial in the 6th season, but in 2008 she reprised the role for one episode.Jeanie...

     - Physician Assistant
  • Laura Innes
    Laura Innes
    Laura Elizabeth Innes is an American actress and director, probably best known for her role as Dr. Kerry Weaver on ER, and most recently, as Sophia on the NBC thriller The Event.-Career:...

     as Dr. Kerry Weaver
    Kerry Weaver
    Dr. Kerry Weaver, portrayed by Laura Innes, was an fictional character on the NBC television series ER; she first appeared as a recurring character actor in season 2, and became a regular cast member in season 3. In January 2007, Innes left the show after 12 years and Kerry Weaver moved to...

     - Acting Chief of Emergency Medicine
  • Maria Bello
    Maria Bello
    Maria Elena Bello is an American actress and singer known for her appearances in the movies Coyote Ugly, The Jane Austen Book Club, Permanent Midnight, Thank You for Smoking, A History of Violence, Payback, and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. For television she is known for her role as Dr...

     as Dr. Anna Del Amico
    Anna Del Amico
    Dr. Anna Del Amico is a fictional medical doctor from the television series ER. She was portrayed by Maria Bello.- Life and Time at County :Del Amico first appeared in the show in 1997, guest starring in the last 3 episodes of the third season...

     - Pediatric Fellow
  • Alex Kingston
    Alex Kingston
    Alexandra Elizabeth "Alex" Kingston is an English actress. She is most widely known for her roles as Dr. Elizabeth Corday on the NBC medical drama ER and as River Song in Doctor Who.-Early life and education:...

     as Dr. Elizabeth Corday
    Elizabeth Corday
    Elizabeth Corday, MBChB, FRCS is a fictional surgeon on the television series ER. She was played by Alex Kingston and appeared from 1997 to 2004.-Background:...

     - Trauma Fellow
  • Eriq La Salle
    Eriq La Salle
    Eriq La Salle is an American actor and director, known for his portrayals of Darryl in the 1988 comedy film Coming to America and Dr. Peter Benton on the NBC drama series ER.-Early life:...

     as Dr. Peter Benton
    Peter Benton
    Dr. Peter Benton is a fictional character on the television series ER for its first eight seasons. He was played by Eriq La Salle. Benton was often portrayed as arrogant, irritable, or even hostile, but he is nevertheless an exceptionally talented surgeon who is passionate about medicine...

     - Fifth Year Surgical Resident

Supporting cast

Doctors and Medical students
  • William H. Macy
    William H. Macy
    William Hall Macy, Jr. is an American actor and writer. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Jerry Lundegaard in Fargo. He is also a teacher and director in theater, film and television. His film career has been built mostly on his appearances in small, independent films, though...

     as Dr. David Morgenstern - Chief of Surgery and Chief of Emergency Medicine
  • Sam Anderson
    Sam Anderson
    Sam Anderson is an American actor.-Early life:Anderson was born in Wahpeton, North Dakota. He is a graduate of the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. During the 1970s, Sam taught drama at Antelope Valley College in Lancaster, California.-Career:Anderson is perhaps best known for his roles...

     as Dr. Jack Kayson - Chief of Cardiology
  • Amy Aquino
    Amy Aquino
    Amy Aquino is an American television, film, and stage actress.-Background and education:Aquino is the daughter of Adele and Salvatore Aquino...

     as Dr. Janet Coburn - Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • John Aylward
    John Aylward
    John Aylward is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for playing the former DNC chairman Barry Goodwin on the NBC television series The West Wing and for playing Dr. Donald Anspaugh on the NBC television series ER. He also supplied his voice for Dr. Arne Magnusson in Half-Life 2: Episode...

     as Dr. Donald Anspaugh - Chief of Staff
  • CCH Pounder
    CCH Pounder
    Carol Christine Hilaria Pounder , known professionally as C. C. H. Pounder , is a Guyanese-American film and television actress...

     as Dr. Angela Hicks - Surgical Attending Physician
  • Paul McCrane
    Paul McCrane
    Paul David McCrane is an American film, television and theatre actor, as well as an occasional television director. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Montgomery MacNeil in the 1980 film Fame and Dr. Robert Romano on the NBC medical drama television series ER.-Early life:McCrane was...

     as Dr. Robert Romano
    Robert Romano (ER)
    Dr. Robert 'Rocket' Romano is a fictional character on the TV series ER. He was portrayed by Emmy-winning actor Paul McCrane. Paul McCrane's removal from the main cast opening credits was in the 9th episode of season 10....

