It was a bad episode, no doubt. But Pratt's character has always interested me, so I think you're wrong that they should avoid him.

But give it time. What was this, like the 3rd episode this season?
Henry Clay | 10.24.03 - 9:51 am | #

Ya haven't gotten to "Two Cathedrals" yet (the second season finale of "West Wing") on the Bravo repeats. THAT is, simply put, the best hour of television drama in the past ten years. (Though "Love's Labor Lost" and the faux documentary death row episode of "The Practice" are also up there).
Matt | Homepage | 10.24.03 - 10:06 am | #

Fourth episode of the season (although one, to be fair, took place solely in Africa). Pratt joined the cast towards the end of season eight.

Henry, you of all people are not going to tell me that Pratt's more interesting than Gallant, are you? And even if you want to argue that he's worthy of more focus, this episode didn't add anything.

Matt, I'm getting close. I know it. I loved the "Somebody's Going To Emergency, Somebody's Going To Jail" / "17 People" combo I've seen this week.
Adam | Homepage | 10.24.03 - 10:29 am | #

I agree with Matt, although I'd be hard pressed to choose between that and Love's Labor Lost.

I stopped watching the show when it became a soap opera whose characters happen to work in a hospital, rather than a drama about a hospital. Actually, I quit well after it happened, because I still cared about a few of the characters.

One thing - having seen the umpteen previews for ER lately, I'm quite confused - is Luka dead or isn't he?
Marsha | 10.24.03 - 12:10 pm | #

They thought Luka was dead. Carter went back to The Congo to find his body. However, Luka was not dead. (A massive surprise, considering Goran Visjnic remained in the opening credits throughout.) Carter sent Luka home to Chicago, and stayed in the Congo to "find himself."
Matt | Homepage | 10.24.03 - 12:37 pm | #

I will second Matt on the praise for "Two Cathedrals." Unfortunately for all of us, when Aaron Sorkin left TWW, he left John Wells in charge. So look for West Wing to start to become as insanely melodramatic and cliched as ER in about...oh yeah, it's already like that! Next on The West Wing: Pres Bartlet is attacked in the men's room by a Republican!

What do Love's Labour Lost and Two Cathedrals have in common? Bradley Whitford.
polar | Homepage | 10.24.03 - 1:38 pm | #

C'mon, Adam can read the various "Deep Bitterness" threads over at TWOP in the TWW forums as well as the rest of us. And Brad Whitford's a great actor, but not even he will get me to watch "Bicentennial Man." And does his presence make "Billy Madison" the definitive screen comedy of the past 10 years? I hope not.
Matt | Homepage | 10.24.03 - 2:24 pm | #

His presence does, however, add great sparkle to "Adventures in Babysitting." And, since judging men by their choice in women is always fun, he gets big, big points for being married to Jane Kazcmarek.

Matt, say it ain't so. Didn't Carter find himself in at least 3 prior seasons? Sigh. This is why I don't watch the show anymore. I get more believable plots on "Miss Match."
Marsha | 10.24.03 - 3:45 pm | #

Possible Spoiler on ER - read at your own risk - [DELETED BY ADAM -- SEE BELOW]

I replaced ER last night with VH-1's "I Love the 80's Strikes Back" - it was well worth the switch.

Edited By Siteowner
Lorna | Homepage | 10.24.03 - 4:11 pm | #

I want to preserve the sanctity of the spoiler for those who would like to be surprised by the sheer stupidity indicated by the spoiler (yes, dumber than spending a full season watching Mark Greene grow increasingly unsympathetic while dying, dumber than the Peter Goes To The South episode), and so I've deleted the text.

Those who are interested in the spoiler should go to the ER TWoP forum and look for a thread titled "Spoiler News".

I swear on Rosalind Shays' grave that I haven't hinted at what the spoiler is in any way whatsoever, no way, no how.
Adam | Homepage | 10.24.03 - 4:26 pm | #

Ah...Rosalind Shays. The sole reason I always make sure there's an elevator there before stepping through the doors.
Matt | Homepage | 10.24.03 - 4:28 pm | #

Just a dissenting view on Two Cathedrals -- way too preachy. Pun acknowledged, not intended. Young Miss Landingham was just annoying. Also not as much a fan of Love's Labor Lost -- I preferred "Into that Good Night" with Alan Rosenberg.
isaac_spaceman | Homepage | 10.24.03 - 8:43 pm | #

You're not going to like this. As a fan of [NAME OF ER CHARACTER DELETED BY ADAM], i freaked out when i heard [DELETED BY ADAM]. No joke. Sucks, huh? and yet, i can't not watch. Weird.

Edited By Siteowner
Ana | 10.25.03 - 7:23 pm | #

Sorry I had to delete that, Ana, but I'm still trying to preserve the spoiler, for now. People have a right to not know what's going to happen in a few weeks (assuming the spoilers are true.)

I'm the kind of guy who doesn't want to know going into a movie like In The Cut that the only reason to see the movie is (apparently) to see a stark naked Meg Ryan getting her Special Lady Place lingually addressed by an equally a'dangle Mark Ruffalo, so neither do I want true, unjaded ER fans (do they still exist?) to have this "surprise that will change the ER forever" ruined for them.

Ask me again in a few days. Maybe I'll set up a thread here just so people can complain about it.
Adam | Homepage | 10.25.03 - 9:02 pm | #

Congratulations on just drastically increasing the traffice to the Spoiler Forum at TWoP....
Marsha | 10.27.03 - 1:00 pm | #

Two Cathedrals -- I get chills just thinking about it. When it first aired, after it ended I just rewound the tape and watched again. Then another couple of times the following week. To me, easily the best hour of television I've ever seen.

But putting aside that question (I know, lots of people find it melodramatic and preachy), I also think it contains the best ever use of music in a television episode (obviously a Sorkin strong point overall. Any takers on that question?
RPH | 10.27.03 - 6:32 pm | #

"Boom Boom Boom", by the Iguanas, in the Homicide episode "The Documentary", or the Rolling Stones' "Thru and Thru", from the end of the second season of The Sopranos. Off the top of my head, anyway . . . I'm sure I'll think of others.
Adam | Homepage | 10.27.03 - 7:16 pm | #

Go to Matt's page for his top-10 list of use of songs on tv.
Adam | Homepage | 10.29.03 - 10:40 am | #