So, let's say that you have a show that was once the most popular show on TV. Now let's say this show slowly loses popularity as its entire original cast slowly trickles away. Let's say this show keeps on trucking, however, into its tenth season and beyond, yet is a shell of its former self and mired in a twelfth season that is mediocre in both ratings and critical reaction. Of course, I'm talking about ER. How do you go about rejuvenating ER as it heads into its 13th year? Well, according to EW PopWatch, you hire John Stamos. Stamos cures all ills. As unlikely as this may seem, you can't argue with the results. ER's ratings are way up and it's been consistently winning its time slot over promising newcomers Six Degrees and Shark. Is this really all because John Stamos has joined the cast?
Who knows? ER is still a very good show and it deserves the ratings it receives. One point that the EW article touches on that may have some substance is that with Grey's Anatomy now on at 9PM Thursdays (right before ER), Grey's puts people in the mood for more hospital drama. Considering Grey's is the most watched show in the country, there may be something to this. Regardless, the big news about this is that NBC is now considering extending ER through a fifteenth season, one more than previously planned. The show has a contract through next year's fourteenth go-around and it had been assumed that it would be ER's swan song. Now, that's up in the air. People just need as much Stamos as they can get, I suppose. -Oscar Dahl, BuddyTV Senior Writer