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Season 8
Season eight
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. This title cover depicts Kovac and Lockhart helping an injured fireman.

Production[]

Crew[]

Main article: Season eight crew

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 Physician
Noah Wyle Dr. John Carter 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 Physician
Maura Tierney Abby Lockhart ER Nurse and Medical Student
Sherry Stringfield Dr. Susan Lewis Emergency Medicine Attending Physician
Michael Michele Dr. Cleo Finch Pediatric Emergency Medicine Senior Resident (PGY-4)
Erik Palladino Dr. Dave Malucci Emergency Medicine Senior Resident (PGY-4)
Ming-Na Dr. Jing-Mei Chen Chief Resident
Sharif Atkins Michael Gallant Rotating Medical Student (Year 3)
Eriq La Salle Dr. Peter Benton Surgical Attending Physician and Director of Diversity

Plot synopsis[]

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. 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.

After being gone for five years, Susan Lewis returns to the show providing continuity of the earlier years and some closure with Greene. Greene begins to experience health problems and deals with Rachel after she starts causing problems. In addition, Weaver also has a revelation and confronts and accepts her sexuality. The season's long story line of Greene's illness and death and how it affects many characters marks Season 8 as a major turning point in the series. This season also saw a major change in the cast, with four characters leaving, including original characters Greene and Benton as well as Cleo and Dave. Abby helps a neighbor, but faces repercussions and Kovac punches the man who clobbered Abby. Also this season, two new main characters with very different personalities: Michael Gallant and later Greg Pratt were introduced. For the first time, John Carter is centered as the main character of the show at the end of the season. In this season, several staff members face personal and professional pressures, including Greene and Corday who face the most difficult issue of all when their baby overdoses on Ecstasy pills. The two argue after their baby nearly dies. Weaver becomes more aggressive and she accepts that she is a lesbian. Greene's final episode as a regular character is the 21st episode of Season 8. Benton and Finch also leave to make new changes in their lives. After Greene's death, many of the characters become affected, especially Carter who reads two letters to the staff. A plague hits the ER as Season 8 ends. Several members attend Mark's funeral. This season saw the exits of Anthony Edwards, Michael Michele, Erik Palladino and Eriq La Salle as series regulars, including original characters Greene and Peter Benton.

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
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