Early next year, ER is featuring one of its alumni as a guest star in an episode entitled “Status Quo.”

Gloria Reuben, whom viewers last saw in Chicago's County General Hospital seven years ago, will be returning for one episode as Jeanie Boulet, a physician assistant who contracted HIV from her estranged husband.  Contrary to what was previously reported, Reuben's episode is scheduled to air on Thursday, January 3, and not the following week.

To find out what happens on Gloria Reuben's ER return, read on for spoilers.

Reuben's Jeanie finds herself back at County General after her son, Carlos, takes a bad fall during gym class.  For those who are unfamiliar with Jeanie's history, Carlos is actually the child of a patient who died in the hospital.  Carlos, who was born with HIV, was only a baby when Jeanie adopted him, which means that when he appears on ER early next year, he is most likely seven years old.

Also in the episode, a young woman goes to the hospital with badly injured ankle, and Sam (Linda Cardellini) is surprised to find out that she and the woman actually have a lot in common.  Meanwhile, Pratt (Mekhi Phifer) begins to feel like quitting his job when the higher-ups at County General do not take him seriously.

Aside from Reuben, 24 actress Kari Matchett also guest-stars in the episode.  Matchett will reprise her role as Dr. Skye Wexler.

Reuben is not the only former ER cast members that the show has been courting for a return.  A few months back, executive producer David Zabel spoke to TV Guide about tapping the show's old stars to make guest appearances on what could possibly be the series' final season.

Among those stars were Noah Wyle, Eriq LaSalle, Julianna Margulies, Laura Innes, Shane West, Danny Glover, Sally Field and of course, Gloria Reuben.


-Lisa Claustro, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: NBC, Spoiler TV, TV Guide
(Image Courtesy of NBC)