     - Surgical Attending Physician
  • Jorja Fox
    Jorja Fox
    Jorja-An Fox , is an American actress, musician and songwriter. She first came to prominence as a guest star on the television drama ER, portraying the recurring role of Dr. Maggie Doyle from 1996 to 1999. This was followed by another critical success in the recurring role of Secret Service Agent...

     as Dr. Maggie Doyle - ER Second Year Resident
  • John Doman
    John Doman
    John Doman is an American actor best known for playing Deputy Police Commissioner William Rawls on HBO series The Wire from 2002 to 2008 and Colonel Edward Galson on Oz in 2001....

     as Dr. Carl DeRaad - Chief of Psychiatry
  • David Brisbin
    David Brisbin
    David Brisbin is an American television actor who gained fame as Mr. Ernst on the television show Hey Dude and as a newscaster in Forrest Gump. He has made frequent guest appearances on ER....

     as Dr. Alexander Babcock - Anesthesiologist
  • Clancy Brown
    Clancy Brown
    Clarence J. "Clancy" Brown III is an American actor and voice actor. He is known for his roles in live action as The Kurgan in the cult classic film Highlander, Byron Hadley in the award-winning The Shawshank Redemption, Brother Justin Crowe in HBO's critically acclaimed Carnivàle, and Career...

     as Dr. Ellis West - Associate ER Attending Physician
  • Michael Buchman Silver as Dr. Paul Meyers - Psychiatrist
  • Matthew Glave
    Matthew Glave
    Matthew G. Glave , an American film and television actor.-Personal:Glave attended Ohio University.He is married to Anita Barone and has two daughters, Madeline and Roxanne.-Career:...

     as Dr. Dale Edson - Second Year Surgical Resident
  • Chad Lowe
    Chad Lowe
    Charles Conrad "Chad" Lowe is an American actor. He is the younger brother of fellow actor Rob Lowe. He won an Emmy Award for his supporting role in Life Goes On as a man suffering with HIV. He has also had recurring roles on ER, Melrose Place, and Now and Again...

     as George Henry - Medical Student
  • Don Perry
    Don Perry
    Don Perry , is a former Canadian ice hockey player and coach. Perry was head coach of the Los Angeles Kings from 1981 to 1984...

     as Dr. Sam Breedlove - Surgeon
  • Ted Rooney as Dr. Tabash - Neonatologist


Nurses
  • Ellen Crawford
    Ellen Crawford
    Ellen Crawford is an American actress. Most recently, she co-starred as Edith, in The Man from Earth. She also played Nurse Lydia Wright on ER from 1994–2003 and then again in 2009 for the series finale...

     as Nurse Lydia Wright
  • Conni Marie Brazelton
    Conni Marie Brazelton
    Conni Marie Brazelton is an American film and television actress. She's perhaps best known for her recurring role as Nurse Conni Oligario on the hit NBC Medical drama ER.-Biography:...

     as Nurse Conni Oligario
  • Deezer D
    Deezer D
    Deezer D , whose real name is Dearon Thompson, is an American actor, rapper and motivational speaker. He is best known for his role as Nurse Malik McGrath in the US TV series ER, and, to a lesser extent, his roles in the films CB4 and Fear of a Black Hat...

     as Nurse Malik McGrath
  • Laura Cerón
    Laura Cerón
    Laura Cerón is an Alma Award winning Mexican-American actress. Her most recognizable role is that of Nurse Chuny Marquez on the television series ER.-Early life:...

     as Nurse Chuny Marquez
  • Yvette Freeman
    Yvette Freeman
    Yvette Freeman is an American actress best known for her role as Haleh Adams, a registered nurse, on the NBC drama ER...

     as Nurse Haleh Adams
  • Lily Mariye
    Lily Mariye
    Lily Mariye is an American actress and filmmaker.From 1994-2009 she had a regular role as nurse Lily Jarvik on the NBC television series ER, for which she has won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Ensemble in a Drama Series four times.Mariye was born in Las Vegas, Nevada and graduated from...

     as Nurse Lily Jarvik
  • Gedde Watanabe
    Gedde Watanabe
    Gedde Watanabe is an American theatre, film, and television actor.He was in several dramatic productions in high school, both acting and singing...

