W
hoever came up with the idea of a collaboration between best selling author Michael Crichton and cinematic guru Steven Spielberg des~rves a medal, which could be hung next to the numerous Emmys this show has received. Despite being in its third series, the massively successful hospital drama ER shows no sign of losing steam (though you can guarantee there will be liberal amounts of blood). The key to the show's success seems to be the fast paced visual action combined with convincing medical lingo. sensitive and provoking story lines and characters that the audience can relate to. And drop-dead gorgeous George Clooney (Or Doug Ross) probably doesn't do the series' ratings any harm. The main story lines that are to be developed over the series are Jeanie's contraction of the HIV virus and the 'will they, won't they' situation between Mark Greene and Susan Lewis. In the episode Don't Ask, Don't Tell (Wed Jan 22) Jeanie struggles to carry on with her job and cope with the cocktail of medication she has been prescribed, and as the side effects begin to show Carrie Weaver becomes suspicious. Meanwhile Susan has finally decided on a holiday destination, and in a spontaneous moment she asks Mark to go with her to Hawaii, however both are so embarrassed by the suggestion the opportunity for romance is lost (again).
Without wanting to reveal too much, the rest of the series has路some interesting developments. Look out for the new paediatric surgeon Abby Keaton, who has a romance with one of the regular characters, the ever complex web of Doug Ross's love life, a mistake in the operating room that has tragic consequences and the tearwrenching departure of one of the key characters from the series. Having seen most of this series I can guarantee that ER remains probably the best medical drama on telly, either side of the Atlantic. Nothing like a bit of gore on a Wednesday night. Amy Pierce
films of the fortnight This film portrays the massacre that occurred at Gallipoli, and follows the two heroes as they learn to cope with the horrors and realities of war. Though powerful and visually dramatic, the film does have it's lighter moments. Mel Gibson gives a sensitive performance in one of the most popular Australian films of the eighties.
A classic from 1981 , Gallipoli is set in World War I and stars Mark Lee and a very young (and very cute) Mel G_ibson as Australian athletes who sign up and are transported to the Dardanelles, where Allied forces are locked in battle with the enemy.
H
ow can you begin to describe such a program, a monolith that towered over 'yoof culture for so tragically few short years? You've got the Girlie Show, you've got the White Room, you've got Dani Dares and, well, Jots of late night stuff, but all of them are vastly infeJior. This show was so tacky you couldn't quite bring yourself to turn it off. Now come on, admit it - you couldn't. Bring on a guest -such as Jimmy Hill or Oliver Reed, get Terry Christian to take the piss out of him and ask e.mbarrassing questions before cutting to some noisy band. Put a constantly changing psychadelic background in, and point the camera at the audience dancing around like a bunch of over-excited chimpanzees. Then of course there were the lovely cockumentaries (ahem) - the American who had his organ enlarged (including pictures of the operation}, or the bloke who hung weights from it for a laugh... revolting. Later series saw the fantastic innovation of the 'I'd Do Anything To Get On Television' feature, where assorted, urn, hopefuls, agreed to do the most vile and repulsive acts ever to be seen on
THE EVENT, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22. 1997
MA D MAX Sat 25 Jan 11.05pm - 12.45am ITV In the performance that brought him to the attention of the American market, Met Gibson stars as policeman Max, caught up in the tight against the violent biker gangs who emerge as society spins out of control. When the bikers kill his family the previously level-headed copper goes a few prawns short of a barby and vows to kill them in revenge for destroying his life. Watch out for the very nasty dilemma he presents the final biker. He then wanders off into the sunset, presumably in search of Tina Turner. Anyway; not much plot, but action fans and Mel fans will be more than happy. Amy Pierce
television in return for a few seconds of post-pub fame. For example, the guy who cut some of his pubes off, smeared them on a cracker and proceeded to munch away. And a woman fully submerged herself in a bath of cow dung. All of course accompanied by the audience lOudly "uuugghhh"ing. And rightly. The presenters are now scattered to the four winds, ranging from the success of Mark Lamarr to the obscurity of Hufty. Wherever they are now, they should not be forgotten - students of the 90s unite, and salute the emperors of late hlght tack.
John Spacey