November 08, 08:22 PM

Green Week

When NBC approached us about participating in their “Green is Universal” night we’d already been discussing the idea of a blackout hitting Chicago and how that would affect the lives of our characters working at a County hospital. It seemed almost obvious that we could use our dramatic “blackout” story also as a way to underline the effects of global warming, and the need for being environmentally responsible.

So what will you see?

We’ll have Chicago’s overtaxed electrical grid going haywire as a result of a severe unseasonal hot spell and the ensuing mess of critical patients that flood the ER. The ER also gets a visit from a handsome energy consultant who suggests energy-saving ideas for lowering County General’s environmental footprint: task lighting, the importance of swapping in more efficient CFL bulbs. (His visit may also prove fortuitous as he finds himself “dimming the lights” with one of our characters by episode’s end.) And lastly, you’ll get the first look at the futuristic and environmentally minded smartcar as it rolls in for a cameo very early in the episode. When you see the smartcar, you’ll understand just how small a carbon footprint it leaves.

The EPA’s Energy Star program was generous with their time and expertise as we went along, even though busy saving the world by educating hospitals and schools, companies and consumers about responsible energy usage. For them, every night is green night.

- David Zabel, Executive Producer

September 27, 11:36 PM

Good Night

P- Thanks for joining in. Stay tuned in for an incredible season.

J- Once again, thanks to the fans for all the loyal support and viewership. I truly believe that this season has some of the most compelling and emotional storylines we have ever done. I hope our viewers enjoy!

September 27, 11:34 PM

Favorite shows

P: I love Weeds on Showtime. I also like Californication.

J: Mention an NBC show!

P: I do watch The Office, too.

September 27, 11:31 PM

Resident Prankster

P: I had the BEST prank played on me the other day by Scott Grimes. Did I tell you about this, Joe? He phoned my house and he does voice overs...he does the voice of Steve on American Dad...so he's very good at voices. So it's annoying because he rings you as different people. So he rings my house and leaves a message as the Dept of Water and Power (not funny at the time, I have to say) and says that my electricity and water will be shut off between the hours of 9am and 5pm and were sorry about the inconvenience then hung up. I proceeded to fill buckets of water around the house because I was scared we'd have no water. Then i thought...maaaaybe that was Scott so I phoned him and said "if that was you, you have to tell me right now because I am currently filling buckets around my house." And that's when he came clean. I really have to figure out a way to get him back for that!!

September 27, 11:29 PM

Technical Advisors on the show

J: There are two full-time physician/writers on the writers staff. In addition to writing our own episodes, we help the other writers who don't have medical backgrounds with their medical stories and their terminology. In addition to that, we have three medical consultants who are regarded as high academics in medical departments around the country who help us form ideas and keep things current. We try to keep our medicine very current and very accurate. Procedures always seem to happen more quickly on the show than they would in real life. But, that's the reality of working on a one-hour drama. We bend the rules, but we try not to break them. In addition to the writing staff doctors, we have three on-set physicians, who rotate days, too. Our show employs eight physicians.

September 27, 11:26 PM

Neela as Patient

P: I gotta tell you, it's tough lying on that gurney. It makes you sympathize with people who come in and lie down day in and day out. Some people say, "but you're just lying down all day!" But my story is like...my insides are opened up and so I had these large prosthetic pieces laying over my body so I had to contort my body and it got incredibly uncomfortable for awhile. I had to just dig in deep to get through the day. There were times I just wanted to get up to go to the loo, and normally you can do that but not when you're lying on the gurney with your fake guts being poked and prodded. I did have fun with it, though...cracking jokes or eating on one side of the sheet while my fake guts were laying on the other side. I don't think I want to do that again though, I have to say.

September 27, 11:25 PM

Do actors have input in their character?

P: I think, generally, the writers are pretty open to suggestions. If there is something an actor doesn't agree with, the writers will listen. I don't tend to question, too much. If the writers write something for me, I look at it and say "why not?" I try not to question things, too much.

J: Two days before filming the episode, we have a cast read through around a conference table. When we finish, we give the actors an opportunity to discuss any concerns they have with the writers, producers and executive producers. Many actors have great suggestions that we use.

September 27, 11:24 PM

Medical Terminology

P: It's funny because in the early days it was a real challenge but most days it's ok. Some days are better days, some days are worse. Sometimes they are real tongue twisters! Once you get the gist of what the medicine means, things call into place. I equate it to Shakespeare but once you start to get the underlying meaning of what's being said, everything kind of neatly slides into place. The medicine is similar...you have to learn it to get it. It's tough some days...I think I've cried one or two times over it!!

September 27, 11:22 PM

If you could pick a departed actor to return, who would it be?

P: George Clooney, hands down!

J:- That's tough, because the show is so much bigger then any of its actors. In the past, critics have said, "when George or Anthony leave, nobody will watch". But, that wasn't true. Every actor on the show has brought something special with them. They make the show what it is.

September 27, 11:22 PM

Similar to Neela?

P: I'm not as clever as her, that's for sure. I do laugh at my own jokes and she laughs at her own jokes...but I don't know. I can't be objective about it really. What do you think, Joe?

J: I think you know better than I do!

P: Gosh, I don't know...I think some of the things that Neela says...she's sometimes not very tactful. And I don't know if I am similar in that way at all.

J: I think both Neela and Parminder are lovely and charming.

P: HAHAHAHA!