The Y2K storyline resumed on tonight's episode (the show's 100th), albeit briefly.

Geek Dr., newly in charge of the hospitals Y2K program, screams at the chief of staff (Phillip, played by Hector Elizondo), who is on his way to a formal "Doctor of the Year" dinner (I'm paraphrasing):

"What are we gonna do when our dialysis machines go haywire on January 1, 2000? Imagine the patient when the machine kicks into hyperdrive, and his blood starts to boil!"

A few scenes later, Dr. Geek, still trying to get Phillip's attention (Phillip is about to pass out and hallucinate for the remainder of the episode), says (again, paraphrasing):

"Fine! Ignore me! Just don't come running to me when martial law is declared!!"

No more references, but I'm sure future episodes will return to this theme.

My thoughts:

When the Y2K storyline began several weeks ago, I thought David Kelley (the show's creator) would do it well. I no longer believe it will happen.

Tonight was awful. I'm not a doctor, but the dialysis machine going into overdrive was ludicrous!! If the machine were to have Y2K problems, it would, in all likelihood, simply shut down due to the perceived lack of regularly scheduled maintenance. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

The martial law statement was delivered in such a maniacal tone that it was clear that Dr. Geek has gone over the edge. How can anyone watching the show who is uninformed about Y2K (most people) believe that the problem is serious after watching this?

I'll stay tuned, but my "Milwaukee Hope" has diminished greatly.

-- Steve Hartsman (hartsman@ticon.net), October 29, 1998

Answers

"When the Y2K storyline began several weeks ago, I thought David Kelley (the show's creator) would do it well."

Actually Kelley no longer does any of the writing any more. He quit working on it season before last. If he was doing it I would be HIGHLY disappointed in him, but I don't think too much of the blame can be put on him. (his lack of involvement was why the guy who played Allen left the show and is now on Ally McBeal)

Rick

-- Rick Tansun (ricktansun@hotmail.com), October 29, 1998.

I share your concerns about the way in which 'Chicago Hope' handled the Y2K subject, but the same show handled several other subjects in equally tawdry fashion:

-- the nature of God: "God is just the sum total of everything, and nothing"....something like that

-- "God's not worried about sin...He expects it" total cowpoop

-- the whole subject of 'out of body' experiences, while the experiencer is being told lies by a supposed afterlife person... "But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me." -- 2 Sam. 12:23

If anyone takes 'Chicago Hope' as gospel on ANYthing, including the price of tea on Mars, then heaven help them.

Some people will take Hollywood's version of things as the truth. That will always be the case, as long as we have TV and movies. And if they do away with Hollywood, something else will take its place.

I once knew a man (now deceased) who believed with all his heart that the Apollo 11 moon landing in July 1969 was staged on the Arizona desert; but he also believed that pro wrestling was absolutely authentic. Go figure.

-- John Howard (Greenville, NC) (pcdir@prodigy.net), October 29, 1998.

I received a direct e-mail reply from someone who, I assume, wants to remain anonymous. But I thought I would share it:

I'm an RN with experience in a dialysis unit. In all likelihood, the electricity-powered dialysis machine wouldn't even turn on in the a.m.; or the very sensitive system would (as you thought) just stop because a component was out-of-whack....or, worst of all, the machine would work, but the system that purifies tap water for cleaning the unit, which is (naturally) computerized, goofs and poisons the poor dialysis patient while he thinks he getting a blood-cleaning. Some of these implications are just too horrible to think about. It's a shame Chicago Hope can't be more serious about this issue.

-- Steve Hartsman (hartsman@ticon.net), October 29, 1998.