From NBC Universal Media Village

MULTI-EMMY AWARD-WINNING AND RECENT OSCAR NOMINATED ACTOR HAL HOLBROOK MAKES A SPECIAL GUEST-STARRING APPEARANCE ON NBC'S 'ER,' THURSDAY, APRIL 24 (10:00 PM ET/PT)
Published: March 27, 2008

Burbank – March 27, 2008 – Multi-Emmy Award-winning actor and recent Academy Award nominee Hal Holbrook makes a special guest appearance on NBC's "ER" (10-11 p.m. ET) as Walter Perkins, a terminal cancer patient who impacts the life of Dr. Kovac (Goran Visnjic). The episode, "Truth Will Out," will air Thursday, April 24 (10-11 p.m. ET).

During a visit to a hospice ward, Dr. Kovac crosses paths with Walter, who despite his terminal illness, remains upbeat, offbeat and funny -- while continuing to outlive every other patient that comes through the doors of the facility. His presence impacts Luka and affects a major decision in his life.

Executive Producer David Zabel said, "The show has had an amazing array of incredible actors who have walked through the doors over the years and Hal Holbrook certainly continues that tradition. He is perfect for this role and we couldn't be more pleased to have him."

A Tony Award recipient and five-time Emmy winner, Holbrook is one of the great craftsmen of stage and screen. He is best known for his performance as Mark Twain, a role for which he won numerous accolades for "Mark Twain Tonight!" He has appeared in more than 50 television movies and mini-series including "Pueblo," "Our Town," "Sandburg's Lincoln" and "Outer Limits." He also starred in the landmark television movie "That Certain Summer." Holbrook has guest-starred on such television series as NBC's "The West Wing," "NCIS," and "The Sopranos."

On the big screen, his career began with "The Group" in 1966 and since then, he has appeared in over 40 films. These include "Magnum Force," "Midway," "All the President's Men," "Wall Street," "The Firm" and "Men of Honor." Earlier this year, Holbrook became the oldest male performer ever nominated for an Academy Award for his supporting role in "Into the Wild."

Currently recognized as the most Emmy-nominated show in television history, "ER" is currently in its 14th season and is produced by Constant c Productions and Amblin Television in association with Warner Bros. Television.

http://www.nbcumv.com/entertainment/releas...5emmyaward.html

From NBC Universal Media Village


ER
TRUTH WILL OUT
04-24-2008 10:01PM

SOMETIMES THE TRUTH HURTS-AIDA TUTURRO (“THE SOPRANOS”) GUEST STARS-Neela (Parminder Nagra) is upset after she finds out the aorta surgery on Sheryl Hawkins (guest star Aida Tuturro) has caused an infection. While treating a severely beaten Korean teen, Abby (Maura Tierney) discovers an even more serious condition. Kovac (Goran Visnjic) struggles to forgive Abby for her indiscretion. Dr. Brenner (guest star David Lyons) continues to ruffle feathers in the ER. Linda Cardellini, John Stamos, Mekhi Phifer and Scott Grimes also star.

Show Cast: Linda Cardellini, Parminder Nagra, Mekhi Phifer, Maura Tierney, John Stamos, Scott Grimes, Goran Visnjic

Yay! Abby and Luka are back!

But then, so is Dr. Brenner.

I'm indefinitely in love with Abby/Luka ... esp Luka.

For some reason this episode description reminds me of when Luka was taking care of the Bishop back in Season 7. He was looking after him, but the Bishop helped him out personally.

Choose Abby dude.

Here are some Luka and Walter clips, as well as Goran and Hal Holbrook interviews for "Truth Will Out": http://nbc.epk.tv/view.aspx?request=episod...-los-angeles-ca

The clips are great, and sadly, Goran lets slip that he has only one more episode this season. I love the interview one where he talks about not realizing Hal Holbrook was cheating at cards until one of the crew told him, he's too cute. It was also interesting to know that this episode will really give us new insight on where Luka's head has been both while he was in Croatia and since he's come back.

I can't wait for Thursday night.

JD

wow, love the clips too. Can't wait till Thursday; looks like a good episode!! And it's so sad that Goran only has one more episode this season. I'm not looking forward to ER without him...

Thank God for Abby! She always finds a way to bring Neela back to reality. This time she did it in a better way(the last time was just cruel). That's right Neela, you can't forget that something happened. Now I understand why Neela is actively trying to go out on dates. That conversation with Sheryl at the beginning had me worried. However, after the brief conversation with Abby, I can tell that Ray is still on Neela's mind(even though she won't openly admit it ). Maybe this new arc will take Neela to somewhere(Baton Rouge ) where she can finally find herself.

