FROM THE ER WEEKLY SITE: One cast member who apparently will be returning for Season 7 is Erik Palladino. Not only did he allude to his return during an appearance on Regis and Kathie Lee recently, but a fan heard it from the horse's mouth (i.e., Erik himself) while he was in Vancouver filming his new movie Finder's Fee. Meanwhile, Erik also stars in Back in Black, a four-part anthology movie that will air on VH-1 in December. Erik will star in the segment entitled "Disco Inferno," in which he will play the role of Buck, a heavy-metal freak who gets into a car accident with his best friend and winds up seeking help in a nightclub where the 70's apparently never ended.

-- Linda (l.brown@mindspring.com), July 13, 2000

Answers

YES! I wrote to ER before this came out. I hate when people start rumors like that. Can you imagine how Erik must have felt to hear that rumor. When will it ever end? Even the news media are making false rumors. And that did come from the news media in Canada right? I wish people would report on the good things actors and actresses do instead of trying to start bad rumors like that. Like for instance Kellie Martin is fighting to save lives. As we all know her sister died of Lupus because of a misdiagnosis by a doctor who kept telling her family it was the flu. Well since leaving "ER" she has spoken to alot of people about autoimmune diseases. She's now the national spokesman for American Autoimmune Related Diseases (AARDA). She's trying to save alot of women's lives by raising awareness to Lupus. I got the article off of her website at www.kellie.com. click on articles and scroll down a little to the 5th or 6th article. There's even an article in where she talks about her sister's fight for her life. It's really sad though. Anyways since there are people out there that seem to want to focus on the negative stuff or start vicious rumors like the one about Kellie Martin apparently drinking everyday on "ER" which I talked about in another thread a while back, I decided to be help spread the good news for once. Sorry this is so long but I am tired of the negative stuff going on about actors and actresses. And Noah Wyle is also helping by joing the fight for SAG workers. He feels they deserve a raise and whatever else they're fight for. I forgot what the other stuff was. So Congradulations to Noah and Kellie for trying to make a difference in people's lives.

-- Cammie (rmaelhorn@home.com), July 13, 2000.

I forgot to add that if you any info about American Autoimmune Related Diseases there's a website. The address is www.aarda.org

-- Cammie (rmaelhorn@home.com), July 13, 2000.

YEAH!!! More Dr.Dave! Glad to hear it!

-- amanda (amanda.rehm@home.com), July 14, 2000.

*shrug* I'm fairly indifferent to our Dear Doctor Dave. I don't hate him, I don't want him gone as badly as I want Cleo out of here...But I don't see what substance he really adds to the show, other than comic relief. I know, there a miliion of you guys who are in lust with him, but he just doesn't do it for me. The only time I can think of him standing out as a good, compassionate doctor was the episode with the little girl who'd been raped. Apart from that, he's not distinguishing himself much, IMHO. He'd be one of my votes for a throwaway character, someone the show could afford to lose when they decide to cut the main cast size down.

-- Cecelia (evilstoat@hotmail.com), July 14, 2000.

Cecelia, I would have agreed with you up to about half way through the season last year. I really didn't think he added much to the show and - as you said - was a form of comic relief. I could have done without him and did not feel that if he left the show he would be missed.

However, as the season went on I really started to see some potential there and I really see alot of good things for him next season. I would love to see a relationship form with Carter (sort of the new "generation" doctors - a Mark/Doug sort of relationship where Carter is the serious, stable one and Dave is the rebel), and I think we may see him start to really get serious about being a doctor. I think he really wants to please Kerry and has alot of respect for her even though he gives her a hard time. I love how he calls her "Chief". So I would like to see Kerry really be a mentor to him.

I just really feel they could make Dr. Dave a great character and I hope they do. Enough of these one liners from him and start making him a serious doctor (although I really do want to keep the one -liners -- they are great!).

-- amanda (amanda.rehm@home.com), July 14, 2000.

I like Dave in a small , support role like he had last season. I like Dave for his comic relief and don't want to see him mature too much. However, it would not bother me if he was eventually cut from the show. Though I want Cleo and Chen to get the boot first. Even with Pallodino coming back to the show next season, I do wonder if he will get any more screen time than last season. Palladino seems to like doing independent movies. I think it is possible that he will not have a larger role on ER so he can do some more movies.

-- Brenda (jckwfan@aol.com), July 14, 2000.

Yay! Dave is not leaving!

Amanda, I agree with what you said about Carter and Dave becoming the 'new Doug and Mark.' I love Carter, and Dave is growing on me, so I would love them to become close friends.

-- Adorra (er_chick24@hotmail.com), July 15, 2000.