<< 
<< bleh. i don't like ER anymore. i used to like it was a drama based on a hospital. now its just a soap opera.  >>
  I do have to agree with him somewhat.  I used to love it when it first came out and it's still not a bad show.  It's just that the show is MUCH more about the characters now than the patients and the whole hospital scene.  Some people may like that more, just not me.  I guess that's why I like Law & Order (and all the reruns) so much.  The characters and individual cases define each episode, the recurring characters are there to help guide the story.  I'll still watch ER with my wife though if I'm not doing anything else.
Is this going to be the show's last season?  I realize that the show has a big cast and COULD theoretically replace Dr. Green's character and try to move on.  But he's kind of the central character whom everyone else interconnects with.  If the show goes on it would be like doing Cheers without Sam Malone or MASH without Hawkeye. >>
The show WILL go on for MANY more years.  The show will shift focus to Carter (Noah Wyle) as the central character.  But there are still plenty of strong characters left (Kovac, Abby, ***..err I mean Weaver

, Romano!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, Lizzy (that should be interesting w/Mark gone, and now Jerry is back!!  WOOHOO!!
Law and Order has been recycling main characters for years.  Nothing new there.  Same with NYPD Blue...they lost whatshisface and they're still going.