I loved how Neela put Brenner in his place. I am starting to see a sign of a new Neela and can't wait to see where this leads her.

I felt this episode was the best one so far since the strike. I loved Luka and Hal Holbrook's scenes together. Luka needs the wisdom of someone like Walter and I hope it will lead him to try and fix his marriage with Abby.

Wow! Dubenko's jealous and Skye was beginning to fall for him. Interesting.

I'm trying to like Brenner, but unfortunately, this episode just made me dislike him even more. And Anspaugh's nephew??? Come on!!!

What did Luka say to Abby in the last words of the episode? I couldn't understand him, and stayed up to see what happens to them!

He said he was moving out.

OK! OK! I have to admit that Sam and Gates are beginning to grow on me as a couple(the rooftop scene was sweet). There I said it ! Happy now?

Thank you. I knew it was bad, but I didn't quite catch it. I love them together!

I actually liked this episode, and I am beginning to understand what the writers are doing to Neela. She has not had her breakdown yet. It is slowly building to it. They have made her a little irrational in the last two episode's. The next few upcomig episodes will probably start to piece together the puzzle. What Abby told Neela was so on point. Neela lives in world that she wish she could erase all the bad that has happened. And you can tell she was annoyed by Abby's lecture. she looked like a kid getting set straight by her mother. Good Job Abby... let her have it. And Sheryl interaction with her was so amazing to me because I felt that neela was trying to say to her all the things that she wanted to say to Ray but could not. She is definitely at a cross roads. She is beginning to realize that all the pain she experienced in the past is still haunting her. I think in the last season, Neela was able to get over losing michael. Thinking she was finally moving on with the right person then that was snatched away. Now she has to cope with another love lost. I hope all these episode lead to a reunion. Of Some sort.

Hi everyone my name is Iris and I'm new to the board, my reason for joining the board is because I am way lost. I'm an ER fan, but for the last 2 years I haven't kept up on ER, I have 19 month old twins so that would explain everything, I've been trying to watch ER has much as I can and sometimes I get glimps and pieces, but this last episode 4/24 I was able to watch the whole episode without any interruptions, which left me lost. So I need all your guys help, I love Luca & Abby, but what's going on, what did she do? That's what I'm missing, why does Luca want to move out?

I LOVED the way she gave it to Brenner! He has a lot of nerve saying Neela is highstrung, so she turned it around and really gave it to him! I loved it when she said she would take that thing from him and throw it against the wall. Way to go Neela!

What did you all think of Skye and Dubenko? That was kinda weird to me.

Okay, you all know how I looooove my Luka, but he really chapped my a** tonight something wicked. He left Abby and Joe alone for MONTHS and he is all righteous and judgemental now? Luka is a not a guy that runs away, he is a guy that stays and fights. For heaven's sake, he didn't even want to give up on SAM! I just can't reconcile the character that was apologizing all over Abby for being gone so long (when he first learned of her relapse) with the punisher judge of last night's episode. Where is his culpability in all this?

I know alcoholism is a horrible, wasting disease, and I guess there are those who feel this storyline is somehow true to life. It may well be, on Abby's side, but the decisions I see Luka making are not true to his character, and I am disappointed.

It's not like I thought Luka would just shrug and go "infidelity? whattaknow..." But he is acting like Abby had some long, planned out, behind his back affair, not a sloppy drunken one-nighter! There IS a difference.

A lot of this has to do with the fact that TNT is running season 12 episodes right now, including the whole "I wasn't running away, I was running to you..." speech. Where is THAT guy in this arc?

JMHO, as always, Trifioso

Wow, what a great episode!!! I loved it, and looking at the previews for next week it looks like it just gonna get better.

Neela - yes, I agree with many of you, she looks like she's slowly getting back to her old self. Her telling Brenner off was brilliant. And it looks like she's starting to tap into her true feelings. When she told Sheryl that getting the infection was 'bad luck' I felt like she was looking into her own life and feeling like that's all she's been dealt. Abby's speech was great... Neela needs some realism in her life.

Sam - Man she really got on my nerves this episode. Where does she come off being so self righteous? If anyone should understand struggles, she should. She just made me mad and I wanted Abby to tell her off.

Abby - ugh, I felt terrible for her but I do feel like she's gonna get through this with Luka. At least I hope so. She's gone through too much for her not to have a happy ending.

