Medic Alert

INFUSING FRESH BLOOD With Edwards and LaSalle out, newer cast members Mekhi Phifer (Dr. Gregory Pratt) and Atkins have moved to the forefront this season with juicier storylines -- Pratt and Gallant recently came to blows in a hospital hallway. ''I think Mekhi really shines, and Sharif has a lot of potential,'' says casting director Billy Hopkins. ''In the early years, what made Carter (Noah Wyle) interesting was how he made mistakes and struggled, and Atkins could easily step into that role.'' However, not every attempt to rejuvenate the cast has succeeded. ''I hate to say it, but Sherry Stringfield is just dead wood,'' says Berman. ''And I can't say I'm a fan of Ming-Na, either. The worst part is, the show doesn't do enough with some of the really interesting actors on the show, like Laura Innes (Dr. Kerry Weaver) and McCrane.''
PROGNOSIS Good. The show has survived worse casting mishaps (Remember Dr. Lucy and Dr. Malucci?). There's still hope that Stringfield, who was so strong during her first stint on the show, will find her footing.

WRITING THE RIGHT PRESCRIPTION Last year's episodes about Dr. Greene's terminal brain tumor were heartbreaking; despite a rip-roaring season premiere, it's hard to do better this season. ''Emphasizing his departure for a whole season was a mistake because it left a huge hole,'' says Berman. Storylines that sizzled last year are showing signs of wear as well. ''The love triangle between Abby (Maura Tierney), Carter (Noah Wyle) and Kovac (Goran Visnjic) is all played out,'' says Hopkins. ''Visnjic and Tierney are incredible actors, so there's reason to give them something better to do.'' In fact, several new plot twists may still bear fruit. Dr. Romano's struggle to recover from arm reattachment surgery, the return of Abby's mother (Sally Field), Dr. Pratt's relationship with his gentle-giant brother, and Dr. Corday's newly single status could all lead a revival in the ER. '''The show is still finding its new voice,'' says Carroll. ''The good thing is, it's never been a show that signals in advance what it's going to do. Things can take a left turn when you don't expect it.''
PROGNOSIS Stable. A wretched Romano is always a good thing. And maybe now that both Corday and Kovac are available, there's some potential for a more involving romance than Abby and Carter's tired 12-step tango.