Final show as ‘ER’ heads for the mortuary

Thursday, April 2. It has been nominated for a record 122 Emmy awards, shown in 195 countries, subtitled in 22 languages and at its peak held the attention of almost 50m viewers. But tonight, after 15 years, ER comes to an end on NBC television.

Despite its rich history, ER producers have resisted the temptation to cram the two-hour finale with stars from the show's past. However, actors like George Clooney (whose career was launched by the show), David Lyons, Eriq La Salle and Julianna Margulies have all appeared at some point during the final season.

Such was ER's popularity at its height that even the current combined audience of American Idol and Dancing with the Stars would not match it. But recent viewing figures have declined to around the 7.5m mark.

It was that drop-off that led NBC to take the radical decision to move its late-night chat show with Jay Leno up to 10 pm, the slot traditionally occupied by expensive drama series like ER and Law and Order. "It's a very different industry than it was when ER started," says Garth Ancier, an NBC executive.

The ER actors have expressed their disappointment at seeing the show come to an end too. "Being here [on set], there's so much history," said Lyons. "To watch it come to an end, from within, is an incredibly emotional experience, just viscerally. It's an honour really. It changed the face of television."

It's not just the actors who have been getting emotional. "There is a sense of melancholy," said executive producer Christopher Chulack. "But there's also a sense of, 'You know what, we're lucky to be here in the first place.'" Chulack has not been left wanting for work: he is currently shooting Southland, an LA police drama series that NBC hopes will replace ER - though not in the primetime 10pm slot.

FIRST POSTED APRIL 2, 2009