KEY POINTS:
LOS ANGELES - ER still has a pulse.
Sources say plans are afoot to bring the veteran medical drama back for a 15th season. Producers have been casting two recurring characters, at least one of which is eyed to continue in the fall.
Aida Turturro (The Sopranos) has been hired for one of the roles, a car accident victim; Australian David Lyons is in talks for the other part, a handsome new doctor who lacks a conscience, sources said.
In another sign that ER is coming back, talent agents have been told that the show plans to go directly into shooting four episodes for next season after wrapping its six-episode post-strike order.
NBC and series producer Warner Bros. TV, which have been negotiating an ER renewal for the past few months, declined comment.
ER, once the No. 1 show on television, is a middling performer these days, with viewership down to about 9.5 million people so far this season, off about 2 million from last season.
- REUTERS/HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