Luka - yes, he's being a bid harsh... I mean he did leave her alone for so long; he needs to be a bit more understanding. Hopefully he'll come around.

Hello everyone and good morning...I missed somethings over the last season and part of last night. I would like to find out if who Abby had slept with does anyone know? I really wish they would have a reconsiliation of Neela and Ray for closure sake. I think the new lines are good but there are so many unanswered questions. This one is really nagging at me though because I really thought Luka and Abby would make it through anything if they made it this far.

Abby had a one night stand with Morretti (Stanley Tucci) while in a drunken state. I can't believe Luka isn't hunting him down and beating the crap out of him, Abby was drunk, he knew that, he knew she was married with a kid and still....


I just hope they work it out in the end.

Hi Y'all, does anyone know the artist and title of the song they played at the end this episode?

I am. Thanks G-Unit. I'm really looking forward to seeing the dynamics of this relationship develop in Season 15 and the reaction of their kids to the relationship.

Onlyfiction I agree with your comments concerning Neela. The tears she shed last night were for her moreso than for the patient. She feels she has a permanent cloud over her when it comes to relationships.

Curious - If Neela doesn't get back with Ray next Season, is it possible that the writers would explore a Neela/Dubrenko relationship? I know I'm in the minority on this but I wouldn't mind the writers going in this direction if Reela doesn't come together.

When did Abby tell Luka that she cheated on him - what episode? I thought I watched them all but I missed this.

She didn't tell him on screen, she told him when she got to Croatia

I am sooooooooooooooooo glad many of you feel like I do. This isn't the Luka I know and love. This isn't the guy who went through hell losing his wife and children now to throw Abby and little Joe away like that. I also thought he would kill the guy Abby slept with. He was always so hot blooded, I truly thought the next time they saw each other Abby would never tell or if she did, Luka would go crazy and hunt him down.

I want Abby and Luka to stay together. Every couple that gets married on ER ends up apart. COME ON, even the USA divorce average is a little over 50%, you are batting a 1000%!!

We need one loving stable couple that may have problems now and then (what married couple doesn't) but sticks together.

If you bring back George Clooney, you better bring back Julianna Margulies as his wife and her twins. I hated Clooney with his always looking down, reading his script off of the sheets on the gurneys. We don't need anymore womanizers on the show. I love ER, been with it since the first pilot and own all the DVD sets. But it has changed trying to keep up with Grey's Anatomy (sorry but anyone who has been through nursing or med school knows what a play on words that is) and the sexual show it has become.

ER is in a class all its own - keep it there. What has happened to all the short patient takes, people like Patrick, the downs syndrome adult, who showed up unannounced. I miss those short quips with other patients that were funny or dramatic. Instead you fill it with sex and sexual innuendos. Go back to those type of show, I'd rather see someone throw up on Sam's shoes than see Sam flirting. You used to have two or three full episode patients with short quips inbetween. Keep the realism, leave out the sexual undertones.

You want to bring back someone for the last season (Lord, say it isn't so, one of the longest TV shows on right now, they took CROSSING JORDAN away too and gave us bionic woman, the office [double yuck] and these reality shows [triple yuck]), BRING BACK NOAH WYLE, I miss Dr. Carter. He grew from a silly bumbling med student into a caring doc. Get him out of Africa and bring him home.

And bring back the old theme music.

God! I hope not!
He's too old for her!
For me it is very difficult to accept ER without Ray. With Neela / Dubenko would be a horrendous nightmare
I hope Ray returns soon and fast!

BRING BACK NOAH WYLE, I miss Dr. Carter. He grew from a silly bumbling med student into a caring doc. Get him out of Africa and bring him home.

And bring back the old theme music.
[/quote]

Maybe Dr. Carter and Abby can get back together!

er

dont like how they make abbey out to be only bad guy here..we all know she shouldnt have cheated but she only did it becuz she was druk which hapned becuz lucah abaondoned her in first place and took forever to get back fomr cruatia and ignored her and never clale dher back or took her calls beuse he was being a jerk.he has alwyas been a hard man to lvoe..and doesnt show much emoition.and she has alwya shad a hard time tlaking anything with him..and he isnt being fair. he has a right to be uspet with her but he is just a smuch responsible for the problmes here..and he isnt handling it failrly.plus they alwyas seemed to come back to each other anywas. so hope he gets it together and stops playing the hurt victim who is supposedly innocnet in all this cause he isnt and he should knwo that!!! and accpet half the balem here.......

