Was that a great opening scene, or what? The guys with the road rage, etc. Although in real life they never would have been put in the same trauma room together, the pen sticking out of the guy's face was fabulous directing, acting, etc. And Romano's reaction, what a hoot.

Speaking of Romano, who do you figure is gonna finally kick his butt?

-- Susan (sooz@nowhere.net), April 06, 2000

Answers

Response to Opening Scene with the Pen

I'm voting for Anspaugh, but I actually like Romano. He's like Kerry was in the beginning, but for some reasons(s) I liked him in this episode. Sure he can be bossy and arrogant as hell, but he is boss. However, suspending Kerry? I little over the top. Oh well. :)

-- Kimmy (swiss_cheesed1953@yahoo.com), April 06, 2000.

Response to Opening Scene with the Pen

I personally enjoy Romano's character because something funny is always coming out of his mouth. He's like my comic relief for the show. The way things are going with Romano ripping into everyone I can almost see a "soapy" 'Who shot Romano?' cliffhanger finale if the writers went way over the top. Hmmm, Kerry, Cleo, Peter, Carol.......Actually, having an ER full of suspects would be kind of fun, as long as Romano wouldn't be killed off for good! In truth, I enjoy his scenes most with Elizabeth, her irritation with him and his attraction to her. Amusing stuff.

-- Jane (lc19@swt.edu), April 07, 2000.

Response to Opening Scene with the Pen

I'm surprised that after all these years, ER can still jolt me a little. I got it last night with the pen thing and some of Romano's comments about the little girl.

I loved the scene with Romano chewing out Peter and Cleo, but I would have hit him had he said the "can you read" comment to me. I liked how Peter just smirked through it all, but his Thank You Carters threw me off, I wasn't sure if he was being sarcastic at first or not. And I am so glad Abby left when she did. Good move.

-- Larry (larrybro95@hotmail.com), April 07, 2000.

Response to Opening Scene with the Pen

I think the "thank you, Carter"s meant that he could go ahead and leave now, because Peter and Cleo wanted to talk.

I agree completely with the Romano comments! If everyone was likeable, it wouldn't be as much fun. I think he does a GREAT job of portraying someone that's so fun to hate.

What a great episode. I really LIKED watching it. A few things felt contrived - like the obvious nuance between Carter and CLeo... her having the superior attitude because he messed up with the boy with diabetes, but then her patient boomeranging back into the ER because of her own (?) mistake. That subplot was a little TOO obvious, but that's okay.

As long as I get to see Eriq LaSalle in a hot scene, I'm happy.

-- Susan (sooz@nevermind.com), April 07, 2000.

Response to Opening Scene with the Pen

I agree with Susan that Peter's thank you's meant for Carter to leave, but I didn't get it at first...and neither did Carter. Poor guy, he wanted to stay around and talk about Romano being in such a bad mood (okay worse than usual even) and then got sent away. I loved the smirks on both Carter and Peter's faces while Romano was dressing them down. Cleo took it all much more seriously.

-- Diana (dilynne@juno.com), April 07, 2000.

Response to Opening Scene with the Pen

I love the idea of a "Who shot Romano?" thing...so many possible suspects! Paul McCrane seemed like he was having so much fun in this episode, and the part where he had to say "You're welcome" to the foster mother was absolutely brilliant. I almost can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm really starting to like Romano (or if not him per se, then seeing him interact with the staff). Kudos to McCrane in this epi!

-- nancy (ntc72@mailcity.com), April 07, 2000.

Response to Opening Scene with the Pen

About the opening scene...how come this is the only time we really see Malucchi? I think he is one of the more interesting characters now, he actually does add a lot to the show. I thought it was great that Kerry called him over for help and he was able to pin they guy down...right in front of Deb's face, nontheless. I wanted to see something like Deb trying not to look impressed or something. I really hope they give Malucchi more storylines soon.

-- Elaine (mrsclooney78@hotmail.com), April 07, 2000.

Response to Opening Scene with the Pen

Paul McCrane is a great actor. I keep remembering him as the young naive boy from "Fame" and to see him in his ER role is great.

Regarding the opening scene... What happened to the security guard? The doctors and the paramedics were the ones who had to try and control the mayhem and there was no security guard around. The hospitals here by me have a security guard standing at the Emergency Entrance. Don't they have one usually??

-- Yvette (Frazzzld@aol.com), April 07, 2000.

Response to Opening Scene with the Pen

most of them do!!

-- Alexis (lexicat1@webtv.net), April 07, 2000.

Response to Opening Scene with the Pen

I find it so funny that everyone is saying they are starting to like Romano now, when I watched the show last night I thought"If I ever found anything remotely likeable about Romano it is GONE now!" I mean does this guy have any heart at all unless it concerns his dog? I found him to be particularly easy to hate in "viable options".

