JUMPING THE SHARK: ‘ER’ CODE BLUE WITHOUT DR. GREENE?
By JOHN YOUNGREN
Forget the fact that it’s been flirting with the fin for five years. When Dr. Greene kicks the bucket, "ER" jumps the shark, once and for all.
Some of you may not be aware of what "Jump the Shark" means. According to a Web Site known as "Jump the Shark," the phrase refers to a moment: "A defining moment when you know that your favorite television program has reached its peak. That instant that you know from now on...it's all downhill. Some call it the climax. We call it ‘Jumping the Shark.’ From that moment on, the program will simply never be the same.
"The aforementioned expression refers to the telltale sign of the demise of ‘Happy Days,’ our favorite example, when Fonzie actually ‘jumped the shark.’ The rest is history."
You can check out other examples of shows "jumping the shark" at www.jumptheshark.com.
In the meantime, and while there are exceptions – "Cheers" and "M*A*S*H" and "NYPD Blue" come to mind – in television history, there is generally nothing worse in a TV program’s shark-jumping lifespan then when a multitude of real-life actors and actresses start to leave, causing turmoil within the ranks and confusion among the audience.
I’ve long had a theory that cast changes negatively impact most TV series because they quite often disrupt the natural chemistry and once-successful hierarchy of any given program. As a series is conceived, months are taken to balance the choice of actors, create a tapestry of characters, work in the back-history of who we’re supposed to watch and who we’re supposed to care about, as well as how they interact amongst themselves. Stories naturally revolve around this core cast of characters.
A series that is successful enough to stick around long enough for cast members to begin to leave is probably also a series that is going to have its natural evolution cut short by the rotating door. Jumping sharks can’t be far behind.
"Law & Order" (extremely successful, despite abundant cast changes) is an exception to this theory, while 1980s’ hit "L.A. Law" (which went to the dogs once actors began to bail) seems more the rule.
And all of this leads to an impending departure: Anthony Edwards, who so capably plays the part of Dr. Mark Greene, week after week on the long-running NBC hit "ER." Though "ER" remains television’s No. 1 drama – and continues to anchor NBC’s Thursday nights – Edwards has decided that this season will be his last, and the show has been preparing for his passage for more than a year.
Never mind that Edwards’ Greene was the very foundation on which "ER" was built from its earliest episodes (the show’s pilot epis0de, which set a standard for so much great TV to come, was structured around a "day in the life" of Dr. Greene. He was also the lead in the show’s greatest-ever episode, "Love’s Labor Lost"). "ER" remains a hit, and Edwards wants out. So NBC will plunge ahead, without its lead actor and the dramatic center of one of the most successful programs in television history.
Excuse me, but isn’t this akin to Alan Alda leaving "M*A*S*H?" Though that cast absorbed multiple changes over its 11-year run, the fact remains that Alda – the anchor – stayed in his role, providing continuity for longtime fans of the series, even as nearly every other major series lead changed.
"M*A*S*H" without Hawkeye would have never cut it. People might have still watched (or not, for those who remember "After M*A*S*H," an abysmal flop featuring Col. Potter, Father Mulcahy and Klinger). But they would have eventually grown frustrated and disenfranchised and given up. The show would have jumped the shark.
My prediction is, "ER" without Edwards will end up lamely coming to an end. The shark will eat his meal. The show has certainly seen much in the way of change during its run, as nearly every original cast member (from George Clooney to Julianna Marguiles to Eriq LaSalle) has left. But Dr. Greene was the point man. Without him, there is no perspective from which to view this fictional world.
Worse, all indications are they’re making Greene die. Some kind of gigantic brain tumor has been bothering him for more than a year; recent episodes have suggested its recurrence. Previews for the weeks ahead hint at much despair in the "ER" as Greene’s condition worsens. Most tellingly, the actress who plays Greene’s wife, Dr. Elizabeth Corday (Alex Kingston) is staying with the show, a sure sign that something’s got to give, from a storytelling perspective, to make this all come out in the wash.
It is at times like this when you’ve got to admire the cast of "Friends" (which debuted to similar fanfare the same season as "ER"), who have stuck together, all for one and one for all, throughout the run of their hit show. And, while it’s easy to blame Edwards for leaving his show and character behind, you can’t help but feel for the actor – who wants to try other things – and just wish the drama would tear down the tent and leave well enough alone with some note of grace.
But that’s selfish, logical talk there. "ER" still makes money. People still watch. There may be inconsistencies in terms of story and holes in the way of characters, but who cares? With a drama that’s been a hit like "ER," nobody’s going to pull the plug unless it is established beyond all reasonable doubt that the patient has drawn his last breath.
In fact, NBC has already renewed "ER" (expected to more prominently feature Noah Wyle as Dr. John Carter) through 2017, or something like that.
So NBC will beat it – and Mark Greene – to death. The shark smells blood.
Too bad. Because if Dr. Greene is going into the ground, it might be time to bury his show right along with him.
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