Viewers may be seeing more of NBC's ER next year.

Executive producer John Wells told reporters at the show's 300th episode bash that he is reopening talks with the network about the possibility of a 15th season. This is contradictory to speculations made earlier this year, when the word was that the show's current season would be its last.

At present, ER is the second longest-running drama on television, trailing behind NBC's legal drama, Law & Order.  While the series has failed to match its previous ratings success, it is still earning satisfactory numbers for the network.  So far, the show's 14th season is averaging 9.9 million viewers each week and a notable 4.1 rating in the adults 18-49, a demographic coveted by advertisers.

While both Wells and the network have yet to explain the rationale behind the possible renewal, an ER insider told E!'s Kristin Dos Santos that the writers' strike could serve as the impetus for the show's return next year.

Apparently, ER producers and writers are worried that the strike may prevent wrapping up the show's storylines in a way that would satisfy them and the fans.  As of the moment, only 13 of the 22 scripts have reportedly been completed, and should the strike continue, the storyline could be left hanging in an awkward place.

"There is a small positive [to the strike]," the ER insider said.  "It could force NBC to pick us up for another year, so we can end the story properly."

The writers' strike, which began on Monday, has already affected many other scripted series, old and new alike. On Tuesday, an ad in Tuesday's trade papers contained the signatures of numerous writer-producers, one of whom was Wells.  The ad was placed to further publicize the writer-producers' pledge to not work on their respective shows until writers reach an agreement with the media companies that employ them.


-Lisa Claustro, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Zap2it, E! Online
(Image Courtesy of NBC)