     as Nurse Yosh Takata
  • Dinah Lenney
    Dinah Lenney
    Dinah Lenney is an American actress and writer. She is the author of Bigger than Life: A Murder, a Memoir, a 2007 book about the murder of her father, Republican Party politician and businessman Nelson G. Gross.-Biography:...

     as Nurse Shirley
  • Kyle Richards
    Kyle Richards
    Kyle Egan Richards is an American actress and television personality. She is known for returning to television with her sister, Kim Richards, on Bravo's The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.-Early life:...

     as Nurse Dori
  • Bellina Logan
    Bellina Logan
    Bellina Logan is an African American television and film actress. She is known for her roles as Nurse Kit in ER and Janice Mayfield in the sitcom Daddio....

     as Nurse Kit
  • Lucy Rodriguez as Nurse Bjerke


Staff and Paramedics
  • Abraham Benrubi
    Abraham Benrubi
    Abraham Rubin Hercules Benrubi is an American character actor known for his appearances as Jerry Markovic on the long-running U.S...

     as Desk Clerk Jerry Markovic
  • Mariska Hargitay
    Mariska Hargitay
    Mariska Hargitay is an American actress, best known for her role as New York City sex crimes Detective Olivia Benson on the NBC television drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, a role that has earned her multiple awards and nominations, including an Emmy and Golden Globe.The daughter of actress...

     as Desk Clerk Cynthia Hooper
  • Kristin Minter
    Kristin Minter
    Kristin Minter is an American actress. She is best known for playing the role of Kathy Winslow in the Vanilla Ice vehicle Cool as Ice...

     as Desk Clerk Miranda "Randi" Fronczak
  • Erica Gimpel
    Erica Gimpel
    Erica Fawn Gimpel , American television actress. She is best known for her roles on television shows Fame as Coco Hernandez and on Profiler as Angel Brown. She is also known for her major recurring roles on the television shows ER as Adele Newman and on Veronica Mars as Alicia Fennel...

     as Social Worker Adele Newman
  • George Eads
    George Eads
    George Coleman Eads III is an American actor, best known for his role as Nick Stokes on the CBS crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.-Early life:...

     as Paramedic Greg Powell
  • Mike Genovese as Officer Al Grabarsky
  • Emily Wagner as Paramedic Doris Pickman
  • Monté Russell as Paramedic Dwight Zadro
  • Lyn Alicia Henderson as Paramedic Pamela Olbes
  • Brian Lester as Paramedic Brian Dumar
  • J.P. Hubbell as Paramedic Lars Audia
  • Claudine Claudio as Paramedic Silva


Family
  • Christine Harnos
    Christine Harnos
    Christine Harnos is a Canadian film and television actress. Harnos is known for portraying Jennifer, the wife of main character Mark Greene on ER , Rimmer in the Action/Horror film Hellraiser: Bloodline , Dotty from The Girl Gets Moe film, Sarah Hughes in Cold Dog Soup film, Linda Wyatt in...

     as Jennifer "Jenn" Greene
  • Yvonne Zima
    Yvonne Zima
    Yvonne Marie Zima is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Daisy Carter on The Young and the Restless.-Early life:...

     as Rachel Greene
  • Bonnie Bartlett
    Bonnie Bartlett
    Bonnie Bartlett is an American television and film actress. Her career spans over 50 years, with her first major role being on a 1950s daytime drama, Love of Life. She is best known for her role as Ellen Craig on the medical drama series St. Elsewhere. She and her husband, actor William Daniels,...

     as Ruth Greene
  • John Cullum
    John Cullum
    John Cullum is an American actor and singer. He has appeared in many stage musicals and dramas, including On the Twentieth Century and Shenandoah , winning the Tony Awards for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for each...

     as David Greene
  • Jonathan Scarfe
    Jonathan Scarfe
    Jonathan Scarfe is a Canadian actor. He is married to actress Suki Kaiser and is the son of actors Alan Scarfe and Sara Botsford....

     as Chase Carter
  • Frances Sternhagen
    Frances Sternhagen
    Frances Hussey Sternhagen is an American actress. Sternhagen has appeared on and off Broadway, in movies, and on TV since the 1950s.-Personal life:...

     as Millicent Carter
  • Michael Beach
    Michael Beach
    -Biography:Beach was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, of Cape Verdean descent. He attended the prestigious Noble & Greenough School in Dedham, Massachusetts on scholarship from ABC . He was introduced to acting when he was sidelined by a lacrosse injury during high school by a classmate...

