ER season 2

The second season of the American fictional drama television series ER first aired on September 21, 1995, and concluded on May 16, 1996. The second season consists of 22 episodes.

Plot
Greene's attempts at balancing his work and family after moving to Milwaukee comes to an abrupt end when his wife is caught cheating on him with a colleague, the divorce becomes final and he starts dating again. At work, he is promoted, becoming an attending physician. He locks horns with close friend Dr. Doug Ross, whose reckless professional behavior is called into question by the hospital authorities, and new Chief Resident, Dr. Kerry Weaver. Ross breaks protocol to treat an HIV-positive child and is about to be fired. He has already accepted a job at another medical facility when he heroically saves a child, trapped in a sewer in the landmark episode "Hell and High Water". His heroism creates a media sensation and the hospital reconsiders its decision when Dr. Ross receives an award for outstanding community service. Later in the season, his father returns, and while attempting to bond his father again walks out on him. While tracking him down Doug becomes embroiled in a relationship with his father's girlfriend. Lewis is left holding the baby when her sister, Chloe, skips town, leaving daughter Suzie in Susan's care. She struggles to find time to care for the child and complete her residency. She considers having Suzie adopted, but at the last minute decides to keep her. Just as Susan starts to become attached to the baby, Chloe returns, a changed woman, and a short custody battle ensues. Eventually, Susan hands Suzie over to Chloe and is left devastated when her sister and her new husband move to Phoenix, taking the baby with them. Carter, now a fourth-year medical student, starts a relationship with medical student Harper Tracy. He becomes involved in the treatment of an elderly patient and her husband (played by comic Red Buttons) in order to secure his place in developing a new heart procedure study and a spot in the surgical program. After the surgery is complete, the woman's condition deteriorates and Carter is overwhelmed by the husband's constant needs. The woman's subsequent death results in tremendous personal guilt, but Carter still manages to win a place as a surgical intern despite the fierce competition. Hathaway becomes involved with paramedic Ray "Shep" Shepard. Their relationship develops quickly and they move in together. However, things go wrong when Shep's partner, Raul, suffers third degree burns to over 85% of his body during a fire rescue and dies shortly afterward, resulting in emotional crisis and guilt for Shep. Shep grows volatile and violent, and after he refuses Carol's recommendation that he see a psychiatrist, the couple separates.

At the start of the season, Dr. Benton is in a relationship with Jeanie Boulet. She ends the relationship in a bid to save her marriage, but soon starts working as a physician assistant at County General. Benton is frosty towards her and is angry when he finds out about her divorce from her husband. At the end of the season, Jeanie finds out that she may be HIV-positive after her ex-husband, Al, is diagnosed. She informs a dismayed Peter and suggests that he too be tested. Benton also struggles to decide whether to lodge a formal complaint against his mentor Dr. Vucelich, when he discovers irregularities in his research method.

Production
First season executive producers John Wells and Michael Crichton reprised their roles. Wells continued to serve as the series head writer and showrunner. Lydia Woodward and Mimi Leder returned as co-executive producers. New producer Carol Flint filled the third co-executive producer position following the departure of Robert Nathan. Christopher Chulack continued to act as the episodic producer. Paul Manning and Wendy Spence Rosato also continued in their first season roles as producer and associate producer respectively. Several changes occurred with the production team mid-season - Leder left the crew, Manning was promoted to supervising producer, and Spence Rosato was promoted to co-producer.

Wells, Woodward, Flint, and Manning continued to regularly write episodes, with each contributing to four episodes this season. First season regular writers Neal Baer and Lance Gentile became story editors for the second season and continued to write episodes. Baer contributed to two episodes while Gentile continued to act as the series medical consultant and wrote a further episode. Both were promoted to executive story editors by the close of the season. First season writer Tracey Stern also returned and contributed a further episode. First season technical adviser Joe Sachs reprised his role and also made his television writing debut on the second season. The series other new writers were Belinda Casas Wells and Anne Kenney; Casas Wells contributed to the story of an episode and Kenney wrote a single episode.

Leder and Chulack continued to regularly direct episodes. Returning first season directors Félix Enríquez Alcalá and Donna Deitch each directed further episodes in the second season. New directors Thomas Schlamme and Lesli Linka Glatter each contributed two episodes this season. Crew members Lance Gentile and Director of Photography Richard Thorpe both made their episode directing debuts this season. Cast member Anthony Edwards also directed his first episode. Other directors new to the series include Eric Laneuville, Dean Parisot, Whitney Ransick, and Barnet Kellman.

