I saw this item from Friday on imdb.com:

George Clooney says that although he's willing to make a guest appearance on E..R. this season, no one from the show has contacted him about doing so. In an interview with today's (Friday) New York Daily News, Clooney says he has not heard from the show's producer, John Wells. "They have never once brought it up to me," Clooney told The News. "They've never once addressed it. No one's ever asked." Meanwhile, E.R. cast member Noah Wyle, who is set to appear with Clooney in CBS's live telecast of Fail-Safe on April 9, told the newspaper that E.R. fans are likely to be "livid" if Dr. Ross does not return this season. "A lot of people have a great investment in that relationship between Ross and Nurse Hathaway, played by Julianna Margulies, who is also leaving the show and need closure to that."

Does anyone know the approximate time table for when the season's final episode is written and filmed? It seems that they are running out of time to get Clooney back to guest star, especially if there have been no discus

-- Christy Steele (christy.steele@mindspring.com), March 20, 2000

Answers

Isn't it usually in May when they show all Season Finales? My guess would be around that time, which does not leave much time left. Also, when Rosie had her show backstage at ER, Julianna stated that she had about five episodes left. Which definately does not leave much time. I had hoped that they would bring him back for a visit, he is a character that I have missed.

-- Paula (pbranden@dwave.net), March 20, 2000.

I prefer to read between the lines on this. George is telling the truth. They are probably talking through his agent and not directly to him, therefore he can deny conversations with producers with a clear conscience. Same with Julianna. Everything I've heard her say in recent months fortells a happy ending although they haven't given her the details because of the badgering she'd take from the press. There's about 3 weeks or so of filming left to do, there's no way that Carol's departure details are still undecided. JMHO of course.

-- JLD (jld@whoever.com), March 20, 2000.

What is Fail-Safe? I have never heard of that, but if they're both appearing on it together, I want to see it.

-- Elaine (mrsclooney78@hotmail.com), March 20, 2000.

Fail-safe is a movie that will be done LIVE on CBS April 9 at 9pm. It stars George Clooney and Noah Wyle along with some other great stars. George is also the Exec. Producer. you can find out more about it on the CBS website. Just click on movies for April. Sounds pretty interesting!

-- amanda (amanda.rehm@home.com), March 21, 2000.

The original movie, FAIL-SAFE, came out in 1964 and starred Henry Fonda and Walter Matthau. It's about a potential nuclear disaster.

-- Diana (dilynne@juno.com), March 21, 2000.

Call me pathetic, optimistic, whatever, but I'm still holding out hope that he'll return!! Damn straight there's going to be "trouble" if we don't get to SEE some of Hathaway & Ross's "happily ever after," and I'll be causing it!! Six years is too long to not get a good ending!!

-- Leigh (WillnGraceNYC@yahoo.com), March 21, 2000.

Wow, I will be looking very forward to seeing this movie with George Clooney and Noah Wyle together again, thanks for letting us know!

As for George Clooney's return, I have been extemely doubtful, but actually I am getting a little more optimistic. Everyone is writing that his return is unlikely, and that Clooney has reported that the producers have not contacted him. This seems a little strange, and possibly staged to prevent a lot of publicity (if you know much about Clooney's past, he is not too fond of the paparazzi, or whatever you call them, and I think he likes to stay away from a whole lot of media questioning). If you think about it, why would they not want his return when they know how great it is for ratings? Fans undoubtably want it, the cast wants it, Clooney and Margulies want it, why would they not ask him back? Plus he is right there, at a very convenient place to just stop by and put in a guest appearance or two. The only logical reason they have come up with for not asking him back is that they're afraid Clooney's return will only bring down ratings afterwards ("Doug and Carol's closure means closure for fans"...i.e., they're done watching) But hey, what have they got to lose (and by the way, don't they know Noah Wyle is reason enough to keep watching to the end?!)

-- Elaine (mrsclooney78@hotmail.com), March 22, 2000.