     as Al Boulet
  • Khandi Alexander
    Khandi Alexander
    Khandi Alexander is an American dancer, choreographer, and film and television actress. She is perhaps best known for the roles of Dr. Alexx Woods on CSI: Miami and as Catherine Duke on NewsRadio. She also had a major recurring role on ER as Jackie Robbins, sister to Dr. Peter Benton...

     as Jackie Robbins
  • Lisa Nicole Carson
    Lisa Nicole Carson
    Lisa Nicole Carson is an American actress. She is best known for her work on U.S. television, including supporting roles in NBC's ER and Fox's Ally McBeal...

     as Carla Reece
  • Mathew Watkins as Reese Benton

Notable guest stars

  • Joe Torry
    Joe Torry
    Joe Torry is an American actor and comedian.-Biography:Torry was born and raised along with his brother, actor and comedian Guy Torry, in St. Louis, Missouri. He attended Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri, where he earned a B.A. in mass communications/broadcast journalism...

     as Chris Law
  • Victor Williams
    Victor Williams
    Victor L. Williams is an American actor.He is best known as Doug Heffernan's best friend Deacon Palmer onThe King of Queens, and he stands 6' 6" tall...

     as Roger McGrath
  • Michael Ironside
    Michael Ironside
    Michael Ironside is a Canadian-born actor. He has also worked as a voice actor, producer, film director, and screenwriter in movie and television series in various Canadian and American productions. He is best known for playing villains and "tough guy" heroes, though he has also portrayed...

     as Dr. William "Wild Willy" Swift

Crew

Original executive producers John Wells
John Wells (TV producer)
John Marcum Wells is an American theater and television producer, writer and director. He is best known for his role as executive producer and show runner of the television series ER, Third Watch, and The West Wing. His company, John Wells Productions, is currently based at Warner Bros. studios in...

 and Michael Crichton
Michael Crichton
John Michael Crichton , best known as Michael Crichton, was an American best-selling author, producer, director, and screenwriter, best known for his work in the science fiction, medical fiction, and thriller genres. His books have sold over 200 million copies worldwide, and many have been adapted...

 reprised their roles. Lydia Woodward
Lydia Woodward
Lydia Woodward is an Emmy Award winning television writer and producer. She has worked as both a writer and producer on the primetime serial ER.-Positions held:*Pan Am *The Riches...

 also returned as an executive producer and writer. Carol Flint
Carol Flint
Carol Flint is a American television producer and writer best known for her work on ER and The West Wing. Flint started her writing career with television series China Beach . After that series ended she started working on the television series L.A...

 became a fourth executive producer. Flint was replaced as co-executive producer by Christopher Chulack
Christopher Chulack
Christopher Chulack is an American television producer and director. He has worked extensively on ER and has won several awards.-ER:Chulack began working on the NBC medical drama ER as a director and producer with the first season. He was promoted to co-executive producer midway through the third...

. Chulack was previously a regular director and a producer for the third season. Paul Manning
Paul Manning (TV producer)
Paul Manning was an American television producer and writer. Manning started as a writer on LA Law. He won an Emmy award for Outstanding Drama Series in 1996 for his work on. ER.-References:...

 left his supervising producer role but remained involved with the series as an executive consultant. Long-time crew members Lance Gentile
Lance Gentile
-Career:Gentile graduated with a BA degree in psychology from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. He was a medical student at New York Medical College and completed his residency in the emergency room at Maine Medical Center in Portland...

 and Neal Baer
Neal Baer
Neal Baer, MD is an American pediatrician and television writer and producer. He is best known for his work on the television shows ER and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.-Education:...

 were promoted to producers for the fourth season. Third season co-producers Wendy Spence Rosato and Penny Adams returned to their positions. Jack Orman
Jack Orman
Jack Orman is an American television writer, producer and director. He worked extensively on ER, eventually becoming an executive producer.-Early life:...

 and David Mills
David Mills (writer)
David Eugene Mills was an American journalist, writer and producer of television programs. He was an executive producer and writer of the HBO miniseries The Corner, for which he won two Emmy Awards, and the creator, executive producer, and writer of the NBC miniseries Kingpin.-Early life:Mills was...