-- Danette (bjpind@televar.com), April 07, 2000.

Response to Opening Scene with the Pen

danette, but that's the point, he's such a good actor that he makes you love to hate him

-- Marcia (mlg244@is9.nyu.edu), April 07, 2000.

Response to Opening Scene with the Pen

Romano is now my mom's fave character, because she thinks that he's the only one that acts realistic! I really like him with Liz, not so much the chemistry, but him trying to be nice, and her hating him. I had an idea for a kind of out there fic with him in it, as kind of a nice guy, but after his attitude, I don't know if I even want to write it anymore!

-- Lisa (Shaniakicks@hotmail.com), April 07, 2000.

Response to Opening Scene with the Pen

About security guards: There usually are guards, but they get called away often, in my experience. Some goober parked in the ambulance entrance, someone fighting in the drive, or he had to go to the bathroom. Stuff happens, you know.

About Dr. Dave only being in the first scene: There are SO MANY people on this show, every show can't feature every character. Our heads would be spinning.

-- Susan (sooz@nowhere.com), April 07, 2000.

Response to Opening Scene with the Pen

Did Romano say he used to work at McDonald's?? I have watched that scene over and over, and I still can't understand what he's saying. I thought he was right about poor Angie, even if he stated his opinion in a really nasty way. As for saying the foster mother should let Angie go because she's "her pet", we all saw how much Romano's pet means to him! As much I have come to expect Romano's attitude, I thought it was totally inappropriate for him to say, "Shut up!" to the man who was stabbed. That isn't just mean and unfeeling, it's unprofessional!

-- Annie (GoldenLaur@aol.com), April 07, 2000.

Response to Opening Scene with the Pen

He quoted the guy who started McDonald's (Ray Krock or something like that) who would once a year go back and flip burgers to see what was going on. He didn't say he'd worked there. Thank goodness for Closed Captioning...that's how I could answer this...I couldn't understand him either. BTW, does anyone know why the CC is so bad on ER? Lots of little blocks and boxes instead of letters?

-- Diana (dilynne@juno.com), April 08, 2000.

Response to Opening Scene with the Pen

Thanks, Diana! My TV is ancient, so no close captioning. Thanks for clearing that up, I never could have figured it out. Was he mumbling, or what?? :)

-- Annie (GoldenLaur@aol.com), April 09, 2000.

Response to Opening Scene with the Pen

Nah, that's just the way Romano talks. :0)

-- Kimmy (swiss_cheesed1953@yahoo.com), April 09, 2000.

Response to Opening Scene with the Pen

You know, I wasn't even CLOSE to expecting the pen-stabbing! When I realized what had happened, I screamed, jumped up, and started babbling "oh my gosh! oh my gosh!" Took me completely by surprise! I wonder, do all ER's have frequent problems with violent patients like the ER at County General?

-- kristal (teetle1@juno.com), April 10, 2000.

I don't know about you all, but when I saw the pen quivering in that guys cheek, I got a weird flashback to "The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover." Now I'm shivering like Carter.

Answer to Romano's eventual butt-kicking: My vote would be for Randi, with Kerry's crutch.

-- (trelles@ix.netcom.com), April 11, 2000.

Please forgive my asking this so far after the fact, but my VCR timer cut off the first minute or two of this epi. It kicked on right when they were pulling Mitch Pileggi off the other guy who already had the pen in his cheek (ouch!). What happened before that? Did they come in like that, or did they show the actual stabbing? I need this one on reruns this summer just so I can see the lost minute(s). Thanks to anyone who lets me know!

-- Carla (chloe4293@netscape.net), April 13, 2000.

Carla, at the beginning of the epi, Kerry, Robert, and someone else (Deb maybe) were discussing the day and Romano announced that he'd spend the day in the ER with "the little people," like Ray Krok the founder of McDonald's flips burgers once a year. It was announced that a double trauma--auto accident was coming in. These two guys burst in, throwing fists and fighting. Everyone, paramedics and ER staff, tried to break it up. Dr. Dave came out of nowhere and had the most success. Then, for some reason I still cannot fathom (maybe I missed something) they put them into the SAME room! They continued to throw verbal jabs at one another and finally the older guy jumped up, grabbed Romano's pen from his jacket pocket, and stabbed the other guy. They got them under control again and Kerry told Romano she'd leave it to him since he seemed to have it under control (tongue in cheek). The summary might tell this a bit better, but I thought I'd answer your question the best I could.

-- Diana (dilynne@juno.com), April 13, 2000.

Thank you, Diana, that helps a lot! :)

-- Carla (chloe4293@netscape.net), April 14, 2000.