I have to say, I'm in the minority on the whole "Luka being too harsh" thing. Luka is NOT being too harsh. There is nothing that he could have done to deserve infidelity, absolutely nothing.

My perspective is personal because I was cheated on, and I know how it feels. Nothing excuses it. Personal weakness and blame are not excuses. The cheater really has nobody to blame but themself, as much as they'd like to come up with reasons why it happened.

Luka is behaving in a more calm and rational and civil manner than I was at ground zero, so no, I don't think he's being too harsh at all. Abby has to wait for him to make the next move, as Coburn said. It's up to him now.

Don't get me wrong, I do love Abby, and I feel very bad for her, but I don't believe that Luka should just break down and give her another chance so soon, that would be totally unrealistic. Abby had to stew about this and think about this for a long time -- Luka has only just found out, it's still fresh to him. No way is he going to calm down as fast as people seem to think he should, nor should he.

You can second me into that minority group as well Galaxy! I can't comprehend for the life of me why people object to Luka's behavior. His behavior is completely rational, realistic, and justified. His wife(his newly wed wife to be exact) slept with another man. And not only that, got p**s drunk and put their child in danger. Nothing justifies that. I love Abby but I refuse to be an apologist for her and try and put some distorted and irrational spin on this that somehow Luka's response/reaction is somehow uncalled for or too harsh. I'm sure everyone here wants some semblance of a happy ending, however, that ending must come in a satisfactory and convincing way. What do you expect Luka to do? Simply say, it was wrong but let's move on and forget it! Come on!! The way Luka is dealing with this is much more civil and intelligent than a lot of other people would faced with the same situation. Some people would ask for a divorce right on the spot. Luka needs time and space to absorb the blow, analyse the situation as well as the marriage and himself, and then progress from there.

Really good episode.

Im so upset Luca is leaving Abby. So upset..

I don't know about the rest of you, but I feel really cheated that they didn't show Abby telling Luka about her one-night stand. That would have been a great scene!

I think Luka's behavior is justified, especially if you look at the fact that he is thinking about what is in Joe's best interest. By moving out while he and Abby resolve the rift between them, he is sparing Joe the constant tension that would be in the house, as well as the arguing that would likely accompany it. I have no doubt that Luka and Abby will mend things between them, but, Luka has every right to feel hurt and betrayed, whatever the reason why Abby did what she did, she still broke her vows, now she has to not just live with the consequences but regain the trust she has lost. Luka isn't going to walk away from his marriage over this, and he certainly isn't going to walk away from Joe, they will reconcile, he just needs time to work through the hurt caused by the betrayal.

hallo. i was wondering if sombody can tell me what sam says to abby, when she kinda apologizes. she says sometimes its hard for me to be..............

thanks

I'm with you AzizalSaqr,

I think they will work it out in the end.

Omg i cannot believe that Luka is moving out!!! Maura Tierney is my favorite actress and i want Abby and Luka to leave with a happy ending. Abby and Luka have gone through so much that it doesnt seem fair to their characters let alone fans that they would just end this way!!!!

it really annoys me that luka takes no fault in whats going on with their marraige..he left abby and the baby for months alone...i use to love his character but now i dont know what is happening to him..

Luka's father was dying...he refused to come to the States and leave his home and friends, Luka couldn't abandon him. While it wasn't an ideal choice, Luka had to make a sacrifice and he chose to be there for his father through those final months of his life, it didn't give Abby a reason to betray the vows they had made to each other and cheat on him. I'm sure Luka shares some of the blame despite that, but he is the victim despite that and he has a right to feel hurt, he was the one cheated on.

Well, it's taken me a few days to process. But here are my thoughts. Terrific episode.

I think the blame for the Abby/Luka situation lies in equal proportion on both of their shoulders.

I completely agree that Abby being drunk doesn't excuse her behavior nor her betrayal. It's a reason, NOT an excuse. There's a world of difference. Not only did she betray her vows to Luka, she put Joe's life in danger, and I can't blame Luka for being angry about that, hell I'M angry with her about that.

However, I also agree that Luka's leaving put Abby in a vulnerable position, and while it wasn't (again) an excuse for her to start drinking again, it was one of the underlying reasons. I understand that Luka leaving to care for his ailing father was unavoidable. But I can also understand Abby's frustration at having her husband leave (for FAR longer than he said he would) while the ink on their marriage license wasn't yet dry.