 joined them as new co-producers and writers. Mills left the show mid-way through the season. Following his departure Adams was promoted to producer and Richard Thorpe
Richard Thorpe
Richard Thorpe was an American film director.Born Rollo Smolt Thorpe in Hutchinson, Kansas, he began his entertainment career performing in vaudeville and onstage. In 1921 he began in motion pictures as an actor and directed his first silent film in 1923. He went on to direct more than one hundred...

 and Michael Salamunovich joined the production team as co-producers. Thorpe had previously worked on the series as both a cinematographer and director. Salamunovich was the series unit production manager for the first three seasons and continued to fulfill this role as a co-producer. Michael Hissrich continued to serve as an associate producer. Manning, Hissrich, and Gentile all left the crew with the close of the season.

The series executive producers took a back seat to new writers in the fourth season. Wells' writing role was limited to just two episodes. Woodward wrote a single episode. Manning wrote a further episode. Flint wrote two episodes. Baer wrote two episodes while Gentile wrote a single episode and continued to serve as the series medical consultant. New co-producer Jack Orman contributed to four episodes as a writer. Mills wrote two episodes before leaving the series. New writer Walon Green
Walon Green
Walon Green is an American documentary film director and screenwriter for both TV and films. He is currently the showrunner/executive producer for the USA Network television series, Law & Order: Criminal Intent.-Career:...

 wrote three episodes. Third season regular writer Samantha Howard Corbin
Samantha Howard Corbin
Samantha Howard Corbin is an American television writer and producer.-Career:Corbin made her television debut writing episodes of The Marshal. She became a writer for the third season of ER. She became a story editor and continued to work as a writer for the fourth season...

 became a story editor and wrote three more episodes. She was promoted to executive story editor mid-season. New writer Linda Gase wrote two episodes. Joe Sachs
Joe Sachs
Joe Sachs is an American television writer and producer. He has worked extensively on ER in both capacities.-Career:Sachs is a qualified doctor who first became involved with ER as a technical advisor midway through the first season...

 returned as technical adviser and wrote a further episode.

Chulack continued to serve as the series' most prominent director and helmed a further four episodes. Thorpe directed three more episodes. Charles Haid
Charles Haid
Charles Maurice Haid III is an American actor and director, with notable work in both movies and television. He is known for his portrayal of Officer Andy Renko in Hill Street Blues....

 returned to the series for the first time since the first season to helm two episodes. New director Darnell Martin
Darnell Martin
Darnell Martin is a television and film director, screenwriter, and film producer.-Early life:Martin was born in Bronx, New York. From the Bronx, she went on to Sarah Lawrence College and New York University Film School...

 was the season's only other repeat director with two episodes. Other directors making their series debut with the fourth season were executive producer John Wells, Christopher Misiano
Christopher Misiano
Christopher Misiano is an American television director and producer known most notably for his work on ER, The West Wing and more recently Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip....

, TR Babu Subramaniam, and Sarah Pia Anderson. Regular directors returning to the series for single episodes include Jonathan Kaplan
Jonathan Kaplan
Jonathan Kaplan is an American film producer and director.Kaplan was born in Paris, France. He is the son of film composer Sol Kaplan and actress Frances Heflin; the nephew of actor Van Heflin. He is the brother of actresses Nora Heflin and Mady Kaplan...

, Félix Enríquez Alcalá
Félix Enríquez Alcalá
Félix Enríquez Alcalá is an American film and television director.-Career:...

, Lesli Linka Glatter, and Thomas Schlamme. Cast member Anthony Edwards
Anthony Edwards
Anthony Charles Edwards is an American actor and director. He has appeared in various movies and television shows, including Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Top Gun, Zodiac, Revenge of the Nerds, Northern Exposure and ER.-Early life:Edwards was born in Santa Barbara, California, the son of Erika...

 moved behind the camera to direct a further episode of the series. Editor Jacque Toberen and producer Lance Gentile
Lance Gentile
-Career:Gentile graduated with a BA degree in psychology from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. He was a medical student at New York Medical College and completed his residency in the emergency room at Maine Medical Center in Portland...

 each directed a single episode of the fourth season.

Episodes

"Series #" refers to the episode's number in the overall series, whereas "Season #" refers to the episode's number in this particular season.
Season # |Writer(s) |Original airdate


Reception

Reaction to this season was still positive, although the reaction to the season premiere was mixed, with some seeing it as nothing more than a stunt.
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