Main cast

 * Anthony Edwards as Dr. Mark Greene – Attending Emergency Physician
 * George Clooney as Dr. Doug Ross – Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellow
 * Sherry Stringfield as Dr. Susan Lewis – PGY-3 ER Resident
 * Noah Wyle as John Carter – Fourth year Rotating Medical Student
 * Julianna Margulies as Nurse Carol Hathaway – RN and Nurse Manager
 * Gloria Reuben as Jeanie Boulet – Physician Assistant (PA-C, ER)
 * Eriq La Salle as Dr. Peter Benton – PGY-3 General Surgery Resident

Supporting cast

 * Doctors and Medical students
 * William H. Macy as Dr. David Morgenstern – Chief of Surgery and Emergency Medicine
 * Amy Aquino as Dr. Janet Coburn – Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology
 * CCH Pounder as Dr. Angela Hicks – Surgical Attending Physician
 * Laura Innes as Dr. Kerry Weaver – Chief Resident
 * Ron Rifkin as Dr. Carl Vucelich – Cardiothoracic Surgeon
 * Scott Jaeck as Dr. Steve Flint – Chief of Radiology
 * Christine Elise as Harper Tracy – Third Year Medical Student
 * Matthew Glave as Dale Edson – Fourth Year Medical Student
 * Michael Buchman Silver as Dr. Paul Meyers – Psychiatric Resident
 * Megan Cole as Dr. Alice Upton – Pathologist
 * Perry Anzilotti as Dr. Ed – Anesthesiologist
 * Michael Bryan French as Dr. MacGruder
 * Pierre Epstein as Dr. Bradley – Chief of Staff
 * David Spielberg as Dr. Neil Bernstein – Chief of Pediatrics
 * Richard Minchenberg as Dr. P.K. Simon


 * Nurses
 * Ellen Crawford as Nurse Lydia Wright
 * Conni Marie Brazelton as Nurse Conni Oligario
 * Deezer D as Nurse Malik McGrath
 * Laura Cerón as Nurse Chuny Marquez
 * Yvette Freeman as Nurse Haleh Adams
 * Lily Mariye as Nurse Lily Jarvik
 * Vanessa Marquez as Nurse Wendy Goldman
 * Suzanne Carney as OR Nurse Janet


 * Staff, Paramedics and Officers
 * Abraham Benrubi as Desk Clerk Jerry Markovic
 * Kristin Minter as Desk Clerk Miranda "Randi" Fronczak
 * Charles Noland as Desk Clerk E. Ray (E-Ray) Bozman
 * Rolando Molina as Desk Clerk Rolando
 * Ron Eldard as Paramedic Ray "Shep" Shepard
 * Carlos Gomez as Paramedic Raul Melendez
 * Małgorzata Gebel as ER aide (Dr.) Bogdanilivestsky 'Bob' Romansky
 * Emily Wagner as Paramedic Doris Pickman
 * Montae Russell as Paramedic Dwight Zadro
 * as Paramedic Pamela Olbes
 * Scott Michael Campbell as EMT Reilley Brown
 * Lee R. Sellars as Chopper EMT
 * Mike Genovese as Officer Al Grabarsky
 * Chad McKnight as Officer Wilson


 * Family
 * Christine Harnos as Jennifer "Jenn" Greene
 * Yvonne Zima as Rachel Greene
 * Kathleen Wilhoite as Chloe Lewis
 * Paul Dooley as Harry Lewis
 * Valerie Perrine as Cookie Lewis
 * Michael C. Mahon	as Joe (Chloe's Boyfriend)
 * Michael Beach as Al Boulet
 * Khandi Alexander as Jackie Robbins
 * Ving Rhames as Walter Robbins
 * James Farentino as Ray Ross
 * Piper Laurie as Sarah Ross

Notable guest stars

 * Mary Mara as Loretta Sweet
 * Jake Lloyd as Jimmy Sweet
 * Andrea Parker as Linda Ferrell
 * Lucy Liu as Mei-Sun
 * Joan Pringle as Hyams
 * Red Buttons as Mr. Rubadoux
 * Ja'net Du Bois as Macy Chamberlain
 * Lindsay Crouse as Dr. Anna Castiglioni
 * Scottie Pippen as himself
 * Richard Schiff as Mr. Bartoli
 * Joanna Gleason as Iris
 * Marg Helgenberger as Karen Hines
 * Robert Picardo as Mr Zimble
 * Adam Goldberg as Joshua Shem
 * Guillermo Díaz as Jorge
 * Carol Ann Susi as Pregnant Alien-Abductee
 * Bradley Whitford as Sean O'Brien
 * Michael Cudlitz as Firefighter Lang

Reception
ER second season proved to be very popular and it became the number 1 show in the US. Nielsen Viewer ratings and viewers were also exceedingly high, especially for "Hell and High Water".

British magazine Empire found the best ER episode was the seventh titled "Hell And High Water" where Doug Ross (George Clooney) saves a young boy from drowning during a flood."

DVD features
Region 1 DVDs have subtitles available in English, French and Spanish.

Audio commentaries are available for episodes 1 and 16, with Mimi Leder, editor Randy Jon Morgan, and Laura Innes).