| Season 8 | |
 | |
| No. of episodes | 22 |
| Original network | NBC |
| Original run | September 27, 2001 – May 16, 2002 |
| DVD release | January 22, 2008 |
| Season chronology | |
| Previous Season 7 |
Next Season 9 |
The eighth season of the medical drama series ER which originally aired from NBC on September 27, 2001 and concluded on May 16, 2002. The season consists of 22 episodes. It was released on Region 1 DVD on January 22, 2008. Anthony Edwards and Eriq La Salle both left the show permanently after this season. Sherry Stringfield came back to the show in this season.
Production
Crew
- Main article: Season eight crew
- Michael Crichton - Executive Producer
- John Wells - Executive Producer, Writer
- Lydia Woodward - Co-executive Producer, Writer
Cast and characters
- Main article: Season eight characters
- See also: Season eight cast
| Actor/actress | Character | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Anthony Edwards | Dr. Mark Greene | Emergency Medicine Attending |
| Noah Wyle | Dr. John Carter | Emergency Medicine Resident (Year 4)/Later Chief Resident |
| Laura Innes | Dr. Kerry Weaver | Chief of Emergency Medicine |
| Alex Kingston | Dr. Elizabeth Corday | Associate Chief of Surgery |
| Paul McCrane | Robert Romano | Chief of Staff/Chief of Surgery |
| Goran Višnjić | Dr. Luka Kovac | Emergency Medicine Attending |
| Maura Tierney | Abby Lockhart | ER Nurse |
| Sherry Stringfield | Dr. Susan Lewis | Emergency Medicine Attending |
| Michael Michele | Dr. Cleo Finch | Emergency Medicine and Pediatric Resident (Year 4) |
| Erik Palladino | Dr. Dave Malucci | Emergency Medicine Resident (Year 3) |
| Ming-Na | Dr. Jing-Mei Chen | Chief Resident/Later Emergency Medicine Attending |
| Sharif Atkins | Michael Gallant | Medical Student (Year 3) |
| Eriq La Salle | Dr. Peter Benton | Surgical Emergency Trauma Fellow |
Plot synopsis
Susan Lewis returns to the show providing continuity of the earlier years and some closure with Greene. Weaver also has a revelation and confronts and accepts her sexuality.
The season's long storyline of Greene's illness and death and how it affects many characters marked season eight as the first major turning point in the series.
This season would also mark a major change in the cast with four characters leaving which included original characters Greene and Peter Benton.
Also this season, two new main characters with very different personalities: Michael Gallant and later Greg Pratt were introduced.
For the first time, Carter is centered as the main character of the show at the end of the season and took over as the central character in Season 9 midway through the series, which was a big move in the direction of the show.
Episodes
- Main article: Episodes
| Season # | Series # | Title | Writer | Director | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 158 | Four Corners | Jack Orman and David Zabel | Christopher Misiano | September 27, 2001 |
| 2 | 159 | The Longer You Stay | Jack Orman | Jonathan Kaplan | October 4, 2001 |
| 3 | 160 | Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magic | R Scott Gemmill and Elizabeth Hunter | Richard Thorpe | October 11, 2001 |
| 4 | 161 | Never Say Never | Dee Johnson | Felix Enriquez Alcala | October 18, 2001 |
| 5 | 162 | Start All Over Again | Joe Sachs | Vondie Curtis-Hall | October 25, 2001 |
| 6 | 163 | Supplies and Demands | Meredith Stiehm | Jonathan Kaplan | November 1, 2001 |
| 7 | 164 | If I Should Fall from Grace | R Scott Gemmill | Laura Innes | November 8, 2001 |
| 8 | 165 | Partly Cloudy, Chance of Rain | Jack Orman | David Nutter | November 15, 2001 |
| 9 | 166 | Quo Vadis? | Joe Sachs and David Zabel | Richard Thorpe | November 22, 2001 |
| 10 | 167 | I'll Be Home For Christmas | Dee Johnson and Meredith Stiehm | Jonathan Kaplan | December 13, 2001 |
| 11 | 168 | Beyond Repair | Jack Orman and R Scott Gemmill | Alan J Levi | January 10, 2002 |
| 12 | 169 | A River in Egypt | David Zabel | Jesus Salvador Trevino | January 17, 2002 |
| 13 | 170 | Damage Is Done | Dee Johnson | Nelson McCormick | January 31, 2002 |
| 14 | 171 | A Simple Twist of Fate | Jack Orman | Christopher Chulack | February 7, 2002 |
| 15 | 172 | It's All In Your Head | R Scott Gemmill | Vondie Curtis-Hall | February 28, 2002 |
| 16 | 173 | Secrets and Lies | John Wells | Richard Thorpe | March 7, 2002 |
| 17 | 174 | Bygones | Elizabeth Hunter and Meredith Stiehm | Jessica Yu | March 28, 2002 |
| 18 | 175 | Orion in the Sky | David Zabel | Jonathan Kaplan | April 4, 2002 |
| 19 | 176 | Brothers and Sisters | R Scott Gemmill | Nelson McCormick | April 25, 2002 |
| 20 | 177 | The Letter | Jack Orman | Jack Orman | May 2, 2002 |
| 21 | 178 | On the Beach | John Wells | John Wells | May 9, 2002 |
| 22 | 179 | Lockdown | Dee Johnson and Joe Sachs | Jonathan Kaplan | May 16, 2002 |
