Please Come Home George!

I found the following on TV Guide.com the other day concerning George Clooney's possible return to "ER" during the show's upcoming final season:

"Anthony Edwards wants him back, the producers want him back, but the chance of George Clooneyreturning to ER for its 15th and final season remains nebulous, with conflicting statements from the actor and his publicist emerging in recent days. 'I've never been asked or approached by anyone from the show about doing an episode of ER,' Clooney told Extra on Wednesday. Yet, Reuters reported Monday that the actor has no such plans to ever make a comeback to County General. 'He is on record as saying he is not coming back,' said Clooney's publicist, Stan Rosenfield. 'It is something he has already done. He is busy making movies.'"

(You can read the whole story here)

We debated this topic the other day on the radio show and Gray is fine with Clooney not coming back, but I'm not. And the more I thought about it, the more frustrated I got with the reality that we're probably not going to see Dr. Ross ever again.

Here are my reasons:

1. It would be EPIC.

I have heard a lot of people say the following (and I feel the same way): "I used to love 'ER'... when George Clooney was on."

Personally, I'm a George Clooney fan now, not because of George Clooney, but because he used to be on "ER" and I liked his character on the show (I will give Matthew Perry, Kelsey Grammar, and Steve Carrell the same free passes for the rest of their careers because of the TV shows they were/are on). Now, on some level you do have to give Clooney extra credit because he actually made the leap to Super Stardom (something Perry and Grammar haven't been able to do yet since their respective shows ended), but he can't let that get in the way to paying tribute to the show that gave him that chance in the first place (more on that later).

How many NBC promos would we see in the weeks leading up to a George Clooney episode of "ER"? A million? A billion? It would set some kind of record. Anyone who has watched an episode over the past 15 years would tune in, along with the fans he has made during his movie career. You would have to think that it would have a shot at setting some modern, post cable ratings records, right? C'mon George, we want to see some history here!

2. It would be a good career move

We all know you're the biggest movie star on the planet, George. We all know you are the modern day Clark Gable or Cary Grant or whoever else you want to be compared to. We all know that you're the closest thing we have to an actual movie "star" in this current era of transition between the studio system and the increasingly more common independent film route.

But we also all know that you haven't exactly been tearing it up lately either.

As you can see from this list of George Clooney's films, the last one that made over a hundred million dollars (that wasn't an "Ocean's" movie) was "The Perfect Storm" in 2000 (YOU READ THAT RIGHT: 2000!!). Yes, he's done a lot of critically acclaimed work and has really developed as a director, but every now and then you've got to do a "Perfect Storm"-type popcorn movie to remind those who didn't see "Syriana" or "Good Night and Good Luck" that you're still relevant (We're trying to tell people about how good "Leatherheads" was though!).

In comparison, Adam Sandler's last three "big" comedies were terrible ("Zohan", "Chuck & Larry", "Click") but they each reached that magical $100 million mark and he still shows up on "Saturday Night Live" from time to time.

Now, there's a guy that doesn't have to.

Are you really trying to tell me that a five minute cameo on the most watched television of the year wouldn't give Clooney some good will and put a couple more fannies in the theaters for his next film?

Really?

3. It would be a nice gesture to "ER"

My favorite line from the story above was when Clooney's publicist said that he can't do it because "It is something he has already done. He is busy making movies."

According to his current IMDB.com profile, I would argue that he's "busy" making movies, but I get the general gist that he's been there, done that. And sure you can argue that Clooney doesn't owe anything to "ER" and you're probably right. But I keep saying that he wouldn't even have the chance to make movies if it weren't for "ER".

Now if what he is saying is true and no one from the show has asked him about it, then this whole column is a non-issue (I'm just in a feisty mood today) but there have been numerous reports about potential Dr. Ross story lines the producers are pitching and how Anthony Edwards is campaigning for his return as well.

What would Clooney really have to sacrifice to film a five minute scene with Julianna Margulies down the street at the Warner Bros. lot? He seriously can't giving up nailing a super model for one Tuesday afternoon?

I mean, at least Anthony Edwards has to ask for the time off from Burger King and his character is DEAD (Why do I always pick on Burger King for that joke?).

It would just be nice and classy; like stopping by to see a sick friend at the hospital.

"Whoops, sorry sick friend that got me where I am today, I can't stop and see you for a few minutes; you're something I've already done."

Don't get me wrong. Regardless of what happens, I'm still going to be a Clooney fan. I like him, I like his persona, and I typically like his work. He's deserves everything he has because, at the end of the day, he's earned it; and maybe I'm just way off here.

Maybe the TV fan in me just wants to witness a historical night. Maybe the old "ER" fan in me just wants to see Dr. Ross one more time. Maybe he just doesn't want to disturb the past because there's no way it would live up to the expectations.

Or maybe I just expect great people to do great things.

And this, in every possible context for Clooney and the fans of the show, would be great.

What are your thoughts on the Clooney-"ER" saga? Should he return to the show that gave him his start? Or do you think you just can't come home again?

Let me know!

- Josh Mahler