Now, do I think Luka is being too harsh? Absolutely NOT. His wife betrayed him with another man. That's not something you just "get over". It's not something that you just move on from. Regardless of the fact that Luka's past isn't lily-white (I've seen that comment elsewhere ), he would never betray his vows to Abby. This is a man who's spent his life looking for something he'd once had and lost. He thought he'd found it again (and I still believe he has), and then the walls come tumbling down around him. That's not something you just say "Oh, no big deal. We all make mistakes." to. It's something you need to work through and get through.

Personally, I don't see this as Luka "leaving" Abby. He's not. He's moving out so he can get some space and perspective. He loves her and Joe too much to simply walk away from them. As AzizalSaqr said, he's putting Joe first. He doesn't want to subject Joe to constant fighting and tension while he and Abby work through this. That's admirable, and it's honorable. Watching the episode again, when he told her he was moving out, it wasn't said in anger, it was said with sadness in his eyes and tone. He needs space to work through this, and I can't blame him for that. I don't think Abby really can either. To me, it wouldn't have been believable if he'd just said "Oh, it's ok! I still love you!" It would have been trite and ridiculous. This is much more believable, and yes, heartwrenching. But it's something I think they CAN work through.

Do I think that they'll get their HEA? Absolutely. I'm too much of a romantic not to. Sometimes a couple needs to go through something intimate in their relationship so they can really cement it. I realize that Abby and Luka have been forced to endure more than they should already, but most of that has come from outside forces, beyond their control. This was within the control of both of them, and when it comes time for them to make a choice between the love and family they share, and holding on to hurt and betrayal, I think they'll make the right decision.

I'm disappointed that she told him "off screen" while they were in Croatia though. I REALLY wanted that scene.

That all being said, I want Luka to deliver a beatdown on Moretti. What an unethical, sleazebag CREEP to take advantage of a woman in Abby's state, especially considering the facts that they had JUST been discussing Luka, and what else? Oh yeah, gee. He was her BOSS.

the episodes just keep getting better

next week's looks even better

but uhhh can someone post that pic of Sam on the rooftop

shes so $#%#@ hot!

and the tension between Brenner and Pratt keeps growing and when i heard Brenner call Anspaugh uncle i started laughing at Pratt's reaction

I would like to see more of Betina (Pratt's girlfriend) too shes $#%@#$ hot as well....

On the episode "truth will come out", Neela injects something into the Korean pt. I believe she mentioned the drug, plus, did I hear Neela say the drug had an effect on memory, making person forget what had just happened? What was the drug name?

I forget the name of the drug, but I was watching the epi with my mom (always head over to mom and dad's to watch ER with mom ), who's an RN, and when I asked her what it was she said it was an extremely strong tranquilizer which can have an effect on memory.

Hope that helps.

This was ER at its classic best.
Poor Pratt, I knew that little Aussie creep had some sort of insider track on him. Ow! B ...itching about him to uncle Anspauch! How cringeworthy! I hope, however that Mehki decides to stay for Season 15. Pratt has really grown on me in the last two seasons. But whatever he decides, I hope they give him a better send-off than Ray and that there will be no loose ends.
It still looks likely that despite all, Abby and Luca may still get their happy ending. Luca's current state is understandable given he has just lost his father and has revisited Crotia for the first time since he lost his first family, a very vulnerable time to be hit with his wife's infidelity. Believable!
I have loved the slow build of the Gates/Sam relationship. It has been really sweet and a lovely direction to bring both characters in, given their fraught histories to date. It just goes to show, even the most hardened cynics can be romantic. I really hope they make it. It is a great relief after the other slow build relationship, namely Neela/Ray that never had a chance to develop.
I really hope we get some sort of conclusion. The fact that Neela really has not moved on emotionally since her accident but has softened over the last few weeks gives me hope that we will get some sort of conclusion here. Whatever happens I'm looking forward to what the writers have in store for Neela. She's such a beguiling character. Maybe its her size but she brings out the protector in all men. Even Dr. B. seems to have fallen under her spell but she is so ...o not impressed with him! Way to go Neela!

Propofol. It does have a short amnesic effect. I don't know if it would actually work as Neela intended, but I suppose it could.

With Romano getting killed by a helicopter, Ray getting his legs amputated, Mark dying of a brain tumor, Gallant getting blown up, and Lucy getting stabbed to death, I think TPTB have shown that they are not immune to tragic exits. I truly fear that TPTB can't resist killing off or at least severely debilitating one last cast member. I hope they give everyone a happy ending.

I hope that too! I just love the episode and especially the end with the music.